Jorjeanne Marie narrates the contemporary first-person story of 16-year-old Ivy, flavoring her narration with a mild Texas accent. Stronger than the accent are the emotions Marie projects as a teen who's become pregnant in a town of megachurches. Ivy's shame and distress at unjust accusations are balanced by the wry humor peppered throughout the story. Marie presents Lorenzo, Ivy's steadying boyfriend, with a gravelly voice that makes him seem more solid as the two travel to Oregon for a legal abortion. En route, the pair see extraordinary sites and meet four women who counter the repressive texts and calls coming from Texas. The narration and writing give good dimension to the characters in a story that offers perspectives on women's choices, illustrating rather than preaching.
(Fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Oct. 3, 2023
Duration: 11 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593746325
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This immersive audiobook is a throwback treat with outstanding narration, impressive sound effects, and vintage vibes.
Narrator Patrick Fugit is sublime as aimless Texas teen Bowie (pronounced boo-eee) Jones. Bowie, dissatisfied with his small town but uncertain what comes next, takes the fall for a prank on the first day of senior year in 1980. The resulting community service leads him to a local radio station run by an iconoclastic ex-rocker that could be the path to his future and the girl of his dreams. Fugit’s performance is expertly pitched, contrasting Bowie’s laid-back exterior with his inner turmoil and providing authentic voices for the secondary characters. Short sections made to sound like old-fashioned tape recordings add a layer of detail that sells the time period.
This immersive audiobook is a throwback treat with outstanding narration, impressive sound effects, and vintage vibes. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 55 mins
DD ISBN: 9798225081409
Publisher: Scholastic Audio
Review Posted Online: Oct. 28, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2026
Creative and thoughtful with a touch of magic, this audiobook will keep listeners engaged.
Sixteen-year-old Caspen Coolsby is going through it. His father has been missing for six months, his family's candle store is preparing for the annual Red Fest celebration, his mother has started renting out the apartment upstairs, and he’s struggling to adapt to all the changes. As Caspen gets to know the new tenants, he discovers he can enter their memories through certain candle scents, and he hopes his new power will provide clues to his dad's disappearance. Narrator Matt Pittenger perfectly captures Caspen's confusion, resilience, and determination as he tries to connect the memories he has witnessed with real life and figure out his feelings for Lars, the cute guy who keeps showing up in the memories.
Creative and thoughtful with a touch of magic, this audiobook will keep listeners engaged. (Speculative romance. 12-18)Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 46 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668160060
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Oct. 28, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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