With her older brother and only family member, Rob, missing in action in the Pacific theatre of WWII, Jayna, aka Gingersnap, leaves her guardian and heads to Brooklyn with her pet turtle and a bakery address in hand. She's been told she may have a grandmother there. Olivia Campbell's narration enriches the character of Jayna. Her tender, raw voice mirrors Jayna's uncertainties and desperation. Campbell's voice weakens and trails off at just the moments when Jayna feels most vulnerable. And as Jayna lets herself take in the welcoming bakery "family," Campbell picks up the pace, and her voice gains conviction. As guardian Celine, Campbell's quavering voice creates a remarkably unsuitable parent surrogate. Bakery owner Elise's voice is filled with uncertainty and skepticism, followed by growing warmth.
. (Historical fiction. 9-12)Pub Date: Jan. 8, 2013
Duration: 3 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780385361323
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Live Oak Media recently caught our attention with this new read-along book and cassette program. We listened first, and were so delighted we couldn't wait to get the book. The picture book made the experience even better, but the audio recordings was strong and vibrant by itself. THE GARDENER, Sarah Stewart's Depression-era story of a young girl sent to live with her Uncle Jim in the city has a sweet, wistful quality with narration alone, but coupled with David Small's soft-edged pencil illustration, it's a total delight. The reading is repeated on both sides of the tape, one with and without page-turning signals.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: N/A
Publisher: Live Oak Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Mirai's renderings of Kestrel, her family, and fellow workers at the institute thoughtfully depict the protagonists' growth.
Kestrel and her mother leave the home in California they share with Kestrel's grandfather, a pastor, to stay at a wildlife conservation institute in Montana. Narrator Mirai's youthful voice is a natural fit for this story of a young girl who at first resents being tricked into leaving California, but who later comes to realize that moving away from their strict home life was the right choice. Mirai employs distinctive voices for the adults, like Kestrel's stern grandfather and her uncertain mother, who begins gaining confidence. An author's note at the end discusses emotional abuse and how to find help.
Mirai's renderings of Kestrel, her family, and fellow workers at the institute thoughtfully depict the protagonists' growth. (Verse fiction. 9-14)Pub Date: May 26, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 42 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668175507
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2026
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