Narrator Giordan Diaz has a dreamy quality to his voice, perfect for this reimagined version of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth. After nearly drowning, 16-year-old Andres made a bargain with Death to avoid dying. Now living in Miami with bitterly divorced parents, Andres finds refuge with his friends Liora and Renee. The trio form a romance, which comes to a halt when Liora dies in a car accident. Determined to bring Liora back, Renee and Andres travel to the underworld. Diaz has an expressive voice with a raspy quality that works well with the range of emotions in the story. He aptly narrates in Portuguese and Spanish when necessary. Using changes in pacing and tone, he conveys the emotional roller coaster ride in the underworld.
(Verse fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 7, 2024
Duration: 4 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593909980
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A voice that turns verse into lived experience, lingering long after the final line.
Author Sawyerr delivers a raw, intimate performance that captures a teenager’s guarded bravado and quiet vulnerability. She inhabits Truth with striking authenticity, balancing sharp, rhythmic slam poetry with softer, uncertain inner reflections. Sawyerr’s vocal shifts—sounding sometimes defiant, sometimes aching—give dimension to a young woman navigating family tension, fractured friendships, and an unplanned pregnancy. The format, free verse mixed with journal entries, poetry prompts, and text messages, feels especially suited to audio, allowing Sawyerr’s cadence and timing to heighten emotional impact. Refreshingly, the story moves quickly beyond Truth’s decision to have an abortion, captivating listeners with an honest, immediate portrait of her evolving sense of self.
A voice that turns verse into lived experience, lingering long after the final line.Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2026
Duration: N/A
DD ISBN: 9798899744747
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2026
Amber McBride's narration of her novel paints a picture of careful, rule-abiding 17-year-old Gospel, a Keeper who lives in the Leaving Room. She's responsible for helping young souls transition between life and death. McBride's precise delivery echoes her stunning images of evocative memories and settings. Gradually, McBride's narration is colored with questioning as Gospel wonders at the rules she lives by. These rules collapse when she connects with Melodee, another Keeper, even as the narration reflects the joys and tenderness of their love. Finally, the memories Gospel has collected from all the Leavers give context to her own life experience as she remembers and owns her past. McBride's lyrical narration weaves together love, loss, grief, and the liminal space between life and death.
(Verse fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 14, 2025
Duration: 2 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250411440
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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