What happens when you select a dozen of the greatest YA writers, ask each of them to compose a holiday short story, and turn their results over to 12 talented narrators? Lots of YA listening pleasure! Dustin Rubin energetically recounts David Levithan's comedic tale of a young, gay Jewish teen whose lover asks him to pose as Santa Claus to fool his kid sister. Julia Whelan embraces Holly Black's wit and intensity in a fantasy view of the little known December holiday in "Krampulslauf." Abby Craden's sarcastic tones speak up for Gayle Forman's jaded Jewish scholarship student, who gets a wider view of stereotyping in "What the Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth?" This holiday anthology celebrates myriad themes, diverse tones, and a host of engaging characters and intriguing settings.
(Short stories. 12-18)Pub Date: Oct. 14, 2014
Duration: 13 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780553396942
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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