The theme of self-discovery drives this realistic audiobook featuring Dean, a high school thespian who has recently realized he is transgender. Playing Romeo in a nontraditional school production of ROMEO AND JULIET inspires Dean to recognize that masculinity isn't just a role for him--it's what he is. So he begins the complicated and ever-continuing process of coming out as trans. MW Cartozian Wilson narrates Dean's story in husky, serious tones, shifting easily into deadpan humor and high-stakes emotions. Other characters' voices are mostly understated, allowing Dean's voice and perspective to take center stage. Trans listeners hoping for a sense of authenticity will find it here, and listeners of all kinds will root for Dean as he grows into his true self and looks to the future.
(Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: April 27, 2021
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781705028377
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A moving exploration of consequences, making amends, and figuring out who you are and what kind of person you want to be.
The second-person perspective of this thoughtful audiobook makes the experiences of the two 14-year-old boys at its center feel immediate and relatable. Narrators Major Curda and Arya Shahi deliver the points of view of Dayton and Farshid in alternating chapters. When Dayton yells a homophobic slur at an assembly, the repercussions follow him beyond suspension. The fallout also affects his classmate Farshid, who begins to question his own identity, working out obsessively and clashing with his mom. Curda and Shahi’s performances make it easy for listeners to empathize with both boys. Sound effects, while not strictly necessary, add texture to the production and evoke the soundscape of high school.
A moving exploration of consequences, making amends, and figuring out who you are and what kind of person you want to be. (Fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: today
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250433350
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: yesterday
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2026
As the friends help each other negotiate life, Anton develops a vulnerability that transforms him into a nurturing leader.
Narrator Michael Ajao easily depicts 14-year-old Anton’s swagger, maximizing the wit of the writing and the hubris that makes Anton and his mates feel like kings. Ajao excels at accents and quickly distinguishes between different classes and personalities—from the fast, spicy dialogue of Anton’s South London friends to the gentleness of his grandmother. Anton’s mother enrolls him in the Happy Campers, a community service group. When he’s paired with loner Matthew, who saves his life after a bee sting, they become unlikely secret friends. Ajao expresses the way Matthew’s soft vulnerability tames Anton’s toxic masculinity and the way Anton’s sarcasm teaches Matthew about the world.
As the friends help each other negotiate life, Anton develops a vulnerability that transforms him into a nurturing leader. (Fiction. 12-16)Pub Date: March 10, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 24 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668654521
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: yesterday
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