Mark Turetsky's intense voice propels listeners through this futuristic mystery, in which a young man discovers a sanctuary for children where things may not be as they seem. A vivid grasp of imagery is essential to the success of Turetsky's delivery as the protagonist of this tale has synesthesia, and his unique view of the world shapes the listener's perception of the unusual Home for Childhood, its disturbingly cheerful guardians, and the bewildered, uneasy children who roam the grounds. Listeners will appreciate Turetsky's ability to keep the suspense alive by dropping hints lightly and keeping the subtext at bay until the moment is right for dark secrets to be revealed.
(Dystopian thriller. 10-16)Pub Date: April 29, 2014
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781622313396
Publisher: HighBridge Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Live Oak Media recently caught our attention with this new read-along book and cassette program. We listened first, and were so delighted we couldn't wait to get the book. The picture book made the experience even better, but the audio recordings was strong and vibrant by itself. THE GARDENER, Sarah Stewart's Depression-era story of a young girl sent to live with her Uncle Jim in the city has a sweet, wistful quality with narration alone, but coupled with David Small's soft-edged pencil illustration, it's a total delight. The reading is repeated on both sides of the tape, one with and without page-turning signals.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: N/A
Publisher: Live Oak Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Naeymi’s narration is both raw and triumphant.
Samara Naeymi beautifully narrates this middle-grade novel about an Iranian American girl. Bullied by her classmates for her frizzy hair and thick eyebrows and criticized by her mother for her weight, Yasmin struggles to be her authentic self in a world that tells her she's not good enough. There are many different perspectives in this story, and Naeymi is true to each: Yasmin’s judgmental mother, with her Persian accent and steely belief in her own harsh parenting; the ruthless teenagers whose hurtful comments cause emotional harm; the younger brother concerned for his sister's unhappiness; and the tried-and-true best friend.
Naeymi’s narration is both raw and triumphant. (Fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: March 24, 2026
Duration: 4 hrs, 51 mins
DD ISBN: 9798349114861
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: April 28, 2026
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