Each quarter, the Selected Lists teams compile the titles that have been officially nominated to date. These are titles that have been read by multiple members of the team, and received approval to be designated an official nomination. At the end of the year, the final list of nominations and each Selected List’s Top Ten will be chosen from these titles.
*Prices shown are for Library Digital Download.
All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team. By Christina Soontornvat. Read by Quincy Surasmith & Christina Soontornvat. 2020. Brilliance Audio, $35.99 (9781713547792).
An honest and frank account of the 2018 Thai cave rescue told in a thrilling and fast-paced manner, perfect for younger and older teen readers alike. Quincy Surasmith is a capable narrator and will keep readers engaged with this tense and true story.
As Good as Dead: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. By Holly Jackson. Read by Bailey Carr, Kristen DiMercurio, Robert Fass, Lauren Fortgang, Johnny Heller, Barrett Leddy, Shezi Sardar, Vassilea Terzaki and Megan Tusing. Listening Library, $75.00 (9780593416761).
A shocking turnaround in the finale to the trilogy as the true crime podcast turns on the investigator herself. Once again brought to a spectacular audio experience using a full cast in audiobook form, this wrap up to the story will keep readers breathless to the end.
The Bitterwine Oath. By Hanna West. Read by Reba Buhr. Tantor Media, $63.00 (9781705222911).
Men in San Solano, Texas are randomly marked for death as the anniversary of the first massacre approaches. Nat must break a promise to her grandmother to join a secret society of women dedicated to saving those men–including Nat’s father. Reba Buhr’s outstanding narration makes this book perfectly eerie.
Continuum. By Chella Man. Read by Chella Man. Listening Library, $22.00 (9780593411452).
This self-reflective tale explores what it is like to be genderqueer, deaf, transgender and Jewish. The audiobook is given a personal and intimate touch by being read in the author’s own voice.
The Darkness Outside Us. By Eliot Schrefer. Read by James Fouhey. HarperAudio, $26.99 (9780063089358).
Ambrose and Kodiak are on a mission to save Ambrose’s sister on a distant planet. When the ship’s operating system turns evil and secrets surface, the two teens will be pushed to the limits of love and survival. Fouhey’s voice adds tension and personality to this science fiction romance.
Donuts and Other Proclamations of Love. By Jared Reck. Read by Kirby Heyborne. Listening Library, $63.00 (9780593398968).
Oscar is riding out high school to get his diploma and take over the food truck he has been running with his grandfather. Lou steamrolls him into cooking up the mountains of leftover apples from the cafeteria to reduce food waste. Heyborne’s voicing, especially of Oscar’s grandfather, makes this unforgettable.
Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun. By Jonny Garza Villa. Read by Avi Roque. Brilliance Audio, $42.99 (9781713568018).
Julián Luna wants to leave his conservative home in Texas and go to college in California. When he’s accidentally outed, his home life crumbles and plans change, but his friends, old and new, even those fifteen hundred miles away, open doors he only dreamed of. Roque’s narration is spot on.
Flash Fire. By TJ Klune. Read by Michael Lesley. Macmillan Audio, $63.00 (9781250807755).
In this sequel to The Extraordinaries, Nick and his superhero boyfriend Seth are faced with a whole deluge of superpowered people and supersecrets that change everything. Lesley’s voice continues as the perfect match for Nick; his performance of the amazing characters makes this a joyful romp of a book.
From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement. By Paula Yoo. Read by Catherine Ho. Recorded Books, $24.99 (9781705028384).
Yoo educates young readers about the killing of Vincent Chin in 1982 including Chin’s life, the circumstances of his death, and the aftermath for his family and in the courts. Catherine Ho breathes urgency and a call to action to the listener all these years later.
The Girl from the Sea. By Molly Knox Ostertag. Read by Shannon Tyo, Kristen Sieh, M.J. Kang, Raymond Lee, Grant Beck, and others. Scholastic Audio, $74.99 (9781338773699).
When Morgan is rescued from drowning in what she thinks was a dream and kisses the girl who rescues her, it turns out it wasn’t a dream but magic of a different kind. A marvelous audio adaptation of a graphic novel with lovely lesbian representation performed by a full cast.
How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe. By Raquel Vasquez Gilliland. Read by Kyla Garcia. Simon & Schuster Audio, $63.00 (9781797125497).
Moon Fuentez lurks in the shadow of her gorgeous social media star twin. As the unsung photographer and “merch girl” on her influencer summer tour, Moon is in the background, but then her own star starts to shine. Garcia’s narration rings true to all the voices in this story.
In the Ravenous Dark. By A.M. Strickland. Read by Lauryn Allman. Macmillan Audio, $63.00 (9781250834034).
In Thanopolis those with magic are tethered to a spirit to control them. Rovan manages to hide her magic until she is outed. Allman voices a fabulous cast of queer characters as they uncover a secret that threatens the kingdom. Rovan must learn who to trust to save the kingdom.
The Lucky List. By Rachael Lippincott. Read by Rebekkah Ross. Simon & Schuster Audio, $63.00 (9781797123776).
When Emily finds her mother’s senior year bucket list, her friend Blake encourages her to try it. Since her mom died, Emily has been closed off; the list becomes her way out, and her way into Blake’s heart. Ross’s narration brings the girls’ voices to life in this summer romance.
