In this lyrical historical novel about America before and during the Civil War, we follow 15-year-old Tilly Pruit of Illinois as she pursues her errant young brother, who has run off to enlist in the Union Army. Tilly is accompanied by Delphine, a lovely young visitor up from New Orleans. As we and Tilly discover, Delphine is not what she appears. Daniel Passer begins the book, speaking to us in the voice of Tilly's grandson, taken in 1916 to meet his grandmother for the first time. He has a pleasant, easy voice and a fine sense of a boy's pacing as he tells his part of the story. Lina Patel also excels with the many characters and the emotional complexities of the plot. Her Northern country people are plain without being caricatures, and her Southerners convince without too many drippy drawls. This personal story of the great national schism involves us in all ways. A.C.S. 2005 YALSA Selection © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine
Ages 8+Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2004
Duration: 3 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Live Oak Media recently caught our attention with this new read-along book and cassette program. We listened first, and were so delighted we couldn't wait to get the book. The picture book made the experience even better, but the audio recordings was strong and vibrant by itself. THE GARDENER, Sarah Stewart's Depression-era story of a young girl sent to live with her Uncle Jim in the city has a sweet, wistful quality with narration alone, but coupled with David Small's soft-edged pencil illustration, it's a total delight. The reading is repeated on both sides of the tape, one with and without page-turning signals.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: N/A
Publisher: Live Oak Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The plot, performances, and production are funny and engaging and make Pedro’s world feel vibrant and full.
This full cast audio rendition of a graphic memoir conveys the energy and brightness of that visual medium. The story recounts Pedro’s challenging but hopeful and humorous childhood as a migrant farmworker in the U.S., growing up with dreams of a life in the arts. Sound effects and musical interludes punctuate the narrative. Plates rattle as an earthquake shakes a restaurant, and birds sing in the bushes on a berry farm as Pedro’s family works. The animated performances by this large cast, especially the boyish voice of Oscar Emmanuel Fabela as Pedro, are perfect to hook preteen listeners—and adults, too.
The plot, performances, and production are funny and engaging and make Pedro’s world feel vibrant and full. (Graphic memoir. 10-16)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2026
Duration: 3 hrs, 38 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217349708
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Sept. 22, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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