Behind the Mic With Kirkus Reviews

Rebecca Lowman’s performance will hook listeners until the very end of Laura Dave’s contemporary mystery. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the bestselling thriller that has been taking off this summer, and Lowman’s skill at finding the emotional beats in the story. Hannah wakes up one day to find her new husband, Owen, has vanished, leaving her a note: “Protect her.” Hannah assumes he means his daughter, Bailey, who resents Hannah. Lowman’s portrayals of the characters and the mystery surrounding Owen’s secret life will intrigue listeners. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Today’s episode is sponsored by Graphic Audio, A Movie in Your Mind featuring dramatized adaptations of Comics like ARCHIE, DARK HORSE, VAULT, DYNAMITE and more. Save 55% Off your first order with coupon 55LISTEN only at GraphicAudio.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scottish author and playwright Josephine Tey (1896-1952) holds an especially honored place among British mystery writers, and this collection of five BBC Radio programs is a wonderful introduction to her work. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the fun of listening to BBC Radio work their magic with finely produced audio theater, great actors, and an impressive soundscape of both music and sound effects. Tey’s work is paired with some of the best known and most talented character actors in England, making for an excellent way to enjoy timeless classics on audio. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by BBC Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Today’s episode is sponsored by Graphic Audio, A Movie in Your Mind featuring dramatized adaptations of Comics like ARCHIE, DARK HORSE, VAULT, DYNAMITE and more. Save 55% Off your first order with coupon 55LISTEN only at GraphicAudio.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Grisham jumps back into the sports world with Golden Voice narrator Dion Graham performing a novel about Samuel “Sooley” Suleman, a basketball prodigy from South Sudan. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Graham’s excellent narration that helps shape the story, alternating between the player’s life in the U.S. and his time in South Sudan. Graham deftly narrates multiple African accents, creating engaging voices that suit each character. This novel keeps listeners engaged, shot after shot, game after game. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Today’s episode is sponsored by Graphic Audio, A Movie in Your Mind featuring dramatized adaptations of Fantasy and Sci-Fi Novels by Brandon Sanderson, Peter V. Brett, Brent Weeks, Elizabeth Moon, C.J. Cherryh, Simon R. Green and more. Save 55% Off your first order with coupon 55LISTEN only at GraphicAudio.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Louis Ozawa narrates this history audiobook about Japanese Americans at home and abroad during WWII from Daniel James Brown, the author of THE BOYS IN THE BOAT. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Ozawa’s deft narration of these heartbreaking stories that shine a much-needed light on the way those of Japanese heritage were treated during the war. The book follows a group of young Nisei men, children born in the U.S. to Japanese immigrant parents, three of whom would enlist in the Army after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and one a Quaker and conscientious objector. Ozawa modulates between hope and despair with the deftness of a film composer, and easily slips into a Hawaiian, Japanese, or American accent to reflect the story. Compelling and essential listening. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Tarzan and the Ant Men, the tenth in the complete Authorized Tarzan collection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Richard Ferrone’s gritty voice is a great match for U.S. Marshal Lucas Davenport in this 31st book in the Prey series. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the excellent listening experience provided by a long-running series with a capable narrator at its helm. In this story, Davenport is sent to Florida to help with an FBI investigation of murderous heroine traffickers, and in a crossover from another Sandford series, detective Virgil Flowers is brought in to go undercover. Sandford’s action-packed scenes, as delivered by Ferrone, keep listeners on edge while providing insights into the characters. Ferrone is masterful at performing the witty dialogue, which includes a timely discussion about police-instigated violence. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of the 2020 Christian Book Award for Best Audiobook, Chasing Vines, find your way to an immensely fruitful life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lippman’s ingenious, allusive, and daring new thriller makes for a massively entertaining audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Jason Culp’s vivid character creations. Culp delivers emotion, color, humor, and momentum with skill and verve, walking a fine line with the listener. In the story, famous novelist Gerry Anderson is confined to his bed from an injury and starts getting threatening calls from a nonexistent person -- a character from his breakout novel DREAM GIRL. It’s a whiz-bang plot on top of a deliciously accurate portrait of the good, bad, and ugly of being a brand-name 21st-century writer. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Heavenly Mortal, a suspenseful story of the battle between light and darkness by Jack Cavanaugh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this bonus edition of Behind the Mic, host Jo Reed interviews Cassandra Campbell, one of AudioFile’s 2021 Golden Voice narrators. Cassandra shares how her background in theater -- both in her studies and in her family -- has influenced her audiobook narrations. She gives listeners insights into some of the bestselling audiobooks that she’s brought to life on audio, including Delia Owens’s WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING. Cassandra Cambpell has narrated more than 900 titles and is a Golden Voice for a reason -- she’s an oral shapeshifter, and her versatility, her emotional intelligence, and her resonant voice make her a much-sought-after narrator. She’s won numerous Earphones Awards and earned many spots on AudioFile’s annual Best Audiobooks lists for titles including THE BRIGHT HOUR, LIFE DRAWING, and more. Learn more about Golden Voice narrator Cassandra Campbell and read reviews of her audiobooks on AudioFile’s website. For the full list of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators, visit our website. Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Heavenly Mortal, a suspenseful story of the battle between light and darkness by Jack Cavanaugh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Golden Voice Grover Gardner surely had fun narrating this rollicking adventure. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minksoff discuss how Gardner doesn’t miss a beat and is spot-on narrating the Texan protagonist aligned with the French, German, British, and North African characters who inhabit the fantastical Kingdom of Mur. The hero, Lincoln Smith, finds the turn of the twentieth century too modern and seeks adventure abroad. He enures enough scrapes and near-death experiences to fill a box of dime novels. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio. Learn more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of the 2020 Christian Book Award for Best Audiobook, Chasing Vines, find your way to an immensely fruitful life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Rachel Kushner’s essays, which she narrates with an assured and practiced voice. An admired novelist, she’s a fine storyteller who uses pace well, and gives life to the many real-life characters who fill this audiobook. The collection includes personal profiles, creative nonfiction, literary analysis, and an ongoing immersion into herself. She also writes precise and thoughtful literary criticism, all narrated with a warm tone. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Heavenly Mortal, a suspenseful story of the battle between light and darkness by Jack Cavanaugh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Cindy Kay performs Kikuko Tsumura’s deceptively titled work with a fine sense of pacing and an understated affect. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss her precise narration and the warmth in her voice that grounds the unnamed narrator’s sometimes fantastic experiences. She doesn’t want to work too hard, but in the jobs she finds, she does remarkable things, makes discoveries, solves mysteries, and is a fascinating character to spend time with. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Dreamscape. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Tarzan and the Ant Men, the tenth in the complete Authorized Tarzan collection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Susan Vinciotti Bonito gives Jhumpa Lahiri’s introspective, fragmented fiction—written in Italian and translated into English by the author—a delicate, poignant narration. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Bonito’s narration that uses a deliberate pace and inquiring tone that suits the internal monologue style, capturing the loneliness of the author’s voice. In this story written in vignettes, the progagonist closely observes her world and herself and has a rich imagination. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of the 2020 Christian Book Award for Best Audiobook, Chasing Vines, find your way to an immensely fruitful life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Golden Voice narrator Edoardo Ballerini’s masterful performance of Jonathan Evison’s LEGENDS OF THE NORTH CASCADES. His clear and evocative delivery of the novel works splendidly for this story that exists on several planes. The inner and outer lives of an Iraq War vet and former star football player comprise one plane, and the other focuses on a legend of long ago involving a Native woman named S’tka who is cast out by her clan and survives on the edge of the ice with her son, N’ka. Ballerini’s performance is masterful. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Workman Publishing. Learn more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Heavenly Mortal, a suspenseful story of the battle between light and darkness by Jack Cavanaugh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s bonus edition of Behind the Mic, host Jo Reed interviews Soneela Nankani, who was named one of AudioFile’s 2021 Golden Voice narrators this June. Hear how Soneela’s training in acting and her family’s storytelling traditions have influenced her narration work, what surprised her about narrating audiobooks, and the fun of collaborating with other narrators in multicast projects. Soneela Nankani’s lively performances are a joy to listen to, and she helps listeners connect emotionally with an audiobook, whether it’s a rollicking fantasy adventure for young listeners or intense nonfiction for adults. Soneela’s skills with accents and her ability to narrate humor and drama alike make for compelling listening. Her narrations have garnered her numerous Earphones Awards, and she’s landed on AudioFile’s annual Best Audiobooks lists for titles including THE TROUBLE WITH HATING YOU and THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT SWEETIE. Learn more about Golden Voice narrator Soneela Nankani and read reviews of her audiobooks on AudioFile’s website. For the full list of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators, visit our website. Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Heavenly Mortal, a suspenseful story of the battle between light and darkness by Jack Cavanaugh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Natalie Naudus brings a quiet intensity to Casey McQuiston’s genre-crossing audiobook featuring August, a prickly loner who tries to lose herself in New York City but instead finds purpose, community, and an unconventional romance. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this bestseller that Naudus narrates with an immersive and utterly beguiling performance, the perfect fit for a tale of queer joy, first love, and self discovery. August meets Jane on the Q train and develops a major crush, but things get more complicated once she discovers the truth—Jane is from the 1970s, trapped on the Q train in a time slip. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Tarzan and the Ant Men, the tenth in the complete Authorized Tarzan collection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about the lively and fun full-cast production that brings Varian Johnson’s Eisner-nominated middle-grade graphic novel to life. Maureen and Francine are Black twin sisters forever being mistaken for one another until they start middle school and outgoing Francine, voiced with confidence by Grace Capeless, decides to run for class president. But the story is told from Maureen’s point of view, and Ahnya O’Riordan’s youthful voice captures her anxieties about change and her frustration at her sister--which manifest in her also running for class president! Sound effects and upbeat music set the scene as O’Riordan and Capeless convey the twins’ growing conflict over the election--and the strength of their bond when secrets come to light. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Scholastic Audiobooks. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Heavenly Mortal, a suspenseful story of the battle between light and darkness by Jack Cavanaugh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How better to communicate this vital history of racism in America to young readers than to have the audiobook narrated by a peer? Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this STAMPED adaptation by Sonja Cherry-Paul, narrated by 9-year-old Pe’Tehn Raighn-Kem Jackson with a lively and engaging voice that appeals to younger listeners. Her voice and delivery are unmistakably that of a kid, and she narrates short chapters that are ideal for listening to one at a time followed by time for discussion and reflection. The audiobook connects the history of racist ideas with what is still happening in America today. Jackson’s relatable performance increases the accessibility of this important, sobering, and inspiring work for young listeners. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of the 2020 Christian Book Award for Best Audiobook, Chasing Vines, find your way to an immensely fruitful life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Golden Voice narrator Bahni Turpin’s versatile narration pulls together the many threads in Nicole Glover’s debut novel, a heady mix of historical fantasy, magic, and mystery set in Reconstruction-era Philadelphia. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Bahni’s many skills used to bring this audiobook to life -- and so many other memorable listens. Hetty and Benjy Rhodes, once conductors on the Underground Railroad, now use their magic to investigate crimes in Philadelphia’s Black community. When a friend is found murdered, they realize with horror that the murderer may be someone from within that community. An excellent and engrossing listen for fans of genre-blended books. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Learn more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of the 2020 Christian Book Award for Best Audiobook, Chasing Vines, find your way to an immensely fruitful life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Golden Voice narrator Julia Whelan’s immersive narration and Emily Henry’s rich prose draw listeners into this slow-burn romance. