This story of understanding, support, and love will move listeners.
Two narrators give voice to a class of students undertaking a writing assignment. Each student is assigned a family member, friend, or acquaintance and must write a short essay about giving that person a gift. The gift cannot be money, and it cannot be something that the person has wished for. VyVy Nguyen and David Lee Huynh tap into the teenage characters well—the good-natured complaining, the teasing, the energy, and the questions they ask. Both narrators also tap into the students’ hearts, offering serious and sincere performances as each gift is revealed to be compassionate and heartfelt.
This story of understanding, support, and love will move listeners. (Verse fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: April 7, 2026
Duration: 49 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063475861
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2026
Arsenault’s passionate performance brings this alternative world to life.
Fourteen-year-old Tessa lives in a dystopian world with a leader who has banned books and taken away the personal liberties of its citizens. Elise Arsenault establishes a steady pace with her narration. When an older neighbor is taken to elder care, Tessa finds a box of forbidden books in her house that changes everything. Arsenault captures Tessa’s tumultuous emotions as she learns about the past and discovers that her long-lost twin brother, Theo, who disappeared years ago, may still be alive. Fans of Lowry’s The Giver will be intrigued by this world, one that feels frighteningly plausible.
Arsenault’s passionate performance brings this alternative world to life. (Dystopian. 9-12)Pub Date: yesterday
Duration: 5 hrs, 49 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063515130
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: tomorrow
Through Andromeda’s story, young listeners will learn more about the justice system and their rights.
Fifth grader Andromeda Diaz is concerned about her friend, Benji, who has been accused of stealing a valuable watch and is now facing charges. Andi, the daughter of two public defenders, doesn’t believe he committed the crime, and she works to figure out what really happened. Author Almanza, who was herself a public defender, performs her own work enthusiastically. Her narration style is casual, at times not quite nailing the rhythm of the text. While she’s not a professional narrator, her knowledge of the legal process shines through.
Through Andromeda’s story, young listeners will learn more about the justice system and their rights. (Mystery. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 11 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217352364
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Sept. 22, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2026
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