Narrator Devon Sovari shows both the sophistication and vulnerability of 17-year-old Nikki Black in a story that takes place in the early 1990s. Upon leaving Chicago, she is lured to Los Angeles by a boyfriend who promises that his contact can aid her photography aspirations. Sovari portrays Nikki's wry wit and sarcasm and also reveals her sadness and guilt over her mother's death from a drug overdose. Sovari portrays Nikki's growing trust as she comes to meet a crew of devoted friends. These loyalties become even stronger as the group hunts for a missing 12-year-old friend who is the target of a powerful cult-like sex ring. Sovari portrays the growing tension, which is increased by the turmoil of the Rodney King race riots.
(Historical thriller. 14-18)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2019
Duration: 8 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781974976355
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Listeners follow Merry, the longbow girl, one of the best archers in her town. When she finds a magical portal in the forest that takes her back to sixteenth-century Wales, she must use her skills to win an archery contest in order to help her ancestors keep their land. While narrator Emily Wilden brings protagonist Merry to life with a rich Welsh accent, her narration seems uneven at times. All the period characters have accents that reflect the setting of the story and transport listeners to Wales. Listeners who enjoy historical fiction and a bit of fantasy will be charmed by this tale of determination, hope, and family.
Young AdultPub Date: N/A
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781501916793
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In 1832 thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle is sailing from Liverpool to Rhode Island to rejoin her family. Shocked to discover that the families who were to have been both guardians and companions will not accompany her, Charlotte embarks on a journey filled with terror and swashbuckling adventure. The first-person narrative makes this Newbery Honor book a wonderful choice for recording. O'Karma's reading, with its hint of cross-gender differentiation, allows the listener to feel as if Charlotte Doyle herself were relating the tale. This story should be particularly alluring to adolescent girls although the fast-paced action and the nautical setting will also appeal to male listeners. Ages 12-adult.
Ages 12+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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