Narrator Michael Goldstrom captures the magic of imagination with his enchanting portrayal of the charming, French-accented Jacques Papier. In this bewitching story, Jacques is the twin brother of Fleur, whom he adores. When he finds out she has an imaginary friend, he decides to get one of his own. When their father declares that an imaginary friend with an imaginary friend is going just too far, Jacques is propelled on a whirlwind journey of self-discovery. Lively characters are illuminated by Goldstrom's deft delivery of irony and a medley of enthusiastic accents. Goldstrom's captivating portrayal of Jacques brings out the paradoxical mélange of grown-up and childlike qualities in this confused, sweet soul. Goldstrom's narration is a wonderful complement to this beautiful story—a heartfelt listening experience.
(Fiction. 8-10)Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2015
Duration: 3 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781101925744
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The audiobook has the comforting, magical quality of an irresistible bedtime story.
Author/narrator Coelho’s bright, friendly first-person narration brings 12-year-old Relic Hamilton to life. When Relic encounters a dangerous genie in his grandfather’s antique shop, he leaves his ordinary London life behind for a supernatural adventure that transports him through history and around the globe. While the journey has thrills and scary moments, the characters always have hope—a central theme of the audiobook. Coelho brings variety to the voices of his other characters, like Relic’s grandfather’s “Jamaican-teacher voice” and the gravelly rumble of a pirate captain from the Age of Sail who sounds exactly like an archetypal pirate ought to.
The audiobook has the comforting, magical quality of an irresistible bedtime story. (Fantasy. 9-13)Pub Date: Feb. 3, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798349162169
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: March 25, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
A magical blending of fantasy and reality.
Narrator Emily Eiden's expressive rendition of Auden "Denny" Greene and her best friend Runa is feminine and childlike, suitable for a tale of girls on the cusp of turning 12. Denny and Runa manifest their active imaginations in a magical world they call Sorrowfeld, filled with dragons and princesses, but Denny is dismayed to find that Runa seems to be growing out of this world and into a new phase of her life. Denny, however, still needs the escapism of Sorrowfeld to cope with challenging circumstances in her real life—while in Sorrowfeld, Princess Auden struggles against actual dragons.
A magical blending of fantasy and reality. (Fantasy. 8-13)Pub Date: Jan. 13, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063348189
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: April 1, 2026
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