Ulka Simone Mohanty invites listeners into the perilous world of Heera, a teenager in India who is struggling against the limitations of her perceived future. Heera has watched her beloved cousin, Mira Di, and countless other girls being sold into the sex trade and fears that she is next. A crisis leads her to a hostel for at-risk girls, where she begins to learn kung fu and take control of her own body and fate. Mohanty's portrayal of Heera is soft but powerful; her confidence grows as she masters martial arts discipline. Mohanty expertly depicts the tension between Heera's desperation to avoid exploitation and her deep love for her poverty-stricken family. An endnote delivered by the author reveals the real-life stories that inspired the audiobook.
(Fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: May 16, 2023
Duration: 9 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781339004358
Publisher: Scholastic Audiobooks
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Pabon breathes life into this story of a father and son desperate to connect.
After the death of his beloved mother, Miles is spending a year with his estranged father, Jake. Jake owns a failing art house movie theater, and he’s pinned his hopes on convincing a famous Spanish director to show her latest film there. Jake and Miles set off on a trip through Spain, searching for the director and rebuilding their relationship along the way. Timothy Andrés Pabon's pronunciation of Spanish words and phrases brings authenticity to descriptions of the food, traditions, and landmarks. His emotional portrayals of a broken teen and a yearning father who reach for yet miss each other will simultaneously break listeners' hearts and give them hope.
Pabon breathes life into this story of a father and son desperate to connect. (Fiction. 13-17)Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 19 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217348589
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Sept. 1, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2026
A brilliant, empathetic narration worthy of its complex characters.
Will Watt’s narration shines in this queer Frankenstein retelling. Brilliant scientist Victor is certain that he can find the answer to human reanimation. Desperate to prove himself, he kidnaps innocent Elias, destroys his body, stitches it back together, and revives him using a mix of alchemy and electricity—with horrifying results. Victor then journeys across Europe to reverse his mistake with vengeful Elias on his trail. Watt depicts the alchemists Victor seeks advice from in a variety of languages and accents. He embodies suffering, betrayal, regret, and even budding love with an emotional intensity that will leave listeners in tears. Clarifying footnotes with historical context are interwoven with the prose.
A brilliant, empathetic narration worthy of its complex characters. (Horror. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 14 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063449053
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 8, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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