Author and narrator Antwan Eady creates a tender first-person story of a boy who helps his Papa harvest, transport, and sell goods at his local farm stand each weekend. Eady speaks slowly and clearly in the cadence of poetry. His lengthy pauses often serve to highlight the colorful imagery and alliteration found in the community--black hands, gray hair, yellow sun, white eggs,... Read More

Jane Yolen's poems, delivered by Cassandra Campbell, celebrate relatable childhood experiences with nature, school, and sports. Short musical interludes group thematically related works together. Campbell's clear voice matches the mood of the whimsical and wistful lines. The audio is perfect for inspiration in English class or for short car rides to school. It lets listeners... Read More

Amin El Gamal's winning performance endears Deaf, queer protagonist Jackson Ghasnavi to listeners. Jackson loves being the stage manager for his high school's theater department. When sweet, handsome Liam from the swim team gets the lead role in the musical, he and Jackson grow closer. The only problem? Jackson's older sister, Jasmine, likes Liam, too. Jasmine has had a string... Read More

High school senior Whit is still reeling from a summer filled with medical appointments and tests in this audiobook narrated by Victoria Villarreal. Whit has PCOS, a condition that causes uncomfortable body changes. All she wants is to throw herself into organizing the Fall Fest, the event at which her grandparents fell in love decades earlier. Unfortunately, she is forced to... Read More

Nikki Massoud narrates the first-person story of Iranian American Mitra, who has little expectation of friendships when she enters a Catholic school. But four years later, she and her best friend, Bea, have written 13 books of poetry together and fallen in love. Massoud's narration realizes the vulnerability of a girl full of questions: Can she allow her drug-addicted mother to... Read More

Victoria Villarreal smoothly shifts between the languages, locations, humor, and heartache of Dolores Mendoza. Delores suffers with interstitial cystitis, a condition that caused a bladder accident in front of fellow eighth graders, a moment of shame that Villarreal powerfully conveys. Villarreal captures Dolores's curiosity in a priest's confessional, wit in the bathroom... Read More

Yu-Li Alice Shen portrays the tweens and adults who take part in the Boston-based Summertime Chinese Culture, Wellness, and Enrichment Experience. Sewing enthusiast Phoenny Fang is determined to make her last year at overnight camp the most epic one yet. But a cliquey group of newcomers forces Phoenny's squad to be split up, the boy she likes keeps flirting with her rival, and... Read More

Cherry Jones's expertise shines in a short novel that's long on emotions. Her narration emphasizes 10-year-old Ferris's fundamental belief that "every story is a love story." Jones's nuanced delivery captures the affection of Ferris's large family; listeners will feel the many facets of their love. Central to the story is Charisse, Ferris's beloved grandmother. Each time Jones... Read More

Ethan Hawke delivers a spectacular performance of Dave Eggers's 2024 Newbery Medal-winning middle-grade animal story in which Eggers assures us, ". . . the dogs are dogs, the birds are birds, goats are goats, the bison bison." Hawke is more than up to the task of interpreting the rich, complex language describing creatures who, along with three penned bison, maintain the... Read More

Narrator Kit Griffiths embodies three London women in this novel about witches and curses. Zara wants to bring her sister back to life, Jude is looking to undo a self-administered curse gone wrong, and witch Emer writes powerful invocations. When some of Emer's customers are murdered, all three women come together to solve the mystery before one of them is next. Listeners will... Read More

Reagan Boggs's gently accented narration deftly depicts this story's Appalachian setting. Her delivery contrasts with the high anxiety 17-year-old Linden feels a year after she went missing overnight during a community festival. Linden is still searching her memory for details of those events when she discovers that a friend has been murdered. Linden is one of four sisters who... Read More

Narrators Michael Crouch, Carlotta Brentan, and Sigrid Zeiner narrate this hopeful story of love past and present. Shosh and Evan lead aimless lives until they are brought together by a song only they can hear. Brentan crafts a weary, sardonic voice for Shosh, a former theater star who is struggling with alcoholism and grief. The song leads her to Evan, a teenager whose anxiety... Read More

Karen Murray's smooth narration soars as she tells the stories of the pivotal men and women whose actions broke the race barrier for Black pilots during the first half of the twentieth century. While the work is extensively researched, both the authors and Murray emphasize individual stories that make the historical figures relatable. Murray recounts, for example, how Cornelius... Read More

Cindy Kay narrates a thrilling adventure full of crime-fighting misfits, jewel thieves, and cats. Olive Coben Zang is alarmed when her parents tell her she'll soon be attending a new school--the mysterious RASCH, a castle on an island in the middle of San Francisco Bay. But once she's there, the timid 12-year-old finds adventures galore. Olive's soft voice grows in strength... Read More

Addressing young listeners directly, animal behaviorist Temple Grandin reads the introduction to her work on cognitive differences, with Andrea Gallo taking over the narration of the main text. It is nominally a celebration of cognitive multiplicity, with visual thinkers, like the author, complementing verbal thinkers. There's lots of empowerment for visual thinkers here, but... Read More

Author and chef Eric Adjepong brings his personal experience to his narration of his picture book. As a first-generation Ghanaian American, Kofi is embarrassed to bring a familial dish to his class's annual cultural potluck. What he eats at home is so different from his classmates' dishes. With guidance from his nanabarima (grandfather) Kofi learns the stories behind his own... Read More

Risa Mei gives an energetic performance of this young adult romance. Kiki doesn't have the best start at her new school. She retreats into War Front Heroes, an online game, in which she poses as a guy to avoid sexism. But when she finds out her online crush goes to the same school she does, she must choose between lying or coming clean about her online persona. Mei transforms... Read More

Actor Allan Corduner dazzles listeners with his spellbinding narration of this lovely fable. The first tale in a series called the Norendy Tales features a set of anthropomorphized puppets: a king, a wolf, a girl, and a boy. They belonged to a sea captain, and after his death they end up in the hands of two sisters. As the story unfolds, the puppets bicker with each other... Read More

Guy Lockard immediately convinces listeners of the passion of Black middle-schooler Lamar Phillips, whose biggest goal in life is to become a filmmaker. But how can that ever happen in his small Louisiana town, he asks in a dynamic dialogue with his best friend. Soon after, Lockard introduces Lamar's Gramps, whose convictions and activism shine as he takes Lamar to a city... Read More

Karissa Vacker shines brightly as she immerses listeners in the world of professional chess. Mallory Greenleaf once loved chess but put it aside to help support her mother and sisters. Agreeing to play in one last tournament, she unknowingly defeats the current world chess champion, the infamous "Kingkiller," Nolan Sawyer. Nolan is intrigued and wants to cross pawns with... Read More

Fifteen years after her City of Ember quartet was published, author Jeanne DuPrau offers a new postapocalyptic parable for middle-grade listeners. Jeremy Carlisle Parker gives an enthusiastic performance as 13-year-old Keith and his young cousin, Lulu. They live comfortably in a far-future version of our world, rebuilt after a global disaster. Keith's thirst for adventure leads... Read More

Narrator Dani Martineck creates a passionate and determined voice for Callie, who seeks to find true acceptance for themself and their friends in a world that is reluctant to change. Just as their homeland, Helston, takes steps to offer magic and fighting opportunities to all, a battle with neighboring Dunmoor causes progress to halt, and even move backward. Martineck captures... Read More

Narrator Irene Bedard--who is of Iñupiaq, Yu'pik, Cree, and French Canadian heritage--brings vocal authenticity to Iñupiaq author/illustrator Nasugraq Rainey Hopson's debut novel. When a boy is kidnapped by a golden eagle who turns into a man, he is challenged to live, rather than die like his two older brothers. Adopting the sonorous delivery of an oral storyteller, Bedard... Read More

Mark Sanderlin's and Griffin Puatu's performances in this vibrant slasher story bring a high school queer club to life--as the club's members fight for theirs. Cole and Dearie, two gay friends, are living their best lives as they approach graduation. Enter Mr. Sandman, a serial killer who wreaked havoc decades ago, only to show up again, attacking anyone associated with the... Read More

David Levithan gives listeners another queer YA romance that's full of joy and the promise of a better world for LGBTQ youth. Ryan and Avery meet at a queer prom; they're a perfect match with their respective blue and pink hair. Narrator Jamie K. Brown's measured tone gives weight to the budding emotions between the boys. Listeners are invited along on their first 10 dates,... Read More

