Narrator Jax Jackson quickly convinces listeners of Bug's determination to acquire a sense of self before middle school. There are several reasons for this: his beloved Uncle Roddy's death, a ghostly presence that haunts his dreams, and viewpoints he holds that don't jibe with friends' interests. Jackson's delivery also conveys the deeper uncertainty this 11-year-old is facing. By exploring Uncle Roddy's open gayness and past--he was a drag queen--Bug begins to understand his transgender identity. He finally concludes, "I've never recognized myself before, but now I do." Jackson gives a realistic representation of grief, friendship, and coming out for a middle grade audience, along with a dose of ghost story. The production includes a contextual afterword by the author.
(Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: April 20, 2021
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593346303
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Narrator Jeff Ebner's youthful voice and careful pacing are well suited to this middle-grade horror audiobook. Rory has avoided the house next door ever since he and his best friend encountered the malevolent spirits that eventually caused his friend's family to move away. So when Jack's family moves in, Rory will do whatever it takes to protect them, especially Jack's little sister. Beyond the supernatural encounters, Ebner keeps listeners grounded when Rory and Jack share aspects of their Japanese and Korean cultures, especially foods. Ebner smoothly differentiates characters as Rory and Jack, along with a couple of friendly ghosts, work together to figure out what kind of creatures lurk in Jack's basement and how they can fight back.
(Horror. 8-13)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025
Duration: 4 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063460072
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Narrator Joy Regullano captures the voice of 11-year-old Lila Clement, who reluctantly travels to Ohio with her family after her estranged grandfather's death. Her parents must settle his estate, which includes the mysterious inn Grandpa Clem owned. Soon after Lila and her brother arrive, strange occurrences begin, and Lila starts seeing ghosts. Terrified yet curious, she investigates the inn's history and discovers that Grandpa Clem may not have died naturally. Determined to uncover the truth about what happened, Lila sets out to save the town and bring peace to her ghostly friends. Regullano delivers a captivating performance, skillfully voicing characters of different genders and ages with varying accents. Her ability to convey suspense and fear is deliciously eerie--it's sure to thrill young fans of supernatural stories.
(Paranormal. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
Duration: 4 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9798225000745
Publisher: Scholastic Audiobooks
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
