Robin Miles's deliberate pacing, lilting pronunciation of Haitian Creole words and phrases, and lovely singing voice complement Edwidge Danticat's wrenching story of the separation of an undocumented mother from her young child and husband. Saya's mother is in "a prison for women without papers." Although her father writes many letters to judges and journalists, there is no response to their plight; Saya must be content with weekly visits and tape-recorded bedtime stories sent by her mother. One day Saya writes a letter herself, and the injustice of her mother's predicament is noticed. While there's no reading of the title page and barely enough time is given for page-turning, this production can also be enjoyed along with the print edition featuring Leslie Staub's color-drenched illustrations.
Ages 4-6Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2016
Duration: 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781501911163
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A moving, compelling story about family, connection, and resilience featuring an unforgettable protagonist.
This story, which alternates between prose and poetry and letters, is an emotional, powerful listen. Thirteen-year-old Dasia is on Day 19 of induction chemotherapy after a life-changing diagnosis. Author Stone perfectly captures Dasia's fear, uncertainty, anger, and loneliness. After a particularly rough day, Dasia wakes up to find fellow patient Jameson “Jimmy” Jeffs in her room. Despite everything that makes them different—wealth, family dynamics, geography, opportunity, etc.—over the course of one night, they discover all the things that they have in common and form an unbreakable bond. The poetry sections are particularly moving as Dasia deals with the loss of her father, her brother's incarceration, and her complicated home life while trying to find strength and hold on to hope.
A moving, compelling story about family, connection, and resilience featuring an unforgettable protagonist. (Fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 58 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217351503
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Oct. 28, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2026
Catch up with the Miller family through the voice of the youngest child.
Keylor Leigh narrates this fifth and final novel in the Miller Family series, this time focusing on the youngest family member, 10-year-old Poppy. Still grieving the death of her father, Poppy is facing a Thanksgiving with lots of changes in the people around her—her brother, Billy, is returning from college; her lovelorn sister, Sal, is rebelling; and her mother has a new male friend. Luckily, Poppy has her art to help her cope. Leigh takes Poppy through these challenges with a youthful voice filled with exasperation, desperation, anticipation, and, always, love. Leigh ably conveys Sal's sarcasm and portrays Billy’s coming-of-age.
Catch up with the Miller family through the voice of the youngest child. (Fiction. 6-10)Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 4 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063517196
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 15, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