Adan Rocha narrates a story of self-discovery set in Florida during the COVID-19 lockdown. Eleven-year-old Lalo is confined to his apartment; he attends video school with a neighboring classmate while his widowed mother works long hours as a nursing assistant. On top of the pervasive fear and boredom of lockdown, Lalo struggles to remember both recent events and his father, who... Read More

Jorjeana Marie's youthful voice is the first plus in this audiobook for beginning novel readers. The second is her portrayal of quirky 9-year-old Ella, the liveliest resident of a small San Francisco apartment house. Marie captures Ella's blend of annoying know-it-all qualities and friendly willingness to help her neighbors. While Ella takes center stage in the story, Marie... Read More

Ana Osoria lends her wispy, elegant narration to this romantic adventure. Rosalinda is a young witch who was exiled to Sinner's Isle. Now of age, she plans to escape before the Offering, an annual tradition that casts the resident women into the hands of nefarious male visitors. She meets a charming pirate, Mariano, and they work together to escape before the Offering ends.... Read More

Christian Banas narrates this romantic comedy. Transgender Noah is navigating a new school and a legal name change. Hoping to present as masculine, Noah joins the secret Borrow a Boyfriend Club, through which students can rent a boy as a date. In cold, curt tones, snooty Asher vets potential members, who cannot have a boyfriend or girlfriend. Although Noah scoffs at Asher's... Read More

Listeners will feel all the action and angst of this young adult novel, narrated spectacularly by Jade Wheeler. Seventeen-year-old Ross Quest comes from a long line of internationally famous thieves. She is planning to leave "the life" when danger befalls her mother. Now she must join an international game of heists to save her. Complicating the game is the presence of her... Read More

Adjoa Andoh narrates this audiobook, which reveals how Christopher Robin and Pooh met their friends. Most listeners will know the characters and will likely have preconceived notions of how they should sound. Andoh's English-accented delivery keeps the spirit of the original Milne stories; however, her renditions of dialogue may not meet expectations. Eeyore speaks glumly in a... Read More

A duet of narrators delivers the protagonists' alternating chapters and the time periods that influence them. Nile Bullock portrays Gibran, a Black senior at a predominately white suburban high school. Bullock expresses Gibran's fiery response when his request to attend the 1995 Million Man March is denied by his school. When he attempts to organize a protest, the school... Read More

Twenty years after ERAGON, Gerard Doyle's familiar and compelling voice returns to narrate MURTAGH. Galbatorix has been defeated, and now Murtagh and his dragon, Thorn, must face the consequences of their roles as his reluctant servants. Doyle's talent for accents and passionate battle sequences shines, complementing the author's vivid world. Murtagh's voice resonates with a... Read More

Narrator Quyen Ngo delivers an emotionally intense performance in this raw YA coming-of-age story about a complex Vietnamese American family. The year is 1999, and Jane Vu is a 17-year-old who is getting ready to leave for college. She's living in San Jose with her 7-year-old brother, Paul, and their abusive father, Phúc. Jane and Paul's mother abandoned them three years... Read More

Raphael Corkhill takes on this ghoulish version of Victorian London in which violet-eyed mediums commune with ghosts under the jurisdiction of the all-powerful male-led Royal Speaker Society. Silas Bell, who is transgender, would rather perform a hysterectomy on himself than be married off as a violet-eyed breeder. And he has studied enough of modern medicine to know how.... Read More

Rob Shapiro balances a neutral tone and deep emotions as he recounts the horrific and sometimes miraculous experiences of Rudi and Gerta, two Jewish Slovakian teens who are trying to survive WWII. Shapiro captures the author's engaging writing style as he reveals Rudi's horrific experiences in Auschwitz and Gerta's secret activities as a member of the Slovakian underground.... Read More

Jacqueline Woodson renders her story's rhythms skillfully, emphasizing refrains that allow listeners to luxuriate in her words and linger in powerful details. Sage's father, a firefighter, died in a fire back in the "once was," but she thinks of him often. At the same time, her neighborhood has been experiencing so many mysterious fires that it's been renamed "The Matchbox."... Read More

Almarie Guerra gently reinforces the line breaks of this novel in verse, but her emphasis is placed more strongly on its characters' emotions. Eleven-year-old Laura is sorting out a range of feelings as she copes with having been removed from her family. Guerra reflects Laura's discomfort and anger at being placed in the home of an aunt who never seemed to care about her... Read More

Ron Butler strikes the perfect balance as he narrates this middle-grade thriller set in the early days of the Covid pandemic. Valdez Jones VIII, known as Wrecker, is a biracial Key West teen with generations of seafaring ancestors skilled in diving and salvage. When he encounters suspected smugglers in a grounded speedboat, their fortunes intertwine dangerously. Smuggling,... Read More

Jorjeanne Marie narrates the contemporary first-person story of 16-year-old Ivy, flavoring her narration with a mild Texas accent. Stronger than the accent are the emotions Marie projects as a teen who's become pregnant in a town of megachurches. Ivy's shame and distress at unjust accusations are balanced by the wry humor peppered throughout the story. Marie presents Lorenzo,... Read More

Ten distinguished writers contributed to this anthology of short stories with a theme of collections. The stories are as varied as the nine narrators who deliver them, but all have a dark tone. In two surrealist stories featuring Latine women trapped in bleak situations, Frankie Corzo narrates with an edgy tone of underlying power. Becca Q. Co helps listeners navigate a unique... Read More

Shaun Taylor-Corbett seamlessly narrates the majority of this novel with a masterful assist by Charley Flyte. Hughie Wolfe, an avid actor, is asked to help at a Halloween haunted house near the crossroads of his small Kansas town. Hughie and a group of friends working around this area have begun to learn of odd happenings that are linked to a missing young Indigenous woman... Read More

A full cast dramatizes the Martín family's eventful 1977 road trip from California's central coast to Jalisco, Mexico, to bring Abuelito back with them. As recounted by third-youngest sibling Pedro, the 2,000-mile journey features plentiful poop jokes, sibling bickering, and references to 1970s pop culture. This audio adaptation of Martín's graphic memoir is a bumpy one. As... Read More

Leading a full cast, Felisha Wong exudes brio in this story of a seventh grader who gives herself an impromptu picture-day haircut in hopes of standing out. Wong bubbles with convincingly clueless confidence as Viv neglects best friends Al--short for Alexandra--and Milo while bullheadedly pursuing her "truth." Em Grosland and Davu Smith shine in these supporting roles, their... Read More

Narrator Mark Sanderlin establishes a youthful voice for 12-year-old Drew, who is dreading a summer without his best friend, who has moved away from Half Moon Bay. Narrator Charley Flyte adds a mellow voice for 12-year-old Mia, who is also spending the summer in Half Moon Bay while her dad heads to Alaska to take care of her sick grandmother. Drew and Mia find solace in... Read More

Nadia Verde and Brian Thomas Abraham team up to narrate this creative fantasy to great effect. Abraham begins each chapter with deviously petty instruction from "The Dark Traditions." His lovely baritone and classic English accent amplify the hilarious absurdity. Verde aptly narrates the majority of the story. Kayla, an adopted 14-year-old, is visiting the state fair when she... Read More

Mirai's youthful voice narrates a story of two sisters. This stand-alone audiobook also serves as the prequel to author Lim's Six Crimson Cranes duology. Channi, who is cursed with the face of a serpent and poisonous blood, is offered to the demon witch Angma by her father in order to save her infant sister, Vanna. But Angma seeks the radiance in Vanna's heart, and Channi must... Read More

Dual narrators present alternating chapters featuring two teens who live in a magical town whose seaside waters have turned gray after a tragic event. Vikas Adam depicts Raf, a somber youth, who has come from a distant land with the help of an enchanted Golub tree. Adam reflects the young man's tremendous sense of responsibility and his desire for a loving relationship with... Read More

Omar is back with his zany, good-natured antics. A school contest for finding the best way to power a rocket takes Omar and his friends to a tech company's headquarters. Narrator Waleed Akhtar embodies all of Omar's zeal and earnestness. Akhtar sounds just like an enthusiastic youngster. His British accent sets the scene, and his tone rises and falls with the emotional highs... Read More

Karen Murray embodies this free-verse story's characters, emotive qualities, and rhythm. With authenticity, she portrays 11-year-old April, who is uncertain about going to a different school from her best friend, Zee, a musical prodigy. Murray builds April's discomfort with nosy classmate Asa and her mother's new girlfriend. She misses Zee and lets him persuade her not to... Read More

With a style all her own, Zaila Avant-garde narrates her guide to success for children. Avant-garde has a high-pitched voice with quirky aspects that may seem off-putting at first; however, after a few minutes, the listener will embrace this funny, confident young woman and realize that no one else could better deliver her inspiring story and perceptive insights. Avant-garde... Read More

Giordan Diaz, Mark Sanderlin, and Victoria Villarreal balance the high-energy emotions of young love with gut-wrenching fear in this coming-of-age thriller. When Jaime is trapped in a dilapidated house that is haunted by an overprotective spirit, he resigns himself to the end--that is, until Theo and Taylor are drawn to the house. For Theo, meeting Jaime is a chance to do... Read More

Narrator Elizabeth Robbins's remarkably youthful voice whisks listeners away to a summer of outdoor adventure and romance as Lilah, a teenager with hearing loss, becomes a junior counselor at a camp for Deaf and blind kids. Lilah is ecstatic to be immersed in Deaf culture even though she is self-conscious about her American Sign Language skills. When a character is using ASL,... Read More

The youthful buoyancy of Dana Wing Lau's narration alternates with notes of uncertainty reflecting the insecurity of sixth-grade Chinese American Mo Lin. She's moved to a town lacking ethnic diversity and attends a middle school where microaggressions trigger her anxiety. Mo's life is balanced by a supportive librarian, a willing friend, and her music-loving uncle. Anger and... Read More

January LaVoy’s and Nicky Endres’s stunning versatile performances in this mystery about a magic school are as alluring as its whodunit plot. A young necromancer at the Galileo Academy for the Extraordinary is drawn to the dead body of the much hated Professor Dropwort. Students across campus—including a werewolf, an arithmetic magician, a supernatural polyglot, a... Read More

An ensemble cast brings four of Shakespeare's female victims of violence to life in this devilishly intelligent audiobook. Author Joy McCullough delivers the narrative, with Valerie Rose Lohman's Juliet, Victoria Villarreal's Ophelia, and Annie Q's Cordelia soliloquizing, in turn. When the young women start talking to one another, the story becomes one of healing and revision.... Read More

Acclaimed writer Ruta Sepetys exudes an infectious positivity as she uses her own experiences to illustrate the craft of writing from research to conception to revision. In an upbeat conversational tone, she encourages listeners to plumb their own lives for writing inspiration. Sepetys shares personal anecdotes, both humorous and profound, to demonstrate how life experiences... Read More

Mia Hutchinson-Shaw delivers a thrilling performance of this noirish fantasy. The descendants of gods live in a dystopian world; some have inherited the powers of their ancestors. Io and her two sisters are descended from The Fates; they can alter threads of life. Io uses her gift as a private detective and is hired by the mob queen, Bianca, to solve a series of murders. Bianca... Read More

A full cast performs Cece Bell's graphic memoir for kids. After losing her hearing during a childhood illness, Cece starts school with special earphones that are attached to a large box around her neck. With her box, she navigates making friends and working hard in her classes. The cast performs the dialogue among the many characters, giving each one a unique voice. The sound... Read More

Guy Lockard depicts 17-year-old Andre Jackson of Portland, Oregon, who is returning home after two months in juvenile detention for a robbery he didn't commit. Lockard depicts Andre's moods: his smoldering feelings for Sierra, the girl who lives in foster care next door and his confusion about why his friend Eric let him take the rap for the theft. Lockard intensifies Andre's... Read More

Holly Linneman captures the inner voice of 12-year-old Alex, a San Francisco kid with serious soccer talent and a somewhat chaotic homelife. When Alex's mom takes her out of her beloved rec league and signs her up for the fancy Select team, her life is turned upside down. Alex loved her rec team coach, but the new coach is abusive and sexist. Linneman's enthusiastic delivery... Read More

Seventeen-year-old Matthew's emotional journey in Kao's dark coming-of-age fantasy is unnerving at times due to an exceptional performance by Shawn Jain. Jain's whispery voice is filled with a creepy calm as Matt must determine whether Rae Winter is marked by the devil. Jain emotes tenderness when Matt is with Rae and when he pines for his late mother. While Matt is at school,... Read More

Ana Osorio's narration begins quietly, as does this story of Lola Espinoza. Osorio's lack of expressiveness is apt for the rule-bound, sheltered 17-year-old Mexican American who is sent to Mexico after she, a straight-A student, gets a C in Spanish. Osorio captures Lola's shyness and discomfort, qualities she contrasts with Lola's warm, welcoming Mexican family. Osorio enlivens... Read More

Keylor Leigh narrates this endearing middle-grade speculative fiction featuring friendship, music, and time travel. Philadelphia seventh-grader Rahim Reynolds enjoys creating raps, steering clear of bullies, and testing out his best friend Kasia Collins's new technologies. For his birthday, she gives him a cell phone she built. When he tries it, he finds himself in Philadelphia... Read More

The second short story collection that Walter Dean Myers has set in 21st-century Harlem features characters introduced in 145TH STREET, along with new characters and voices. An ensemble of skilled narrators enhances these rich stories with authentic voices that express their range of ages, relationships, and neighborhood roles. JaQwan J. Kelly stands out for his capacity to... Read More

Elena Rey will captivate listeners with her command of accents, which are intentionally comical or subtle, depending on the character she is portraying. Twelve-year-old Felice is an orphan living in Corpus Christi with her uncle; years ago her mother died while crossing the river in the town of Tres Leches. Felice has heard that her mother became La Llorna, a wailing ghost who... Read More

Luma Mufleh narrates her coming-of-age memoir in a candid conversational tone. Initially, she stresses details and descriptions that illuminate her love of family and her home country of Jordan. Gradually, as she grows, so does her awareness. The joys she felt in her youth turn to fear as she realizes she's attracted to women. Her storytelling skill grounds listeners as she... Read More

Surf, Hawaiian music, and song provide an immersive backdrop for Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu's spellbinding performance. The resonance and musical quality in Wong-Kalu's voice add to this dual-language retelling of the legend of Kapaemahu. This is the story of four Tahitian healers who were "mahu," that is, without male or female gender, who traveled around the islands administering... Read More

Groundbreaking, award-winning authors and activists Ibram X. Kendi and Nic Stone do an excellent job of narrating this adaptation of Kendi's seminal work for young people. With poignancy, personal stories, and an insightful understanding of teens and preteens, they cover challenging topics that affect every one of us today, such as privilege, systemic racism, justice movements,... Read More

Becca Q. Co expressively narrates this romantic comedy, which takes place in Manila and features endearing Chinese Filipino characters. As Chloe is about to leave home to study animation in the U.S., her Auntie Queenie enthusiastically arranges a debut for her eighteenth birthday. Chloe's stern yet loving father helps set Chloe up on three arranged dates in the hope that she'll... Read More

This action-packed allegory with a queer heart follows a troubled cazadora who is part of a world that has been ravaged by a strong opioid. After her mother's Olvida addiction leaves Lucha and her younger sister abandoned, Lucha makes a deal with a dark force that could save everyone. Narrator Elena Rey's voice reflects the steely intensity that Lucha needs to survive and... Read More

Gilli Messer narrates this YA story of Afghan American teenager Mafi Shahin. Mafi struggles to right injustices as “The Ghost,” a secret avenger who addresses her high school classmates’ written pleas for help. Mafi soon discovers others in her life are also keeping secrets, specifically her basketball-playing crush and her father, who denies his Afghan heritage. What should... Read More

In an Australian accent, Olivia Mackenzie-Smith ushers listeners into the world of 18-year-old Georgia, who is haunted by flashbacks caused by her father's alcoholism and abuse. Mackenzie-Smith captures Georgia's complexities. Kayaking brings her quiet, a metaphor for feeling calm. But other aspects of her life are loud, that is, upsetting--in particular, the neediness of her... Read More

Nikki Patel is enchanting, fearsome, and hilarious as she narrates this story about a family reunion that includes a body count. Listeners meet the Swifts, who use a dictionary to name their children (and describe their personalities), including Shenanigan--the ringleader of the kids--and Uncle Maelstrom, who leads the action. The reunion doubles as an opportunity for the... Read More

