This story of two childhood BFFs who reconnect after freshman year at different colleges by spending four weeks traveling in Europe is told mostly through Sydney's thoughts and feelings. Saskia Maarleveld gives voice to Syd, who is trying to balance her excitement about the trip with best friend Leela with her worry about leaving her agoraphobic mother in the care of her younger sister. Also concerning her are her mounting frustration with Leela's selfishness and a budding romance that brings its own complications. Maarleveld's dialogue has the tone and pace of contemporary teenage girls', although her singsong intonation quickly becomes tiresome. While the style of this audiobook seems aimed at young teens, the story's themes are more appropriate to late teens.
. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: July 11, 2017
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780062683441
Publisher: Harper 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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