Looking for must-have audiobooks for teens and tweens? We have plenty of great new choices.

Are you listening? We hope so, because kids across the country are wild about audiobooks. Voracious readers and reluctant ones, special-needs students and English-language learners are all hooked on them—and not just at school, in the car, and at home. They’re turning to audiobooks every chance they get.

What are the best new audiobooks for teens and tweens? To compile our latest list, we asked some audio-savvy school and public librarians to recommend 15 must-have titles for middle school and high school listeners. Their selections are based on the quality of the manuscript, recording, narration, and sound production, and how well the audiobook enhances listeners’ appreciation of the written work and appeals to the intended audience. (For a list of the best audiobooks published between 2000 and 2009, see “Heard Any Good Books Lately?”)

The following 2010 and 2011 releases are perfect for middle or high school students. Beginning with the most highly recommended, these first-rate picks include fiction and nonfiction and span a wide range of genres, including fantasy, science fiction, romance, historical fiction, steampunk, and everything in between. Many of them feature masterful narration that gives the stories a whole new dimension. And as the grade levels suggest, a number of them have strong crossover appeal for both teens and tweens. Many of our recommended releases can be downloaded or are offered in Playaway format, so be sure to check out audio distributors’ and retailers’ websites to see which options are available.

As a bonus, we went right to the source to find out why certain manuscripts are recorded and what elements go into creating an exceptional audiobook. We asked publishers, acquisition editors, editorial directors, and other audio insiders to share their expert insights on what makes a great audiobook—and to give us the scoop on some of their own outstanding titles.

Middle School

Alchemy and Meggy Swann. 4 CDs. 4:23 hrs. Listening Library. 2010. ISBN 978-0-3077-1024-6. $38. Gr 5–8. Uprooted from her English village in 1573, 13-year-old Meggy Swann is shipped off to London to live with her indifferent alchemist father. Meggy, along with her only companion, a white goose, must fend for herself in the dangerous city. As she adapts to her new surroundings, she makes friends and foils a plot to poison a member of the royal court. Katherine Kellgren’s lively reading of Karen Cushman’s novel (Clarion, 2010) is flawless, capturing in period language Meggy’s feisty temperament. The narrator’s wide range of accents is excellent, and her renditions of the ballads that Meggy composes and sings are outstanding. A 2011 Odyssey Award Honor winner for excellence in audiobook production.

The True Meaning of Smekday. 9 CDs. 10:38 hrs. Listening Library. 2010. ISBN 978-0-3077-1112-0. $65. Gr 5–7. Adam Rex’s humorous and politically relevant novel (Hyperion, 2007) about an alien invasion of Earth focuses on broken treaties, false promises, and the rights of “discoverers” to replace the current “backward” culture with their own. Bahni Turpin brings just the right amount of humor and indignation to her reading, especially as the voice of 11-year-old Gratuity “Tip” Tucci, who tells the tale with insight, sarcasm, and innocence. Winner of the 2011 Odyssey Award.

One Crazy Summer. 5 cassettes or 5 CDs. 5:15 hrs. Recorded Books. 2010. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4498-2220-0: $33.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4498-2196-8: $46.75. Gr 4–7. Set in the tumultuous summer of 1968, Rita Williams-Garcia’s splendid Newbery Honor–winning novel (Amistad, 2010) starts off with Delphine and her sisters visiting their mother, who abandoned them years earlier to pursue poetry. When they arrive at her house in a poor, mostly black neighborhood in Oakland, CA, their mother constantly mutters, “didn’t want you to come.” The sisters are soon fobbed off on the local Black Panthers’ community center, where they learn that the group’s primary mission is to serve the community and protect the rights of African Americans. Narrator Sisi Aisha Johnson infuses each character with a distinct personality and her tone of voice is upbeat and often humorous. This is storytelling at its finest.

The Ring of Solomon: A Bartimaeus Novel. 10 CDs. 12:39 hrs. Listening Library. 2010. ISBN 978-0-3077-3863-9. $48. Gr 6 Up. The crafty djinni introduced in The Amulet of Samarkand (2003), the first volume of Jonathan Stroud’s “Bartimaeus” trilogy, is back—and he’s as cheeky as ever. In this stand-alone prequel (2010, both Hyperion), set 3,000 years before the trilogy takes place, Bartimaeus, the servant of the Queen of Sheba’s chief guard, inadvertently becomes involved in saving the country from King Solomon. The wisecracking djinni’s droll asides provide plenty of laughs in this spellbinding fantasy. British actor Simon Jones’s narration is marvelous, and he clearly revels in Bartimaeus’s plummy dialogue. Jones’s wonderful sense of timing gives listeners the opportunity to enjoy this richly rendered adventure.

