A stellar trio of narrators delivers the alternating viewpoints in this superb contemporary debut by YA fantasy author Sabaa Tahir. Abuse, alcohol consumption, and drug use are major parts of this story, along with grief and loss. Narrator Kamran R. Khan portrays 18-year-old Salahudin, whose vulnerability and poet’s soul shine as he tries to handle his father’s drinking and debts and his own tangled relationship with his best friend, Noor. Kausar Mohammed portrays 18-year-old Noor. At 6, Noor lost her family and almost lost her life in an earthquake. She was rescued by an uncle who is exacting a terrible price. Narrator Deepti Gupta’s deep voice expresses the mature personality of Misbah, Salahudin’s mother. As the story shifts in time, listeners hear her perspectives as a young adult and as a mature woman who is caring for her son and adoptive daughter.
(Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: March 1, 2022
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593502228
Publisher: Listening Library
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: April 14, 2026
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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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