Narrator Emily Woo Zeller delivers an engrossing performance of this historical retelling of the Chinese "Ballad of Mulan." Ever since the death of her twin brother, Mulan has trained in his place to win the duel that every generation of her family must fight in order to reunite a pair of treasured heirloom swords. But when the emperor demands that all families send a soldier to fight in the war, she doesn't hesitate to fight in her injured father's stead. Her exceptional martial arts skills place her on an elite team under the command of the very handsome, very secretive princeling. Zeller's crisp Chinese pronunciation, distinct voices, and slow-burning intensity create an approachable and immersive narrative of a familiar story with a unique twist.
(Historical fiction. 12-15)Pub Date: Sept. 10, 2019
Duration: 10 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780593153819
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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