New Reviews: Young Adult

Narrators Carolina Do and VyVy Nguyen delight listeners as two foodie teens who fall in love in Vietnam in this sweet sapphic YA romance. ViVi, a Vietnamese American college student, has always been curious about her family's heritage. She follows a Vietnamese street food blog and ends up studying abroad in Sài Gòn (Saigon). Lan, another teen, is the author of the food blog.... Read More

Narrators Elisa Meléndez and JaQwan Kelly perform this audiobook about two teens in juvenile detention. Adriana, voiced by Meléndez, keeps her head down and writes in her journal to get through her short sentence. After accidentally leaving her journal in the library, Adriana retrieves it and finds that a boy has responded to her thoughts and written back. Jon, voiced by Kelly,... Read More

André Santana returns to narrate the conclusion of the Sunbearer Duology. Teo's refusal to sacrifice another semidiós at the end of the Sunbearer Trials results in chaos and perpetual night. As Xio feels conflicted over the Obsidian gods and their destruction, Santana seamlessly transitions between their youthful voice, the deep and manipulative voice of Vanganza, and the... Read More

Dani Martineck performs this Appalachian horror story set in West Virginia. Miles Abernathy, age 16, has just come out to his parents when a group of boys attack him and put him in the hospital. The Abernathys have been in a blood feud for more than a century, but Miles believes he finally has a way to end it once and for all. As Miles recovers from his injuries, he begins to... Read More

Narrator Giordan Diaz has a dreamy quality to his voice, perfect for this reimagined version of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth. After nearly drowning, 16-year-old Andres made a bargain with Death to avoid dying. Now living in Miami with bitterly divorced parents, Andres finds refuge with his friends Liora and Renee. The trio form a romance, which comes to a halt when Liora dies... Read More

Lindsey Dorcus narrates this historical mystery set in Washington, DC, in 1927. The story is told by Gertrude, a judge's daughter who attends a seminary for young women that prepares them for finding favorable marital matches. Prohibition is in full swing, but speakeasies abound, and Gertrude and her friends are not about to miss out. Everything changes when the headmistress is... Read More

Safiyya Ingar's passionate, energetic narration enhances this audiobook retelling of THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, reimagined as a girl's quest for revenge. After nearly a year in prison for a crime she didn't commit, Dania is determined to escape and hold her ex-lover, Mazin, responsible for his betrayal. Her partner in this venture is Noor, a fellow prisoner with the ability to... Read More

Sophie Amoss narrates this story set in nineteenth-century Russia's Jewish communities. After fleeing from an arranged marriage, 17-year-old Sorel navigates gender identity. Sorel assumes the masculine identity Isser Jacobs, only to learn that Isser Jacobs is a real person who sold illegal political pamphlets translated into Yiddish. Magical elements including dybbuks (angels)... Read More

Esme Lonsdale, Vidish Athavale, and Rachel Petladwala bring palpable chemistry to the complex relationships in this epic fantasy. Something is afoot in the empire as three young people walk toward their destinies: Aiz communes with a holy spirit to get power to avenge her oppressed people, Prince Quil must soon step into a leadership role, and tracker Sirsha gets wrapped up... Read More

Narrator Janina Edwards inhabits Ida B. Wells, giving the determined Black woman a hero's spirit, an incandescent sense of her own worth, and a warrior's pride in accomplishment. In the 1880s, Ida was a teacher, a writer of articles for Black-owned newspapers, and an outspoken advocate for civil rights. Edwards creates a flesh-and-blood woman with a flirtatious personality who... Read More

Narrator Emily Lawrence aids listeners in picturing Yocheved (Yoyo) Gold, eldest daughter of an Orthodox rabbi. Lawrence captures the intelligence, wit, and leadership that have made her a respected, responsible family member and friend. Lawrence also depicts Yoyo's sense of irony and inner turmoil when her best friend is sent away to a boarding school after kissing a boy.... Read More

Using her vast vocal talent, narrator Spring Inés Peña brings the story of a teen named Libertad, known as Libi, to life. During the 2017 presidential election in Honduras, Libi undergoes a political and personal awakening. Along with her older brother, she becomes involved in student protests and shares political poetry that she writes. A tense home situation worsens when... Read More

Julie Webster narrates the companion to BITTERSWEET IN THE HOLLOW. A previously minor character, Rowan James, a teen who can smell lies on people's breath, tells this story. Webster's soft Southern accent reflects the Appalachian setting, and she deftly communicates Rowan's sarcasm. Also strong is Rowan's distrust of Hadrian, the family's farm worker. Webster captures Rowan's... Read More

Narrator Shannon Tyo delivers this audiobook's author's note, briefly describing Seal's real-life struggles with anorexia, clinical depression, suicidal ideation, and skin picking--all of which started during her teen years. Tyo tempers this opening with the author's understanding of and respect for resilient teens who currently face these challenges. Once the story begins, Tyo... Read More

Adetinpo Thomas narrates the story of 17-year-old Small Sade as she leaves the orphanage in the magical city of Oluwan to find work. She accidentally binds herself to a powerful god called the Crocodile, who hopes Small Sade's Curse Eater abilities can save him. But all she aspires to is keeping her head down as the humble worker bee she was raised to be. While occasional lines... Read More

Sophie Amoss's engaging performance enhances this young adult fantasy about a world divided between those who have the signs of magic on their palms and those who do not. The disenfranchised latter are called the Markless. When Ruti, a frank and sarcastic Markless witch, is apprehended for royal theft, she is coerced into helping the haughty Princess Dekala in her quest to rule... Read More

