English American actor Moira Quirk narrates the experiences of 10 young women who were all involved in some fashion in British code-breaking efforts during WWII. Each figure represents one facet of the mammoth project, which encompassed decrypting the Nazis' famed Enigma cipher, transcribing and indexing messages, monitoring radio transmissions, and more. Excerpts from journals and memoirs allow the women's own voices to be heard, but despite references to the UK's regional and socioeconomic diversity, Quirk does little to particularize accents. However, listeners will be grateful for her articulate delivery of the art and science of cryptography. Many of these explanations are difficult to follow aurally, but Quirk helps listeners keep encrypted letter patterns straight. Fascinating.
(Nonfiction. 9-14)Pub Date: March 5, 2024
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781546117636
Publisher: Scholastic Audiobooks
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A heavy subject, worthy of discussion.
Will Collyer brings to vivid life the fears and frustrations of young men facing challenging, life-and-death situations in a hostile environment. Fleming’s latest is based on her father’s experience in a WWII battle fought on an Aleutian island. Charlie Groth is a medic, easing pain and giving comfort while rescuing the wounded from the battlefield. In letters home, he expresses his love and homesickness, but he doesn’t share the realities of war, including dying soldiers and harsh living conditions. The journal of Japanese physician Paul Tatsuguchi gives voice to his struggles as he tries to balance his faith, his loyalty to his country, and his respect for the United States, where he became a doctor.
A heavy subject, worthy of discussion. (Nonfiction. 9-13)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2026
Duration: 3 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9798225079796
Publisher: Scholastic Audio
Review Posted Online: Oct. 13, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2026
Vega’s performance conveys strength and pride befitting this ode to the island and its people.
Jenyvette Vega narrates these poems, which chronicle Puerto Rico's struggle for self-determination. She shifts seamlessly between Spanish and English as listeners learn about the history of the flag and what it represents to the Puerto Rican people, as well as about key events in Puerto Rican history and the Puerto Rican diaspora. Vega reads at a gentle pace appropriate for young listeners. A preface provides background on Puerto Rico's relationship with the United States, and an included PDF details the history of the people and events portrayed in the poems.
Vega’s performance conveys strength and pride befitting this ode to the island and its people. (Picture book/poetry. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2026
Duration: 33 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063577176
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 1, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2026
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