Donate via PayPal
If you found something useful here, help us keep going. Contributions are not tax deductible, but keep your receipt for your records.
Subscribe to the In-Progress List
Audiobooks, 2009 List
Sherman Alexie slides deftly into the voice and heart of Arnold "Junior" Spirit, allowing his wry humor to refract off the harrowing reality of life on his Spokane Indian reservation, a life he is determined to escape, but, at the same time, holds dear. (10-14)
Has the Queen of Hearts ever been so florid, the hookah-smoking Caterpillar so languid, the White Rabbit so fusty? It would take a heart of stone and a tin ear to resist laughing with delight at Dale's delicious rendition of this family classic. (7-10)
In this serio-comic historical romp, 11-year-old Elijah is the first freeborn child in a Canadian haven for runaway slaves. Willis' syncopated speech patterns, sinuous timbre, and carefully modulated pitch easily coalesce, creating a visceral sense of time, place, and character. (10-14)
When Jamie’s older brother enlists, the prospect of sending their only son to Vietnam dismays her parents. Jessica Almasy tackles this first-person narrative with gentle vigor, letting the characters come gradually into focus much like the pictures of the moon Jamie develops from film her cherished brother sends home from a war-torn land. (10-14)
Freedman's seamless narratvie keeps listeners from missing the visual material in this "photobiography." Petkoff's dignified but lively delivery recounts the events in Lincoln's life and invests the cast of characters who surrounded him with colorful personalities. He even manages to hint at Lincoln's famously unpleasant voice without creating an unpleasant listening experience. (10-14)
An author who is also a spectacular narrator brings the best of all possible performances to audio. Fey, creepy music introduces this tale of a child raised in a graveyard by ghosts. Gaiman's portrayal of every spook and specter is delicious, subtle, perfectly paced, and thoroughly engaging. The final few plot twists will make for sweaty palms and pounding hearts. (10-14)
Over 25 years have passed since the publication of this groundbreaking and still astonishingly resilient book about two girls discovering how love connects them. Lowman's light voice and deliberate pace contain the perfect blend of joy and wistfulness for this fictional memoir. (14 and up)
Spunky, list-loving Grace Stewart is one of several Graces in her third grade class, but, despite her self-declared "super-powers," she is still "Just Grace" to her teacher and classmates. The narrator's youthful voice and cleverly varied intonation bring this mischievous little girl to life. This first in a new series will delight fans of Clementine, Judy Moody, and Ramona. (7–10)
The wily Willoughby children are easily a match for their dastardly parents as each group tries to rid themselves of the other. Arte Johnson's off-hand delivery and comic timing perfectly convey this faux-gothic tale. Listeners will even laugh their way through the glossary at the end. (7-10)
Copyright © 2010, Capitol Choices. All rights reserved. If you have questions or comments, please email us.