Updated Dec. 17, 2009
After Tupac and D Foster, by Jacqueline Woodson, read by Susan Spain. Brilliance Audio, 2009, 3 hours 13 minutes, 3 discs, ISBN: 978-1-4233-9805-9, $39.97
D Foster walks into the neighborhood where the unnamed narrator and her best friend Neeka live and opens up a whole new world to them, becoming, along with Tupac, the vehicle by which they transition from childhood into adolescence. Susan Spain's narration brings the girls' intertwined stories to life as she convincingly conveys the emotional turmoil that is part of growing up.
Along for the Ride, by Sarah Dessen, read by Rachel Botchan. Recorded Books, 2009, 12 hours 45 minutes, 11 discs, ISBN: 978-1-4407-3027-6, $108.75
On a whim, Auden decides to spend the summer with her father, her stepmother, and newborn sister. Despite her desire to remain emotionally distant from the drama that is brewing in the house, Auden finds herself lending her stepmother a reluctant hand. Narrator Rachel Botchan brings, Auden, Sarah Dessen’s socially awkward heroine to life. Listeners will feel as if Auden herself were sharing the story of the summer she spent rediscovering her lost childhood with them over a cup of coffee in a late night diner.
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Vol. 2, The Kingdom on the Waves, by M.T. Anderson, read by Peter Francis James. Listening Library, 2008, 13 hours 30 minutes, 11 discs, ISBN: 978-0-7393-6788-9, $75.00
Octavian, with his classics tutor Dr. Trefusis, flees to Boston, which is occupied by British forces. When the governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore offers freedom to slaves in return for their service against the revolution, Octavian joins Lord Dunmore's Ethiopian Regiment, off the coast. The rich and resonant voice of Peter Francis James captures the scholarly Octavian as well as multiple dialects of other characters.
The Black Book of Secrets, by F.E. Higgins, read by James Daniel Wilson. Recorded Books 2008, 6 hours 30 minutes, 6 discs, ISBN: 978-1-4074-2155-1, $66.75
After escaping his nefarious parents with his teeth still in his mouth, Ludlow Finch finds work transcribing the stories of the village people who visit the pawnbroker whopays them handsomely to relieve them of their secrets.James Daniel Wilson brings this fabulously dark tale to life with his wonderful rendering of the numerous quirky characters that populate the story.
Boys are Dogs, by Leslie Margolis, read by Ellen Grafton. Brilliance Audio, 2008, 5 hours, 4 discs, ISBN: 978-1-4233-7729-0, $48.97
Annabelle doesn't like surprises OR change, but as she starts her first year of middle school she must cope lots of both. The author and narrator create an authentic voice for Annabelle moving from childhood into adolescence, with all the dilemmas, wit, moodiness and confusion of that age.
Brooklyn Bridge, by Karen Hesse, read by Fred Berman. Macmillan Audio, 2008, 4 hours 45 minutes, 4 discs, ISBN: 978-1-4272-0546-9, $24.95
The juxtaposition of Joseph Michtom's story--first born American child of a family of Russian immigrants who make good in America with their creation of the teddy bear--with the life stories of young people living under the Brooklyn Bridge, sends the listener right back in time. Fred Berman's narration vividly brings 1903 Brooklyn to life through his voicing of Joseph and other characters that populate the two parallel storylines in Brooklyn Bridge.
Carter Finally Gets It, by Brent Crawford, read by Nick Podehl. Brilliance Audio, 2009, 8 hours 27 minutes, 7 discs, ISBN: 978-1-4233-9181-4, $87.97
A year in the life of Carter begins with a party before his freshman year, and ends with him realizing where his true interests and talents lie. This is a hilarious, poignant, and so true picture of a 14 year old boy's life. Nick Podehl reads Carter with the perfect blend of humor, irony, and innocence, while narrating a true-to-life glimpse into the mind of a teenage boy.
Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman, Read by Rosalyn Landor. Listening Library, 2009, 7 hours 38 minutes, 6 discs, ISBN: 978-0-7393-8049-0, $34.00
This historical non-fiction biography takes a wholly different approach to most accounts of Darwin's life. Rather than concentrating solely on the great naturalist, instead it focuses attention on both Charles Darwin and his wife, Emma.Rosalyn Landor's dramatic voice proved flexible enough to convey the varied nuances of class, education and gender within British society of the nineteenth century.
The Chosen One, by Carol Lynch Williams, read by Jenna Lamia. Macmillan Audio, 2009, 5 hours 30 minutes, 5 discs, ISBN: 978-1-4272-0706-7, $24.99
Kyra is being forced to marry her sixty year old uncle who is an elder in their religious group "The Chosen Ones". This is untenable for Kyra who shows her independence by loving a sixteen year old boy and visiting a bookmobile. Jenna Lamia brings the perfect tone and emotions to thirteen year old Kyra and enables the listeners to hear her terrible sadness, righteous anger, and her love for her family.
Days of Little Texas, by R.A. Nelson, read by Luke Daniels. Brilliance Audio, 2009, 7 hours 46 minutes, 7 discs, ISBN 1-4233-9482-8, $69.97
Ronald Earl, orphaned at 6 years old and raised by his stern evangelical aunt, has been preaching since he was 10 years old. Now that he's 16, he's beginning to want something different.The voices of each character ring true, accents and all. The unseen forces made of accumulated cruelties and sufferings of the ages are brought to life as each character grapples with his or her version of the truth.
Dope Sick, by Walter Dean Myers, read by JD Jackson. Recorded Books, 2009, 3 hours 30 minutes, 3 discs, ISBN: 978-1-4361-6140-4, $30.75
Lil J, on the run from the police after participating in a drug-buy in which his partner shot an undercover cop, finds himself talking to a strange guy who shows him scenes from Lil J'slife on his television set. JD Jackson convincingly captures the emotional gyrations of a young man forced to consider the path his choices have forged for him.
Game, by Walter Dean Myers, read by JD Jackson. Recorded Books, 2008, 4 hours 15 minutes, 4 discs, ISBN 978-1-4281-8287-5, $77.75
Drew Lawson plays basketball with a ferocity that spurs his teammates’ game despite his struggles to find his way to the truth in his life on and off the court. JD Jackson captures the emotional intensity of the game and brings Drew and his dreams to life in a story with appeal for both sports fans and those who are unmoved by the sound of a basketball swishing sweetly through the net.
Ghostgirl, by Tonya Hurley, read by Parker Posey. Recorded Books, 2009, 6 hours, 5 discs, ISBN: 978-1-4407-3090-0, $51.75
Charlotte is cast into an eerie parallel world of dead high schoolers, like herself, that must solve their worldly teenage issues before passing on to the other side. Parker Posey gives a delightfully eerie and distant reading of this strangely funny tale of high school woe.
Glass, by Ellen Hopkins, read by Laura Flanagan. High Bridge Audiobooks, 2008, 7 hours 15 minutes, 6 discs, ISBN: 978-1-59887-762-5, $26.95
The "monster" of drug addiction has taken over Kristina's life and nothing, not even being a mother, is more important. Laura Flanagan has the perfect inflections, pauses, cadence, and stammering as Kristina goes further down the path of addiction.
Identical, by Ellen Hopkins, read by Laura Flanagan. High Bridge Audiobooks, 2008, 8 hours 45 minutes, 7 discs, ISBN: 978-1-59887-735-9, $29.95
Identical twins with perfect parents – a judge for a dad and a mom running for Congress. On the surface, life is good, a beautiful family, but there is much lurking below the surface. Flannigan does a fabulous job at giving the twins different voices. It is very easy to tell which teen is sharing through not only the reader’s voice but the intonation and attitude in the written word.
If I Stay, by Gayle Forman, read by Kirsten Potter. Listening Library, 2009, 4 hours 48 minutes, 4 discs, ISBN: 978-0-7393-8084-0, $45.00
Mia has a great family, boyfriend and is a talented musician. It all gets taken away when her entire family, except her, is killed in a car crash. While clinging to life, she wonders, should she stay. This highly emotional story is captured wonderfully with Potters' authentic and genuine tone for Mia's constantly struggling mind.
