
Those of you who listen to audiobooks avidly probably already know of Nick Podehl, who is one of the foremost narrators in the business. This book, about a freshman boy's life, is probably one of the funniest and well done YA audiobooks I've come across. Podehl's voices and the way he directs his voice away from the microphone for effect are spot on, and his timing is perfect.
The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex, narrated by Bahni Turpin.

See You at Harry's by Jo Knowles, narrated by Kate Rudd.
Time for something serious. This audiobook is not funny like the previous two picks, but it is still very affecting. Rudd does a masterful job giving voice to Fern, a 12-year-old middle child who feels invisible in her family. She and her brother are bullied, her family takes her for granted, not to mention her dad keeps trying new, embarrassing tactics to advertise for their restaurant. But this one becomes a tissue-box novel once a heart-wrenching tragedy is thrown in. I will never forget listening to Rudd's grief-stricken voice.
(Um, as of the time I wrote this post, it is THREE DOLLARS for an MP3-CD on Amazon.)
(Um, as of the time I wrote this post, it is THREE DOLLARS for an MP3-CD on Amazon.)
Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger, narrated by Moira Quirk.

The Jacky Faber series by L.A. Meyer, narrated by Katherine Kellgren.
Katherine Kellgren is another audiobook heavyweight, winning awards left and right, and for good reason. She throws herself into her character, getting each and every accent down and nailing it. Jacky Faber, a young teen girl in the early 1800s, travels around the world on adventure after adventure, all trying to keep one step ahead of trouble, which always seems to find her.
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy, narrated by Rupert Degas.
I honestly can't imagine reading this series over listening to it. I'm so sad the audio version are so difficult to find after #3. Degas deadpans the sarcastic and witty banter, as well as giving truly fantastic voices to each and every character. He does a perfect job, and bonus points for his Irish accent. Love it.
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, narrated by Wil Wheaton.
Yes, that Wil Wheaton. Who is the best man for the job. I loved this audiobook, especially once the action really starts up. Basically we've got a future where people spend most of their time in the Oasis, a virtual online world, and the creator of this place has left clues throughout the game leading to his fortune. But he hid it so well that no one has found it in over a decade. Until Wade.
The Flavia de Luce mysteries by Alan Bradley, narrated by Jayne Entwhistle.
I love Jayne Entwhistle's voice, which is perfect for 11-year-old Flavia de Luce, lover of chemistry and poisons and amateur sleuth, whose stories take place in rural England in the 1950s.
I LOVE audio books, and was so glad you reccomended some I haven't listened to.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite narrator is Jenna Lamia, particularly her reading of The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams. And I can't begun to describe my love for Shannon Hale's books done by Full Cast Audio, which are read with a full cast (obviously).
Thanks for the recs. I will be checking out the library's website immediately :)
Nice! I'm glad I could help! I'm one of the few audiobook listeners I know who DOESN'T like Jenna Lamia's narrations, so I hope you enjoy the ones I did!
DeleteI also love audiobooks! They're the only way I get through cardio workouts at the gym. I adored the first Flavia de Luce novel but haven't gotten around to the others. I'll be searching my library for the audiobooks.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb - read by Lauren Malina. It's so ethereal and perfect. Beauty Queens by (written and read) Libba Bray is also excellent.
Thanks for the recommendations, I haven't listened to or read either of those! I'll have to check them out.
DeleteI also love Full Cast Audio. Among my favorites are Gilbert and Sullivan Set Me Free and the Wildmage quartet by Tamora Pierce.
ReplyDeleteI have only begun listening to audio books in the past year. I started with The Great Gatsby and Middlemarch as I couldn't get into reading these two. Loved the way the narrator brought them to, life. The ones you recommend sound interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe only one of these I've listened to is Flavia de Luce, and I have to agree, those are some of my favorite audiobooks EVER. I'll have to check out some of the others you mentioned. Thanks.
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