Swayam Bhatia helps listeners imagine the feisty spirit of North Indian Simi Singh, a 12-year-old who meets school and field hockey challenges handily. Bhatia reflects Simi's fear when threats come from a prejudiced classmate and the comfort she finds in her loving extended family. Bhatia depicts Simi's personality as her parents' interfaith Sikh-Muslim marriage puts the family's safety at risk, and they must flee the country. While Simi's father is successful at legally gaining entry to the U.S., Simi and her mother must attempt a perilous journey to enter from Mexico with coyotes. Amid mounting pressures, both Simi's fear and courage build. When she becomes separated from her mother, Bhatia depicts her resourcefulness and resilience, as well as the kindness of strangers.
(Fiction. 8-13)Pub Date: Aug. 5, 2025
Duration: 5 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781546176954
Publisher: Scholastic Audiobooks
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
The plot, performances, and production are funny and engaging and make Pedro’s world feel vibrant and full.
This full cast audio rendition of a graphic memoir conveys the energy and brightness of that visual medium. The story recounts Pedro’s challenging but hopeful and humorous childhood as a migrant farmworker in the U.S., growing up with dreams of a life in the arts. Sound effects and musical interludes punctuate the narrative. Plates rattle as an earthquake shakes a restaurant, and birds sing in the bushes on a berry farm as Pedro’s family works. The animated performances by this large cast, especially the boyish voice of Oscar Emmanuel Fabela as Pedro, are perfect to hook preteen listeners—and adults, too.
The plot, performances, and production are funny and engaging and make Pedro’s world feel vibrant and full. (Graphic memoir. 10-16)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2026
Duration: 3 hrs, 38 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217349708
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Sept. 22, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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