The Indigo Notebook, by Laura Resau, read by Justine Eyre. Listening Library, 2009, 8 hours 25 minutes, 7 discs, ISBN: 978-0-3075-7981-2, $55.00
Zeeta and her mother, Layla's nomadic life has brought them to Otavalo in Ecuador where they help a friend to find his birth father, uncover a smuggling ring, and learn to appreciate the life they have. Justine Eyre brings excellent Spanish accents and the right voice for each character, while enhancing a fascinating story.
In the Belly of the Bloodhound: Being an Account of a Particularly Peculiar Adventure in the Life of Jacky Faber, by L.A. Meyer, read by Katherine Kellgren, Listen and Live Audio, 2009, 15 hours,13 discs, ISBN 978-1-59316-142-2, $29.95.
Jacky Ferber returns to the Lawson Peabody School for Young Girls to hide out for a while after learning she is wantedforpiracy. While on a schoolfield trip,the entireclass is kidnapped, taken aboard the slave shipBloodhound and held for ransom Amazingly, Kellgren keeps listeners on the edges of their seats as Jacky uses her wits, the crew, the prisoners andevery opportunityavailable to save herself and the girls.
Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side, by Beth Fantaskey, read by Katherine Kellgren and Jeff Woodman. Recorded Books, 2009, 11 hours, 9 discs, ISBN: 978-1-4407-3892-0 $97.75
Jessica Packwood was content to live an average existence in rural Pennsylvania, until a mysterious foreign exchange student, Lucius Vladescu, arrived with unbelievable news: she is actually vampire royalty, and has been betrothed to Lucius since infancy. Narrators Katherine Kellgren and Jeff Woodman are convincing as a high school student and a Romanian vampire, respectively, and combined the two deliver a laugh-out-loud performance.
The Killer's Cousin, by Nancy Werlin, read by Nick Podehl. Brilliance Audio, 2008, 6 hours, 5 discs, ISBN: 978-1-4233-8078-8, $54.97
The jury found David innocent when tried for the murder of his girlfriend, but his name will always be associated with her death. The narrator is convincing as he subtly voices the self-doubt, threat, fear and suspicion that build in this tautly-crafted mystery.
Kissing the Bee, by Kathe Koja, read by Full Cast. Full Cast Audio, 2008, 3 hours 30 minutes, 3 discs, ISBN: 978-1-934180-39-6, $34.00
As Dana works on her science project on bees and falls in love with her best friend’s boyfriend, she comes to realize that she is no longer willing to play drone to Avra’s queen and her life as she has known it for many years begins to unravel. This Full Cast production captures Dana’s emotional angst and her struggle to live with integrity as she relinquishes the friendship that has defined her life when she realizes that there is very little room for her life within its structure.
Lady Knight, Book 4 of the Protector of the Small Quartet, by Tamora Pierce, read by Bernadette Dunne. Listening Library, 2009, 11 hours 11 minutes, 9 discs, ISBN: 978-0-7393-7974-5, $65.00
Keladry of Mindelan has finally become a knight, but it is turning out a bit differently than she had imagined. Bernadette Dunne is able to create consistent, distinct and telling voices for each character, which makes the story that much more engrossing.
Living Dead Girl, by Elizabeth Scott, read by Kate Reinders, Brilliance Audio, 2009, 2 hours 54 minutes, 3 discs, ISBN 978-1-4233-9751-9, $49.97
Kidnapped and renamed "Alice" five years ago while on a school field trip, fifteen-year-oldKylahas grown too old to hold the interest of her abductor.WhenRay, her kidnapper,orders herto finda new little girlforhim to love and take care of, Alice sees her chance for freedom. Reinder's portrayal of Alice is disturbing and riveting.
