Narrator Samantha Desz's even pacing and tone reflect 11-year-old Red's tightly controlled exterior--but don't quite convey the turbulent storm of emotions thrumming inside her. After three unpleasant years in the foster system, Red is counting down the days until her mother's release from prison. At the same time, she tries to suppress her pain and anger over the incarceration because she creates literal storms when her emotions get out of control. Her new foster family is understanding, but Red is hesitant to open up, fearing more hurt and more storms. In spite of the element of magical realism, the action moves slowly. While Desz's calm narration mirrors the story's pace, in doing so it merely alludes to Red's heartrending emotions, rather than fully embodying them.
(Fiction. 8-14)Pub Date: Nov. 5, 2019
Duration: 7 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250233721
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The audiobook has the comforting, magical quality of an irresistible bedtime story.
Author/narrator Coelho’s bright, friendly first-person narration brings 12-year-old Relic Hamilton to life. When Relic encounters a dangerous genie in his grandfather’s antique shop, he leaves his ordinary London life behind for a supernatural adventure that transports him through history and around the globe. While the journey has thrills and scary moments, the characters always have hope—a central theme of the audiobook. Coelho brings variety to the voices of his other characters, like Relic’s grandfather’s “Jamaican-teacher voice” and the gravelly rumble of a pirate captain from the Age of Sail who sounds exactly like an archetypal pirate ought to.
The audiobook has the comforting, magical quality of an irresistible bedtime story. (Fantasy. 9-13)Pub Date: Feb. 3, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798349162169
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: March 25, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
A magical blending of fantasy and reality.
Narrator Emily Eiden's expressive rendition of Auden "Denny" Greene and her best friend Runa is feminine and childlike, suitable for a tale of girls on the cusp of turning twelve. Denny and Runa manifest their active imaginations in a magical world they call Sorrowfeld, filled with dragons and princesses, but Denny is dismayed to find that Runa seems to be growing out of this world and into a new phase of her life. Denny, however, still needs the escapism of Sorrowfeld to cope with challenging circumstances in her real life—while in Sorrowfeld, Princess Auden struggles against actual dragons.
A magical blending of fantasy and reality.Pub Date: Jan. 13, 2026
Duration: N/A
DD ISBN: 9780063348189
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: April 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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