Narrator N'Jameh Camara introduces listeners to a melting pot of boxers. The only place Gravity Delgado feels at home is in a boxing ring at Brooklyn's Cops 'n' Kids gym. Gravity, who is half-Jewish and half-Dominican, is the daughter of an alcoholic mother. Her boxing talent takes her from brash newcomer to 16-year-old Olympic hopeful with the help of a well-known coach named Thomas. Clashes involving the athletes who mentor Gravity and the boy who becomes her romantic interest give the story added tension. Camara ably communicates a wide variety of accents and emotions as Gravity ultimately travels to different parts of the world, seeking to become a champion while dealing with the internal struggles of being a teenager.
(Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 12, 2019
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593105016
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
An effervescently fresh spin on Dirty Dancing that will resonate with modern teens.
Katherine, who likes being called Kat and hates her childhood nickname, Kitty, reluctantly agrees to spend the summer engaging in family bonding time at Camp Ochoa in Southern California. After stumbling upon a staff party where teen dance instructors Jordan and Toni are showing off their moves, Kat impulsively volunteers to learn the routine so that Jordan can audition for a dance scholarship when Toni isn’t available. Guillory’s Kat is funny and relatable, alternately brimming with confidence and self-doubt. Her heart is still tender from quitting ballet two years earlier amidst intense scrutiny and body-shaming, but Kat’s joy in the freedom of hip-hop dance rings through the voice Guillory crafts for her.
An effervescently fresh spin on Dirty Dancing that will resonate with modern teens. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798225081423
Publisher: Scholastic Audio
Review Posted Online: today
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2027
This immersive audiobook is a throwback treat with outstanding narration, impressive sound effects, and vintage vibes.
Narrator Patrick Fugit is sublime as aimless Texas teen Bowie (pronounced boo-eee) Jones. Bowie, dissatisfied with his small town but uncertain what comes next, takes the fall for a prank on the first day of senior year in 1980. The resulting community service leads him to a local radio station run by an iconoclastic ex-rocker that could be the path to his future and the girl of his dreams. Fugit’s performance is expertly pitched, contrasting Bowie’s laid-back exterior with his inner turmoil and providing authentic voices for the secondary characters. Short sections made to sound like old-fashioned tape recordings add a layer of detail that sells the time period.
This immersive audiobook is a throwback treat with outstanding narration, impressive sound effects, and vintage vibes. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 55 mins
DD ISBN: 9798225081409
Publisher: Scholastic Audio
Review Posted Online: Oct. 27, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
