Five young people represent the voices of refugees, sharing their desperate real-life journeys to Nebraska. The three men don't dwell on horrific details, so narrator Josh Bloomberg often sounds friendly or hopeful. When he tells the story of Fraidoon, an Afghani translator, Bloomberg captures the man's certainty that the U.S. will rescue him. Narrator Deepti Gupta delivers the tragic stories of Nyarout and Shireen. Gupta stoically portrays Nyarout's sufferings in a refugee camp, joyfully exclaims over her discovery of indoor showers, and determinedly recounts her transition to self-sufficiency. Shireen's account of torture by ISIS in Iraq is difficult to hear. In a flat voice, she says, "I've seen women sold for as little as one dollar. I was sold five times." Vivienne Leheny delivers the captions for the accompanying photos. Note: There are disturbing depictions in these stories.
(Nonfiction. 14-18)Pub Date: June 29, 2020
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781799748540
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
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
Lipica Shah's stirring narration of this YA biography showcases Emma Goldman's unshakable commitment to improving the lives of the oppressed. In 1885, Goldman immigrated to the U.S. from czarist Russia and became an ardent anarchist. A prolific writer and inspirational speaker, she gave hundreds of well-attended speeches each year. When quoting Goldman, Shah exudes the intensity of her quest to elevate America's working class. When quoting from any of the thousands of period newspaper articles about Goldman, Shah mimics their predominantly disapproving tone. Goldman was even imprisoned because of her progressive positions on government, workers' rights, sex, and birth control. Never deterred, Goldman was once considered the most dangerous woman in America.
(Biography. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250415134
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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