Benedict and Sheinmel's YA historical fiction, set in the early 1900s, introduces 12-year-old orphan Lainey Phillips. Billie Fulford-Brown gives Lainey a believable voice as she struggles to grow and learn at the harsh Sycamore Home for Orphaned Children. Mrs. Holsapple's cruelty and disdain for her orphans comes through in every syllable she spits out in contrast to the oily charm she spouts to possible benefactors. Lainey's chance encounter with a woman at the orphanage's open house leads to a scholarship to Lovelace Academy. There, her roommate Marjorie's voice is condescending, while Sabrina's tone offers friendship. Lainey's confidence grows when a Lovelace mission sends her to Switzerland, where she wins over suspicious Mileva Maric Einstein, Albert's real-life wife, a physicist/mathematician who contributed to his ideas.
(Historical fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: April 22, 2025
Duration: 6 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781668129944
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Stribling’s prodigious skill brings Appalachia to life in this heartfelt tale.
Kramer introduces us to the folklore, religion, and power of community in 1970s Appalachia. Amanda Stribling’s stellar narration breathes vibrant life into this fascinating story. With her believable Appalachian accent, she becomes 11-year-old Delilah, who is struggling to find her place in her family and changing community. Listeners hear Delilah’s hurt as her older sister, Eve, once her best friend, seems to be growing away from her, and her patience as she tries to keep wild and impulsive younger sister Jezzie safe. Stribling transitions smoothly to the voice of bombastic, overconfident itinerant preacher Brother Jones, whose revival meetings introduce snake handling, dancing, speaking in tongues, and harsh judgments to the area.
Stribling’s prodigious skill brings Appalachia to life in this heartfelt tale. (Historical fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: June 16, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs, 34 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668196373
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 18, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: yesterday
Rey’s timeless performance makes this medieval adventure fascinating, frightening, and fun.
Elena Rey holds listeners’ attention firmly in her grasp with her narration of this middle-grade historical fiction. Twelve-year-old Blanca is chosen by her grandmother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, to marry the prince of France. As Blanca travels from Spain, she learns lessons about how to be a queen from Eleanor and lessons about life from the difficult journey. Rey voices young Blanca, Queen Eleanor, and various male characters with equal aplomb. Eleanor sounds imperious and aged; Blanca is assuredly royal yet a still preteen; and the knights are chivalrous, pompous, and a bit overzealous. Rey’s royal harrumphs and sniffs and childish scoffs and whines add to the enjoyable soundscape.
Rey’s timeless performance makes this medieval adventure fascinating, frightening, and fun. (Historical fiction. 9-14)Pub Date: March 24, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 51 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217287901
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: April 14, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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