Author Paola Mendoza communicates the traumatic experiences of immigrants seeking sanctuary as she narrates her own audiobook, coauthored with Abby Sher. In this near-future dystopian novel, Valentina Gonzalez Ramirez--known as Vali--lives in a world in which immigrants are subjected to intense scrutiny and abusive state-sanctioned policies. When governmental violence against immigrants escalates, Vali's family must flee and seek refuge in California. While keeping the pace moving in this action-packed story, Mendoza poignantly communicates the migrants' selfless protectiveness of their families and wrenching grief at the tragedies they endure. Her depiction of the cruelty they encounter is heartbreaking and all-too-imaginable. While the production has some distracting volume changes and muffled sounds, listeners will still be captivated by this terrifyingly plausible story.
(Dystopian. 13-18)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780593340998
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Boyle's emotional performance immerses listeners in this world of war and ever flowing water.
Rafe and Jule were destined to kill each other in battle, as their warring factions—the Rogues and the Crowns—have fought over a flooded London for centuries. However, fate has other plans for them. Zoe Boyle brings these characters—and the London of 2425—to life. Her enthusiastic narration perfectly depicts the circumstances that befall them. Boyle imitates the sound of whizzing arrows, the crack of a discharging rifle, the heaving breaths of a desperate swimmer, and more. Her voice cracks after heartbreaking deaths, and it soars when the characters experience love.
Boyle's emotional performance immerses listeners in this world of war and ever flowing water. (Dystopian. 13-18)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 41 mins
DD ISBN: 9798225035815
Publisher: Scholastic Audio
Review Posted Online: April 28, 2026
A swashbuckling adventure with lots of heart.
Barnaby Edwards will have listeners hanging onto every word of this action-packed audiobook. This worthy sequel to Thunder City finds the crew of the Fire’s Astonishment helping the university city of Museion. Its inhabitants are willingly joining the city of London in order to preserve their knowledge and artifacts. But in order to do that, they’ll have to travel safely to the rendezvous point without being eaten by another traction city. With his panoply of accents, Edwards is just as skillful narrating close calls and violent skirmishes as he is with quieter moments between characters. Vespertine, the mechanical Revenant, and her relationships with Small Cat and Professor Stanislaus are particular standouts.
A swashbuckling adventure with lots of heart. (Science fiction. 12-16)Pub Date: Feb. 3, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798225035891
Publisher: Scholastic Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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