Life couldn't get much worse, thinks Annyrose, than being locked up in a lightless shed by O.O. Mary. Until she is forced to go with a band of outlaws headed by the notorious bandit Joaquin Murieta. Narrator Julia Gibson superbly brings the varied characters to life, juxtaposing the righteousness of Annyrose, with her prim, clipped, arrogant voice and manner, against the lazy Mexican drawl of easy-going, tender-hearted Murieta. We hear Annyrose softening and changing her prejudices as she learns that the bandit Murieta is more Robin Hood than murderous outlaw, and a true friend. Gibson's vocal characterizations define the characters, while she balances the suspense and menace of the story with the opening of a young girl's eyes to the narrow-mindedness and unfairness of the "righteous" townsfolk.
Ages 8+Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2002
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Narrator P.J. Ochlan embraces this spirited novel, documenting 11-year-old Rocco Zaccaro's adventures with such gusto and spunk that you'd swear you'd traveled back in time to 1887. The story begins with Rocco's removal from his home in Italy and his subsequent arrival in New York City, where he is to work as a street musician for his new padrone, Signor Ancarola. Ochlan paints a vivid picture of immigrant life and the trials Rocco undergoes trying to escape the horrible living conditions under his padrone. Capturing the characters' voices perfectly, Ochlan delivers Rocco's animated storytelling, the slang of his newfound gang of pickpockets, and the accents of the city's many immigrants, whether Irish, Scottish, German, English, or Italian. Historical notes, including a pickpocket's glossary, complete this excellent production.
(Historical fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: April 5, 2016
Duration: 7 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780147521477
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
John McDonough tells the oddball story of Prince Roger and his misbegotten quest for self-identity and true love. The story is amusing and at times inspiring as it follows Prince Roger on a three-year sojourn through the Forever Forest and across the Dastardly Divide as he seeks to transcend his clownish nature and find his destined love, Princess Petulia. Younger listeners will be enchanted by the whimsy and fantasy elements of this fairy tale and by McDonough's gentle style, while adults will enjoy Feiffer's tongue-in-cheek writing, metafictional asides, and profound insights about destiny, identity, and living happily ever after.
Ages 8+Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2001
Duration: 4 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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