Left alone by her mother’s sudden death in a savage future where life is ruled by fear and memory and humans feel powerless to affect their fate, Kira is a different breed, an artist who expresses her vision in colored thread on cloth. Such a gift, however, matters little to the general populace, scrabbling as they must to survive in a hostile physical world, particularly when the artist is imperfect, as Kira is, with her twisted leg and hobbled walk. Katherine Borowitz delivers an unimpassioned, measured reading, a superb match for the dispassionate tone of Lowry’s novel. Her voice softens and glimmers with emotion only when the text rests solidly within Kira’s thoughts, or when she remembers her dead mother’s loving tones. The solemnity and mystery of the novel are frequently relieved, however, by the charming impulsivity and crude Fen dialect of the waif, Matt, which Borowitz flawlessly captures.
Ages 10+Pub Date: July 1, 2008
Duration: 5 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780739379806
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Myths come to life through Bahni Turpin and Robin Miles's stellar narration of this young adult fantasy. Marisol and her mother left their home in the Caribbean to live in Brooklyn. Marisol hopes to leave their island traditions and her family's magic behind. Genevieve grew up listening to her white father's mythical stories from her unknown mother's homeland. When the teens' lives collide, both discover secrets that change their views of their worlds. It's no surprise that both Turpin and Miles are Golden Voice narrators. Their skills bring Genevieve's and Marisol's stories to life as they capture the teens' personalities. Miles exquisitely delivers Marisol's Caribbean accent, while Turpin channels Genevieve's frustrations with her family and her own health. Simply magical.
(Verse fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 11, 2025
Duration: 6 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063395589
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This dark science-fiction story about three teens who participate in a doomed space mission is commendably narrated by Casey Holloway. Varied accents for the three teens—who are from France, Japan, and Norway—and strong pacing showcase Holloway’s talent as a narrator. As panic sets in among the astronauts and the teens find their adult companions to be unreliable, Holloway easily delivers the rising tension, and her quiet intensity draws listeners toward the story’s chilling conclusion. Harstad’s story will leave listeners contemplating the fate of humanity in the vast reaches of space.
(Science fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: April 17, 2012
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781611134094
Publisher: Hachette Audio
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.
