Two excellent narrators deliver the alternating first-person accounts of this audiobook's two protagonists. Graham Halstead depicts confident, kind 18-year-old Adam. Adam may have ADHD and severe clumsiness, but friends flock to him. Christopher Gebauer's portrayal of 14-year-old Julian, Adam's former foster brother, stands in stark contrast. Gebauer depicts a withdrawn, near-invisible boy who would do anything to avoid human contact. When the two are reunited in school, Adam's sunny disposition bolsters wary, reticent Julian. Adam comes to suspect Julian's feelings are more than grief for his parents. Meanwhile, Julian's chapters reveal physical and emotional cruelties perpetrated by his uncle and guardian. Both narrators realistically register emotional changes as Adam's self-doubt grows and Julian better understands the abuse he experienced. The interplay of both voices produces a psychologically gripping story.
(Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2017
Duration: 8 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781501938658
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
There are no easy answers here, and Ramin’s journey is worth hearing.
Ramin Abbas is a devout Muslim Canadian teenager who loves music (show tunes, specifically) and who just might have a crush on the captain of his high school’s soccer team (aka Captain Handsome). He’s struggling to reconcile these things with his faith—especially after he’s forced to join the soccer team. Narrator Vikas Adam keeps listeners close to Ramin’s perspective, delivering the full range of his emotions and conveying both the funny moments and the heartrending ones. Adam’s characterizations of Ramin’s soccer bro teammates and his sweet if mercenary younger brother, Zayn, are appealing. His accents for Ramin’s Pakistani parents and the imam of their mosque add authenticity, and every “sorry” pronounced with a Canadian accent reminds listeners of the setting.
There are no easy answers here, and Ramin’s journey is worth hearing. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668160008
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: tomorrow
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
A powerful journey toward authenticity.
Shannon Tyo’s narration fully embodies the prideful spirit of Elena Ok, a 17-year-old Korean American influencer who lives in luxury thanks to her brand and her family’s clothing business. But when the Oks lose everything, the family moves to a remote farm town and into a rundown house with no Wi-Fi or furniture. Tyo perfectly captures Elena’s misery; she’s undone not just by the lack of reception but also the feeling that she’s being left out of her family’s efforts to unite and move forward. Listeners understand Elena’s pain and feelings of loss through dialogue that sparks with sarcasm. Tyo marks Elena’s gradual understanding that true connection is with family and community, not the empty superficiality that dominated her past.
A powerful journey toward authenticity. (Fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217280834
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2026
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