Malcolm Hillgartner recounts this astonishing story of a 1,500-mile trek across Alaska in winter to rescue 265 crew members of iced-in whaling ships from certain starvation in 1897. His delivery is characterized by a deep, gravelly voice, a tone of sustained suspense, and an appropriate dash of awe. Hillgartner rolls through the names of native Alaskans and places without hesitation and distinguishes the narrative from the plentiful primary sources of diaries, letters, and reminiscences. The three-man rescue team received indispensable help from the native Alaskans who gave up their reindeer herds (and their livelihoods) to feed the starving whalers without receiving any recognition—or the promised compensation. To appreciate the scores of photographs taken by one of the rescuers, listen with a hard copy of the book in hand.
(Nonfiction. 10 & up)Pub Date: Sept. 11, 2012
Duration: 4 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781455852338
Publisher: Brilliance Audio/ Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In 1832 thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle is sailing from Liverpool to Rhode Island to rejoin her family. Shocked to discover that the families who were to have been both guardians and companions will not accompany her, Charlotte embarks on a journey filled with terror and swashbuckling adventure. The first-person narrative makes this Newbery Honor book a wonderful choice for recording. O'Karma's reading, with its hint of cross-gender differentiation, allows the listener to feel as if Charlotte Doyle herself were relating the tale. This story should be particularly alluring to adolescent girls although the fast-paced action and the nautical setting will also appeal to male listeners. Ages 12-adult.
Ages 12+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Listeners will be inspired by this principled prime minister who tackled her country’s biggest challenges with...
Aspiring leaders, take note! In her Kiwi accent, Jacinda Ardern narrates this heartfelt and sincere adaptation of her memoir A Different Kind of Power, eliciting chuckles with amusing anecdotes and tears over tragedies. Ardern recounts her modest childhood, her unlikely path to politics, and her rise to New Zealand’s highest office as a young, pregnant, unmarried woman—armed with empathy, intelligence, faith, supportive loved ones, and a desire to serve. She shepherded her country through a volcanic eruption, Covid-19, and a mass shooting. Her heartrending narration of the shooting switches to steely resolve as she works to ban assault rifles.
Listeners will be inspired by this principled prime minister who tackled her country’s biggest challenges with kindness. (Memoir. 12-18)Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 55 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217342044
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Aug. 4, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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