Vikas Adam embodies the mixed feelings of Ashish Patel, the younger brother of Rishi, a character also portrayed by Adam. Ashish, a handsome high school basketball star at his elite school, has been dumped by his college girlfriend. Adam enacts the fading of Ashish’s haughty attitude as his mojo is replaced by severe self-questioning that has him ready to accept his parents’ challenge of arranged dates. Their choice, Sweetie, is portrayed by Soneela Nankani. Nankani articulates the insecurity of a teen who struggles with her mother’s continual comments about her weight but who in other moments knows that she is powerful and talented. Both excellent narrations depict minor characters and reveal cultural elements well. But the focus is the tenderness, vulnerability and self-discovery of the two protagonists.
(Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: May 14, 2019
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781508294900
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Listeners follow Merry, the longbow girl, one of the best archers in her town. When she finds a magical portal in the forest that takes her back to sixteenth-century Wales, she must use her skills to win an archery contest in order to help her ancestors keep their land. While narrator Emily Wilden brings protagonist Merry to life with a rich Welsh accent, her narration seems uneven at times. All the period characters have accents that reflect the setting of the story and transport listeners to Wales. Listeners who enjoy historical fiction and a bit of fantasy will be charmed by this tale of determination, hope, and family.
Young AdultPub Date: N/A
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781501916793
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In 1832 thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle is sailing from Liverpool to Rhode Island to rejoin her family. Shocked to discover that the families who were to have been both guardians and companions will not accompany her, Charlotte embarks on a journey filled with terror and swashbuckling adventure. The first-person narrative makes this Newbery Honor book a wonderful choice for recording. O'Karma's reading, with its hint of cross-gender differentiation, allows the listener to feel as if Charlotte Doyle herself were relating the tale. This story should be particularly alluring to adolescent girls although the fast-paced action and the nautical setting will also appeal to male listeners. Ages 12-adult.
Ages 12+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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