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Julia’s many narrating talents at play in this audiobook. Poppy is uninspired by her work as a travel writer and missing Alex, her best friend, after a falling out. She texts to see if he’ll revive their summer trip tradition, and Julia’s narration makes Poppy’s jumbled hope, anxiety, and joy palpable when he agrees. Too bad nothing goes according to plan! Alternating chapters jump back in time to trace their friendship from college to the present. Julia wrings out all the emotions as Poppy and Alex inch ever closer to giving into their shared longing for each other. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio. Learn more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Heavenly Mortal a suspenseful story of the battle between light and darkness by Jack Cavanaugh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s special bonus edition of Behind the Mic, host Jo Reed interviews Michael Crouch, who was inducted as one of AudioFile’s 2021 Golden Voice narrators this June. Michael discusses his entry into audiobook narration, the joys of narrating audiobooks for listeners of all ages, and what he finds most special about the profession. Michael Crouch has versatility and impressive skills with bringing characters to life on audio, and he has won numerous awards for his work in contemporary fiction and young adult and middle-grade novels. His performances have landed him on AudioFile’s Best of the Year lists for titles including Stefan Merrill Block’s OLIVER LOVING, Gayle Forman’s I HAVE LOST MY WAY, and Ruta Sepetys’s SALT TO THE SEA, which was also a 2017 Audie Award winner for Young Adults. Learn more about Golden Voice narrator Michael Crouch and read reviews of his audiobooks on AudioFile’s website. For the full list of AudioFile’s Golden Voices, visit our website. Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Heavenly Mortal a suspenseful story of the battle between light and darkness by Jack Cavanaugh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Golden Voice Barbara Rosenblat brings her inimitable vocal energy and joy to every project, and this crisp production with original music is no exception. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this fairy tale that stars the fairies of SLEEPING BEAUTY,, with Rosenblat going full New Yorker for the good fairy Hazel and dripping with evil for the bad fairy Tormaleen. A curse is cast, a handsome prince is involved, and listeners can be assured that there will be a happily ever after. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Design Sound Productions. Learn more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Tarzan and the Ant Men, the tenth in the complete Authorized Tarzan collection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear the remarkable story of Katherine Johnson, one of the brilliant NASA mathematicians who made the Mercury program a success, brought to life through Golden Voice Robin Miles’s skilled narration. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Miles’s engaging narration style, capturing the wonder, triumph, and grit of the author. Johnson tells her own inspiring life story, including her battles against racial barriers and her intellectual triumphs, and Miles makes listeners feel as if they are hearing the words directly from Katherine Johnson herself. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio. Learn more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Heavenly Mortal a suspenseful story of the battle between light and darkness by Jack Cavanaugh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Dion Graham conveys the dreamy quality of Milo’s imaginings, along with a weighty message, in his captivating delivery of this thoughtful children’s story. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Graham’s skill and evident fun in bringing this picture book adaptation to life. Milo imagines and sketches the stories of passengers he sees on the subway, but soon realizes the conclusions he’s drawn based on appearances alone may have been wrong. Graham’s voice is large but has a gentle robustness that immerses listeners in Milo’s thoughts. He turns this meaningful story into a heartfelt listening experience. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library. Learn more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Tarzan and the Ant Men, the tenth in the complete Authorized Tarzan collection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Emily Woo Zeller skillfully steers the dramatic plot of Susie Yang’s audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Golden Voice narrator Zeller’s skills in narrating this story full of twists. As a rebellious teen, Ivy Yang was sent to China after her mother discovered her shoplifting. Years later, back in Boston, she enters a relationship with a teenage crush, and just when things seem perfect, a ghost from her past threatens to undo everything she’s worked for. Zeller breathes life into the story, deftly switching between characters, making for a perfect match between performance and text. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Learn more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of the 2020 Christian Book Award for Best Audiobook, Chasing Vines: find your way to an immensely fruitful life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator JD Jackson exudes the perfect jazzy style for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb talk about the Golden Voice narrator’s skills at bringing this story about class and regret to life. Merlin Grainger’s entire life is a series of missed moments and frustrated hopes, punctuated by the mysterious appearances of a dazzlingly beautiful woman he dubs Caroline--but Merlin goes on to pursue a less fulfilling relationship with a different woman. Jackson’s deliciously vibrant narration brings to life Fitzgerald’s pointed examinations of class and social aspiration. This all-too-brief production will leave listeners wanting more. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Dreamscape. Learn more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Heavenly Mortal a suspenseful story of the battle between light and darkness by Jack Cavanaugh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AudioFile’s Robin Whitten and host Jo Reed discuss the remarkable vocal agility of narrator Michael Crouch, newly named one of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators. He is brilliant at helping listeners make an emotional connection with characters; he has a versatile voice, bringing stories to life with fluent accents, subtle shifts, and exceptional timing. Michael gives listeners a powerful bond with characters of any age, whether it’s capturing Simon’s voice in Becky Albertalli’s smash hit SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA or voicing Lydia Fitzgerald’s impactful and fascinating LIGHTS ALL NIGHT LONG. Robin shares a sound sample from the latter and more thoughts on Michael’s skilled narrations. Read the full review of LIGHTS ALL NIGHT LONG on AudioFile’s website. Look for Michael Crouch’s longform interview with Jo Reed on our podcast on June 11. Learn more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website. Support comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Tarzan and the Ant Men, the tenth in the complete Authorized Tarzan collection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss new Golden Voice narrator Soneela Nankani and her animated and lively storytelling style. Her clear connections with characters draw listeners into any story, helping listeners share all the feelings in roller-coaster romances like ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGED by Farah Heron. Her skills with accents mean audiobooks come alive with her narrations, and she has a special gift with the worldbuilding necessary for fantasy, especially for younger listeners. Robin shares her thoughts on Soneela’s narration of Roshani Chokshi’s middle-grade fantasy ARU SHAH AND THE CITY OF GOLD, along with a clip. Read the full review on AudioFile’s website. Look for a longform interview with Soneela Nankani from Jo Reed on our podcast on June 18. Learn more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website. Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Heavenly Mortal, a suspenseful story of the battle between light and darkness by Jack Cavanaugh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the many talents of narrator Cassandra Campbell, one of AudioFile’s 2021 Golden Voices. Cassandra does a spectacular job narrating historical fiction and is able to convey all of the pertinent details that set a story in time and place. She explores the emotional tone of each character, and her voice has a lightness about it that seems to convey her interest in and ease with the characters. Robin shares thoughts on recent favorites narrated by Cassandra, including a selection from Beatriz Williams’s OUR WOMAN IN MOSCOW, which Cassandra co-narrated with Nicola Barber. Read the full review of the audiobook on our website. Look for Cassandra Campbell’s full interview with Jo Reed on June 25th here on the Behind the Mic podcast. Learn more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website. Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of the 2020 Christian Book Award for Best Audiobook, Chasing Vines, find your way to an immensely fruitful life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AudioFile is excited to announce three new Golden Voice narrators for 2021 — Cassandra Campbell, Michael Crouch, and Soneela Nankani. AudioFile’s Robin Whitten tells host Jo Reed about this lifetime achievement award that goes to the stars of the narrating universe. AudioFile has bestowed the Golden Voice prize on just 34 voice artists, including George Guidall, Bahni Turpin, Simon Vance, Edoardo Ballerini, Julia Whelan, and Scott Brick. The award celebrates an artist’s iconic role in the field of narration and honors those who have made significant contributions to the audiobook art form. Robin and Jo each share thoughts and clips from two Golden Voice narrators who helped them discover the joy of listening to audiobooks decades ago -- narrators Simon Prebble and Barbara Caruso. Find the complete list of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website. Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Heavenly Mortal a suspenseful story of the battle between light and darkness by Jack Cavanaugh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You don’t have to be a grandparent to enjoy this brief but compelling compendium of wisdom on grandparenting. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this fun listen from Paula Span, a professor of journalism and author who narrates her lively guide to grandparenting with warmth. She explores issues to help ease the transition into grandparenthood—the dilemma of what to be called as a grandparent, her battle to not be too overbearing, and new research into child safety. This delightful listen has all the hallmarks of an intimate conversation over a friend’s kitchen table. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First Nations theater artist Jennifer Bobiwash captures the enthusiastic voice of first-grader Jo Jo Makoons in her lively narration of Dawn Quigley’s audiobook for young listeners. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly tells host Jo Reed all the many reasons she loved listening to Jo Jo’s stories as told through Bobiwash’s expressive narration. Jo Jo is seven years old, proudly Ojibwe, and growing up with her mother and grandmother on a fictional reservation. She also knows how to get in trouble and will have listeners laughing (hard!) over her antics and goofy rhymes. This delightful start to an early chapter book series is not to be missed. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by HarperAudio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dual narrators bring reverence and joy to Floyd Cooper’s audiobook about the June 19 anniversary known as Juneteenth. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this audio adaptation of the much-loved picture book. Tyla Collier’s youthful voice portrays Mazie, who is tired of being told “no.” Then, in Rhett Samuel Price’s deep, rich voice, Mazie’s father explains the story of their enslaved ancestor’s struggles and perseverance, and the joy of hearing about the Emancipation Proclamation. Cheerful music provides an uplifting background as listeners hear a broad history of Juneteenth commemorations from then to today. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Dreamscape. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Poet and journalist Clint Smith’s debut work of nonfiction captivates as he explores the ways that we confront and reckon with the legacy of American slavery. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly tells host Jo Reed of the power of hearing the work in Smith’s own voice, which moves with a poet’s rhythm as he takes listeners to former plantations, on historical tours, and to Angola Prison. Listeners meet those who are working to explore the gaps in our historical records and uncover the true history of these sites--and also those who are willfully ignoring the historical record, relying instead on shared nostalgia. Listening makes a lasting impact. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Adenrele Ojo marshals listeners through Stacey Abrams’s complicated legal-political-medical thriller with ease. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the engaging, fast-paced plot involving the Supreme Court, weaponized genetics, and a corrupt president. At the center is the brilliant Supreme Court clerk Avery Keene, whom Ojo portrays with just the right amount of emotion as she goes from a hard-working clerk to being thrust into the center of a wide-ranging conspiracy. Ojo’s clear vocal differentiation will help listeners follow the points of view of the many characters, making for a smart and intense listen. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin R. Free narrates the latest Murderbot novella, in which nothing is as straightforward as it seems. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this much-loved sci-fi series starring a “construct made of cloned human tissue, augments, anxiety, depression, and unfocused rage,” and Free’s engaging and empathetic portrayal of this SecUnit. When a dead body shows up on Preservation Station, Murderbot enters into an uneasy partnership with station security to discover who the victim was, and why they were shot--and if it has anything to do with the sinister corporation from their past. Free creates a deeply relatable portrait of an individual struggling to find their place in an often hostile and confusing world, while also taking listeners through a fast-paced murder mystery--in space! Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Corinthia Soukup provides the perfect voice for this quirky novel by Elizabeth Leiknes. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the story of Lucy Burns, who, as a child, wrote a letter “to whom it may concern” to try and save the life of her sister. It turns out that she inadvertently struck a deal with the devil, and now she must act as the facilitator for hell and stay forever single. But Lucy’s looking for a way out. Soukup’s narration illuminates the humor in the writing as hijinks ensue. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Bancroft Press. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Harvard law professor Noah Feldman narrates his examination of the Federalist Society, the conservative organization that has had a heavy sway on the members of the Supreme Court. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this audiobook that feels more like a podcast, with audio clips, commentary, and interviews that seek to fill out the picture of this group and their influence. It takes listeners on a deep dive into the idea of being an Originalist judge, and also explores the American Constitution Society, which is the liberal counterpoint organization. