ALL MY PUNY SORROWS

In this quasi-autobiographical audiobook, Miriam Toews explores the pain of loving and caring for a family member who is ravaged by mental illness. Erin Moon narrates the story of Yolandi, the twice-divorced single parent and less than successful younger sister of Elfrieda, a world-renowned pianist who has a loving husband and support group. Using a world-weary voice, Moon draws listeners into this world. The book’s language is beautiful, but the subject is depressing, and listening is difficult. Moon successfully conveys, in every word, the pain, hopelessness, and despair of Yolandi, who cannot save her talented older sister from the demons in her mind who torture her and make death more inviting than all the love in her life. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2015].

BODY OF WATER

When her trailer home burns to the ground, Ember believes that her best friend, Anson, started the fire because he found out that her family practices Wicca. Narrator Erin Moon captures Ember’s grief, anger, and confusion when she and her family, including her little sister, are forced to move to a campground for the summer. Moon brings life to the lists and letters Ember writes in an effort to understand what happened and reconnect to the world. Moon’s expressive dialogue for secondary characters helps listeners see some of the details that Ember doesn’t. The story is an eye-opening look at Wicca spirituality and the realities of homelessness, and a moving exploration of the difference between want and need. A.F. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2012].

THE CARNIVAL AT BRAY

In the mid-1990s, 16-year-old Maggie, from Chicago, finds herself in the midst of grunge rock, first love, and burgeoning independence. When Maggie’s mother marries her Irish boyfriend, the family moves to Ireland. Narrator Erin Moon excels at giving heart to Maggie’s journey and growth, especially as the teen takes off for Rome to hear the band Nirvana, a favorite of her beloved Uncle Kevin back home. Moon’s expertise at a number of Irish brogues is a treat to hear, and she deftly illuminates the subtle cultural differences that Maggie must adjust to. The audiobook also stands out as Moon sings the songs of various characters, giving them depth and emotion through the music. This blast from the past is perfect for teens and adults. S.B.T. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2016].

DEAD POLITICIAN SOCIETY

One by one, politicians are being killed off. When all clues point to a group of political science students, Clare Vengel, a young police officer, goes undercover as a student to infiltrate a secret society. Narrator Erin Moon does an admirable job with an assortment of characters, alternating competently between men and women, students, and others. She gives Clare a steady, even-keeled tone and stretches nicely with her voices for suspects and supporting characters such as a determined newspaper editor, a sarcastic student, and Clare’s impatient boss. Moon deserves credit for keeping listeners engaged as the mystery is unraveled. In the end, listeners will be eager to hear Clare’s next adventure. M.B. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2012].

DREAMLAND SOCIAL CLUB

Jane is a teenager who has traveled the world but has never had a place to call home until she moves to Coney Island with her father and brother after inheriting a house from a grandfather she never met. The story moves slowly as it is full of Jane’s memories of her mother, and narrator Erin Moon competently conveys the dreamlike quality of these recollections and fantasies. Moon reads from Jane’s point of view in a natural tone and differentiates the voices of Jane’s classmates through the use of New York accents and a variety of different tones and pitches that connect Jane’s impressions of them to their characters—-. E.N. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2011].

EVENING

Narrator Erin Moon shares her talents in an audiobook revolving around a woman’s misconceptions about her family members. After her older sister, Tam, dies from cancer, 35-year-old Eve returns home to the city she couldn’t wait to escape. Each day, as the family sits shiva, Eve discovers more about her sister’s secrets and works through her changing view of their relationship. Moon’s ability to shift between characters’ distinctive voices pulls listeners into Eve’s world in early-1990s Toronto. Moon captures the story’s complex emotions, chiefly the family’s grief and Eve’s feeling of disconnection as she processes revelations about her sister and how they affect her own plans for the future. Moon’s performance adds a tone of authenticity to the story, making for a worthwhile listen. A.L.S.M. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2021].

FINDING WINNIE
The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear

Narrating a Caldecott Medal-winning book is both an honor and a challenge. Erin Moon rises to the occasion. She is the gentle mother telling a family story to her young son, Cole; she is the wondrous young son himself; she is the adventurous, young Canadian soldier; and she is the storytelling father who takes his son to see a bear at the London Zoo. Listeners will treasure this story of the orphaned bear cub who travels from Winnipeg to London with veterinarian Harry Colburn and his army division bound for WWI and then becomes a much visited, loved, and inspirational bear to one Alan Alexander Milne and his son, Christopher Robin. And, of course, young (and old) listeners will pore over Sophie Blackall’s award-winning illustrations. A.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2016].

