AudioFile Magazine
ALL FOUR STARS
*Earphones Award Winner
Kathleen McInerney’s energetic narration highlights the delight, frustration, and perseverance of a misunderstood 11-year-old foodie. McInerney brings out the quirky personalities of Gladys’s friends with a versatile range of consistent voices. Dynamic pacing and subtle restraint also bring out Gladys’s enthusiasm and disappointment as she tries to balance her love for food with the expectations of adults around her. McInerney’s narration deepens as the relationships between the characters develop.This sweet story is delivered with humor and tenderness.
AudioFile Magazine
THE RED UMBRELLA
Kyla Garcia masterfully narrates the story of Lucia, a 14-year-old social butterfly living a placid life in 1960s Cuba. When communists invade Lucia’s sleepy town, everything changes. Escape to the United States becomes the only solution, so Lucia and her brother, Frankie, make the dramatic journey. Garcia does a magnificent job balancing the suspense of their escape and the more commonplace joys and sorrows of youth. She’s equally at home voicing the siblings and their Nebraskan foster parents. Listeners will cheer for this engaging and well-told story.
AudioFile Magazine
OUR AUNTIE ROSA
Narrator Robin Eller delivers these varied remembrances of Rosa Parks by her extended family with care and respect. It’s an intimate look at a legend that goes beyond what’s in history textbooks. Listeners will be rewarded with insights about both the continuing work and the private life of this Civil Rights hero.
AudioFile Magazine
PERFECT TIMING
by Laura Spinella/Read by Rachel Fulginiti
“Narrator Rachel Fulginiti expertly navigates listeners through this well-crafted story…Fulginiti provides a warm and friendly voice, subtle inflections, and a natural acting style Her vocal choices for the various characters are spot-on, and her perfectly timed hesitations keep the story engaging.”
AudioFile Magazine
PUT A RING ON IT
by Beth Kendrick/Read by Amy Rubinate
“Amy Rubinate does not disappoint in narrating this funny romantic comedy. Rubinate deftly infuses ‘quirky’ into the hilarious and likable occupants of this town. Characters are adroitly performed, and each one’s persona is spot-on. A laugh-out-loud fun fest.”
AudioFile
THE OPPOSITE OF MAYBE
by Maddie Dawson/Read by Hillary Huber
“Hilary Huber uses her lyrical voice to perfection in this offbeat story of love, commitment, and finding what really matters in life. Upon discovering that she’s having a “change-of-life” baby. Her vocal range deftly supports her performance of this poignant and sometimes humorous story. She brings the novel to life, keeping the listener engaged and hoping for a ‘happily ever after.’ ”
School Library Journal
ABSOLUTELY TRULY
by Heather Vogel Frederick/Read by Amy Rubinate
“Narrator Amy Rubinate’s soothing voice fits the cozy atmosphere of the novel well. This realistic, heartwarming family story will have special appeal for children with parents in the armed forces.”
AudioFile
I’LL BE SEEING YOU
by Suzanne Hayes and Loretta Nyhan | Read by Tavia Gilbert and Kate Rudd
“The power of the written word resonates in Tavia Gilbert’s and Kate Rudd’s compelling portrayals of war wives. Rudd instills a youthful optimism that balances well with the personality of her pen pal, Rita. Gilbert lends a sensible voice to a woman who waits for both her husband and her son to come home. Both narrators do a beautiful job of saturating the letters with the sting of heartache, the shock of relief, and overwhelming love and support.”
Library Journal
I’LL BE SEEING YOU
by Suzanne Hayes and Loretta Nyhan | Read by Tavia Gilbert and Kate Rudd
“Hayes and Nyhan’s debut joint novel uses the epistolary format to chronicle the lives of wartime pen pals Marguerite Vincenzo in Iowa and Glory Whitehall in Connecticut…While the protagonists’ distinct personalities come through early on, the talented narration duo of Kate Rudd and Tavia Gilbert further aid listeners in differentiating among speakers and lives. Verdict: This moving novel would be a welcome addition to any fiction collection; especially recommended for libraries where historical fiction and women’s fiction are popular.”
AudioFile Magazine
THE FILL-IN BOYFRIEND
by Kasie West | Read by Shannon McManus
“Narrator Shannon McManus’s characters are cheerfully young and energetic…McManus performs the “mean girl” by speaking slowly, as though she’s hatching a plot, while Gia’s other friends sound bubbly, and the male characters have charmingly low-pitched tones. Her exuberance fits the romance genre perfectly.”
AudioFile Magazine
EVERY LAST WORD
by Tamara Ireland Stone | Read by Amy Rubinate
“Sam’s life begins to change on the first day of her junior year when a mysterious student introduces her to the Poet’s Corner, a secret room where student share poetry and music. There Sam finds artistic freedom, love, friendship–and a problem more frightening than any she’s faced before. Rubinate’s characterizations and a surprising ending enhance this story.”
AudioFile Magazine
ABSOLUTELY TRULY
by Heather Vogel Frederick | Read by Amy Rubinate
“Rubinate’s clear diction and crisp, effervescent delivery of dialogue add to the fast pace of the imaginative mystery that unfolds when Truly discovers a letter in a valuable edition of CHARLOTTE’S WEB. Her voice for the young protagonist is springy and light, effectively capturing Truly’s youth, curiosity, and likability.”
