This lush reimagining of the fabled ONE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS (aka THE ARABIAN NIGHTS) is told from the perspective of a determined teenager. The feisty Shahrzad volunteers for the sultan's service to avenge the death of her friend. Her personality is vividly characterized by Ariana Delawari. As narrator, her success is in her ability to emphasize Shahrzad's grit and passion. Listeners are drawn in as Shahrzad fights for her life--and struggles to overcome a growing love for her sworn enemy. At times, the drama falls heavily on the ear because of a lack of variety in pace and tone. But, overall, Delawari's voice has a youthful quality that captures the age of the characters, both the storyteller and her young caliph.
(Fantasy. 14 & up)Pub Date: May 12, 2015
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781101892244
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Listeners follow Merry, the longbow girl, one of the best archers in her town. When she finds a magical portal in the forest that takes her back to sixteenth-century Wales, she must use her skills to win an archery contest in order to help her ancestors keep their land. While narrator Emily Wilden brings protagonist Merry to life with a rich Welsh accent, her narration seems uneven at times. All the period characters have accents that reflect the setting of the story and transport listeners to Wales. Listeners who enjoy historical fiction and a bit of fantasy will be charmed by this tale of determination, hope, and family.
Young AdultPub Date: N/A
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781501916793
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In 1832 thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle is sailing from Liverpool to Rhode Island to rejoin her family. Shocked to discover that the families who were to have been both guardians and companions will not accompany her, Charlotte embarks on a journey filled with terror and swashbuckling adventure. The first-person narrative makes this Newbery Honor book a wonderful choice for recording. O'Karma's reading, with its hint of cross-gender differentiation, allows the listener to feel as if Charlotte Doyle herself were relating the tale. This story should be particularly alluring to adolescent girls although the fast-paced action and the nautical setting will also appeal to male listeners. Ages 12-adult.
Ages 12+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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