Dara Rosenberg's pacing could be best described by the name of this audiobook's main character: Zippy. Fast pacing perfectly expresses the way Zipporah Chaya McConnell has moved through her life. Now, however, seventh grade brings roadblocks and challenges. Rosenberg brings out the confusion in Zippy's first-person narration as her "part-time" Jewish parents nudge her to become bat mitzvahed; her best friend, Bea, chooses mature friends; and, most perplexing, Zippy's witchy practice produces a girl with wings who doesn't know her identity. Is she an angel or a dybbuk, and why overnight does Zippy know Hebrew? Rosenberg fills her narration with a sense of questioning that never slows the momentum as Zippy comes to understand her own identity.
(Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: 2023
Duration: 7 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063307667
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Dara Rosenberg excels at narrating this emotional audiobook, which begins as seventh-grader Becky is dressing for her older sister Sara's funeral. Rosenberg leads listeners from the sad "Now" chapter to the lighter "Before" chapters, when Becky secretly "borrows" her mother's credit card to get her beloved older brother a gift. The theme of secrets is introduced against the backdrop of a loving Jewish family, and Rosenberg warmly invites listeners into their traditions. Tension mounts as Sara fears her father's disapproval and hides the fact that she's dating a non-Jew, a deadly mistake. Past and present meet with Sara's death and the grief that consumes the family before they right themselves by revealing truths and tenderness.
(Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063311671
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Swayam Bhatia helps listeners imagine the feisty spirit of North Indian Simi Singh, a 12-year-old who meets school and field hockey challenges handily. Bhatia reflects Simi's fear when threats come from a prejudiced classmate and the comfort she finds in her loving extended family. Bhatia depicts Simi's personality as her parents' interfaith Sikh-Muslim marriage puts the family's safety at risk, and they must flee the country. While Simi's father is successful at legally gaining entry to the U.S., Simi and her mother must attempt a perilous journey to enter from Mexico with coyotes. Amid mounting pressures, both Simi's fear and courage build. When she becomes separated from her mother, Bhatia depicts her resourcefulness and resilience, as well as the kindness of strangers.
(Fiction. 8-13)Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 5 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781546176954
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.
