Candace Thaxton and Timothy Andrés Pabon narrate an unusual story for teens. Dino's parents own a funeral home, so he's not uncomfortable around dead bodies, but he's not prepared for his late ex-best friend, July, to come back to life--sort of. Thaxton's voice is not quite believable as a teenage girl's, but she makes up for it with an appropriately cynical tone, and she brings July's vibrant personality to the forefront. Pabon is better as Dino, though his narration at times sounds a bit rushed. This wonderful exploration of friendship and how its meaning can change and evolve is not for those with a weak stomach. The graphic descriptions of body decomposition seem more vivid on audio than they would be in print.
(Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 19, 2019
Duration: 6 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781508268260
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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