Narrator Lisa Cordileone convincingly portrays both tween and adult characters, immersing listeners in the timeless story of Delsie, her grandmother, and their neighbors, who live in a coastal Cape Cod town. Delsie had been looking forward to summer with her best friend, Brandy, but this year Brandy has befriended a mean girl named Tressa. Tressa's bored drawl contrasts with the sincere enthusiasm in Delsie's voice, underscoring the listener's empathy with Delsie when they exclude her. As she befriends a new boy named Ronan, who is mourning his late mother, Delsie explores her mixed emotions about her own mother, who abandoned her. Cordileone also creates distinct voices for supporting characters, adding even more vividness to this relatable story of friendship, family, and small-town life.
(Fiction. 10-12)Pub Date: May 7, 2019
Duration: 6 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780525494089
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Live Oak Media recently caught our attention with this new read-along book and cassette program. We listened first, and were so delighted we couldn't wait to get the book. The picture book made the experience even better, but the audio recordings was strong and vibrant by itself. THE GARDENER, Sarah Stewart's Depression-era story of a young girl sent to live with her Uncle Jim in the city has a sweet, wistful quality with narration alone, but coupled with David Small's soft-edged pencil illustration, it's a total delight. The reading is repeated on both sides of the tape, one with and without page-turning signals.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: N/A
Publisher: Live Oak Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Mirai's renderings of Kestrel, her family, and fellow workers at the institute thoughtfully depict the protagonists' growth.
Kestrel and her mother leave the home in California they share with Kestrel's grandfather, a pastor, to stay at a wildlife conservation institute in Montana. Narrator Mirai's youthful voice is a natural fit for this story of a young girl who at first resents being tricked into leaving California, but who later comes to realize that moving away from their strict home life was the right choice. Mirai employs distinctive voices for the adults, like Kestrel's stern grandfather and her uncertain mother, who begins gaining confidence. An author's note at the end discusses emotional abuse and how to find help.
Mirai's renderings of Kestrel, her family, and fellow workers at the institute thoughtfully depict the protagonists' growth. (Verse fiction. 9-14)Pub Date: May 26, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 42 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668175507
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2026
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