The Emerald Atlas: The Books of Beginnings, Book 1. 10 CDs. 11:38 hrs. Listening Library. 2011. ISBN 978-0-307-87978-3. $35. Gr 4–8. John Stephens’s story (Knopf, 2011) is filled with magic, a rescue mission, valiant dwarfs, and villainous magical creatures. Kate, Michael, and Emma, who’ve been alone for years, discover that the reason behind their parents’ disappearance involves an ancient evil, a wicked countess, and a town with no children. The solution lies in a magical book that permits them to travel back and forth in time, creating a variety of alternate futures and pasts. Jim Dale provides a stellar performance, creating unique voices for the characters and using his incomparable vocal skills to immerse listeners in the book’s unique worlds.

The Red Pyramid: The Kane Chronicles, Book 1. 12 CDs. 14 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2010. ISBN 978-1-4419-5096-6. $72.97. Gr 5–8. The first volume (Hyperion, 2010) of Rick Riordan’s “Kane Chronicles” series, a nonstop adventure, brings Egyptian mythology to life. Bickering siblings Carter and Sadie are swept away from their Egyptologist father and kidnapped as they try to outsmart evil gods and save humanity from destruction. The story is told alternately by each sibling, offering two very distinct perspectives. Rooted in ancient mythology, the tale features Riordan’s trademark humor and witty contemporary dialogue. Narrators Kevin R. Free and Katherine Kellgren perfectly capture the siblings’ different natures and the gods’ distinct personalities.

They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group. 5 CDs. 4:25 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2010. ISBN 978-1-4418-7156-5. $69.97. Gr 7–10. Appropriately somber music introduces Susan Campbell Bartoletti’s thought-provoking and powerful narrative (Houghton, 2010), a carefully researched and documented history of the white supremacist organization that originated in the post-Civil War South. Dion Graham’s deep, intimate voice pulls listeners into the complex story of how the Klan took root in America and its legacy today. Many first-person accounts, interspersed throughout the narrative, give it an added depth. The bonus disc of photos from the print version is worth exploring.

Okay for Now. 8 CDs. 9:18 hrs. Listening Library. 2011. ISBN 978-0-307-87978-3. $35. Gr 6–9. When Doug’s father loses his job, the family moves to a small town in upstate New York. Doug hates his new life until he meets Lil, the grocer’s daughter. As he learns to drop his tough-guy exterior and open up to his neighbors, he finds both comfort and acceptance as they begin to share their idyllic world with him. Many painful secrets are delicately handled in Gary Schmidt’s fantastic companion (2011) to The Wednesday Wars (2007, both Clarion), a Newbery Honor winner. Lincoln Hoppe captures the “tough guy with a heart of gold” tone that epitomizes Doug’s emotional journey, and her even pacing and matter-of-fact delivery softens the devastating revelations about Doug’s abusive father, his brother’s war injuries, and Lil’s bout with cancer.

Out of My Mind. 6 cassettes or 6 CDs. 7 hrs. Recorded Books. 2010. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4407-5611-5: $51.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4407-5615-3: $66.75. Gr 4–7. Fifth-grader Melody Brooks has cerebral palsy, is wheelchair-bound, and attends school with other kids with special needs. Although she’s never spoken a single word and is hampered by her physical limitations, Melody is brilliant. When she receives a computer with a special keyboard, she finally gains a voice. Sharon M. Draper has populated her compelling novel (Atheneum, 2010) with vibrant characters, and narrator Sisi Aisha Johnson brings themto their full potential, giving Melody the sass she deserves.

Museum of Thieves: The Keepers Trilogy, Book 1. 6 CDs. 6:48 hrs. Listening Library. 2010. ISBN 978-0-3077-1083-3. $34. Gr 4–8. In the city of Jewel, children are bound to their parents or a Blessed Guardian by a silver chain that keeps them safe until Separation Day. This year, the age of separation has been lowered, and Goldie can hardly wait for the ceremony. But just as she’s about to gain independence, a bomb explodes and the ceremony is canceled. Goldie flees and soon finds herself in the mysterious Museum of Dunt, whose shape-shifting rooms have powers that can destroy the entire city. Claudia Black showcases her seemingly endless versatility by creating distinct voices for all of the characters in Lian Tanner’s thrilling story (Delacorte, 2010) and provides expertly paced narration.

