Kim Mai Guest’s precise, soft reading sets a mood in which magic and reality meet. Shy Pinmei lives far up a mountain with Amah, her wise, storytelling grandmother. Guest’s gentle tone fits both Pinmei’s timidity and their quiet life. But Guest’s voice grows harsh when the ruthless emperor and his soldiers burst in and capture Amah. Her release will occur only in exchange for the Luminous Stone That Lights the Night. So begins Pinmei’s brave mission with her neighbor, Yishan. Her storytelling gift and bravery grow, measured by Guest’s strengthening voice. Guest gracefully voices the author’s elegant prose and weaves a wealth of bejeweled folktales into three entwined stories—the adventurers’ quest, the imprisoned Amah, and the suffering of Black Tortoise of Winter. A wonderful fable for family listening.
Ages 8+Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2016
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781478912545
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Arsenault’s passionate performance brings this alternative world to life.
Fourteen-year-old Tessa lives in a dystopian world with a leader who has banned books and taken away the personal liberties of its citizens. Elise Arsenault establishes a steady pace with her narration. When an older neighbor is taken to elder care, Tessa finds a box of forbidden books in her house that changes everything. Arsenault captures Tessa’s tumultuous emotions as she learns about the past and discovers that her long-lost twin brother, Theo, who disappeared years ago, may still be alive. Fans of Lowry’s The Giver will be intrigued by this world, one that feels frighteningly plausible.
Arsenault’s passionate performance brings this alternative world to life. (Dystopian. 9-12)Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 49 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063515130
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2026
A fun listen about standing up for what you believe in.
Sixth grader Jordi Acosta starts to take an interest in activism when two issues become significant in his life. First, books are being banned at the school library, and second, an energy company wants to drill in Yaupon Creek Wildlife Refuge, where he volunteers with his mom, a wildlife biologist who tends to cryptids there. Adi Cabral narrates at a quick pace, with a slightly sassy edge. They bring a wealth of variety to their depictions of middle schooler Jordi and his friends, creating different voices, from impudent to nerdy and nasal. Several characters have Southern accents.
A fun listen about standing up for what you believe in. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: Sept. 22, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 9 mins
DD ISBN: 9798349166136
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: Oct. 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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