GRAVE MERCY

In this medieval fantasy, Ismae is marked by a blood-red stain, which predicates that father sell her nuptials as if she were a prized pig. But her wedding night reveals that she’s been chosen by Mortain, god of death, to be his vengeful assassin. Narrator Erin Moon ably handles this twisty tale of intrigue. She smoothly delivers French pronunciations and medieval vocabulary as she describes Ismae’s convent training and life at Brittany court—– she manages multiple voices superbly. Overall, she elevates the story with her warm and tender portrayal of a young woman who must understand her role as a spy, avenger, and lover. M.M.O. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2012].

MOONKIND

Narrator Erin Moon tackles a wide cast of characters in the concluding volume of the Winterling trilogy. Fer, the half-human, half-fey heroine, sounds young and determined. Rook, her trouble-making fairy friend, has a burr in his voice that softens only when he talks to Fer. Magical creatures like wolf girls and water sprites are all convincingly not human, with hitches or burbles or growls in their voices. As Fer works to save her magical land, she must confront powerful fairies who refuse to change and grow. Moon performs them with an icy haughtiness that crumbles into quavering tones when they get their comeuppance. Prineas’s story is slight, but Moon’s bright and engaging narration would enliven a family road trip. G.D. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2014].

MY GLORY WAS I HAD SUCH FRIENDS

Amy Silverstein needs a second heart transplant, or she will die. Narrator Erin Moon strikes just the right emotional notes as she delivers Silverstein’s account of her incredible journey toward an uncertain third chance at life, and the circle of amazing women who gave her unwavering love and support along the way. Moon moves deftly between straightforward reporting of hospital routines and medical procedures to a softer, contemplative tone for Amy’s musings and the intimate aspects of her story. Amy’s recordings of each day’s highs and lows give immediacy to the wrenching chronicle, and Moon captures all the poignancy, tension, fear, and joy. A beautifully written tribute to the power of hope and friendship is beautifully presented. Add this to your must-listen list. M.O.B. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2017].

SISTERS RED

Scarlett and Rosie March’s world, Fenris (werewolves in the guise of devilishly handsome men) seduce and devour innocent young girls. Scarlett and Rosie are hunters. Scarlett wears a red cloak that conceals her hatchets; Rosie’s expertise is knives. Suzanne Toren’s lush, husky tones set the mood as she tells a grim fairy tale about two sisters and their grandmother, who were attacked by a wolf-in-salesman’s-clothing. As the narrative alternates between the sisters, the two additional actresses give stellar performances. Erin Moon portrays Scarlett with the snarky, feisty attitude of a girl who’s been disfigured by a Fenris and is passionate about killing them. Michal Friedman’s Rosie is innocent, eager for her first hunt, curious about the world, and ready for love. Terrific YA listening. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2010].

THE GREAT UNEXPECTED

Creech’s book is like a jigsaw puzzle—with two orphan girls, a mysterious boy, and a rich old lady who appears to be plotting murder as the pieces. Dual narration by Heather O’Neill and Erin Moon adds distance between the two subplots as events unfold on both sides of the Atlantic. Naomi and Lizzie, voiced by Moon, have slightly Southern accents. O’Neill gives the rich old lady a stately Irish accent, perfect for meting out provocative tidbits of information that add to the intrigue. When the girls go to Ireland, the narrators shift seamlessly, making what was familiar seem foreign. The switch heightens the fanciful ending. A.M.P. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2012].

THE SWEET REVENGE OF CELIA DOOR

On the first day of high school, Celia Door is determined to settle a score from the previous year. Opening with a clear, markedly sardonic voice, narrator Erin Moon asserts the singular personality of “Celia the Dark.” Moon balances Celia’s focused rage toward her judgmental classmates with her developing friendship with Drake, the new kid at school. Two secrets connect the pair and define their triumphs. Amid struggles at home and school, Celia finds refuge in her incisive poetry. Moon has an ear for Celia’s lyricism, revealing Celia’s self-awareness and vulnerability. Similarly, Drake draws inspiration from DREAM IT! DO IT!, an overly enthusiastic self-help book that Celia uses as a guide. With a steady voice and well-timed inflection, Moon guards Drake’s earnestness, preventing caricature. A.S. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2013].

