New Reviews by Title: U-Z

This audiobook fills a major gap in the history of war correspondents during WWI, and Bernadette Dunne offers a narration that matches its importance. That's not to say she presents a pompous, overly inflated effort; rather, she matches her tone and pacing to fit the text, keeping the narrative flowing and listeners engaged. For example, her voice is even during much of the... Read More

Narrator Maria Liatis captures the youthful innocence and frustrations of a teenage girl trapped in a dying Baja town in this new audiobook. Viridiana is named after a movie star, but she finds herself condemned to spend time acting as a translator and tourist guide. When a writer, his wife, and her brother come to town, Viridiana ends up as both their translator and a pawn in... Read More

Coauthor Eric Alperin narrates as he shares his path to, and the intricacies of, opening a bar in Los Angeles. Alperin's voice is dry and smooth, like one of the high-quality spirits served in his cocktail bar, The Varnish. While uneven sound quality may distract some listeners, even pacing keeps one interested as Alperin, who originally aspired to be an actor, shares tales... Read More

Narrator Nancy Peterson brings listeners to the idyllic Canadian prairie with this audiobook companion to the Hallmark show "When Hope Calls." Adoptee Lillian Walsh rejoices to discover that her birth sister, Grace, is alive. Peterson smoothly reunites Lillian and Grace and gives them a shared mission, helping to place other orphan children in good homes. The plight of the... Read More

The stories in this remarkable audiobook are about the best in humanity: our desire for connection with others, our determination to pursue dreams, and our generosity in serving others or a greater good of some kind. The author/narrator offers these stories as a model for our higher angels to follow, a remedy for the pernicious news and argumentative social climate that... Read More

Narrator Ralph Lister exuberantly conveys the psychedelic music scene of 1967-68. Mitchell's novel features a British band called Utopia Avenue as growing success takes its members from modest venues to arenas. Listeners will breathlessly accompany the awestruck group as they stay at the fabled Chelsea Hotel in New York City and meet big stars, including Janis Joplin and Jerry... Read More

Narrators Cassandra Campbell and Jenna Lamia portray protagonists recovering from a horrific crime perpetrated upon the women of a Texas oil town in the 1970s. Wetmore's story of racial inequity, class prejudice, and violence illuminates this time and place. Campbell and Lamia deftly trade points of view as the brutal details unfold. The repercussions of an attack on a Hispanic... Read More

Narrator Shayna Small's affecting performance brings listeners into the complex world of African-American identical twins. As teens in the postwar years in Louisiana, they run away from home, choosing two very different paths. Stella, taking advantage of a white businessman's attentions, opts to pass as white, erasing all connections to her birth family. Desiree, however,... Read More

Elisabeth Rodgers gives a low-voiced, pitch-perfect narration of this character-driven mystery set in the 1960s. Vera Kelly is going through a rough patch after losing her girlfriend and her job in the same week. She decides to open her own P.I. firm, and her first case involves the missing child of Dominican exiles. Vera's search leads her through the New York City foster care... Read More

Strong emotional performances take center stage in this tragic YA romance with fresh takes on fluid sexuality and mental health. The age-old tale of star-crossed lovers finds a quirky new home when commercial mega-chain The Geekery, owned by Ridley's father, sets its sights on the indie shop Verona Comics, owned by Jubilee's stepmom. Narrator Taylor Meskimen voices Jubilee, a... Read More

Aaron Landon and Katie Koster masterfully narrate a paranormal fantasy in which death isn't permanent. Allie is a young resurrectionist capable of reviving the recently dead with a unique genetic mutation in her blood. When someone begins hunting resurrectionists and preventing their revivals, Allie must rely on an unlikely partner--a homeless boy named Ploy. Koster imbues... Read More

The events of this audiobook unfold over the course of a single election day as two Black teens vote for the first time. Robin Eller voices Marva, who is first in line at her polling place. She meets Duke, voiced by Cary Hite, when the poll workers can't find Duke's name on the registration list. Making sure his vote gets counted leads them on a long and winding journey during... Read More

Scott McCormick's droll narration captures the tone of the fourth zany adventure of Warlock Holmes. Warlock, the not-so-smart, bumbling, demon-wielding brother of Sherlock and Mycroft, is back at his most deductive, along with the bloodsucking, vampiric Inspector Vladislav Lestrade. McCormick captures Watson's reasoning, no matter how irrational or drug addled. In contrast,... Read More

Arthur Morey's narration qualities are especially valuable here, where the narrative lacks a sustained thread. Historians rarely place much emphasis on the later years of George Washington. The American Cincinnatus turned his back on power and returned to his farm. But in the tone of a close confidant, Morey shares a history more like that of the later Michael Corleone, who... Read More