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Pushkin Industries. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Edoardo Ballerini gives the Garnett translation of Turgenev’s classic novella a wonderfully expressive reading. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this work first published in 1860—an older man’s recollection of his adolescent crush on a neighboring princess. Thanks to Ballerini’s narration, the listener definitely feels the youthful infatuation, and the young man’s pain when his heart is broken. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Sylo Studios. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Soneela Nankani and Vikas Adam narrate an entertaining romance from Falguni Kothari. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this short novella that follows doctor Aditi and lawyer Krishna, two Indian American characters whose grandparents push them to explore dating one another. Both narrators capture Aditi and Krishna’s personalities, along with the chemistry between the initially unenthusiastic would-be-couple. A fun and quick listen for romance enthusiasts. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Susan Orlean narrates a short essay about overcoming her fear of flying. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss her introspective narration. Orlean highlights her phobia and the path she took to overcome it, including hypnosis. Orlean’s experience is shared with a touch of humor, and coming in at 40 minutes, it’s an enlightening and short production for anyone interested in exploring the topic. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Brilliance Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yen is an engaging and engaged narrator of this tour of American foods. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Yen’s evident joy and sense of fun as he narrates David Page’s exploration of comfort food and folkways. Page is the show runner for Dinners, Drive-ins and Dives, and he has a skill with interviewing those who run historic eateries. Yen narrates in a conversational and informative manner, well serving the text. Listen for many profiles and plenty of recipes to try. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Tantor Media. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Alison Fraser’s ability to deliver character voices and accents is on display in this biography of mid-twentieth-century painter Helen Frankenthaler. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff talk about this audiobook by Alexander Nemerov, which is at once an appreciation of a major figure and a close look at the avant-garde scene of 1950s New York City. Fraser narrates with skill, capturing the times with excellent imitations, most notably Frankenthaler’s airy upper-class sounding speech. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kotaro Watanabe’s performance gently pulls listeners into Murakami’s imaginary worlds. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how his flat delivery makes the plot unfold like a morning paper, while the action arrives deliberately. While magic happens in the stories, the characters often seem listless, even as the setting feels surreal. Watanabe maintains the sense of unease and disconnection that pervades this audiobook where magical realism reigns, and he makes sure that each story will linger with the listener. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hillary Huber narrates this intrepid audiobook with controlled irony. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Huber’s plaintive interrogative tone highlights Jenny Price’s striking critique of why so little has been achieved in five decades of battling climate change. The talented narration of this environmental manifesto is critical to its message -- why have governments and corporations done so little for the planet and the poor, and why are they still allowed to pollute the earth? The question shouldn’t be “What can I do?” but “What needs to be done?” Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Tantor Media Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Darrell Dennis captures the angst of the unnamed narrator in James Welch’s classic novel of modern Native Americans on the Great Plains. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Dennis’s ability to shift between the flat dialogue of ranch life and the lyricism of the Western setting. The unnamed narrator is alienated from all and is defined by self-awareness and woe. Dennis is able to express the audiobook’s humor and pathos, as well as the tension of Native life on and off the reservation. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this captivating adaptation of Yuyi Morales’s beloved picture book. Adriana Sananes narrates the simple text with a hopeful spirit, mirroring the tale of a young family coming to America and finding themselves unintentional migrants. Lilting guitar music, the giggles of a baby, wind chimes, and more sound effects set the scenes as Morales tells of exploring a new country, and the joys of finding the free public library. Listen with the book in hand to enjoy the award-winning illustrations from Morales. