Aida Reluzco and Andre Bellido do a beautiful job of narrating this story about the uncertainty of young love. Soleida flees her native Cuba and eventually finds herself alone in a Costa Rican refugee camp. Dariel is visiting from California. He comes from a wealthy family, and, at first, the pair do not seem to have much in common. But soon they develop intense feelings for each other. They are both concerned about climate change and committed to helping environmental causes. Reluzco and Bellido both switch from English to Cuban Spanish easily. They have a youthful quality in their voices that adds authenticity to the listening experience. Reluzco is good at conveying Soleida's precarious mental state by adding the right amount of hesitation to her delivery.
(Verse novel. 12-17)Pub Date: April 18, 2023
Duration: 1 hr, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781797156811
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A voice that turns verse into lived experience, lingering long after the final line.
Author Sawyerr delivers a raw, intimate performance that captures a teenager’s guarded bravado and quiet vulnerability. She inhabits Truth with striking authenticity, balancing sharp, rhythmic slam poetry with softer, uncertain inner reflections. Sawyerr’s vocal shifts—sounding sometimes defiant, sometimes aching—give dimension to a young woman navigating family tension, fractured friendships, and an unplanned pregnancy. The format, free verse mixed with journal entries, poetry prompts, and text messages, feels especially suited to audio, allowing Sawyerr’s cadence and timing to heighten emotional impact. Refreshingly, the story moves quickly beyond Truth’s decision to have an abortion, captivating listeners with an honest, immediate portrait of her evolving sense of self.
A voice that turns verse into lived experience, lingering long after the final line. (Verse fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798899744747
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: March 25, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
Amber McBride's narration of her novel paints a picture of careful, rule-abiding 17-year-old Gospel, a Keeper who lives in the Leaving Room. She's responsible for helping young souls transition between life and death. McBride's precise delivery echoes her stunning images of evocative memories and settings. Gradually, McBride's narration is colored with questioning as Gospel wonders at the rules she lives by. These rules collapse when she connects with Melodee, another Keeper, even as the narration reflects the joys and tenderness of their love. Finally, the memories Gospel has collected from all the Leavers give context to her own life experience as she remembers and owns her past. McBride's lyrical narration weaves together love, loss, grief, and the liminal space between life and death.
(Verse fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 14, 2025
Duration: 2 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250411440
Publisher: Macmillan 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.