A full cast, backed by sound effects and music, transform this queer adaptation of Jane Austen's EMMA from the graphic novel to an audiobook. High school senior and Instagram influencer Evan, a leader in his high school's LGBTQ+ student association, sees himself as Cupid and can't resist the opportunity to set up shy and dowdy newcomer Natalia--despite the warnings of his best... Read More

Korean American Ami Park ably voices Yoon Ha Lee's space opera, incorporating the character names and gender-neutral pronouns naturally, allowing listeners to more easily follow the story. Ten-year-old Hwajinn is saved by a Lancer pilot after being the only survivor of an Imperial attack on her rebel moon. Five years later, she's become Hwa Young, a loyal servant of the Empire... Read More

Olivia Dowd and Kit Griffiths narrate a slow-burn romance between the granddaughter of Robin Hood and the healer she has kidnapped. Mariel Hartley-Hood knows that what she does as part of the Merry Men is right and benefits the common people. But Clem, who is unarguably a "common person," disagrees and starts to raise uncomfortable points. Dowd and Griffiths complement each... Read More

Narrators Jesse Vilinsky and Charlie Bushnell are swoon-worthy in this highly anticipated sequel to BETTER THAN THE MOVIES. The story is told from alternating perspectives. Wes is re-doing his freshman year at UCLA after quitting school, moving back home to deal with a tragedy, and breaking up with Liz. Liz is drawn back to Wes when her internship requires them to work... Read More

Jen Zhao's narration of this silkpunk fantasy enhances the intriguing story. Aihui Ying dreams of becoming a master engineer like her father, but women are barred from the Engineer's Guild. After witnessing her father's assassination and receiving his journal, Ying sets out to avenge his murder. Disguised as a boy, she travels to the capital to take the guild's entrance exams.... Read More

Listeners may empathize or be amused by Payal's long-term crush on Jonathan, the six-foot blonde Adonis of her senior class, whom she first meets at a party when he vomits on her shoes. After he tells her being South Asian keeps him from dating her, her fury leads her to persuade her academic nemesis, Philip Kim, to show Jon how worthy she is, never imagining she will find a... Read More

Jorjeana Marie portrays the innocence, resilience, and burgeoning rebellion of 16-year-old Jane, daughter of punk rock star Mina Placenta. The years of spousal abuse experienced by Mina are revealed by security tapes taken in her home. Marie's narration gains gravity and menace when Vernon, Jane's controlling, abusive father, speaks. It softens when expressing the tenderness of... Read More

Narrators Raphael Corkhill and James Meunier give a compelling shared performance of this fantasy. When Prince Edmund and Aubrey meet for the first time, they have an instant connection that quickly blooms into more. But their country of Saben is on the brink of war--Aubrey and the other Seers have foreseen it in visions. Corkhill is convincing as brave, devoted Aubrey, who... Read More

Narrator André Santana captures the angst and emotional turmoil plaguing gay teen Joaquin Zoido. His father and sister want to celebrate him by having a coming-out party. But his mother's constant backhanded remarks hurt him. When his childhood crush, Felix, reappears after a long absence, Joaquin finds his small amorous gestures confusing but exciting. Santana has a voice that... Read More

JD Jackson's deep, strong voice captures the confidence of Cade Webster, one of few Black students at his prep school and a talented football receiver on an athletic scholarship. Jackson's robust narration shows Cade's strong desire for fame, which would allow his family to escape a neighborhood beset by gangs and poverty. When Cade comes across a curious pawn shop, he buys a... Read More

Barnaby Edwards's storytelling verve in this far-future adventure will have listeners rapt. Edwards is equally believable as a fussy tutor, a girl who is forced to fight mechanical monsters for entertainment, a washed-up soldier, and the rest of the characters who make up the story's motley crew. When Miss Torpenhow's city of Thorbury is taken over by hostile forces, she... Read More

A trio of narrators portray teens from different eras and settings. January LaVoy transitions smoothly from the accented dialogue of Hanna and Sophie, two Polish teens, to an unstressed voicing of their risk-taking amid Hitler's threats in 1939. Jeremy Carlisle Parker transitions listeners to 1980 West Berlin, where Jenny adjusts to her family's move from Dallas. Parker also... Read More

Ana Osorio and Ahmed Hamad are consistently excellent as they deliver this audiobook, which takes place in 1885. Osorio portrays 19-year-old Inez Olivera with a light accent that reflects her Argentinian Bolivian background. Inez has escaped murder and duplicity, and now seeks to break away from her uncle's control and to stay in Egypt. Osorio speaks in a thoughtful tone as... Read More

Moira Quirk confidently pronounces Welsh words as she narrates this fantasy. In a land filled with magical monsters, hunters compete during the Wild Hunt to earn a prize from the immortal king. Royal Gwydion hopes to keep his cruel brother from the throne and teams up with quick-witted commoner Branwen and kind Prince Pryderi. As Quirk narrates, monsters speak with hissing... Read More

In the 10th installment of the Undoubtable Rose Beaufont series, Dara Rosenberg continues to provide her lilting narration to its clever protagonist. Rose Beaufont must hunt Mater Inferni, the Mother of Witches, and then figure out how to destroy her without destroying herself or all of magic. As the title suggests, this is not a dark, foreboding magical story but one full of... Read More