Kyla Garcia brings this award-winning 2018 novel to life for listeners. Louise Wolfe is a smart and curious high school senior who lives in Kansas and is a citizen of the Muscogee Creek Nation. Garcia's bright narration suits the teen who finds her voice in the school paper, navigates crushes, and thinks about the future. Lou and her family face discrimination and harassment... Read More

Narrator Rosie Jones returns for the second audiobook in the Emry Merlin series, providing an even stronger performance. Camelot's enemies are gathering their armies, and the King's worsening health means Prince Arthur must ally with the French. Despite having achieved acceptance as a female wizard, Emry finds that her powerful new magic is beyond her control. The wizard of the... Read More

Listeners are teleported to the year 2198 as Jennifer Jill Araya portrays the crew aboard the DS THESEUS. Teenager Jessica Mathers is angry at her parents for having left her when she was 11 to do research in space and for making her join them now on a year-long mission to an extinct planet. The cloning and printing technology used for deep-space transportation is supposed to... Read More

Author Maria José Fitzgerald delivers an introductory poem, setting the tone for this endearing story. Elena Rey's and Frankie Corzo's narrations add to this thoughtful story with meaningful pacing and heartfelt emphasis when called for. Abby and Barana are two girls who are forced to spend a few weeks together one summer when Abby's father brings her on his work trip to... Read More

Narrators Ana Isabel Dow and Oscar Emmanuel Fabela narrate a heartwarming story that will delight listeners as their voices exude joy and warmth. Dow narrates in English, and Fabela narrates in Spanish; they alternate throughout the audiobook. The use of two languages makes this audiobook accessible to listeners who speak only one language. Dow and Fabela portray two... Read More

Joniece Abbott-Pratt narrates the alternating perspectives of four young, Black women who seek romance and a sense of themselves in 1910 Chicago. Abbott-Pratt portrays the propriety of Olivia, the eldest daughter of a wealthy family, and her shift to discomfort when she meets a fiery Alabama lawyer who speaks out against Jim Crow. Abbott-Pratt presents a different picture of... Read More

Victoria Villarreal's lilting tones highlight 12-year-old Lula's sunny disposition in the face of her challenges as the daughter of a migrant farm worker in the 1960s. Villarreal's heartfelt performance captures what Lula sees: the terrible living and working conditions of migrant farm workers, including women and children. Villarreal sensitively conveys Lula and her sister's... Read More

Week by week, Imani Jade Powers and Yinka Ladeinde take turns narrating the experiences of two Black girls, rising eighth graders, at a mostly white music camp. Andi's grieving the death of her single mom, a free-spirited artist. Zora strives to meet her professor parents' expectations at no small cost to herself. The cabin mates are not natural companions--despite what all the... Read More

In this uplifting biography, author and narrator Carole Weatherford celebrates the accomplishments of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Echoing the insistent rhythms of the Maya Angelou poem "Still I Rise," Weatherford traces Justice Jackson's ascent from her early years in Miami, Florida, where she found academic success but faced racism both personally and... Read More

Narrator Krupa Pattani's expressive voice will have listeners eager to follow a team of magic-wielding soldiers as they journey across the desert in search of a traitor. Pattani leads the narration with her portrayal of Imani, a skilled teenage soldier whose brother is the traitor in question. Pattani's steady voice evokes Imani's determination to prove her brother's innocence.... Read More

Daniel Nayeri's dreamy narration pairs perfectly with this fantastical novel. Traveling merchant Samir saves Monkey from being stoned to death, and their journey on the Silk Road begins. As repayment, Monkey helps Samir sell his wares. The catch is that Samir will spin any lie in order to make a sale, and this won't be the last time he saves Monkey's life either. Nayeri... Read More

Marisa Calin gives a breathy and breathless performance of this rollicking YA fantasy set in 1983 England. Art student Susan Arkshaw longs to live a normal life, but she keeps getting drawn into a world of magic and danger. Calin ramps up the action as Susan and her dashing boyfriend, Merlin St. Jacques, face a murderous enemy who can animate marble sculptures. Merlin is part... Read More

Instrumental effects and low background music enhance this biography of deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie. Narrator Elle Newlands's Scottish accent echoes Evelyn's origins as listeners learn about a girl with a gift for music who is diagnosed with hearing loss. The trills of different instruments and other sound effects educate listeners and spark the joy Evelyn feels about... Read More

Catherine Ho delivers a dynamic performance of this middle-grade fiction, which takes place in 1960s China. Ah-Mei is a mixed French-Chinese girl who is struggling through poverty and political strife in Shanghai. Her bond with her French grandmother, Nainai, is one of her only comforts as her family's business falls into a dire state. While the plot is simplistic, Ho's... Read More

This musical picture book brings history and community to life. In the first part, author Carole Boston Weatherford's bright voice lets her words shine over unobtrusive inspirational music. Weatherford's steady rhythmic delivery of the repeated phrase "standing in the need of prayer" creates a tone of urgency that drives the stories of Black struggles and victories throughout... Read More

Narrator Annie Q's youthful exuberance reflects 11-year-old Mo Gallagher's newfound passion for collecting family recipes and her hope for a new home. The death of her beloved grandmother/guardian has resulted in Mo's placement into foster care. As she grows a website and adjusts to the many changes in her life, Annie Q's delivery reflects Mo's buoyant tone and resilient... Read More

Jasminne Mendez delivers her novel-in-verse with the affinity of an author turned narrator, embracing the line breaks and Spanish phrases that make her poetic writing even more lyrical. Mendez reveals the deep feelings of 12-year-old Aniana del Mar, a Dominican American who adores being in the water as much as she loves the parents who nurture her. Mendez helps listeners... Read More

Austin Channing Brown narrates stories of loving herself as she grows up a Black girl in a mostly white world. Her tone is upbeat and her attitude positive as she describes her confusion amid early experiences of white coding. Through natural, immersive storytelling she shows how she thought she faced gender bias because of her name but came to understand the larger issue of... Read More

Former U.S. poet laureate Joy Harjo, a member of the Mvskoke Nation, embraces listeners with her warm earthy voice. Repetition of the titular word, "remember," drives this celebration of connections: to family, to the earth, to the elements, to the universe. The poet's "r"s do not roll, but they linger in repeated instances of the words "remember" and "earth," exhorting... Read More

Three Nubian refugees navigate postapocalyptic New York City. Amir Abdullah narrates chapters involving the male characters Uzochi and Lencho, and Emana Rachelle narrates those involving the female characters Zuberi and Sandra. Jeorge Bennett Watson voices the short sections from Adisa, along with the timeline and prologue. Together, they weave a story of struggling teenagers... Read More

A full cast transports listeners straight to the school lunchroom for two silly, sound effects-laden, cartoon-like adventures. Lunch Lady, played by Kate Flannery, is secretly a spy, and she fights crime with the help of gadgets such as cannoli-oculars and a banana boomerang. Cary Hite brings playful energy as the story's unnamed narrator--and occasionally breaks into the... Read More

Jade Wheeler's emotionally attuned narration and stellar characterizations draw listeners into California teen Mahalia Harris's world. She's juggling a part-time job, college prep, and a crush on new Irish student Siobhan, as well as planning an epic coming-out party. As Mahalia struggles to reach her goals, Wheeler's performance deepens the weight of Mahalia's tenuous finances... Read More

Narrator Michael Crouch strikes just the right tone for this sweet middle-grade novel about two boys finding first love. After his parents' divorce, 12-year-old Jeremy and his father spend two summer weeks on the Oregon coast. Even as Jeremy is confused by his dad's mood swings and drinking, he finds refuge with new friend Evan. Crouch conveys every moment of shyness,... Read More

Torrey Maldonado's voice is perfectly pitched for Trev, a promising Black 12-year-old who is dealing with family and community violence. His stepfather is in jail for hitting his mother. Trev trains in boxing to protect his sisters, and he fears his mom will soon need protection, too. Complicating matters is Trev's promise as an artist. Are his hands for boxing or drawing? When... Read More

Narrator Ariyon Bakare establishes a determined voice for Matthias, a church mouse who must rise to the occasion when the Redwall Abbey is threatened by rats, led by Cluny and his horde. With even pacing, Bakare shares the history of the abbey and a legendary warrior of the past who may be the key to fending off Cluny once and for all. Bakare creates unique voices for each... Read More

Author/narrator Nic Stone begins with a note explaining her personal experience relating to this audiobook and her hatred of the term "mental illness." She follows that with a warning of possible triggering content involving self-harm. Narrator Dion Graham superbly delivers a drunken text written by protagonist Andy Criddle. Graham provides a multilayered view of the... Read More

