Avi’s portrayal of New York City in 1893 offers flawless research and Dickensian characters. When speaking as the story’s omniscient narrator, Chris Sorensen’s voice takes on the tone of a tough guy. He drops final letters and liberally uses street slang to create a convincing sense of place and period. His quick changes between accents help depict the multicultural mix of classes. Sorensen’s reading ably contrasts the two heroes. As 13-year-old Maks Geless, a newsboy who is the son of Danish immigrants, Sorensen speaks boldly and unemotionally. Sorenson gives Willa, a homeless girl of undetermined background, more refined speech, colored with uncertainty. When Maks’s sister is arrested, the pair functions as a detective duo. Sorensen’s skill gives even stock characters depth, most noticeably the hard-boiled dying detective Bartleby Donck, who mentors the two children.
Ages 10+Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2011
Duration: 8 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Through Andromeda’s story, young listeners will learn more about the justice system and their rights.
Fifth grader Andromeda Diaz is concerned about her friend, Benji, who has been accused of stealing a valuable watch and is now facing charges. Andi, the daughter of two public defenders, doesn’t believe he committed the crime, and she works to figure out what really happened. Author Almanza, who was herself a public defender, performs her own work enthusiastically. Her narration style is casual, at times not quite nailing the rhythm of the text. While she’s not a professional narrator, her knowledge of the legal process shines through.
Through Andromeda’s story, young listeners will learn more about the justice system and their rights. (Mystery. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 11 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217352364
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Sept. 22, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2026
A sensitive performance.
Deepa is a precocious 12-year-old girl in remission from leukemia. Under the tutelage of her uncle, a house call doctor, she becomes involved in solving teen tennis player Taio's puzzling medical mystery. Deepa is unsure of herself, but she’s ready to get back to middle school after a year away for treatment. Narrator Soneela Nankani depicts Deepa's desire to be more than the "sick kid" while navigating her youthful insecurities and the social challenges of middle school. Nankani also ably portrays Deepa's growing confidence in herself as she uses her own experience with illness to help figure out what’s wrong with Taio.
A sensitive performance. (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: July 14, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 32 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668182833
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 24, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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