This production is as close to perfection as it gets with respect to story and narration. This is a glimpse at history so vivid you feel it in your bones. Seventeen-year-old Edmund finds himself forced into a commitment to Sir Nigel, a knight on his way to the Holy Crusades to serve with Richard the Lionheart. Along the way he experiences the drama of many a colorful exotic land, as well as the danger and violence of the twelfth century. Without a flicker of romanticism this National Book Award finalist paints a realistic picture of a stark and primitive world, full of the tensions of trying to survive, as well as the frenzy of battle. The story is perfect for reluctant readers, especially boys who find it hard to get interested in history. Simon Prebble gives a stellar performance, vividly bringing to life each character and creating empathy for characters driven by motivations that are hard for us to fathom today.
Young AdultPub Date: Jan. 22, 2003
Duration: 5 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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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