Gary Tiedemann gives voice to "Rhino" Rhinehart, the featured character in Lipsyte's timely, troubling coming-of-age novel. Because of an impulsive punch, the junior captain of the football team finds himself keeping a journal as part of a school therapy group. Tiedemann delivers Rhino's words in the voice of a teen who is attempting honesty and beginning to question who he wants to be. Unique voices bring other characters to life as Rhino quotes them. Josh, the boy Rhino punched, arrogantly tries to lead the group. Keith uses snarky comments to cover up his pain and isolation. Ms. L, the leader of the group, sounds patient and compassionate. The coach barks harshly to encourage conflict over teamwork. There's plenty of food for thought for listeners as Rhino searches for his path to change.
(Fiction. 13-17)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2025
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Small’s performance will keep listeners invested.
Narrator Izzy Meikle Small infuses this teen tennis romance with tension and heart. Billie has the potential to win junior doubles at Wimbledon, but she needs a new partner. Her last hope is her coach’s nephew, Harley, whom she has always despised. But as Harley and Billie spend more time together, they soon become more than teammates. Small’s bright, expressive, British-accented voice emphasizes Billie’s vulnerabilities, determination, and desires as she pursues her goals and gives in to her feelings for Harley. However, her tone lacks the same variation when delivering Harley’s dialogue.
Small’s performance will keep listeners invested. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 17 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063516861
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: June 16, 2026
A unique portrait of a teen who finds himself by embracing the love, grief, and activism that surround him.
Fifteen-year-old Bryce was born on the Ojibwe Wolf Creek reservation and lived there happily until his father’s death. Now he lives far away, surviving in a shadowy existence with his drug-addicted mother and her abusive boyfriend. Narrator Meegwun Fairbrother effectively expresses Bryce’s fear and anger. When Bryce’s mother is imprisoned, he returns to Wolf Creek to live with his grandmother and dying grandfather. Fairbrother uses accents judiciously and evocatively to ground listeners in the strength and caring of Bryce’s grandparents and other elders. Similarly, Fairbrother conveys the support of Bryce’s old friends, who introduce him to skateboarding, a passion his father also shared.
A unique portrait of a teen who finds himself by embracing the love, grief, and activism that surround him. (Fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 20 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063160453
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: April 28, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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