Ramón de Ocampo's prosaic narration adds to the uneasy mood of this middle-grade horror story. After an embarrassing school incident, Casey becomes a social outcast. His family worries about him--until a local dad drops a new friend at Casey's home. Morel doesn't speak, has no eyes, and appears to be made of clay. Oddly, only Casey seems to notice these peculiarities. De Ocampo shines at adding to the listener's discomfort. Rather than reflect Casey's anxiety, his delivery mirrors the normalcy that Casey's parents exhibit around Morel. As days pass, Morel becomes more boy-like and ingratiates himself with Casey's parents. When Morel's true nature is finally revealed, de Ocampo conveys Casey's panic--which the listener has felt all along.
(Horror. 9-12)Pub Date: July 22, 2025
Duration: 5 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063396388
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Smith’s spunky delivery keeps this quirky friendship story plausible.
Ina-Marie Smith’s charming performance captures the sweetly bewitching story of Greta, the only human member of her family, and Agnes, her new human neighbor. Greta lives in a haunted castle with parents who are dragons and brothers who are a ghost, a vampire, and a zombie, respectively—and they all get humorous voices from Smith. Greta longs for a friend and decides to audition Agnes for the job. However, her gift to Agnes—a monster ferret—puts their budding friendship to the test. Amusing wordplay and fairy tale references are upbeat, not scary, and a glimpse of Greta’s monster family out shopping and encountering “normal people” is moving.
Smith’s spunky delivery keeps this quirky friendship story plausible. (Fantasy. 7-11)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 35 mins
DD ISBN: 9781547617371
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Oct. 5, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2026
Santana skillfully expresses the brothers’ estrangement as it evolves into love and understanding.
André Santana’s soothing yet strong voice perfectly conveys the action and wide range of emotions in this fantastical horror story. Ryan, a bully, and his gentle younger brother, Teddy, are grieving their dad's death, which Ryan blames on Teddy.When they hear their dad’s voice calling from the dangerous Hungry Forest, Ryan follows his brother’s impulsive run into the forest. They encounter violent and brutal monsters and vines that bind them and learn they must leave the forest before dark or be confined there forever. They also meet Perdida, orphaned and imprisoned in the forest, who helps divert the pursuing monsters.
Santana skillfully expresses the brothers’ estrangement as it evolves into love and understanding. (Horror. 9-13)Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 48 mins
DD ISBN: 9781547619542
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: tomorrow
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