In 2042, death has been eradicated in MidMerica, and scythes control population growth. Narrator Greg Tremblay establishes the background and tone of this futuristic world. The book’s chapters are written by these scythes, who reflect their moral codes with the calm tones of cultural anthropologists. Tremblay’s more emotional storytelling comes in his depiction of Citra and Rowan, two teens who are unwillingly chosen for scythe apprenticeship. Citra and Rowan become both allies and competitors as each struggles with the role of administering death. Tremblay expresses Citra’s infectious curiosity and quick outrage at injustice. He also recounts Rowan’s apprenticeship to a cruel scythe and the stunted emotions that he struggles with from that experience. The story’s moral dilemmas end with a promise of future challenges in a sequel.
(Science fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2017
Duration: 10 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Audible, 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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