New Reviews: Young Adult

Myths come to life through Bahni Turpin and Robin Miles's stellar narration of this young adult fantasy. Marisol and her mother left their home in the Caribbean to live in Brooklyn. Marisol hopes to leave their island traditions and her family's magic behind. Genevieve grew up listening to her white father's mythical stories from her unknown mother's homeland. When the teens'... Read More

This gripping and thought-provoking audiobook will not only please fans of dystopian stories, especially the author's, but will also add new listeners to both groups. In a post-Covid world, Crown Royale, a new virus that is seen as life ending--whether or not the sick recover--is spreading rapidly. All those who do recover experience enlightenment, losing any negative feelings... Read More

Narrator Ferdelle Capistrano depicts the emotional turmoil of River Santos, who is coping with breaking up with her boyfriend; being abandoned by her mother; losing everything, including her father, in a fire; having $2 million donated to her by an unknown source; yearning for her gorgeous new co-worker, Logan; and having a general sense that something is not quite right.... Read More

The true story of the Fox Sisters, as delivered by Sophie Amoss, brings listeners to rural New York in 1848. This story is pieced together from surviving letters, news articles, and other accounts. As children, Kate and Maggie Fox were believed to communicate with the dead. The curiosity of their mother, then a neighbor, then their hometown, and then the world led to... Read More

Karen Murray's balanced narration fits this nonfiction account of Jim Jones and the tragedy at the Peoples Temple in Jonestown, Guyana, in 1978. Murray's tone reflects the author's research on the early religious zeal that fueled the imaginations of Jones's followers. Murray presents facts, people, and anecdotes, setting scenes as Jones nurtures followers' trust based on his... Read More

Em Grosland voices trans con artist Phyllis as he uses his magic to steal people's body parts and hold them for ransom--all to satisfy his partner in crime, Lucent. But when one target, Wycliff, can't pay for his stolen nose due to his sister, Adeline's, disappearance, Phyllis disguises himself as a duke and infiltrates the nobility to find her. Grosland smoothly portrays a... Read More

Joy McCullough's narration of her novel written in prose and verse revolves around 16-year-old Carmela Tofana, whose mother, Giulia, finally allows her to apprentice as an apothecary in 17th-century Rome. The story is full of drama as the women who run the apothecary deal with threats after Carmela gives a poison to a woman with an abusive husband. Giulia is blamed and has to... Read More

Mia Hutchinson-Shaw and André Santana deliver alternating narratives of two unique teens--Viv, who fights for the environment, and Dex, who struggles with poverty. Hutchinson-Shaw's narration is tense and energetic as Viv confronts the people who support her town's economic base: fracking and its associated pipeline. She also captures Viv's quick mood changes and sensitive... Read More

Author and activist George M. Johnson skillfully narrates their audiobook about several Black queer artists and performers from the Harlem Renaissance. Their lively delivery keeps listeners interested as they share brief biographies of Langston Hughes, Josephine Baker, and other greats of the era. Each chapter is delightfully introduced with music from the period that... Read More

In Nell's family young women receive magic at the age of 15. Hayley Chewins narrates her novel in verse in quiet tones that make this remarkable story seem perfectly normal. Chewins's native South African accent helps listeners imagine the Cape Town setting where Nell's mother shifts her age from one day to the next and her sister is institutionalized for self-harm as she tries... Read More

Ariana Delawari reflects the uncomfortable mix of feelings of Cassie Perera, which began with her betrayal of her best friend, Ben, in sixth grade, when the two were caught swapping outfits. She denies her friendship to avoid revealing her same-sex attractions, hiding behind being perfect at school, church, and home. Delawari carries listeners forward into Cassie's junior... Read More

Emily O'Brien voices 16-year-old Mullory Prudence and the other characters in this novel with a wide vocal range and quirky accents. James Babson's baritone pitches provide an abundance of variety for other characters, as well. Mullory is bombarded with multiple invitations to Stoutmire Estate to compete in a game of mystery royale for the chance to win a sizable inheritance.... Read More

Four narrators authentically convey the emotional weight of teenagers thrust into a dangerous magical competition that is part of a murder mystery. When the Holtzfall heiress is murdered, a sometimes deadly contest to determine the next heir begins. Karissa Vacker voices Nora, daughter of the murdered heiress. She and journalist August, voiced by Colin White, work to uncover... Read More

