With author and former actor William Alexander as narrator, this National Book Award winner is a treat. In the steampunk city of Zombay, Young Rownie runs away from his “grandmother” protector and teams up with a troupe of outlawed goblin actors, all the while searching for his missing older brother, Rowan. Time is of the essence as Zombay’s river is about to flood, and only the missing Rowan can remedy the situation. The nuances of voice that Alexander uses for the distinctive characters make them memorable and sound like they’re right there talking to you. He speeds and slows, elongates and emphasizes, rants and whispers with ease and acuity, switching easily between characters while maintaining the intense pace of Rownie’s quest.
(Fantasy. 9-13)Pub Date: 2013
Duration: 5 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781442363045
Publisher: Simon & Schuster 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
A sensitive performance.
Deepa is a precocious 12-year-old girl in remission from leukemia. Under the tutelage of her uncle, a house call doctor, she becomes involved in solving teen tennis player Taio's puzzling medical mystery. Deepa is unsure of herself, but she’s ready to get back to middle school after a year away for treatment. Narrator Soneela Nankani depicts Deepa's desire to be more than the "sick kid" while navigating her youthful insecurities and the social challenges of middle school. Nankani also ably portrays Deepa's growing confidence in herself as she uses her own experience with illness to help figure out what’s wrong with Taio.
A sensitive performance. (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: July 14, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 32 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668182833
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 24, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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