Moon Over Manifest. 8 CDs. 9:25 hrs. Listening Library. 2011. ISBN 978-0-307-94195-4. $40. Gr 5–8. In Clare Vanderpool’s captivating Newbery Medal–winning novel (Delacorte, 2010), Abilene spends the summer in Manifest, KS, her father’s hometown. With the help of an interim pastor and Miss Sadie, a diviner, Abilene makes friends and discovers the community’s secrets. She finds a box of treasures, and the stories behind them (told by Miss Sadie and through columns in the local newspaper) offer insights into the town’s citizens and answer Abilene’s questions about her father. Jenna Lamia’s narration is spot-on, adroitly capturing Abilene in a tale that jumps back and forth between 1918 and 1936. Kirby Heyborne and Cassandra Campbell capably recount the letters of a young soldier serving in France during World War I and narrate the newspaper stories.

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling, Book 1. 5 CDs. 5:28 hrs. Listening Library. 2010. ISBN 978-0-3077-1122-9. $45. Gr 4–6. When Lord Fredrick Ashton discovers three feral children, he brings them home in Maryrose Wood’s witty gem of a novel (HarperCollins, 2010). Their governess, Penelope Lumley, a recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, must prepare the kids for a holiday party. All goes according to plan, and the children impress the guests. But when a troublemaker’s scheming threatens to undo all of their hard work, suddenly their future at Ashton Place is uncertain. Katherine Kellgren superbly narrates the tale from Penelope’s perspective. Her portrayal of the children’s speech patterns, including wolf noises, is fantastic.

The Call of the Wild. 3 CDs 3:10 hrs. Listening Library. 2010. ISBN 978-0-3077-1028-4. $30. Gr 6 Up. Actor Jeff Daniels expertly brings to life Jack London’s classic story of survival in the Yukon Territory’s harsh landscape. He reads the tale with compassion and empathy for Buck’s plight, giving a pitch-perfect performance. Characters are voiced with believable accents, and music and the sounds of the wild enhance the telling.

Marching for Freedom: Walk Together, Children, and Don’t You Grow Weary. 2 CDs. 1:47 hrs. with bonus CD of photos. Brilliance Audio. 2011. ISBN 978-1-4418-6878-7. $49.97. Gr 6 Up. Through eloquent text and powerful images, Elizabeth Partridge tells the stories (Viking, 2009) of the brave Civil Rights-era children and teens who, along with their families and friends, participated in freedom marches and endured harassment and violence in Selma, AL. Alan Bomar Jones narrates the taut prose with a measured pace interspersed with a rich rendition of excerpts from the songs that were inspirational to those who took part in the Civil Rights Movement. A bonus CD includes the book’s photographs, source notes, and bibliography.

Behemoth: Leviathan Trilogy, Book 2. 8 CDs. 9:30 hrs. Simon & Schuster Audio. 2010. ISBN 978-1-4423-3410-6. $34.99. Gr 7 Up. Scott Westerfeld and Alan Cumming keep the action flying along in this spellbinding sequel (2010) to Leviathan (2009, both S & S). In the first book, Deryn posed as a boy in order to serve in the British Air Service, and this time around, she’s still dealing with her feelings for fugitive Prince Alek. The Leviathan is headed for Istanbul, and Deryn and Alek hope they can stop the bloody battle that has been brewing in Europe. But nothing goes as planned. Westerfeld’s ingenious juxtaposition of actual World War II events with the fantastic (steampunk) is brought to life by Cumming’s spot-on vocalization. His German/Austrian accent is flawless, Deryn’s Scottish brogue is pitch-perfect, and his ability to change his inflection for each character is incredible.

HIGH SCHOOL

Will Grayson, Will Grayson. 6 CDs. 7:57 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2010. ISBN 978-1-4418-4260-2. $71.97. Gr 9 Up. Told in alternating chapters by alternating narrators, John Green and David Levithan’s masterful story (Dutton, 2010) is beautifully rendered as an audiobook. When Will Grayson, an awkward teen who’s unsure of how to connect with others without getting hurt, and Will Grayson, an angry, gay teen, meet by chance, their lives are forever changed…and connected. The authors address friendship, self-identity, self-acceptance, true love, family, and prejudice in a story that’s sure to touch listeners’ hearts. MacLeod Andrews and Nick Podehl give poignant performances. A 2011 Odyssey Award Honor winner.

Here in Harlem: Poems in Many Voices. 2 CDs. 1:30 hrs. Live Oak Media. 2010. ISBN 978-1-43010-930-3. $22.95; with paperback book, ISBN 978-1-43010-840-5: $28.95. Gr 6 Up. Inspired by Edgar Lee Masters’ Spoon River Anthology, Walter Dean Myers presents a series of evocative poems (Holiday House, 2004) about another special place. Harlem comes to life through the voices of those who have lived there. Myers reads the introduction, and then multiple voices present a diverse community that embraces its music, history, education, daily challenges, and joys. Music and sound effects enhance the mood. Winner of the 2011 Audie Award for distinguished achievement in production.