Narrator Marisa Blake portrays the cruelty and menace of Rey, a gang leader in Guatemala. Blake's depiction of the terror he evokes in three teens who flee him is heartbreaking. The story is told in alternating chapters by Pequena and Pulga. Pequena was raped by Rey and bore a son she can't stand to care for. Her cousin, Pulga, and his best friend, Chico, witnessed Rey murder a... Read More

Humorist Mia Mercado's debut collection of self-deprecating, insightful essays drawn from her personal experiences is a must-listen for anyone wondering if their perceived idiosyncrasies are "normal." Suitable pauses between essays transition listeners through sections dedicated to various modes of being that millennials will find relatable. Mercado's essays combine humor and... Read More

Narrator Lisa Cordileone creates a youthful voice for 12-year-old Abby, who lives in northern Wisconsin, where she helps run a campground with her family. Sometimes business can be sparse, but with an eclipse taking place in the coming summer, all the sites are booked up. Abby looks forward to spending her time studying the stars and exploring books at the local library. Life... Read More

Rotondi does well narrating her account of how the death of a family member in Vietnam affected three generations of her family. In March 1972, Rotondi's Uncle Jack went missing during a bombing run in Laos. Rotondi's account of how her family searched for any information about what happened to him is a testament to determination. This reviewer had a family member who died in... Read More

A privileged Johannesburg student falls head over heels for a girl from the other side of town. The only problem is that she is Black and he is white and they live in apartheid-torn South Africa in 1976. Contributing a spot-on South African accent, narrator Patience Mpumiwana leads a quartet of fresh voices in providing distinct characters, clarity, and cultural grounding for... Read More

Robin Miles's performance channels the type of wise and nurturing voice you'd expect to hear from a child psychologist who aims to help kids deal with today's tumultuous world. With phrasing clarity that is at once relaxed and focused, she sounds like a teacher or care provider parents want to learn from. And the author doesn't disappoint with her accessible lesson on how... Read More

Narrators Imani Jade Powers and Steve West team up to deliver an emotionally engrossing performance of this YA fantasy. In a city brimming with magic, a new headliner must be found through a competition of magical feats. The narrators do an excellent job portraying Kallia, Jack, and Daron's individual personalities and character traits. Especially noteworthy is West's delivery... Read More

Charon Normand-Widmer energetically narrates this story of life in a refugee camp for one imaginative little girl. Abia moves through her daily routine in Ethiopia's Shimelba Camp picturing herself a queen: strong and clever and gentle, as needed. Normand-Widmer's rich and resonant voice expresses Abia's delightful self-confidence in her current circumstances and her uneasiness... Read More

Listeners will easily imagine themselves on a dangerous journey with 11-year-old Anna, as she, her mother, and her older sister flee Czechoslovakia after the 1948 Communist takeover. Narrator Jennifer Jill Araya skillfully delivers a range of accents and Czech names and phrases. Based on the author's own family history, this audiobook describes in riveting detail the family's... Read More

Narrator Bronson Pinchot's range of accents is put to the test in this work of historical fiction set during WWII. While most of Pinchot's narration takes the perspective of a boy living in Prague, the point of view changes and moves all over Europe. At no point will listeners question who is speaking to whom or where that person is from. Pinchot captures the oratorical tones... Read More

Narrator Gary Furlong enthusiastically delivers this advice on how we can reduce our stress and overreactivity and be happy by adopting aspects of the Japanese way of life. Furlong's authentic pronunciation of Japanese words brings persuasiveness to his discussion of how Japan's attitudes about the relationship between self and the community, along with social rules and... Read More

Ron Butler's narration of this meditation on the meaning of driving takes listeners by the lapels and gently shakes their preconceived notions. His smoothly instructive and carefully paced rendition of this audiobook gives life to this examination of the assumption that a problem's technological solution--whether it's cameras on street lights, autonomous autos, or smart... Read More

Two narrators voice strong-willed women facing off in this zippy thriller. Meghan Wolf sounds earnest and youthful as Piper Reynard, a woman running from her past by opening a wellness spa in Connecticut. She quickly finds love with Leo Drakos, much to the dismay of his wife, Joanna, who finds their family life suddenly ripped apart. Golden Voice narrator Julia Whelan gives... Read More

Narrator Victor Bevine confidently guides listeners through a little-known period of American history with obvious parallels to current concerns about racism and white supremacy. In November 1898, the relatively integrated port city of Wilmington, North Carolina, was set ablaze by white supremacists seeking to terrorize Black citizens and overthrow the elected government.... Read More

