That the story told in this audiobook is one you think you know deprives it of none of its power. Winifred Conkling begins with 11-year-old Elizabeth Cady’s dismay in 1826 at realizing that her father will see her as less lovable and valuable than a son no matter what she accomplishes. It ends 94 years later with the cliff-hanger passage of the 19th Amendment. The fascinating real-life characters in between, including Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, and Frederick Douglass, give narrator Christina Moore plenty to work with, not to mention that the misogyny, disrespect, rudeness, and outright violence faced by these and later freedom fighters are both truly shocking and disgustingly familiar. Moore’s poise and skill in delivering Conkling’s compelling narrative are superb.
(Nonfiction. 12-16)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2018
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781501972027
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
Lipica Shah's stirring narration of this YA biography showcases Emma Goldman's unshakable commitment to improving the lives of the oppressed. In 1885, Goldman immigrated to the U.S. from czarist Russia and became an ardent anarchist. A prolific writer and inspirational speaker, she gave hundreds of well-attended speeches each year. When quoting Goldman, Shah exudes the intensity of her quest to elevate America's working class. When quoting from any of the thousands of period newspaper articles about Goldman, Shah mimics their predominantly disapproving tone. Goldman was even imprisoned because of her progressive positions on government, workers' rights, sex, and birth control. Never deterred, Goldman was once considered the most dangerous woman in America.
(Biography. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250415134
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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