Marcelo in the Real World, by Francisco X. Stork, read by Lincoln Hoppe. Listening Library, 2009, 10 hours 8 minutes, 8 discs, ISBN: 978-0-7393-7991-2, $40.00
In order to have a chance to finish his senior year at the high school of his choice, Marcelo accepts his father's condition that he spend the summer working at his law firm. In doing so, Marcelo's world is changed forever. Lincoln Hoppe becomes Marcelo in this remarkable performance that takes the listener right into the heart of Marcelo’s struggles to make sense of an alien world.
The Monstrumologist, by Rick Yancey, read by Stephen Boyer. Recorded Books, 2009, 11 hours 45 minutes, 10 discs, ISBN 978-1-4407-3564-6, $108.75
Will Henry is the assistant to the Monstrumologist, Dr. Warthrop and together they encounter the Anthropophagi, a horrible human eating creature. Set in the 1800's, this richly descriptive horror tale is so vivid and imaginative. The reader is able to capture a variety of aged characters, and from different origins, in a unique and faithful way. His rich voice paints a frightening, yet intriguing picture of Will Henry's world.
My Bonny Light Horseman: Being the Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, in Love and War, by L.A. Meyer, read by Katherine Kellgren. Listen and Live Audio, 2009, 12 hours, 10 discs, ISBN: 978-1-59316-446-1, $29.95
There is no one who could "be" Jacky any better than Katherine Kellgren. She can switch from British to French to American accents in the same sentence. She voices the men's voices believably and gets completely into the character with excitement, tears, screams, and joyful laughter. This and she sings on key and sweetly, besides.
Newes from the Dead, by Mary Hooper, read by Rosalyn Landor and Micheal Page. Brilliance Audio, 2009, 7 hours 27 minutes, 7 discs, ISBN: 978-1-4233-9230-9, $87.97
Anne Green awakes paralyzed at the beginning of her autopsy after being hanged for infanticide. The story is gripping from the opening paragraph. Both readers perform expertly on this one. Rosalyn has several voices and accomplishes them all expertly as does Michael. Their performance as well as the unusual story contributes to this excellent narration.
A Season of Gifts, by Richard Peck, read by Ron McLarty. Listening Library, 2009, 3 hours 50 minutes, 3 discs, ISBN: 978-0-7393-8548-7, $30.00
It's 1958 and Grandma Dowdel is at it again with a whole new family that needs her special touch, particularly Bob who is on the cusp of adolescence and a little shy on courage. McLarty captures the nostalgia of times gone by with humor and warmth.
Slumdog Millionaire, by Vikas Swarup, read by Christopher Simpson. BBC Audiobooks America, 2009, 10 hours 47 minutes, 9 discs, ISBN: 978-0-7927-6162-4, $89.95
Ram Mohammad Thomas has his own reasons for wanting to win a billion rupees in India's quiz show. For each question that he is asked listeners learn how he came to know the answer, and the events of his life which affected him and intertwined with many other people. Christopher Simpson brings all the characters to life with his splendid Indian accent while showing emotion unique to each person and situation.
Solace of the Road, by Siobhan Dowd, read by Sile Bermingham. Listening Library, 2009, 7 hours 5 minutes, 6 discs, ISBN: 978-0-7393-8591-3, $50.00
Fourteen year old Holly Hogan ‘s life is not going the way she wants. She longs to move back to Ireland to find her mother. Then she finds the wig. When Holly puts on the blonde wig, she transforms into Solace – who looks 5 years older, more mature, and Solace is ready for the world. Ireland - here comes Solace; Solace of the Road!
The Spectacular Now, by Tim Tharp, read by MacLeod Andrews. Brilliance Audio, 2009, 8 hours 19 minutes, 7 discs, ISBN: 978-1-4233-9963-6, $87.97
Perpetually drunk and high on life, Sutter Keely struggles to maintain his “live in the now” mantra despite the changes that threaten his relaxed existence. Macleod Andrews’s drawl injects the reading with the happy go lucky, laid back charm that makes Sutter the guy everyone wants to hang with.
