Narrator Oliver Hembrough gives voice to the thoughts of Kester, a mute teen who is incarcerated. Kester realizes that he can communicate with the last remnants of wildlife in a world in which nearly all creatures have died from the deadly red-eye virus. A group of animals helps him escape and looks to him as the savior of "the last wild." Hembrough's dynamic narration adds suspense, even when the story occasionally becomes predictable. His performance features two standout characters, a befuddled white pigeon who squawks jumbled commentary and a cockroach who gruffly barks militaristic orders as he rides safely in Kester's pocket. Hembrough's English accent suits this dystopian adventure, which is peppered with British words that are uncommon in the American lexicon.
(Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780698146754
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A classic story of high adventure and conflict between good and evil placed in the mythical land of Prydain, The Book of Three is read grippingly and enchantingly by Chris King. Vocal switches are mostly smooth with a few minor pronunciation slips which are quickly corrected. King's voice is clear, easy to understand and memorable, giving the listener a sense of the characters as well as a pronunciation guide to those incredible Gaelic names Alexander uses. Both the characters and the story linger in the mind's eye because of the quality of narration. This is surely a reading that can be listened to again and again and will leave the listeners asking for the entire Prydain series on tape.
AGES 8+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 5 hrs
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Posy Bates is back, this time with a dog left over from a pet show. Back also are baby Fred and her friend, Sam. But the star of the show is Posy herself, an energetic nine-year-old with a penchant for misadventure. Judy Bennett's rendering of each of the characters in this episodic family story is right on the mark. Her enunciation and impeccable timing clarify the idiomatic text so that its unusual words become another aspect of the book's pleasure. The irrepressible Posy is her greatest challenge, and Bennett gets high marks. She bubbles with enthusiasm, wails and squeals, and dies over and over again. "It's positively brilling!"
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 1 hr
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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