Only six minutes in length, this sweet but quick title is provided an emotional and heartfelt narration by a masterful ensemble. Full of hope and compassion, each narrator delivers a brief account in the second person of how one's identity grows and evolves to be much more than any trait, label, or quality. The writing is naturally poetic, allowing the narration to be lyrical,... Read More

In this debut audiobook, TJ Powar is popular, brilliant, and beautiful-- or at least she used to be. After a cruel meme of TJ and her Sikh cousin, Simran, gets blasted across the internet, TJ takes a stand and stops shaving--everything--to prove that girls can be both hairy and beautiful. Narrator Mayuri Bhandari carefully crafts an outstanding performance as TJ, who, through a... Read More

Vico Ortiz narrates this action-packed fantastical pirate adventure with gusto. Sixteen-year-old Mar has to hide twice over--they wear a chest binder, and they have tattoo-like markings that glow when they use their magical powers of ice and fire. Slipping seamlessly between English and Spanish, Ortiz puts listeners firmly in Mar's point of view--we feel all of Mar's anguish... Read More

Shannon Gibney narrates her memoir/speculative fiction with authenticity. Adopted soon after birth by a white middle-class couple, Gibney was 19 when she began to imagine the identity of Erin Rebecca Powers, the person she would have been if she had stayed with her alcoholic birth mother. The references to this audiobook's protagonist frequently switch from first to third... Read More

Amina Koroma and Jonathan Andrew Hume bring liveliness and charm to this utterly delightful YA debut from a beloved British romance author. Koroma delivers all the snark and wit of Celine, a stellar student, confident weirdo, and TikTok star who is ready to take on the world--starting with a wilderness survival expedition that could win the attention of her hero. Unfortunately,... Read More

Maggi-Meg Reed flavors her nonfiction narration with lilts that lend drama to the story of the Thompson submachine gun (Tommy gun) in America in the 1920s and '30s. Reed first turns her attention to John Thompson, a Spanish-American army officer who believed the military needed a more efficient weapon during WWI. Later, Reed notes the inventor's dismay when the weapon finds its... Read More

Narrator Johnathan McClain offers a propulsive reading of Adam Makos's true story of tank warfare during WWII. This young adult adaptation of Makos's bestselling work takes listeners behind enemy lines, focusing on 21-year-old American tank gunner Corporal Clarence Smoyer of the 3rd Armored Division and 17-year-old German tank crewman Private Gustav Schaefer. Both are caught up... Read More

Mark Sanderlin narrates this comic middle-grade audiobook with the perfect amount of flair. Brewster Gaines loves making videos but has yet to achieve his ultimate goal: going viral online. When he enlists a cool new classmate as his scene partner, Brewster doesn't realize the chaos he's about to unleash. As more kids join the project, Sanderlin deftly voices Brewster's alarm... Read More

Narrator Raquel Merediz shines with warmth and compassion in this moving performance. Middle school student Iveliz is severely depressed; she has PTSD because she saw her father die in an accident. Her grandmother, Mimi, comes to live with her and her mother, which adds to Iveliz's stress because Mimi has Alzheimer's. Iveliz is also struggling with school and friendships. She... Read More

Narrator Xanthe Elbrick delivers the first-person perspective of prickly Hava in the fifth installment of this complex and compelling fantasy series. Twenty-one-year-old Hava is young Queen Bitterblue's half sister and spy; she has the ability to disguise herself as objects and deflect people's attention, and she's a survivor of childhood trauma. Elbrick distinguishes between... Read More

Any listener familiar with holiday rom-coms will know that when 16-year-old Shira Barbanel and her nemesis, Tyler Nelson, are snowed in together on the first night of Hanukkah, they're destined for romance. A deal the two strike for Tyler to give Shira flirting lessons to help her attract her great-uncle's assistant provides further opportunities for them to spend time... Read More

Dani Martineck shines in presenting a confident character who feels confined in a disapproving world. Listeners will travel to the royal capital of Helston with Callie, a nonbinary 12-year-old who is determined to become a knight in a forbidding place with strict boundaries between genders. In this intolerant kingdom only girls can study magic, and boys must stick to swordplay.... Read More

Cuban American narrator Giordan Diaz's mastery of the Spanish phrases and names in this historical novel, set in Cuba in 1980, adds authenticity to this excellent performance. Sixth grader Hector and his brother must publicly support the communist regime while keeping their mother's plans to leave Cuba and reunite with their exiled father a secret. Each character has a distinct... Read More

Zeno Robinson perfectly portrays 12-year-old Javari Harris in this engaging, thought-provoking listen. Javari, who lives with his family in Bushwick, Brooklyn, has the opportunity to attend a STEM summer camp in West Virginia. Robinson's portrayal of Javari is authentic and multilayered as the boy finds himself in the heart of Appalachia and engages with compelling and... Read More

Fred Sanders offers a straightforward narration of this young adult adaptation of THE HEARTBEAT OF WOUNDED KNEE. Many mistakenly believe Native American civilization ended in the late 1800s, but this part historical, part autobiographical audiobook delves into thriving Native American cultures as they exist today. In particular, the author addresses his own Ojibwe upbringing on... Read More

Narrator Clifton Duncan's ease with German accents helps immerse listeners in the milieu of the Soviet sector of Berlin, where a German couple find themselves in 1945, expecting twins. The division of the city after WWII mirrors the later experience of their sons, aspiring artists Peter and Rudi, in 1961. At first, they are in opposition over contradictory beliefs, and, then,... Read More

This poetry collection is a companion to THEY CALL ME GERO. Mexican actor Andres Zuno shines as the narrator. Middle-schooler Güero begins a romance with Joanna "Fregona" Padilla. As their romance progresses, they share their first kiss, hang out with their diverse friends, and meet the other's family. Their bubble bursts when Joanna's father is deported. Zuno has a slight... Read More

Nicole Lewis's absorbing narration of the U.S. Women's Basketball team's path to the 1976 Olympics in Montreal creates a courtside experience for listeners. Led by coach Billie Moore, the underdog American team, who would go on to illustrious playing and coaching careers, vied for a medal and a chance to grow their sport. Lewis's light characterizations of quoted players and... Read More

Narrator Saskia Maarleveld uses even pacing and a tone of purpose to explain the endangerment of elephants and the ways that we can make a difference. Listeners are treated to an introduction written and narrated by Chelsea Clinton, in which she explains how she became passionate about the cause to save elephants as a small child and how everyone can help, even kids. Maarleveld... Read More

Narrator Kristen DiMercurio brings a little known piece of North Carolina's WWII history alive for middle graders. Neb, Rain, and Stick, the Dime Novel Kids, are best friends who look for mysteries to solve. Stick, the story's curious and observant narrator, has a strong voice as she introduces listeners to life on Hatteras Island in the 1940s. Neb is a clever problem solver... Read More

Marilyn Singer gives a spirited performance of her collection of poems tracing a family's celebrations of all the Jewish holidays throughout the year--both those that are familiar and those that are less so. Each holiday is presented, first, with a playful, sweet, or solemn poem, which Singer delivers in a lively, welcoming voice. Then she expands upon the holiday a bit more,... Read More

Sura Siu's voice shines with welcoming excitement as she narrates a fun counting story centered around the New Year. Each animal in the zodiac brings along treats and takes on tasks to prepare for a Chinese New Year celebration. First comes rat, who cleans away the bad luck of the last year. The party begins when all the dumplings and noodles are prepared and pig, the 12th... Read More

Barrie Kreinik narrates this early reader audiobook about Hanukkah in a gentle, welcoming tone. The production opens with a lengthy explanation about early readers, so young listeners will want to skip ahead to focus on the heart of the audiobook--the sweet story of a young girl who is thrilled to celebrate the Festival of Lights. Kreinik's youthful voice captures the young... Read More

Meera Simhan, narrator of the majority of Ellis's Breadwinner series, delivers the fifth installment. It takes place in 2021, twenty years after the initial book, when Parvana and Shauzia became heroines. Simhan's slight accent gives a sense of the Afghan setting. She infuses emotions into her otherwise neutral reading to show the terror of those who are experiencing the... Read More

Narrator Kathleen Gati brings her lilting vocal style to these retellings of Aesop's fables. An introduction provides remarks on the tales' history and transmission, and each individual story is located geographically--East Africa for "The Lion and the Mouse" and northern Asia for "The Wolf and the Crane," for example. Sadly, there is no contextualizing information about how... Read More

