"Need for speed" is the perfect expression to describe Betty Skelton, and narrator Susie Berneis--as she speeds from one Skelton escapade to the next. Growing up in the 1930s in Pensacola, Florida, Skelton watched naval planes fly overhead. By the age of 12, she was flying by herself (illegally), and by 16 she had her pilot's license. Her little known career took her from stunt flying to setting a record for high-altitude flying in 1951. She went on to race-car driving on the Bonneville Salt Flats, became the first female boat jumper, and finally trained with the Mercury 7 astronauts. Berneis is firm and precise in her narration, and one can't help but think that this is just the way Betty Skelton might have spoken. The production is punctuated with sound effects and occasional music.
(Picture book/biography. 6-9)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2014
Duration: 9 mins
DD ISBN: 9781633791398
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ken Coleman's expertise as a baseball announcer enriches this history of the Boston Red Sox since the sale of Babe Ruth to the N.Y. Yankees. He leads off with a grim account of this transaction, which started the curse that has plagued the Red Sox ever since. The sermon-like tone will amuse non-believers and comfort listeners who are certain the team is cursed. Like the ups and downs of Boston's play through the years, the narrator's voice fluctuates--exuberant and then despondent--in tone and tempo accurately reflecting the mood of any given baseball season. The narrator is very successful at conveying the emotional roller coaster ride Red Sox fans have endured as a result of the curse of the Bambino.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: HighBridge Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This production reflects both the sweep of history and the intimate resilience of one family.
A talented ensemble cast brings this fictionalized graphic memoir to life in a vivid, fully immersive listening experience. Young Carlos, voiced by Cuban American narrator Giordan Diaz, anchors the story with a performance that captures innocence, fear, and curiosity as revolution begins to shadow his childhood in Cuba. Daniel Miyares narrates in a steady, serious tone, skillfully weaving the historical context of 1950s Cuba into the family’s perilous journey toward Key West, Florida. The contrast between his grounded narration and the emotionally charged family scenes adds depth and authenticity. Cuban music and layered sound design, like rolling waves, hushed conversations, and distant protesters, create a cinematic atmosphere.
This production reflects both the sweep of history and the intimate resilience of one family. (Graphic memoir. 8-12)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 1 hr, 27 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217346066
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: March 10, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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