With a gentle Southern accent, Michael Crouch narrates this story about figuring out who you are. When the Pride celebration in Zeke's small town of Beggs, Alabama, is abruptly canceled, he finds himself organizing underground speakeasies. But this puts him at odds with his friends in his high school's Queer Straight Alliance, who feel like he's taking too many risks, and with... Read More

Gary Tiedemann gives voice to "Rhino" Rhinehart, the featured character in Lipsyte's timely, troubling coming-of-age novel. Because of an impulsive punch, the junior captain of the football team finds himself keeping a journal as part of a school therapy group. Tiedemann delivers Rhino's words in the voice of a teen who is attempting honesty and beginning to question who he... Read More

When Harper, portrayed by Natalie Naudus, moves next door to Ollie, portrayed by Mary Helen Gallucci, her upended senior year might not totally suck, thanks to their Dungeons & Dragons sessions. Harper and Ollie haven't seen each other since they were 12, but Ollie is still afraid of acting on her romantic feelings for her childhood friend in her small Virginia town. Gallucci's... Read More

Mark Sanderlin gives an outstanding performance of Selznick's new audiobook about two teens who are finding first love. Telling the story in the first person, Danny is wandering alone in Rome while his mother translates old manuscripts. He soon meets Rome native Angelo. Sanderlin captures their initial shyness, then deftly conveys the wonder felt by naïve Danny and the joy felt... Read More

Golden Voice Soneela Nankani projects the conviction of Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi in making a case for and following through on a world-changing march to demonstrate resistance to British colonial rule. Neal Bascomb provides a detailed and authentic narrative drawn from oral history, newspapers, and sources that allow listeners to understand the frustration felt by Indians,... Read More

Narrator Holter Graham transports listeners to a world of gods, demons, and humans. As a young demon, Simi is bound to the Atlantan god, Acheron. When Simi meets the demon Thorn, he makes her laugh even though he's trying to scare her, but over the years Thorn becomes enraged at various times. Simi has a childlike nature, which Graham brings out with a singsong quality. As the... Read More

Nene Nwoko narrates this story about a magical West African world where teens receive and navigate magical gifts and powers. Each teen generally gets one gift, and deviating from that norm frightens the village. Even being born a twin is considered outside acceptable norms. Listeners will be enchanted by Somadina as she searches for her missing twin, Jayaike, and learns to... Read More

Róisín Rankin narrates this action-packed story set at an elite Dublin school. Listeners meet a group of 16-year-olds who are hospitalized after a bomb blast in their chemistry lab. Was it an accident or a deliberate act? Each chapter presents a different viewpoint, as well as a mysterious countdown hinting at a more sinister event to come. Focusing on classmates Jess and... Read More

A full cast gives a wonderfully vibrant performance of Jason Reynolds's powerful story about found family and music. Nile Bullock heads up the ensemble as 18-year-old Stuyvesant (Stuy), an avid drummer. When he moves out because of his mom's new boyfriend, he meets Dunks, a genius on the guitar, and then Alexis (bass) and Keith (trumpet), all of whom love music just as much as... Read More

Melinda Sewak primarily narrates this horror audiobook about a Haitian American teen whose zombie abilities are grounded in Haitian folklore. Brielle's mother suffers from chronic pain, and despite working for the billionaire family whose company makes the pain medication she needs, her health insurance doesn't cover it. Brielle's new internship gives her access to ultra-rich... Read More

Selina Li Bi's debut YA audiobook tells the story of 15-year-old Chinese-Filipino teen Jasmine Cheng, who tries to uncover the answers to questions surrounding her personal history. Cindy Kay is the voice of Jasmine as she struggles to keep her homelife stable; get her troubled, free-spirited mother to share her truth; and find a way to navigate a world she sees as a threat.... Read More

Listening to this audiobook is like spending a few hours with your favorite teacher. Narrator Andrew Eakett is supported by a full cast who take listeners on a comprehensive journey through a history of trans identities. Eakett's narration is engaging, knowledgeable, and funny as he shares key terminology, historical examples, and compelling stories of people ranging from Roman... Read More

Ell Potter narrates this YA novel, inspired by the legend of the Zikmund bell in Prague. The Strauss family has been tasked for generations with caring for their sentient city's bell towers in order to contain a great evil that lies sleeping within. When teenager Mina's bell rings 13 times on her patrol, it's up to her to prevent the ensuing destruction. Potter's sophisticated... Read More