Suite Scarlet, by Maureen Johnson, read by Jeannie Stith. Brilliance Audio, 2008, 9 hours, 8 discs, ISBN 978-1-4233-8105-1, $71.97
On her 15th birthday, Scarlett Martin receives a key to a suite at the Hopewell Hotel, the New York boutique hotel her family has owned since her great-grandparents days in the 1930s. Narrator Jeannie Stith gives subtle yet distinct voices to each main character and her timing makes the exchanges of witticisms between Scarlett and her brother sparkle.
The Summoning, by Kelly Armstrong, read by Cassandra Morris. Recorded Books, 2009, 8 hours 45 minutes, 7 discs, ISBN: 978-1-4361-9720-5, $77.75
When Chloe starts seeing ghosts, she is sent to Lyle house, a place for troubled teens. There she meets people just like her, with hidden supernatural powers. Chloe is portrayed as childlike and naive; Morris does an excellent job showcasing her personality with a distinct voice.
The Sweetheart of Prosper County, by Jill S. Alexander, read by Suzy Jackson. Recorded Books, 2009, 5 hours 45 minutes, 5 discs, ISBN: 978-1-4407-6220-8, $46.75
With no idea of just what she has set herself up for, Austin Gray determines that she will not spend one moreyear on the sidelines watching the Christmas parade pass her by as if she didn't exist. Suzy Jacksoncaptures the sometimes funny, sometimes touching story of one girl's struggle to stand up for her own life in the face of torment from the class bully and her mother's silence about her father's life and death.
A Taste for Red, by Lewis Harris, read by Jaclyn Gaines. Listening Library, 2009, 4 hours 15 minutes, 4 discs, ISBN: 978-0-7393-8550-0, $38.00
Svetlana and her family move to a new town where she learns that she has special powers that are needed to fight evil beings who have invaded her town. Jaclyn Gaines captures the voice of Svetlana in this perfectly-paced narration of a vampire story that is filled with both tension and humor.
Tree Girl: A Novel, by Ben Mikaelsen, read by Amber Sealey. Listening Library, 2009, 4 hours 37 minutes, 4 discs, ISBN: 978-0-7393-7265-4, $30.00
Gabi has survived the brutal massacre of her village in Guatemala by hiding in trees. Her amazing journey to Mexico to build a new life is compelling portrayed by the authors text and the distant but emotionally charged narration. This novel is based on a true story told to the author. The story is tender but horrible, showing the atrocities of genocide in a lesser known area of the world.
Wildwood Dancing, by Juliet Marillier, read by Kim Mai Guest. Listening Library, 2008, 12 hours 54 minutes, 11 discs, ISBN: 978-0-7393-7940-0, $50.00
Five adventurous sisters enter an enchanted forest each full moon to dance the night away with their magical friends until the evening the mysterious Night People join the party. Guest's light and lilting voice brings the fantasy and enchantment to life.
Would You, by Marthe Jocelyn, read by Renee Raudman. Listening Library, 2009, 3 hours 41 minutes, 3 discs, ISBN: 978-0-7393-8009-3, $38.00.
Claire and her sister Natalie are very close. A tragedy forces Claire to imagine life without her sister. Raudman expresses happiness, grief and mourning perfectly in the voice of an authentic teenager.
Your own, Sylvia: a verse portrait of Sylvia Plath, by Stephanie Hemphill, read by Full cast. Listening Library, 2009, 4 hours 52 minutes, 4 discs, ISBN: 978-0-7393-8087-1, $38.00
Hemphill’s poems paint many different portraits of Sylvia Plath as she is seen by different people in her life. The full cast of narrators makes the story more intimate--you feel as if the person were letting you into their own lives as they talked about Sylvia.
Zen and the Art of Faking It, by Jordan Sonnenblick, read by Mike Chamberlain. Listening Library, 2008, 5 hours 35 minutes, 5 discs, ISBN: 978-0-7393-7155-8, $29.00
San has spent most of his life moving from school to school. He's ready to blend in with the background, his usual self-preservation technique, but an unusual classmate and a not-so-usual teacher take an interest in him. Chamberlain sounds appropriately wry in a junior-high way. His voyage from clueless toself-awareness seemed well reflected in the narrator's tones.