Narrator Soneela Nankani brings lightness to this meditation on what we can learn about creating a more balanced life from creatures in the world around us. Sounding amused and engaged, Nankani highlights the audiobook's interesting facts: Did you know jellyfish cannot move forward unless they relax and that some shrimp can sound off in oversized ways? Happily, she avoids... Read More

Korean-American narrator Greta Jung vividly brings to life the rich dystopian Thai setting of this fantasy twist on LES MISRABLES. At age 9, orphaned Pong escapes from Namwon Prison, where he was born. But his life as a fugitive is complicated when the prison warden's privileged daughter, Nok, makes it her mission to recapture him to win favor with the autocratic governor. As... Read More

Chloe Cannon narrates this domestic thriller with impeccable pacing and a perfect mix of disbelief, fear, and desperation. After a violent encounter, Cecelia and Scott Holmes move into a Smart Tech home. The house keeps them safe in all manner of ways--from providing high-tech security to selecting educational programs for their 3-year-old daughter's tablet. Everything should... Read More

During WWII, more than a thousand American women aviators ferried planes across the U.S. from factories to military locations. Narrator Gabra Zackman employs an unpretentious voice that is suitable for this account of ordinary women who were committed to doing extraordinary things in their time. Zackman adds a touch of flair when describing Jacqueline Cochran, one of the two... Read More

Teri Schnaubelt gives a brisk and energetic narration of this look at the role of women in the American Civil War. McCurry notes how women, free and enslaved, Northern and Southern, were active participants in furthering the goals of whatever side they supported. The challenge of how to deal with supposed noncombatants/civilians has always been a part of warfare and leads to... Read More

Narrator C.J. Bloom's voice drips with the exasperation that Chelsea Cooper feels for Drew Russo at the beginning of this audiobook. Chelsea and Drew are thrown together when their best friends, Bianca and Jimmy, fall in love and elope. Drew is given the job of keeping Chelsea from crashing the wedding. This results in a road trip. Bianca is quite obnoxious, and Bloom portrays... Read More

Emily Woo Zeller's melodious voice, clear diction, and thoughtful pacing shape these dispatches from the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak. She emulates Fang Fang's tone whether she discusses daily life, takes officials to task for an insufficient response to the pandemic, or vigorously defends herself from the Internet trolls and ultra-leftists who attack her. Novelist Fang... Read More

Narrator Cynthia Farrell's approach to this serious subject is lighter than one might expect. Sometime around the year 1000, Norsemen (and a few women) crossed from Greenland to what is now Canada. This audiobook marks that achievement as the first time goods and ideas could--at least, theoretically--travel around the world from the Americas to Europe, Africa, and Asia,... Read More

"On the ground, by God, on the ground!" said FDR of planes destroyed at Pearl Harbor, and narrator Paul Heitsch's own voice mixes rage and regret, hitting each word as a distinct note. Thus, he presents the hinge year of 1942 with an agonizing uncertainty we have forgotten. Campbell shatters the sentimentality that has forgiven the Greatest Generation for segregating its... Read More

Winch, a member of the Wiradjuri people of Australia, shares an epic story of the impact of colonialism on one Aboriginal family. Tony Briggs, himself Aboriginal, demands listeners' attention with an understated yet compelling narration. He smoothly weaves the indigenous language, defined in an accompanying PDF, into the story as he moves through time to trace the culture from... Read More

There's never been a better time to indulge in John Muir's inspiring observations of California's most iconic wilderness. Crafted over the two years that Muir lived in a tiny cabin alongside Yosemite Creek, around 1870, the work was originally intended as a guidebook to what would become Yosemite National Park. Nick McArdle's understated narration is intoxicatingly relaxing. A... Read More

Listeners will definitely want to cast their vote for Liz Lighty in this debut audiobook for teens. Narrator Alaska Jackson's relaxed, natural-sounding delivery makes Liz instantly relatable. She might not seem like prom queen material at her wealthy Indiana high school, but Liz is determined to win the crown because it comes with a scholarship that will ensure she can attend... Read More

Narrators Jason Clarke and CJ Bloom have fun with this sophisticated, funny story of a straightlaced hunk who happens to be the mayor of New York City. He meets and reluctantly falls for the reformed wild child and gorgeous daughter-in-hiding of his political rival, the governor. Sparks fly, and love is in the air, but secrets and politics make falling in love deliciously... Read More

Zeus, the lovable hero of this humorous audiobook, is a service dog assigned to safeguard Madden, a boy with diabetes who just wants to play the tuba in his school band and be a regular kid. Telling the story from the dog's perspective, narrator Todd Haberkorn is spot-on voicing Zeus's thoughts--from hilarious interpretations of human words to astute observations of the... Read More