Narrator Annie Q recounts the summer that will change Aria Tang West's life forever. After topless photos of her are released without her consent, Aria's parents think it's best that she spend her last summer before college at the home of her grandmother, an artist, in Northern California. Although school is out, Aria gains an education in art, astronomy, and queer culture.... Read More

Emily Woo Zeller returns to narrate the thrilling conclusion to the Six Crimson Cranes series. Shiori has been charged with returning the dragon's pearl to its rightful owner. Her journey takes her from the political intrigue of the dragon kingdom to an island full of demons that desire her blood. Zeller's vocal versatility enlivens vivid characters, including snarling dragons,... Read More

Josh Bloomberg's resonant voice is perfect for 15-year-old Hoodie Rosen, who shares classic Jewish stories and the words of his Rebbe (a Hasidic spiritual leader). But Hoodie's instincts are beginning to conflict with Orthodox teachings, and Bloomberg's narration captures Hoodie's irony, sarcasm and introspection. Central to the story is an act of goodness: Hoodie and... Read More

Kevin R. Free narrates the first book in the Miles Lewis chapter book series. Fourth-grader Miles Lewis loves his family and friends, sports, science, and historical facts about Black trailblazers. In this story, his class is going on a field trip to the ice-skating rink. Even though he's never been ice skating, Miles has agreed to a bet that he won't be the first to fall. But... Read More

Expert narration by Imani Jade Powers adds to the personalities of the characters in Forna's second installment of The Gilded Ones. Powers's voices, inflections, and interpretations will inspire listeners to seek out the first in the series if they haven't already heard it. The complex plot continues the story of Deka, a teenaged girl who was born with the precious yet feared... Read More

Jeremy Carlisle Parker's able and confident delivery keeps listeners' attention focused on this YA novel. From the beginning, Fallon repeatedly reveals her feelings for Chloe, her former BFF and onetime lover. The year before the novel opens, Fallon was left feeling abandoned when Chloe departed for college immediately after their first hookup. That development is something... Read More

Narrator Courtney Lin creates a youthful, passionate voice for 12-year-old Mary Kate, who works with her classmates to create a new club, the Climate Club, to save the earth's environment. In doing so, she also finds the courage to advocate for others, such as her friend Lucy, who has been sick with an unknown illness; her fellow classmates who face racism; and a new mayoral... Read More

Narrators Jesse Vilinsky and Andrew Eiden deliver McManus's most thrilling audiobook yet. Vilinsky portrays Brynn, who is returning to Saint Ambrose, the private school she left in eighth grade after her favorite teacher was murdered. Eiden voices Tripp, her former best friend, one of the three students who found their teacher's body on campus that fateful year. Vilinsky's... Read More

The talented and capable María José Zuniga narrates this story about kindness at the Mexican-American border. Young Noemi and her mother, who are seeking asylum, arrive at the border and put their names in a notebook. The notebook lists people waiting to plead their cases to the American authorities. A kind woman named Belinda, the notebook keeper, encourages everyone to remain... Read More

A talented group of narrators elevates these inspirational essays written by award-winning authors into a delightful listening experience. The works are sure to inspire young listeners and adults alike; they are varied and diverse, ensuring something for everyone. The essays touch on various topics: anxiety, bullies, divorce, reaching your dreams, death, and Covid, to name a... Read More

Narrator Caroline Hewitt delivers a gripping performance of the young reader's edition of Purnell's bestseller about Virginia Hall, a socialite from Baltimore who worked as a spy for the Allies during WWII. Hewitt skillfully channels Hall's strong emotions at every stage of life: happiness at choosing the excitement of work over marriage, despite her mother's disdain; anger at... Read More

Si Chen portrays June Chu, a Taiwanese-American teen living in the Midwest. Chen easily slips into the accents and perspective of June's critical mother, who continually quotes Chinese proverbs. All this makes it easy to understand the constantly demeaned June's new determination. She will prove that she can stop her endless studying and violin practicing, stop comparing... Read More

Indigenous Canadian narrator Darrell Dennis delivers this unvarnished account of Native American history for middle-grade students. The audiobook, part of the True History series, does not shy away from uncomfortable truths about the European colonization of the Americas. Dennis speaks without rancor or sensationalism, delivering facts about the American Indians' roles in... Read More

Suzanne Toren's engaging narration style is the perfect choice for this fascinating biography of the world's first female professional aeronaut and the early history of hot-air and hydrogen ballooning. A brief introduction immerses the listener in the social and political turmoil of late-eighteenth-century France, setting the scene for the birth of the phenomenon known as... Read More

Reena Dutt empathetically narrates this unique mix of nonfiction about immigration, which includes historical facts and true stories from the author's own family. Dutt conveys the author's emotional distress over historical and modern-day injustices. The listener hears her voice quaver when explaining the symbolism of the Statue of Liberty and the experiences of Jewish... Read More

Torian Brackett's joyful, ebullient narration sets the tone for this YA novel. Queer, Black besties Harrison and Linus have been each other's family for years. When Linus announces that he's moving away from Baltimore, Harrison decides what they need to cement their friendship is one perfect day in the city. What follows is a heartfelt, hilarious, and moving exploration of... Read More

Married authors Zadie Smith and Nick Laird deliver a delightful, hilarious, and heartfelt narration of their debut children's book. Kit opens a birthday surprise, a guinea pig dressed in a judo outfit. Kit has many pets, and they find the oddly dressed surprise off-putting. After several misadventures, the surprise receives a name; thus, she finally feels loved and accepted in... Read More

Narrator Elaine Wang beautifully illuminates the dreamy quiet of a mid-autumn Moon Festival celebration. A Chinese American girl tells how she travels out into the darkness with her family to string up lanterns, eat traditional sweets and fruits, and give thanks to the moon for happiness and togetherness. Lin's spare lines don't lend themselves to exaggerated voices or... Read More

E.R. Fightmaster's performance is the perfect example of the unique magic that happens when a great narrator is paired with the perfect book. In this young adult novel of a nonbinary athlete's coming of age, River McIntyre spends every spare moment practicing for the swim team to escape their internal struggle with gender identity. But when River falls in love with another... Read More

Sura Siu narrates this picture book highlighting the accomplishments of 18 famous Asian Americans. The musicians, politicians, athletes, and others range from designer Vera Wang to architect I.M. Pei. Asian-Americans have made their mark on the U.S. in many fields. The audiobook consists of a simple sentence about each person--their name, an action verb, and the reason for... Read More

Three narrators deliver a chilling apocalyptic story. Narrator Shaan Dasani introduces Benji, whose father has just been killed. Now an evangelical cult is out to get Benji because he's transgender. Dasani's narration gradually reveals how Benji has been set up to destroy the world. Instead, he wants to destroy the cult. Short, interspersed sections feature Graham Halstead and... Read More

Valerie Rose Lohman and Max Meyers make a dynamic narration team as they portray two curiously gifted young people in 1920s Chicago. Lohman's portrayal of 18-year-old Ruby Newhouse is bright, confident, and lively. She appears to be a cheerful flapper, but she's also a mind reader who uses her ability to rid the world of corrupt men. In alternate chapters, Meyers portrays... Read More

Carla Corvo dances nimbly between languages in this verse novel about a Cuban immigrant girl who finds her voice in inglés with help from a Nobel laureate and an elephant family. In 1947, Oriol, 11, lives in Santa Barbara, California, where her parents, veterinarians, tend to Hollywood stars' exotic animals--and where Chilean poet, diplomat, and human rights activist Gabriela... Read More

Victoria Villarreal introduces Adela Ramírez at a dramatic time in her life. First, Villarreal shows the contentment of 12-year-old Adela, who loves Alex, her mother's new husband. She's even happy about welcoming an impending sibling. But then Alex decides he wants to adopt her, and without quite understanding why, Adela is driven to discover who her biological father is.... Read More

At the Atlanta airport, teens James and Michelle find their meet cute layover interrupted by a wild sequence of bizarre changes in the web of reality. Everyone seems to be somehow connected to a strange blinking green light. Narrator Jade Wheeler skillfully creates numerous character voices in the international airport, including Michelle's amorphous accent, acquired from her... Read More