THE TRANSATLANTIC CONSPIRACY

Narrator Erin Moon’s crisp, versatile alto is well matched to this steampunk adventure with a murderous twist. When Rosalind Wallace’s father invents the first underwater expressway, he books her on its maiden voyage. As she travels with her friends Cecily and Charles, the journey quickly turns from exciting to harrowing, and Rosalind must unearth dangerous secrets to escape the train with her life. Moon’s delivery of narrative and characterizations brings this book to a new level. She is forceful and gifted with accents; she shifts between characters easily, maintains a suspenseful pace, and portrays Rosalind in a spirited and engaging manner. K.S.B. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2016].

TOUCH BLUE

Erin Moon gives a lovely reading of this island tale about the emotional bonds of family and place. If the State of Maine closes the school on Bethsaida Island due to the decrease in students, 11-year-old Tess Brooks’s family will have to leave the only home she’s ever known. To save the school, Reverend Beal hatches a plan to offer homes to foster children, and the islanders await their June arrival with excitement. Moon’s portrayal of Tess is so genuine that it’s almost startling the first time she introduces another voice in the story. She also produces authentic Maine voices as she recounts what that summer brings to light. K.O. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2011].

UNGIFTED

The day after Donovan Curtis exercises colossally bad judgment regarding a prized statue of Atlas at school and the superintendent, by his own admission, makes a big mistake, Donovan finds himself plucked from Hardcastle Middle School and enrolled in the Academy for Academic Distinction. In the story that follows, his classmates; his pregnant sister, Katie, along with her pregnant dog, Beatrice; and a robotics class bring Donovan to a new understanding of himself. Donovan’s story is told from a multiple points of view, with each narrator taking on a different personality. And, boy, do they nail the parts! Listeners will delight in the alternately ecstatic and despondent Donovan, the demanding superintendent, the goofy friends Daniel and Daniel, and the YouTube fanatic and head nerd Noah, to name a few. A.R. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2012].

WINTERLING

Fer, short for Jennifer, is unaware of her magical heritage and feels completely out of place when she enters a new realm upon inadvertently opening the Way between worlds. Erin Moon uses an even tone to portray Fer as a practical, normal girl, but all of the magical creatures have unique voices that match their natures in the other world. The Lady, an evil ruler, has a harsh, icy voice that sounds malevolent even when she makes the most mundane comments. Rook, a fairy who can shift into different animals, has a deep, gruff voice, much like the growl of the dog he often changes into. The wolf guards who pursue Fer on the orders of the Lady have mocking, slightly caustic tones. Moon’s narration provides a bright spot in Prineas’s sometimes inconsistent tale. E.N. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2012].

Funny Farm: My Unexpected Life with 600 Rescue Animals

Sometimes verging on laughter, narrator Erin Moon’s cheery delivery also dips for tragedy but never cracks. When Laurie Zaleski’s father attempted to take a camp ax to her mother, Annie scooped their three children into a borrowed car, hid them, and built a new life. “The more you cry, the less you’ll pee,” Annie said when life got hard. With this mother in her corner, Laurie grew up and battled her way into a successful business, then took in animals by the score. Horses, lambs, cats, and even emus are among the 600 strays welcomed to the fifteen-acre last resort in South Jersey called Funny Farm. Moon’s voice rises as triumph begets triumph, dips in the face of obstacles, and never tips into smugness. B.H.C. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2022]

The Retreat

Maeve is an acclaimed dancer, but an abusive relationship ending in tragedy has prompted her to take her career in a new direction. Erin Moon narrates as Maeve goes to an artists’ mountain retreat in winter to strategize her future. Demurely portrayed Maeve meets saucy Anna, with her Southern charm; Karo, the stern retreat director; and overbearing Dan and sexy Sim, both staff. Dysfunctional behavior among all the characters abounds, and strange events take place. Then an avalanche seals them all from the rest of the world. Moon captures the panic when guests start to vanish. But soon Moon reveals new strength in Maeve as she fights to survive a serial killer while surrounded by grizzlies, elk, and snow. B.J.P. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2021]