Suzanne Toren ably narrates this coming-of-age story of courage, survival, and hope inspired by real Holocaust events. Hannah Slivka is a teen living in the small town of Kwasova, in the Soviet-occupied Ukraine. When Hitler's army marches across the border, Hannah's family and other Jewish folks are imperiled. When the Gestapo orders that their lands be "free of Jews," Hannah's family and kin are forced to flee, leaving their homes behind. Toren's narration makes the plight of these characters palpable. Although a bit slow in pacing, her delivery perfectly expresses their fear and despair as they try to survive living in forests and caves. When war finally breaks out, Toren skillfully conveys Hannah's hope for an Allied victory and for building a new life.
(Historical fiction. 12-15)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2018
Duration: 6 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781982573386
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
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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