Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults

About the Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults
To select, annotate, and present for publication an annual list of notable audio recordings significant to young adults from those released in the past two years. Full list can be found here.

Administered by:

Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) logo

Fiction

2018 Selection(s)

Heartless

by Marissa Meyer, read by Rebecca Soler. Macmillan Audio, 2016. 14 hours, 30 minutes

Sure, everybody knows who the most heartless character in Wonderland is – but did you ever wonder how the Queen of Hearts got that way? Rebecca Soler, who also narrated the author’s previous Lunar Chronicles, teams up with Marissa Meyer again and brings Wonderland and its host of characters to life.


Honor Girl

by Maggie Thrash, read by Ensemble Cast. Dreamscape Media, 2017. 2 hours, 1 minute

In this graphic novel memoir, fifteen year old Maggie, returns to go to summer camp. After falling in love with her counselor, Erin, Maggie struggles to fit within the lines defined by camp and the people associated with it.  This is an audio voiced by a full cast that includes background noise, which makes the listen a fully immersive experience.


Kill All Happies

by Rachel Cohn, read by Lauren Ezzo. Dreamscape Media, LLC, 2017. 6 hours, 4 minutes

Victoria “Vic” Navarro is determined to give the seniors of Rancho Soldado one last party they won’t forget. When the night begins to veer off course, Vic has to decide to try and fix the problems the party is causing or give up and join in the fun. Ezzo reads the sarcasm and acerbic banter with seamless delivery and impeccable timing.


Long Way Down

by Jason Reynolds, read by Jason Reynolds. Simon & Schuster Audio, 2017. 1 hour, 43 minutes

In 60 seconds of elevator time a young man fixated on revenge learns all the reasons why he should not take that revenge.  Using poetry read by the author in a stylistic free verse manner, A Long Way Down will rock your eye-for-an-eye world.


Once and For All

by Sarah Dessen, read by Karissa Vacker. Listening Library, 2017. 10 hours, 30 minutes

Love is found in all sorts of places, including weddings, but romance built on tragedy is an unexpected occurrence.  Dessen fans will love the plots twists and gradual background reveal through flashbacks, read so naturally by Vacker.


Patina

by Jason Reynolds, read by Heather Alicia Simms. Simon & Schuster Audio, 2017. 6 hours

On the track team, Patty runs to win. But running also helps her escape all that she’s juggling in her young life. Simm’s animated delivery portrays a relatable young teen who tackles challenges with brass and determination.


Scythe

by Neal Shusterman, read by Greg Tremblay. Audible Studios, 2017. 11 hours

Citra and Rowan reluctantly compete to become a scythe, or professional grim reaper. The one who wins must kill the other. Greg Tremblay’s superbly nuanced reading imbues the concept of death with an unexpected sense of grace.


See You In the Cosmos

by Jack Cheng, read by Ensemble Cast. Listening Library, 2017. 6 hours, 11 minutes

Alex Petroski is 11 years old, and he loves space, Carl Sagan, and his dog (also named Carl Sagan). When he sets out on a trip across the United States, he's determined to find answers about his family and record what life is like on earth for other lifeforms. A full cast, lead by Kivlighan de Montebello, brings this funny and sweet story to life.


Solo

by Kwame Alexander with Mary Rand Hess, read by Kwame Alexander and Randy Preston. Blink YA Books, 2017. 4 hours, 2 minutes

Seventeen year old Blade Morrison is a talented musician who learns a truth that sends him on trip of self-discovery to Africa.  Alexander’s delivery is fantastic, but Preston’s music is what takes this audio to another level.


Spellslinger

by Sebastien de Castell, read by Joe Jameson. Bolinda Audio, 2017. 10 hrs, 57 minutes

When Kellan, son of a powerful mage family, shows no signs of magical ability by age 16, he must rely on trickery and a band of ragtag accomplices to survive mounting dangers. Jameson’s performance perfectly captures the motley of characters and events in this richly imagined and laugh-out-loud adventure


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