Lauri Jo Daniels and Emily Ellet portray two strong teens who are living in California's Central Valley during the 1940s. Daniels colors the chapters narrated by 16-year-old Ginny Rose with a mild Oklahoma accent. Daniels also captures the tenderness Ginny Rose has for her sisters and her best friend, Peggy. Ginny Rose's family lost their Oklahoma farm in the Dust Bowl, and at... Read More

Author David Levithan offers a story about the difference between challenging books and supporting children. Narrator Christopher Gebauer portrays Donovan, a boy whose mother thinks a line about love between two boys in a book assigned by his teacher is inappropriate. Gebauer's curious and earnest tone for Donovan is in counterpoint to his mother's campaign to remove the book.... Read More

Retired NASA astronaut and Navy pilot Scott Kelly shares leadership lessons with listeners in this concise audiobook. Kelly's clear, forthright performance advises listeners on how to enter a career filled with opportunities to evolve and how to adopt a situational leadership style. Each chapter pairs essential attributes with specific examples drawn from his missions aboard... Read More

Middle school changes rock two friends in this curious story. Kind Asha, voiced in a solemn tone by Subhadra Newton, feels adrift when her best friend, Sam, switches to an elite private school. Their friendship developed early when they easily made space for each other's autistic traits. But Sam, portrayed by Gary Tiedemann with heavy doses of the bewilderment adolescence... Read More

Listeners are introduced to 18-year-old Chloe Kang, who is given a 23andMe genetic test as a gag gift. The results introduce her to a new family member and then a whole new family. For an only child who is the daughter of an orphan, these developments are thrilling. Narrator Hannah J. Choi brings realistic American and Korean accents to Chloe and the people who surround her.... Read More

Narrator Kathleen Gati deftly captures the tensions of the harrowing 1956 Hungarian Revolution in this powerful audiobook. The murder of 18-year-old Csilla Tisza's parents weighs heavily on her as she counts the days until she can escape from Budapest. Government oppression and scrutiny by state security push her and new friends Azriel, an angel of death, and Tamás, a man who... Read More

Narrator Carla Corvo establishes a youthful voice for 16-year-old Ilana, whose parents send her to live with her aunt in Prague, hoping that she'll give up her aspiration to be a musician and choose a more practical career that offers financial security. When she arrives, she discovers a cemetery and the ghost of a 16-year-old boy named Benjamin, whom she begins to fall for.... Read More

Shannon Tyo narrates this middle-grade audiobook about friendship and the power of belief. Mallory never meant to exclude new girl Jennifer Chan, but Jennifer's belief in aliens and her open, sunny attitude mark her as just too weird. When Jennifer runs away, the story splits into "before" and "after" sections revealing the truth about how Mallory and others treated Jennifer... Read More

Narrator Carolyn Kang sounds appropriately young and earnest as Ning, a teenager determined to save her sister's life in this historical fantasy inspired by Chinese culture and mythology. She's sick from the same poison that killed their mother, and Ning believes that her only hope for an antidote is to follow in her mother's footsteps and compete to become Princess Zhen's... Read More

Narrator Cassandra Morris's youthful tone fits Annabelle, a sixth-grader who has grown up sheltered in a small town until she crushes on Bailey, a new, nonbinary student. Transgender author Kyle Lukoff develops rounded characters with authenticity, all accurately portrayed by Morris. She captures Annabelle's confusion and curiosity about gender terms and her own identity, and,... Read More

Emily Rankin, who narrated WOLF HOLLOW, also performs the sequel to Annabelle's first-person story. A year after the events of the first book, Annabelle is still dealing with her grief and the difficulties of life during WWII. Then she is struck by lightning, and her heart is restarted by a mysterious stranger. Rankin's matter-of-fact delivery gives listeners room to feel the... Read More

An ensemble of narrators performs the story of Oscar, Noah, and Riley, eighth graders who become fast friends when their paths cross in the small town of West Beacon, Pennsylvania. Narrator Ozzie Rodriquez establishes a deep, mature voice for Oscar, whose sister, Carmen, recently passed away. Narrator Michael Crouch creates a cheery voice for Noah, who tries to stay optimistic... Read More

From the opening of this audiobook, narrator Lauren Ezzo gives an edgy, anxious tension to each word. Wren details how the blight--a quicksilver-like substance that distorts everything it touches--has leapt from farm to farm near Hollow's End, tainting the soil and invading both its animal and human inhabitants, transforming them into zombie-like creatures operating as a single... Read More

The prequel to the popular WE WERE LIARS has serious spoiler alerts, so listen to these audiobooks in the order they were published. Narrator Kimberly Farr convincingly delivers the jaded viewpoint of privileged 17-year-old Carrie Sinclair, who recounts the worst thing she ever did in her childhood. In the summer of 1987, she was recovering from a painful operation and dealing... Read More

Tashi Thomas narrates this picture-book adaptation, which delves into the depths of the color blue. The author examines every aspect of it-- from the science behind it and its discovery to the cultural and religious significance of producing a color so rare in nature. The author also notes the often harmful economic and social impacts of early production methods on enslaved... Read More

There is magical madness on Cattywampus Street, and narrator Tara Sands delivers every quirky, creepy, silly, and surprising moment with exuberance equal to the task. Each chapter is a short story highlighting one of the 11 unique kids who live in this unusual neighborhood in "the middle of Nowheresville." To mention a few, there is a ghost story in the toy store with Ursula,... Read More

Narrator Frankie Corzo's sparkling performance brings just the right amount of gusto and humility to this social-media-savvy coming-of-age story. Corzo's youthful, bubbly voice perfectly embodies Kat--an artistic teenager who creates "Max," a fake Instagram influencer. The more successful Max becomes, the more secrets Kat has to keep from her rowdy male friends and loving... Read More

Bilingual narrator Marisa Blake's voice is full of warmth; it pairs perfectly with this beautiful story of familial love. It is Rocio's birthday. She is in a new home in a new country. Now living in the U.S., she misses her old home in Mexico with her abuela and extended family. Rocio misses the grocery store that Abuela owns. She misses the colorful homemade piñatas, chiles,... Read More

In a warm voice filled with wonder, poet Kevin Young (BROWN) reads his ode to finding peace and belonging in nature. Young boy Emile falls in love with a field and chronicles its changing seasons as he spends time there--yellow flowers and bumblebees in spring, snow in winter. Snow, though, "meant Emile had to share the field with sleds and other loud kids who rode the face of... Read More

Secrets abound in this fantasy thriller with an ensemble narration. The story features a lawyer and three incarcerated characters. Cayder, a public defender, portrayed by Graham Halstead, personally knows the devastating consequences that magic can have on a society. Cayder's disgruntled tone is the listener's primary companion throughout this audiobook as he sets out to free... Read More

Andrew Maraniss's latest sports-focused biography centers on baseball player Glenn Burke. Having played in the 1970s, Burke is remembered for two things: He was gay at a time when the gay liberation movement was in its infancy, and he is credited as the inventor of the high five. Kevin R. Free approaches the narration of this audiobook with dignity and an engaged tone. That's... Read More

Amanda Alcántara's vivacious narration embodies the sarcastic voice of 12-year-old Pilar Ramirez in an audiobook that blends the poetry of images and the music of language. Growing up in a rapidly gentrifying Chicago, Pilar has heard stories of the horrors of Dominican dictator Trujillo and myths of the fictional boogeyman called El Cuco. Listening to her mother's and abuela's... Read More

A full cast of skilled narrators brings this engaging graphic novel to life on audio. Sheena Kamal portrays Maggie, a shy RPG-loving girl entering sixth grade. Listeners hear her anxiety about the new year—and a mysterious monster outside her school. Narrator Almarie Guerra guides listeners through the story, smoothly describing the visual cues for listeners. A lively cast,... Read More

Glasgow-born Katy Townsend delivers a powerful narration of this story told from the point of view of an autistic girl. When 11-year-old Addie and her sister, Keedie, learn that women were wrongfully accused of being witches and killed in their village years ago, they suspect that the women were probably neurodivergent--like them. They appeal to the village council to set up a... Read More

A stellar trio of narrators delivers the alternating viewpoints in this superb contemporary debut by YA fantasy author Sabaa Tahir. Abuse, alcohol consumption, and drug use are major parts of this story, along with grief and loss. Narrator Kamran R. Khan portrays 18-year-old Salahudin, whose vulnerability and poet’s soul shine as he tries to handle his father’s drinking and... Read More

