Narrator Dominic Hoffman brings us into the world of 16-year-old Zac Baxter, who is sent to a foster home after his elderly Pops is killed in an attack and everything is stolen from their apartment. The biggest loss is his grandfather's dream of reclaiming gold buried in Ghana by his ancestor, King Batu, in 1701. Zac is stunned, bewildered, and haunted by Pop's wish to recover the treasure. Hoffman keeps suspense taut as Zac faces eerie memories, fights British government officials, and flees to Ghana to discover his royal link and understand the horrors of the early slave trade. Jamaican and British accents and slang make Zac's street life vivid. The story’s earthiness is elevated by pithy words of wisdom from Ghana.
Young AdultPub Date: Aug. 26, 2008
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: Listening Library
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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