Prentice Onayemi’s subtle character creations intensify the complex life of biracial middle schooler Nick Reeves, whose mother has moved to a memory care facility due to early-onset Alzheimer’s. Denying the reality of his mother’s illness, Nick takes refuge in a video game, playing the role of Severkin, a gray elf adventurer. Differentiating characters through accent and vocal pitch, Onayemi transitions between Nick’s dual worlds. This choice works very well for the boys and men, easily delineating young Nick’s speech from that of his richly voiced alter ego in the gaming world. However, the high pitches of several women and girls are somewhat less successful. Still, Onayemi is an able interpreter of this emotionally charged novel.
(Fiction. 9-12)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781504742559
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Nayeri has done a stellar job of adapting his own unique work to the audiobook format.
Nayeri narrates this hero’s journey from Nothing to purpose. Ing (short for Nothing) heeds the advice of his friend, Nana, and sets out with his dog, Pöppy, and the wise mouse, mOmO, to find his name, parents, and purpose. Among Ing’s adventures, he traverses the Land of the Dead and aids the questing Wander Prince. Background music and sounds, like Pöppy’s bell ringing and echo effects in the Land of the Dead, stand in for the artistically arrayed text of the print version. Nayeri’s narration is crisp and matter of fact, presenting sorrow, joy, and even death with a reassuring pragmatism. The exception is his characterization of Pöppy as joyfully silly and distracted.
Nayeri has done a stellar job of adapting his own unique work to the audiobook format. (Adventure. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 27, 2026
Duration: 1 hr, 47 mins
DD ISBN: 9781628864595
Publisher: Sourcebooks Audio
Review Posted Online: today
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2027
An energetic performance brings this world to life.
Narrator Elizabeth Knowelden beautifully captures the whimsy of Millie Fleur’s world as well as her frustrations, or “morgenmuffels,” as she tries to navigate “the worst day ever.” Knowelden establishes a youthful, high-pitched voice for Millie as she prepares for Butterbloom Fest, which is the most exciting day of the year in Garden Glen, her new hometown. The lively background voices and sounds give the audience a sense of busyness and heightened emotion as Millie’s cake and plant for the competition don’t turn out as well as she hoped. Knowelden creates unique voices for the many friends that come to Millie’s rescue in her time of distress.
An energetic performance brings this world to life. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2026
Duration: 28 mins
DD ISBN: 9798225080907
Publisher: Scholastic Audio
Review Posted Online: tomorrow
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2027
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