Narrator Nora Hunter has the perfect voice for Emilie Day, the main character of this ultimately disappointing debut. She has the tone, pacing, and whiney delivery of this depressed, self-absorbed teenager, who is forced to leave her safe world of homeschooling and enter the world of high school. The chapters open with quotes from Emily Dickinson, the reclusive poet Emilie identifies with. Even as classmates Ayla and Chatham extend the hand of friendship and share their own challenges, Emilie’s egocentric point of view prevents her from being empathic and using these conversations to be honest and share her own issues. Her inner dialogue is tedious, repetitious, and somewhat unbelievable as the predictable plot wends its way to a fairy-tale ending.
(Romance. 14-16)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2017
Duration: 7 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780310763864
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Listeners follow Merry, the longbow girl, one of the best archers in her town. When she finds a magical portal in the forest that takes her back to sixteenth-century Wales, she must use her skills to win an archery contest in order to help her ancestors keep their land. While narrator Emily Wilden brings protagonist Merry to life with a rich Welsh accent, her narration seems uneven at times. All the period characters have accents that reflect the setting of the story and transport listeners to Wales. Listeners who enjoy historical fiction and a bit of fantasy will be charmed by this tale of determination, hope, and family.
Young AdultPub Date: N/A
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781501916793
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In 1832 thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle is sailing from Liverpool to Rhode Island to rejoin her family. Shocked to discover that the families who were to have been both guardians and companions will not accompany her, Charlotte embarks on a journey filled with terror and swashbuckling adventure. The first-person narrative makes this Newbery Honor book a wonderful choice for recording. O'Karma's reading, with its hint of cross-gender differentiation, allows the listener to feel as if Charlotte Doyle herself were relating the tale. This story should be particularly alluring to adolescent girls although the fast-paced action and the nautical setting will also appeal to male listeners. Ages 12-adult.
Ages 12+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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