Elizabeth’s first after-school job is at the New York Circulating Material Repository. The Repository loans out rare items like Marie Antoinette’s wig, Japanese tea sets, and even magical objects from the Grimm collection. Narrator Julia Whelan conveys a delicate sense of wonder as Elizabeth realizes magic mirrors and flying carpets really exist. The Repository’s rules and regulations make for a detailed narration, but Whelan gives listeners a clear picture of Shulman’s world. Whelan also shares Elizabeth’s humor as she suffers from unrequited love and a lost sense of direction. Whelan’s voices for the young children in the story sound adorable and add to its appeal. Elizabeth’s adventures at this enchanted library and Whelan’s charming performance make this a worthy listen.
Young AdultPub Date: 2012
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781101568323
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Myths come to life through Bahni Turpin and Robin Miles's stellar narration of this young adult fantasy. Marisol and her mother left their home in the Caribbean to live in Brooklyn. Marisol hopes to leave their island traditions and her family's magic behind. Genevieve grew up listening to her white father's mythical stories from her unknown mother's homeland. When the teens' lives collide, both discover secrets that change their views of their worlds. It's no surprise that both Turpin and Miles are Golden Voice narrators. Their skills bring Genevieve's and Marisol's stories to life as they capture the teens' personalities. Miles exquisitely delivers Marisol's Caribbean accent, while Turpin channels Genevieve's frustrations with her family and her own health. Simply magical.
(Verse fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 6 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063395589
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This dark science-fiction story about three teens who participate in a doomed space mission is commendably narrated by Casey Holloway. Varied accents for the three teens—who are from France, Japan, and Norway—and strong pacing showcase Holloway’s talent as a narrator. As panic sets in among the astronauts and the teens find their adult companions to be unreliable, Holloway easily delivers the rising tension, and her quiet intensity draws listeners toward the story’s chilling conclusion. Harstad’s story will leave listeners contemplating the fate of humanity in the vast reaches of space.
(Science fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: 2012
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781611134094
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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