Narrator Katharine McEwan portrays a wide range of personalities of varying ages and stations in this look at women and class in 1909 England. Vicky Darling wants to be an artist but is totally under the control of her wealthy father. Her life changes when she becomes involved in the Suffragette movement and realizes she can be what she wants to be. McEwan deftly captures Vicky; her maid (and eventual friend), Sophie; the snobbish man she's engaged to; and the down-to-earth policeman she loves. Fascinating tidbits about art history and the Women's movement make the story much more than a romance. Audio perfectly captures the myriad voices, accents, and characters in this fascinating slice of the early twentieth century.
(Historical fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: Jan. 28, 2014
Duration: 11 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780804167550
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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