Elena Mendoza is the product of a virgin birth, earning her no shortage of mockery and isolation from peers and strangers alike. At age 16, she learns she can heal people, but her new power comes with a harrowing price. Narrator Candace Thaxton handles a varied cast with ease, capturing Elena's ongoing conflicts and the personalities of her friends, enemies, and the various inanimate objects that channel holy spirits. Hutchinson's story is full of pain, hope, and humor, and Thaxton's brisk pacing and full characterizations enhance the warring desires and high stakes. Strong friendships buoy this narrative, and the combination of romance, supernatural elements, and danger make this a solid match for fans of slow-burning thrillers and YA fiction.
(Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2018
Duration: 9 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781508245636
Publisher: Simon & Schuster 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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