Agile and spirited—narrator James Yaegashi is both of these as he delves into the lives of two 13-year-old boys—Yoshi, a would-be samurai, and Jack, a cabin boy accompanying Commodore Perry on his 1853 voyage to Japan. Yaegashi’s voice is fresh and animated as he deftly switches from one scene to the next, from one boy to the other, and to the moments when he provides background for the time period. For the multitude of supporting characters, ranging from sailors to dignitaries, schemers to artists, Yaegashi creates distinct voices. Lives intertwine, and listeners come away from this adventure with a sense of the magnitude of change awaiting both boys and their countries.
(Historical fiction. 9-13)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2015
Duration: 5 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781501901492
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A classic story of high adventure and conflict between good and evil placed in the mythical land of Prydain, The Book of Three is read grippingly and enchantingly by Chris King. Vocal switches are mostly smooth with a few minor pronunciation slips which are quickly corrected. King's voice is clear, easy to understand and memorable, giving the listener a sense of the characters as well as a pronunciation guide to those incredible Gaelic names Alexander uses. Both the characters and the story linger in the mind's eye because of the quality of narration. This is surely a reading that can be listened to again and again and will leave the listeners asking for the entire Prydain series on tape.
AGES 8+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 5 hrs
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Posy Bates is back, this time with a dog left over from a pet show. Back also are baby Fred and her friend, Sam. But the star of the show is Posy herself, an energetic nine-year-old with a penchant for misadventure. Judy Bennett's rendering of each of the characters in this episodic family story is right on the mark. Her enunciation and impeccable timing clarify the idiomatic text so that its unusual words become another aspect of the book's pleasure. The irrepressible Posy is her greatest challenge, and Bennett gets high marks. She bubbles with enthusiasm, wails and squeals, and dies over and over again. "It's positively brilling!"
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 1 hr
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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