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Dreamscape. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author and narrator Marie Arnold shines in this enchanting audiobook about immigrating from Haiti to Brooklyn in 1985. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Arnold’s lively narration of the funny and bold Gabrielle, a 10-year-old who has moved to America ahead of her parents. Gabrielle is struggling to fit in amongst her bullying classmates and her already settled family. She jumps at a witch’s offer to make a simple trade to become the “perfect American girl.” Of course, nothing goes as planned, and she relies on new friends and her own wits to recover what was lost. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com AudioFile is hosting a webinar at 12 ET on May 6th featuring children’s and teen audiobooks to inspire conversations around immigration in schools and at home. Join to hear live readings and discussions with narrators Priya Ayyar, Marisa Blake, and Anthony Rey Perez, and Kirsten Cappy of I’m Your Neighbor Books. Sponsored by Dreamscape Audio. Register here. Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Anthony Rey Perez’s voice is full of heart and hope in this moving novel from Ernesto Cisneros. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this story for middle-grade listeners that tells of one family’s fear and determination in face of separation Efrén Nava is a 12-year-old whose mother is suddenly deported for being undocumented, and listeners hear his fear and worry over her fate, and his father’s. Suddenly balancing care for his younger siblings and his responsibilities at school, Efrén slowly learns that there are many in his community who will rise up to help his family in their time of need. Perez’s warm English and Spanish narration enlivens the characters and makes for an ultimately hopeful audiobook. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com AudioFile is hosting a webinar at 12 ET on May 6th featuring children’s and teen audiobooks to inspire conversations around immigration in schools and at home. Join to hear live readings and discussions with narrators Priya Ayyar, Marisa Blake, and Anthony Rey Perez, and Kirsten Cappy of I’m Your Neighbor Books. Sponsored by Dreamscape Audio. Register here. Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daniel Nayeri intrigues listeners from start to finish with his powerful autobiographical novel for children, a finalist for both the Audie Award and the National Book Award. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Nayeri’s patchwork of compelling stories woven from Persian history and myth, and stories from his own childhood. Listeners go back and forth in time, hearing of his early childhood in Iran, their escape, his time as a refugee in Italy, and starting over with his mother and sister in Oklahoma. Nayeri’s story was made to be listened to. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com AudioFile is hosting a webinar at 12 ET on May 6th featuring children’s and teen audiobooks to inspire conversations around immigration in schools and at home. Join to hear live readings and discussions with narrators Priya Ayyar, Marisa Blake, and Anthony Rey Perez, and Kirsten Cappy of I’m Your Neighbor Books. Sponsored by Dreamscape Audio. Register here. Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Soneela Nankani returns to voice seventh grader Amina, whom listeners met in Hena Kahn’s AMINA’S VOICE. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Nankani’s skill at bringing the characters to life and conveying all of Amina’s joy and delight in visiting family in Pakistan. When Amina returns home to the U.S., she’s surprised to find her friends aren’t as interested in hearing about her time in Pakistan, and her classmates are fearful after a presentation she gives on Malala Yousafzai’s life and activism. Listeners will enjoy hearing Amina’s creative ways to help others see beyond the stereotypes of her family and their country, and her growing confidence in herself. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com AudioFile is hosting a webinar at 12 ET on May 6th featuring children’s and teen audiobooks to inspire conversations around immigration in schools and at home. Join to hear live readings and discussions with narrators Priya Ayyar, Marisa Blake, and Anthony Rey Perez, and Kirsten Cappy of I’m Your Neighbor Books. Sponsored by Dreamscape Audio. Register here. Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fans will be absolutely delighted by this collection of short stories featuring author Kerry Greenwood’s irrepressible Phryne Fisher. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how narrator Wendy Bos brings the sultry, smart, sophisticated lady detective to life. She is in step with Greenwood’s witty dialogue and detailed descriptions of luxurious clothes, delectable food, and fine young men. A totally engaging listen, ideal for fans of the series. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Bolinda Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com A growing collection of Naxos AudioBooks Podcasts, featuring our readers, producers and directors introducing a wide variety of titles at naxosaudiobooks.com/category/podcasts/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices