Westerners might consider this beautiful story to be a fairytale. Shabanu, a thirteen-year-old Pakistani nomad, is midwife to a camel birth, repairs saddles, is promised in marriage to a much older man and goes to the camel fair with her father. Through his experience as a UPI correspondent in Pakistan, Staples shares his insight into Shabanu's culture, religion, language and lifestyle. The narrator does a flawless job and even imparts a subtle lesson in the nomad's language. Men, women and children and a wide range of emotions are effectively rendered. Though intended for a young adult audience, Shabanu introduces a culture unknown to those of all ages.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1994
Duration: 6 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Vikas Adam and Soneela Nankani animate alternate chapters of the dynamic love story between Pinky and Samir in this companion to WHEN DIMPLE MET RISHI. Coincidence unites the two teens when Samir's promised internship falls through and Pinky invites him to become her pretend summer boyfriend because he meets her mother's expectations. This fast-paced rom-com pairs two unlikely heroes, and the narrators capture the reversals and tensions of their growing relationship. Nankani shows Pinky's prickly side while also revealing her hidden vulnerabilities. Adam communicates Samir's loosening up in response to Pinky's passionate approach to living, his willingness to let go of anger, and, finally, his flourishing love for Pinky. Head and heart, tension and humor are reflected in this engaging listen.
(Romance. 13-18)Pub Date: July 21, 2020
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781797108759
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This crowd-pleasing short story collection from the prolific Levithan focuses on love in all its variety, including representation from several points on the LGBTQIA spectrum and topics ranging from quiz bowl to Taylor Swift fan fiction. Longtime fans will relish hearing from familiar characters, such as BOY MEET'S BOY's Infinite Darlene, in a story titled "The Quarterback and the Cheerleader," narrated by Elle Cohen, who nails the playful banter and soft hope of a first date. Shorter but no less sweet is Rebecca Lowman's intimate, emotive performance of a love story in verse. It takes seven narrators to deliver the angst and excitement of the members of a queer youth choir. Most memorable, however, may be the autobiographical works narrated by Levithan himself, especially the concluding track about the profound effects of sharing one's words with others.
(Anthology. 14-adult)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2020
Duration: 8 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593104903
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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