A young human named Lucky must escape a dangerous planet and rely on aliens he has just met to help him find his estranged father. Narrator James Carcaterra's understated performance allows listeners to imagine Lucky's universe as he and his new companions race across the galaxy. They must try not to attract attention, especially as they enter the war zone of ongoing battle between humans and aliens. Carcaterra excels at voicing the dialogue and Lucky's inner thoughts, and his easygoing narration softens the story's tension, creating a comfortable balance for middle-grade listeners. PHOENIX is a good choice for family enjoyment because the audiobook can be accessed on several levels. It's both a straightforward action-adventure tale and a story of overcoming differences to form deep friendships.
(Science fiction. 10-13)Pub Date: Nov. 29, 2016
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A classic story of high adventure and conflict between good and evil placed in the mythical land of Prydain, The Book of Three is read grippingly and enchantingly by Chris King. Vocal switches are mostly smooth with a few minor pronunciation slips which are quickly corrected. King's voice is clear, easy to understand and memorable, giving the listener a sense of the characters as well as a pronunciation guide to those incredible Gaelic names Alexander uses. Both the characters and the story linger in the mind's eye because of the quality of narration. This is surely a reading that can be listened to again and again and will leave the listeners asking for the entire Prydain series on tape.
AGES 8+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 5 hrs
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Posy Bates is back, this time with a dog left over from a pet show. Back also are baby Fred and her friend, Sam. But the star of the show is Posy herself, an energetic nine-year-old with a penchant for misadventure. Judy Bennett's rendering of each of the characters in this episodic family story is right on the mark. Her enunciation and impeccable timing clarify the idiomatic text so that its unusual words become another aspect of the book's pleasure. The irrepressible Posy is her greatest challenge, and Bennett gets high marks. She bubbles with enthusiasm, wails and squeals, and dies over and over again. "It's positively brilling!"
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 1 hr
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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