Narrator Jorjeana Marie's depiction of Marin has a haunted quality--for reasons that become evident as this story unfolds. Marie quickly conveys Marin's total adoration of her beloved grandfather, who has been her sole caregiver since the age of three. Marie also transitions smoothly between Marin's memories and her lonely winter break after her first semester of college. Over break, Marin has ignored countless calls and texts from Mabel, her best friend from her youth, who recently became her lover. Marie represents equally well the complex feelings of angry, undaunted Mabel, who refuses these rejections and is determined to understand Marin's grief. As the author gradually reveals Marin's heartache and the secrets that emerged after her grandfather's death, Marie skillfully portrays the deep emotions of both heroines--and, finally, the resilience of enduring love.
(Fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: Feb. 14, 2017
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781524749934
Publisher: Listening Library
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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