Narrator Soneela Nankani suffuses tween warrior Serwa Boateng with strength and passion. Serwa has spent her life training with her parents to fight deadly "adze," fierce vampires that first appear as fireflies. But the adults' latest mission is too dangerous, so she goes to stay with her aunt and cousin, where she is forced to face her most daunting foe: middle school. As Serwa goes up against racist teachers and mean girls, Nankani leans into her angst and pain. When an adze appears at school, Serwa pulls together a team of unlikely allies, who are given distinct tween character voices by Nankani. She perfectly nails the frenzy of battle and terms from Ghanaian folklore. Depictions of historical injustice and daily microaggressions lace the fantasy with real-life evils.
(Adventure. 10-13)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2022
Duration: 12 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A classic story of high adventure and conflict between good and evil placed in the mythical land of Prydain, The Book of Three is read grippingly and enchantingly by Chris King. Vocal switches are mostly smooth with a few minor pronunciation slips which are quickly corrected. King's voice is clear, easy to understand and memorable, giving the listener a sense of the characters as well as a pronunciation guide to those incredible Gaelic names Alexander uses. Both the characters and the story linger in the mind's eye because of the quality of narration. This is surely a reading that can be listened to again and again and will leave the listeners asking for the entire Prydain series on tape.
AGES 8+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 5 hrs
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Posy Bates is back, this time with a dog left over from a pet show. Back also are baby Fred and her friend, Sam. But the star of the show is Posy herself, an energetic nine-year-old with a penchant for misadventure. Judy Bennett's rendering of each of the characters in this episodic family story is right on the mark. Her enunciation and impeccable timing clarify the idiomatic text so that its unusual words become another aspect of the book's pleasure. The irrepressible Posy is her greatest challenge, and Bennett gets high marks. She bubbles with enthusiasm, wails and squeals, and dies over and over again. "It's positively brilling!"
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 1 hr
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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