Narrator Yu-Li Alice Shen brings multiple facets to her portrayal of 11-year-old Maizy Chen. Her tone captures the adjustments of a middle schooler from Los Angeles who is spending the summer in Minnesota at her grandparents' home and restaurant. Shen expresses Maizy's curiosity about an illustrious 1886 ancestor, along with her determination to discover who has stolen the bear... Read More

In the companion audiobook to AMAL UNBOUND, Omar is the only boy in his Pakistani village who is selected for a scholarship to Ghalib Academy for Boys. His new life at the exclusive boarding school is not quite what he expected, as scholarship recipients are treated like second-rate citizens and do menial work. When Omar finds out he cannot return because of low grades, he... Read More

In this brief but powerful audio, narrator Joniece Abbott-Pratt recounts the history of the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955-56, which was initially sparked by the arrest of young Claudette Colvin, who refused to give up her seat. Abbott-Pratt takes the audio's repeated phrase "because Claudette" and turns it into spoken-word poetry with an insistent rhythm that builds from event... Read More

With even pacing and crystal-clear diction, narrator Rosa Howard embodies the charisma and conviction of one woman who stepped up to do what she could during the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955-56. When Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white man, Georgia Gilmore joined her community in boycotting the city buses. Georgia then used her talents... Read More

Tenderness and depth ground the narration of this Stonewall Award-winning story about one girl's perspective-changing summer. Shortly after learning that her divorced dad is engaged, 13-year-old Dalia finds herself and her new friend, Rani, on a road trip to an amusement park with her prickly soon-to-be-stepsister, Alexa. Neither Dalia nor Alexa is eager to connect, but Dalia... Read More

Narrator Pete Cross is completely believable as gay, out 17-year-old Canadian boy-band star Hunter Drake. Soon after Kiss & Tell embarks on a concert tour, Hunter's ex-boyfriend shares their private--and very personal--text messages online. Everyone from the band's label to strangers on the Internet has an opinion about everything from Hunter's public image to the details of... Read More

With the talents of narrator Angela Dawe, the author's excellent research and strong writing propel listeners through this account of the 1924 murder committed by teenagers Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb. Dawe reveals the step-by-step plotting of two bright, privileged boys who kidnap, ransom, and murder a 14-year-old. Their purpose? To pull off a perfect crime. The details... Read More

Narrator Phoebe Strole's youthful tone captures 16-year-old Lily Larkin. When Lily was young, her older sister, Alice, saved her from being swept out to sea by a riptide. Quickly, Strole contrasts the loving stability of Lily's childhood with the overwhelming feelings she is coping with now. She's worried about Alice, who is cutting herself. Lily feels like she has to be... Read More

Victor Bevine's steady narration brings an air of gravitas to this compelling story, which focuses on the 1955 murder of Emmett Till. While visiting his grandfather in Mississippi, 16-year-old Hiram is horrified to discover that a childhood friend may have been involved in the brutal slaying of 14-year-old Till. Bevine deftly conveys Hiram's tortured thoughts as he agonizes... Read More

Joshua David Stein performs his clever story in an animated voice that is a fine accompaniment to the tinkling of page-turn chimes and realistic sound effects. In addition to entertaining young listeners with animal sounds, Stein teaches children (and adults) all about solitary animals (human and nonhuman) and collective nouns (for example, "a dazzle of zebras"). His playful... Read More

Katharine Lee McEwan returns to narrate this sequel to TESS OF THE ROAD, and it's another complicated journey for the protagonist, Tess. She is headed to the polar south on a research vessel, in search of the Polar Serpent. Along the way, Tess's eyes are opened to the horrors of colonialism. Author Hartman's wonderful world-building and details about the island nations Tess... Read More

Ibi Zoboi's biography of science fiction writer Octavia Butler presents a clear picture of her work and of what life was like when Butler was growing up. Narrator Robin Miles's smooth and honeyed voice alternates with Zoboi's higher, lighter pitch as the two make the most of the text's poetry and prose. The audiobook explains the major events of the day and how they influenced... Read More

Narrator Mitra Jouhari delivers an authentic coming-of-age story. Parvin is on a mission to get a date for homecoming after a summer fling dumps her because "she's too loud." Watching romance movies with her friends, Ruth and Fabian, Parvin theorizes that quiet women always get the man. While she attracts a few boys in her new persona, her Iranian aunt and new Farsi classmate,... Read More

Judy Blume's classic teenage romance makes its way to audio for the first time. The moment Katherine and Michael meet, there's a spark between them. As the two teens fall in love, they're sure it's forever--especially after Katherine loses her virginity to Michael. But what does forever mean when you're a teen? Narrator Caitlin Kinnunen adopts a leisurely pace for this teen... Read More

Bahni Turpin is the perfect narrator for this coming-of-age story about love and revolution written by Nigerian author Akwaeke Emezi. Seventeen-year-old Bitter finally feels safe at Eucalyptus, a boarding school for artistic teenagers. Her friends spend their free time protesting injustice, but Bitter just wants to make art. When she calls a terrifying angel out of one of her... Read More

Narrator Thomas Quasthoff's voice has a musicality perfectly suited to this rich alphabet book with its own symphonic score. This is a poetic tribute to the orchestra—from the titular oboe, offering its musical “A” at each symphony’s beginning, to musical notation, the conductor, the instruments, and the audience. In concert with the authors' passages, Quasthoff's... Read More

Kristen Ariza's warm and lively narration suits a sweet and funny story of a "patchwork family" that is learning to live together in Harlem. Eleven-year-old Bo loves her quiet life with her mother and is knocked for a loop when they move in with Mum's kindhearted boyfriend, Bill. Ariza captures the joyful voices of the many residents of Bill's brownstone: his overly... Read More

Listeners will enjoy the sound of waves that accompanies Lynette Freeman’s stirring narration of environmentalist MaVynee Betsch’s life. During segregation and Jim Crow, American Beach, located on an island near Jacksonville, Florida, was one of a few Black seaside resorts. Freeman’s tone swells with Betsch’s love of the place where she swam and played as a child, and quiets... Read More

Narrator Keylor Leigh shines in this gentle but pointed exploration of 1965 Los Angeles. When young musician Eden's cousin, Winter, visits from Mississippi, the search for Winter's missing father takes the pair on a journey through past and present Watts. The present is a time when simmering tensions between the mostly Black residents and the police are coming to a boil. Leigh... Read More

Narrator Edoardo Ballerini masterfully conveys the unrelenting stress on 17-year-old Cristian Florescu, who lives in Bucharest, Romania, in the winter of 1989. Ballerini makes the totalitarian regime of Nicolae Ceausescu palpable, as well as Cristian's adoration of his Bunu, his loving grandfather. To save the ailing man, Cristian agrees to take on an informer role in exchange... Read More

Aysha Kala returns to narrate this exciting, new adventure, the fourth in the Pages & Co. series. This installment begins with helpful highlights of the previous audiobooks before launching into a new story featuring Milo Bolt; his uncle, Horatio; and their magical train, the "Quip," which travels through books. A mysterious poisoning sends Milo and Tilly Pages on a desperate... Read More

Samantha Desz narrates the story of Elizebeth Smith Friedman, who was a key but hidden figure in breaking codes against America's enemies, both foreign and domestic. She cracked codes against the Mob and took down bootleggers for the Treasury Department and Nazis for the Navy. Desz puts listeners into Friedman's head and heart. Her male supervisors continually undercut and... Read More

This romantic paranormal thriller is enhanced by alternating narrators Katie Koster and Kristen DiMercurio. Grieving high school student Elise wants to shake the disturbing premonitions of death she sees when she touches people. Claire, a vampire who is eternally a teenager, wants revenge against her maker. She can earn that revenge only by training Elise as a Death Oracle.... Read More

Kristen DiMercurio charms listeners with her narration of this light, campy coming-of-age story. Mary has been a perfect student her whole life but has always wondered if she's missed out on anything in not ever having rebelled. She starts small by not turning in her assignments, skipping classes, and trying to hook up with a slacker ex-boyfriend. Little does she know that he... Read More

Narrator Jasmine Guy infuses warmth into this classic children's Valentine's Day story. Mia Valentina, whose name means "my Valentine," and her mother, are decorating their worn home for their family's coming Valentine's Day party. Though Guy's sultriness may at first seem to be an odd choice for this children's book, the lush resonance in her voice radiates quiet enthusiasm... Read More