Narrator Ali Stroker introduces teen listeners to Bliss, a high school influencer who is tackling misconceptions about wheelchair users. Stroker ensures that Bliss is seen beyond her disability through her exuberant broadcasts to her many social media followers. Lainey, voiced by Nora Hunter, is one of them. Hunter chronicles Lainey's increasing isolation as her brother moves across the country and her best friend, Mia, depicted by Rebecca Soler, abandons her to start a makeup channel. With her sophomore year of high school now a bust, Lainey comforts herself by confiding in Bliss. Bliss is an inspiration, a steadfast friend--who is suddenly offline. Stroker and Hunter's distinctive voices heighten what comes next: brave choices and unexpected consequences.
(Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Aug. 19, 2025
Duration: 9 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9798225002213
Publisher: Scholastic Audiobooks
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A moving exploration of consequences, making amends, and figuring out who you are and what kind of person you want to be.
The second-person perspective of this thoughtful audiobook makes the experiences of the two 14-year-old boys at its center feel immediate and relatable. Narrators Major Curda and Arya Shahi deliver the points of view of Dayton and Farshid in alternating chapters. When Dayton yells a homophobic slur at an assembly, the repercussions follow him beyond suspension. The fallout also affects his classmate Farshid, who begins to question his own identity, working out obsessively and clashing with his mom. Curda and Shahi’s performances make it easy for listeners to empathize with both boys. Sound effects, while not strictly necessary, add texture to the production and evoke the soundscape of high school.
A moving exploration of consequences, making amends, and figuring out who you are and what kind of person you want to be. (Fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: March 17, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250433350
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2026
As the friends help each other negotiate life, Anton develops a vulnerability that transforms him into a nurturing leader.
Narrator Michael Ajao easily depicts 14-year-old Anton’s swagger, maximizing the wit of the writing and the hubris that makes Anton and his mates feel like kings. Ajao excels at accents and quickly distinguishes between different classes and personalities—from the fast, spicy dialogue of Anton’s South London friends to the gentleness of his grandmother. Anton’s mother enrolls him in the Happy Campers, a community service group. When he’s paired with loner Matthew, who saves his life after a bee sting, they become unlikely secret friends. Ajao expresses the way Matthew’s soft vulnerability tames Anton’s toxic masculinity and the way Anton’s sarcasm teaches Matthew about the world.
As the friends help each other negotiate life, Anton develops a vulnerability that transforms him into a nurturing leader. (Fiction. 12-16)Pub Date: March 10, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 24 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668654521
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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