All five narrators from THE PERFECT SCORE return in this sequel, which is sure to engage fans of the first audiobook. Randi, Scott, Trevor, Natalie, and Gavin are starting a new school year with new plans and hopes for seventh grade. But complications arise as the boys keep secrets about the bullies on the football team, Randi secretly communicates with her newfound half-brother, and Natalie desperately tries to reconcile two teachers who don't get along. Soon the kids discover that the adults have been keeping even bigger secrets. The narrators give each character a unique personality, allowing listeners to hear individual perspectives in the alternating chapters as the story unfolds. Ozzie Rodriguez embodies the quiet confidence of Gavin, and Robbie Daymond's innocent enthusiasm makes Scott especially endearing.
(Fiction. 9-12)Pub Date: Oct. 9, 2018
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780525635802
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
A sensitive performance.
Deepa is a precocious 12-year-old girl in remission from leukemia. Under the tutelage of her uncle, a house call doctor, she becomes involved in solving teen tennis player Taio's puzzling medical mystery. Deepa is unsure of herself, but she’s ready to get back to middle school after a year away for treatment. Narrator Soneela Nankani depicts Deepa's desire to be more than the "sick kid" while navigating her youthful insecurities and the social challenges of middle school. Nankani also ably portrays Deepa's growing confidence in herself as she uses her own experience with illness to help figure out what’s wrong with Taio.
A sensitive performance. (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: July 14, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 32 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668182833
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 27, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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