Revolution. 12 CDs. 15:04 hrs. Listening Library. 2010. ISBN 978-0-3077-4629-0. $54. Gr 9 Up. Andi’s father demands that she accompany him to Paris to work on her senior thesis about a French musician. While doing research, she discovers a diary written by Alexandrine Paradis, her 18th-century counterpart, about the terrors of living through the French Revolution. Combining contemporary teen problems with history and a dash of romance and time travel, Jennifer Donnelly’s novel (Delacorte, 2010) is perfect for the audiobook format. Emily Card’s portrayal of Andi has just the right amount of anguish, angst, and attitude. And Emma Bering gives Alexandrine a perfect French accent. A 2011 Odyssey Award Honor winner.

Heist Society. 5 CDs. 6:10 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2010. ISBN 978-1-4418-2674-9. $71.97. Gr 7–10. Fifteen-year-old Katerina’s family business specializes in the “distribution” of fine art. So when Kat was three, she visited the Louvre (to case it!) and four years later, she stopped over in Austria (to steal some crown jewels). These days, she has given up stealing for a more normal life at a prestigious boarding school. But when five priceless paintings are stolen from a mobster and Kat’s father is the number-one suspect, she returns to her old ways and has only two weeks to pull off the heist of the century. Narrator Angela Dawe moves seamlessly between depictions of a steely mobster, a British bloke, Scotland Yard detectives, and Kat in Ally Carter’s edge-of-your-seat thriller (Hyperion, 2010). This is solo narration at its absolute best.

The Wake of the Lorelei Lee: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, on Her Way to Botany Bay. 12 CDs. 16 hrs. Listen & Live Audio. 2010. ISBN 978-1-59316-484-3. $29.95. Gr 8 Up. The incorrigible Jacky Faber returns in the eighth book (Harcourt, 2010) of L. A. Meyer’s marvelous “Bloody Jack Adventures” series. This time, the Crown accuses Jacky of treason and she’s shipped off to a new British penal colony in Botany Bay, New South Wales, Australia. To add insult to injury, along the way the Lorelei Lee is seized and Jacky finds herself a prisoner on her own ship. Jacky plots and plans, never relinquishing her hope to be free again. Narrator Katherine Kellgren is brilliant, turning this story into great theater.

Ship Breaker. 8 CDs. 9:11 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2010. ISBN 978-1-4418-8347-6. $49.97. Gr 7 Up. Along the United States’s devastated Gulf Coast (in a sci-fi future), Nailer works as a ship breaker, salvaging valuables from the wrecks of abandoned oil tankers. After a hurricane washes a swanky clipper ship ashore, Nailer and his friend discover a rich girl who has almost drowned. If they help her, she promises them a life of privilege they’ve never known. But can they keep her safe from Nailer’s violent, drug-addicted father? Joshua Swanson narrates Paolo Bacigalupi’s fast-paced novel (Little, Brown, 2010), winner of the 2011 Michael L. Printz Award, with steady, dramatic intensity and enlivens the characters with a slew of admirable voices.

Chime. 8 CDs. 10:13 hrs. Listening Library. 2011. ISBN 978-0-307-91521-4. $40. Gr 8 Up. When Eldric arrives in Swampsea, Briony is attracted to him, but she’s a witch and witches are not supposed to be capable of loving anyone. A series of tragedies has turned her life upside down. The town’s children are beset by the deadly swamp cough. When Briony’s twin sister begins coughing, she devises a plan to save her, even though it may get her hanged. In Franny Billingsley’s novel (Dial, 2011), with its theme of guilt and redemption, the Old Ones—witches, dark muses, woodland spirits, and the Boggy Mun who haunt the marshes—inhabit a turn-of-the-century setting that’s so perfectly realized it becomes another character. Susan Duerden’s narration drips and splashes with the Swampsea as she creates a unique voice for each character.

Before I Fall. 10 CDs. 12:26 hrs. Listening Library. 2010. ISBN 978-0-3077-4685-6. $50. Gr 9 Up. In the blink of an eye, popular high school student Samantha Kingston loses her life. What should have been a fantastic day turns out to be the beginning of a horrific afterlife experience. In the wake of a fiery car crash, Sam wakes up on Friday, February 12—again and again and again, as she relives that fatal day seven times. Sarah Drew narrates Lauren Oliver’s powerful debut novel (HarperCollins, 2010), brilliantly bringing Sam to life and capturing her transformation from a mean and reckless teen into a thoughtful, caring young woman.

