Sutter Keely is a “live-for-the-moment” high school senior. Narrator MacLeod Andrews captures his happy-go-lucky nature and Oklahoma accent perfectly. Sutter is a genuinely nice guy, although he does spend most of his time partying, drinking, and chasing girls. He just doesn't understand why all of his friends start planning their futures instead of staying like they were, enjoying the present. Andrews skillfully plays all the story’s over-the-top characters—from the suave Sutter himself to his mousy new girlfriend, Aimee. Even the ongoing Italian gangster routine that Sutter carries on with one of his ex-girlfriends is believable in this larger-than-life account. Andrews is full of enthusiasm and fun in his narration. With perfect timing he delivers all the "weird" in Sutter's life.
Young AdultPub Date: Aug. 20, 2009
Duration: 8 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A powerful journey toward authenticity.
Shannon Tyo’s narration fully embodies the prideful spirit of Elena Ok, a 17-year-old Korean American influencer who lives in luxury thanks to her brand and her family’s clothing business. But when the Oks lose everything, the family moves to a remote farm town and into a rundown house with no Wi-Fi or furniture. Tyo perfectly captures Elena’s misery; she’s undone not just by the lack of reception but also the feeling that she’s being left out of her family’s efforts to unite and move forward. Listeners understand Elena’s pain and feelings of loss through dialogue that sparks with sarcasm. Tyo marks Elena’s gradual understanding that true connection is with family and community, not the empty superficiality that dominated her past.
A powerful journey toward authenticity. (Fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217280834
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2026
A voice that turns verse into lived experience, lingering long after the final line.
Author Sawyerr delivers a raw, intimate performance that captures a teenager’s guarded bravado and quiet vulnerability. She inhabits Truth with striking authenticity, balancing sharp, rhythmic slam poetry with softer, uncertain inner reflections. Sawyerr’s vocal shifts—sounding sometimes defiant, sometimes aching—give dimension to a young woman navigating family tension, fractured friendships, and an unplanned pregnancy. The format, free verse mixed with journal entries, poetry prompts, and text messages, feels especially suited to audio, allowing Sawyerr’s cadence and timing to heighten emotional impact. Refreshingly, the story moves quickly beyond Truth’s decision to have an abortion, captivating listeners with an honest, immediate portrait of her evolving sense of self.
A voice that turns verse into lived experience, lingering long after the final line. (Verse fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798899744747
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: today
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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