With each of its five narrators being voiced by a different actor, this story manages to remain engaging even while it takes a long time to build momentum. Abigail Revasch portrays Randi, a competitive gymnast whose mother micromanages her life. Robbie Daymond's Scott is well meaning, if a bit hyperactive and accident-prone. Trevor, who is desperate to avoid turning out like his abusive brother, is portrayed by Todd Haberkorn. The two featured characters of the production, Natalie and Gavin, are portrayed by Caitlin Davies and Ozzie Rodriguez. Natalie, an aspiring lawyer, speaks intentionally. Gavin, a football enthusiast with a learning disability, speaks slowly and thoughtfully. The story addresses complex issues and is sure to engage listeners.
(Fiction. 9-12)Pub Date: Oct. 3, 2017
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781524782115
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
Naeymi’s narration is both raw and triumphant.
Samara Naeymi beautifully narrates this middle-grade novel about an Iranian American girl. Bullied by her classmates for her frizzy hair and thick eyebrows and criticized by her mother for her weight, Yasmin struggles to be her authentic self in a world that tells her she's not good enough. There are many different perspectives in this story, and Naeymi is true to each: Yasmin’s judgmental mother, with her Persian accent and steely belief in her own harsh parenting; the ruthless teenagers whose hurtful comments cause emotional harm; the younger brother concerned for his sister's unhappiness; and the tried-and-true best friend.
Naeymi’s narration is both raw and triumphant. (Fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: March 24, 2026
Duration: 4 hrs, 51 mins
DD ISBN: 9798349114861
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: April 28, 2026
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