Three Rivers Rising: A Novel of the Johnstown Flood. 3 CDs. 3:41 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2010. ISBN 978-1-4418-4601-3. $69.97. Gr 8 Up The romance between a determined young woman from a wealthy family and the son of a coal miner is at the heart of Jame Richards’s lyrical, free-verse novel (Knopf/Borzoi, 2010), which examines the consequences of social-class boundaries and narrow-minded mores amid impending disaster. Tight plotting and a relentless sense of foreboding swiftly reach a crescendo in the wake of the 1889 Western Pennsylvania flood. A full cast provides stellar narration, matching its pace to the rhythm of the verses.

Incarceron. 10 CDs. 11:37 hrs. Listening Library. 2010. ISBN 978-0-3077-0709-3. $65. Gr 7 Up. Finn, a 17-year-old prisoner of Incarceron in Catherine Fisher’s tale (Dial, 2010), has only vague memories of his heritage. He’s determined to escape the prison fashioned centuries ago as a solution to the chaos created by humankind. Claudia, the warden’s daughter, lives sequestered in a castle and longs to escape from a father who frightens her and from an impending marriage to an insipid prince. When the two teens discover crystal keys that allow them to communicate with each other, their stories intertwine and unwind in startling twists that will leave listeners eagerly awaiting the sequel. Kim Mai Guest delivers an impeccably paced, fully voiced performance that vividly paints each character.

Mockingjay: The Hunger Games, Book 3. 10 CDs. 11:41 hrs. Scholastic Audiobooks. 2010. ISBN 978-0-545-10144-8. $84.99. Gr 7 Up. In the final installment of Suzanne Collins’s blockbuster trilogy, Katniss is forced to return to the Hunger Games arena again. But this time, the fate of the world is riding on the outcome. Narrator Carolyn McCormick voices Katniss’s despair over those she feels are responsible for killing innocent people and her own tangled motives and choices. This is an older, wiser, sadder, and very reluctant heroine, torn between revenge and compassion. McCormick captures these conflicts by changing the pitch and pacing of Katniss’s voice. She also makes the secondary characters—some malevolent, others benevolent, and many confused—very real with distinct voices.

Carter’s Big Break. 6 CDs. 6:39 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2011. ISBN 978-1-61106-279-3. $59.97. Gr 7–10. Will Carter is back in Brent Crawford’s riotous sequel (2010) to Carter Finally Gets It (2009, both Hyperion). He has finished his freshman year of high school and is looking forward to spending the summer hanging out with his “boys” and his girlfriend. But everything changes when Will lands the lead role in a film being shot in his hometown. Carter’s writing is sharp and humorous, but Nick Podehl’s interpretation of clueless but well-intentioned Carter steals the show. He employs just the right nuances to capture the quirky teen and perfectly portrays the other characters.

Jumped. 3 cassettes or 3 CDs. 3:45 hrs. Recorded Books. 2010. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4498-0916-4: $33.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4498-0920-1: $30.75. Gr 8–10. The daily struggles of three teens during one day at an urban high school are presented in this exceptional novel (HarperTeen, 2009) by Rita Williams-Garcia told in three first-person accounts. When Leticia overhears Dominique threatening to beat up Trina, she really doesn’t want to get involved to save the girl from disaster. The expert performances by various narrators enhance the author’s strong characterizations and lyrical street talk.

The Curse of the Wendigo: The Monstrumologist, Book 2. 10 cassettes or 10 CDs. 12:15 hrs. Recorded Books. 2010. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4407-3641-4: $78.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4407-3645-2: $108.75. Gr 9 Up. From the Canadian wilderness to the streets of New York City, 12-year-old Will Henry accompanies his master, monstrumologist Dr. Pellinore Warthrop, on another dangerous quest in Rick Yancey’s sequel (2010) to The Monstrumologist (2009, both S & S). This time Will must disprove the existence of the cannibalistic Wendigo, a vampirelike monster, and save the doctor’s best friend. Steven Boyer solidly reads the 19th-century-style prose, perfectly navigates the various accents, and skillfully captures the characters’ emotions.

Crossing Stones. 3 cassettes or 3 CDs. 3:50 hrs. Recorded Books. 2010. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4498-1003-0: $33.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4498-1007-8: $46.75. Gr 6–10. Helen Frost’s gripping story (Farrar, 2009) about two neighboring families during the Great War offers personal perspectives on the battle and incorporates information about the struggle for women’s suffrage in the U.S., the Spanish flu, and the day-to-day hardships of a small farming community in 1918 Minnesota. The heartfelt personal accounts narrated by four actors keep listeners involved. This is historical fiction at it best.