Narrator Cassandra Morris brings the voice of a friendly 12-year-old to the family trials and tribulations of Esme. Distraught over the death of her loving grandfather and raised by her no-nonsense grandmother, Esme finds herself alternately following directives to pick peaches and escaping to the quiet of her grandfather's tractor, left on Solace Hill. When she discovers an unusual bone there--could it be a dinosaur's?--and her oft-absent father returns, change enters Esme's life, like it or not. Morris paces the story briskly and differentiates the supporting characters--family members, townspeople, and outsiders. When Esme is subjected to complicated situations--her mother's changing moods, for example--Morris's voice reflects Esme's attempts to puzzle them out. Overall, Morris's Esme sounds purposeful, upbeat, and receptive to new friendships.
(Historical fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Aug. 14, 2018
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780062840936
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Arsenault’s passionate performance brings this alternative world to life.
Fourteen-year-old Tessa lives in a dystopian world with a leader who has banned books and taken away the personal liberties of its citizens. Elise Arsenault establishes a steady pace with her narration. When an older neighbor is taken to elder care, Tessa finds a box of forbidden books in her house that changes everything. Arsenault captures Tessa’s tumultuous emotions as she learns about the past and discovers that her long-lost twin brother, Theo, who disappeared years ago, may still be alive. Fans of Lowry’s The Giver will be intrigued by this world, one that feels frighteningly plausible.
Arsenault’s passionate performance brings this alternative world to life. (Dystopian. 9-12)Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 49 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063515130
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2026
Through Andromeda’s story, young listeners will learn more about the justice system and their rights.
Fifth grader Andromeda Diaz is concerned about her friend, Benji, who has been accused of stealing a valuable watch and is now facing charges. Andi, the daughter of two public defenders, doesn’t believe he committed the crime, and she works to figure out what really happened. Author Almanza, who was herself a public defender, performs her own work enthusiastically. Her narration style is casual, at times not quite nailing the rhythm of the text. While she’s not a professional narrator, her knowledge of the legal process shines through.
Through Andromeda’s story, young listeners will learn more about the justice system and their rights. (Mystery. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 11 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217352364
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Sept. 22, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2026
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