Thirteen-year-old Zazoo, a Viet-namese orphan, has always felt one hundred percent French, raised as she was by an old Frenchman named Grand-Pierre in a stone mill on the banks of a French canal and speaking nothing but French. In an English language audiobook, it can be a tricky matter to imply another language, yet Joanna Wyatt manages im-peccably. The cast of ZAZOO comes to exotic life with inflection, timing, and subtle variations in pronunciation. Zazoo's melodious accent lends a foreign air to all, while Juliet, Zazoo's passionate and enthusiastic best friend, stands in sharp contrast. Grand-Pierre's love and bewilderment intertwine to create a memorable character whose past is riddled with dark secrets. Add to the appealing cast of characters the lyrical poems charmingly recited throughout, and this audiobook is a heart-stealer.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2002
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Vikas Adam and Soneela Nankani animate alternate chapters of the dynamic love story between Pinky and Samir in this companion to WHEN DIMPLE MET RISHI. Coincidence unites the two teens when Samir's promised internship falls through and Pinky invites him to become her pretend summer boyfriend because he meets her mother's expectations. This fast-paced rom-com pairs two unlikely heroes, and the narrators capture the reversals and tensions of their growing relationship. Nankani shows Pinky's prickly side while also revealing her hidden vulnerabilities. Adam communicates Samir's loosening up in response to Pinky's passionate approach to living, his willingness to let go of anger, and, finally, his flourishing love for Pinky. Head and heart, tension and humor are reflected in this engaging listen.
(Romance. 13-18)Pub Date: July 21, 2020
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781797108759
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Finn, the epileptic son of a famous sci-fi writer, lives on the site of the catastrophic Mulholland Dam failure. Narrator Kirby Heyborne’s measured, carefully enunciated narration reflects the contemplative nature of this 17-year-old, who measures time in the distance the Earth travels: 20 miles per second. Finn is reserved, but his loyal friend for billions of miles has been the foul-mouthed, funny Cade Hernandez. Heyborne captures their mirror-like personalities as they banter. Finn’s life is remarkably similar to that of his alien, epileptic namesake in his father’s famous book, and he feels trapped by the book’s story. When he falls in love with Julia, whom Heyborne imbues with a sweet mysteriousness, Finn tests the boundaries of his sheltered life in the shadow of many sorrows.
(Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: June 23, 2015
Duration: 7 hrs
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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