Magic Dark and Strange. By Kelly Powell. Read by Karissa Vacker. 2020. Tantor Media, $39.95 (9781705223994).
Catherine is a printer by day but raises the dead for one final visit with loved ones by night. When her employer tasks her with finding a magical timepiece capable of reviving the dead permanently, several mysteries present themselves in this fast-paced fantasy read by the talented Karissa Vacker.
The Mary Shelley Club. By Goldy Moldavsky. Read by Carla Corvo. Listening Library, $63.00 (9780593402726).
After a traumatic attack, Rachel starts at a new school where she feels lost until she finds herself with a group of like-minded horror fans. But their antics escalate and things get out of hand. Corvo’s narration plays Rachel’s voice perfectly and amplifies the suspense of the story.
Noelle: The Mean Girl (Flyy Girls Book #3). By Ashley Woodfolk. Read by Shayna Small. Listening Library, $28.00 (9780593340660).
Noelle is focused on her family, school, and the cello. When her dad loses his job, Noelle doesn’t think twice about working more hours. When her friend Tobyn starts occupying her thoughts, Noelle wonders if being a hard worker even matters anymore. Shayna Small narrates this compelling story for hesitant readers.
Perfect on Paper. By Sophie Gonzalez. Read by Barrie Kreinik. Macmillan Audio, $63.00 (9781250805386).
Darcy runs an anonymous relationship advice service through a vacant locker. She’s obsessed with her success rate. Things change when a boy catches her and she learns something unsavory about her best friend/crush’s girlfriend. Kreinik does a great job narrating this story of secrets, lies, unrequited crushes, and friendships.
Six Crimson Cranes. By Elizabeth Lim. Read by Emily Woo Zeller. Listening Library, $75.00 (9780593398883).
Princess Shiori has hidden magical powers her stepmother discovers. She herself is a powerful sorceress, casting a curse on Shiori and her six brothers. Shiori must break the curse to save her brothers and her kingdom. Includes elements from many mythologies. Zeller does an excellent job bringing Shiori to life.
Starfish. By Lisa Fipps. Read by Jenna Lamia. Listening Library, $34.00 (9780593341674).
Since her 5th birthday when she cannonballed into the pool, Ellie has been known as “Splash.” Her weight has made her the target of bullies, most especially her mother. Lamia’s narration gives Ellie life. She gives distinguishing voices for all of the characters and does a good Texas accent.
Sugar Town Queens. By Malla Nunn. Read by Bahni Turpin. Listening Library, $63.00 (9780593397893).
Living in the Sugar Town slum of South Africa is all Amandla has ever known, so when she finds an address and cash in her mother’s bag she follows the lead to discover the mystery. Turpin’s expert narration gives life to all the colorful women in Amandla’s world.
They’ll Never Catch Us. By Jessica Goodman. Read by Jesse Vilinsky, Phoebe Strole, and Kristen Sieh. Listening Library, $69.00 (9780593398012).
Track star sisters Stella and Ellie aren’t sure whether to hate or befriend the new student Mila. But when Mila goes missing the sisters become the number one suspects, and have to work together to find the truth. The three narrators add tension and suspense to this sports thriller.
Tobyn: The It Girl (Flyy Girls Book #4). By Ashley Woodfolk. Read by Nicole Lewis. Listening Library, $28.00 (9780593397596).
Tobyn Wolfe knows she can be a star. When she enters a contest to join the all-female band Maybe Sunday, her mom thinks she’s wasting her time. Can Tobyn prove to her mom that she has what it takes? Lewis gives Tobyn a voice in this captivating, quick read.
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre. By Carole Boston Weatherford. Read by January LaVoy and Carole Boston Weatherford. Dreamscape Media, $28.00 (9781666501940).
A picture book length listen, this heartbreaking book looks at an often untold story of a white mob attacking a black community in 1921 Tulsa. LaVoy’s voice and sound effects make this an experience to remember, and the author’s reading of background information really lends gravitas to the story.
We Must Not Forget: Holocaust Stories of Survival and Resistance. By Deborah Hopkinson. Read by Rosie Jones. Scholastic Audio, $83.99 (9781338739299).
This nonfiction account weaves together oral histories, manuscripts, memoirs and archives to chronicle the survival and resistance efforts of young Holocaust survivors, with a call to action and parallels to current events. Jones’ narration is engaging and informative.
White Smoke. By Tiffany D. Jackson. Read by Marcella Cox. HarperAudio, $26.99 (9780063029125).
The move to Cedarville is supposed to get Mari away from the scandal of a drug overdose, but it turns out that the family’s new home–while scandal free–comes with some malevolent guests. Marcella Cox handles multiple characters and sound effects in a way that enhances the hair raising plot.
Yesterday Is History. By Kosoko Jackson. Read by Ron Butler. Dreamscape Media, LLC, $34.99 (9781662092619).
After Andre receives a liver transplant, he learns he can time travel to 1969. Torn between two boys, one past and one present, he must figure out where he belongs. Butler narrates in such a way that past and present are easily distinguishable.
Want a printable version of this round-up? Download the Winter nominations round-up.