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Free Lunch
- Narrated by: Ramon De Ocampo
- Length: 5 hrs and 52 mins
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Free Lunch
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Publisher's Summary
A distinctive new voice: Rex Ogle's story of starting middle school on the free lunch program is timely, heartbreaking, and true. Free Lunch is the story of Rex Ogle's first semester in sixth grade. Rex and his baby brother often went hungry, wore secondhand clothes, and were short of school supplies, and Rex was on his school's free lunch program. Grounded in the immediacy of physical hunger and the humiliation of having to announce it every day in the school lunch line, Rex's is a compelling story of a more profound hunger - that of a child for his parents' love and care.
Compulsively listenable, beautifully crafted, and authentically told with the voice and point of view of a sixth-grade kid, Free Lunch is a remarkable debut by a gifted storyteller.
Critic Reviews
“Outstanding, gracious writing and a clear eye for the penetrating truth. A mighty portrait of poverty amid cruelty and optimism.” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)
More from the same
What listeners say about Free Lunch
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rose
- 04-06-20
Wonderful Read
Fantastic book about the trials and resilience of a low income youth growing up in the United States. I enjoyed this book as much as my 8 year old daughter did.
3 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Xiaoshuli
- 07-29-21
Can’t stop listening
I love books about poverty struggles and stuff like that. I highly recommend this book to rich people.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- R Scott Bailey
- 07-21-21
This is about as real as you can get
So much truth in what some of my students have gone through. I always have hope that their lives not as hard as Rex's. Worth it to get a grasp of the students that most people do not want to think about.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Elle M.
- 04-24-22
A hard story beautifully delivered
This was a hard story to hear, but I am grateful to have heard Rex’s story as it reminds me that we are not always aware of other people’s realities.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Yulil Alonso-Garza
- 03-09-22
Heartfelt true story
After reading this book I realized there's a huge stigma related to kids in poverty. This gave me insight into a child's thoughts and feelings while experiencing poverty.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- brian
- 02-02-22
Eye-opening.
Coming from a very middle class background, I haven't encountered students in a situation like Rex had, not that I can recall, anyway. Ramon's narration is, as usual, spot-on, hitting all the right emotional notes and voices for different sequences. This book truly shows that some have it worse off than others, and some take that for granted.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- mystic gwen
- 07-12-21
okay but .
good story, however if you're a victim of DV then the ending where he assumes blame and forgives his abusers isn't a cycle to condone. that being said it's a reality that dv often reoccurs due to it stemming in childhood. hopefully the 2nd book in October is a better "end".
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 03-02-21
Good
Great story! However, there are some curse words in the story. So, it's for kids but specific age, not any age.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sarahreiko
- 01-16-21
really sad
I loved it and it was a sad story about free lunch. favorite book ever
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Brent
- 12-29-20
the oscars
the oscars. I have been comforted, but the only one who has a great day and I am a very nice, and the last time. . I have been comforted, but the only one who has a great day and I am a very nice, and the last time. . I have been comforted, but the only one who has
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5 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars for When Stars are Scattered
- By MamaBear on 09-03-21
By: Victoria Jamieson, and others
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Everything Sad Is Untrue
- (A True Story)
- By: Daniel Nayeri
- Narrated by: Daniel Nayeri
- Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 1,011
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 923
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Story5 out of 5 stars 919
At the front of a middle-school classroom in Oklahoma, a boy named Khosrou (whom everyone calls "Daniel") stands, trying to tell a story. His story. But no one believes a word he says. To them he is a dark-skinned, hairy-armed boy with a big butt whose lunch smells funny; who makes things up and talks about poop too much.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Could not get through it—2 out of 7 hrs
- By AbqRD on 09-13-20
By: Daniel Nayeri
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Punching Bag
- By: Rex Ogle
- Narrated by: Ramon De Ocampo
- Length: 6 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 10
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 9
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Story5 out of 5 stars 9
Punching Bag is the compelling true story of a high school career defined by poverty and punctuated by outbreaks of domestic abuse. Rex Ogle, who brilliantly mapped his experience of hunger in Free Lunch, here describes his struggle to survive; reflects on his complex, often paradoxical relationship with his passionate, fierce mother; and charts the trajectory of his stepdad’s anger. Hovering over Rex’s story is the talismanic presence of his unborn baby sister.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Another brilliant memoir
- By brian on 02-25-22
By: Rex Ogle
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King and the Dragonflies
- By: Kacen Callender
- Narrated by: Ron Butler
- Length: 5 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 116
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 106
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 106
Twelve-year-old Kingston James is sure his brother Khalid has turned into a dragonfly. When Khalid unexpectedly passed away, he shed what was his first skin for another to live down by the bayou in their small Louisiana town. Khalid still visits in dreams, and King must keep these secrets to himself as he watches grief transform his family. It would be easier if King could talk with his best friend, Sandy Sanders. But just days before he died, Khalid told King to end their friendship, after overhearing a secret about Sandy - that he thinks he might be gay.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Beautiful
- By Agnes II on 03-08-20
By: Kacen Callender
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Abuela, Don't Forget Me
- By: Rex Ogle
- Narrated by: Ramon De Ocampo
- Length: 3 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 1
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 1
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Story5 out of 5 stars 1
In his award-winning memoir Free Lunch, Rex Ogle’s abuela features as a source of love and support. In this companion-in-verse, Rex captures and celebrates the powerful presence a woman he could always count on—to give him warm hugs and ear kisses, to teach him precious words in Spanish, to bring him to the library where he could take out as many books as he wanted, and to offer safety when darkness closed in.
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5 out of 5 stars
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The sort of grandmother I wish I had.
- By brian on 09-06-22
By: Rex Ogle
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Red, White, and Whole
- By: Rajani LaRocca
- Narrated by: Priya Ayyar
- Length: 2 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 38
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 37
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 37
Reha feels torn between two worlds: school, where she’s the only Indian American student, and home, with her family’s traditions and holidays. But Reha’s parents don’t understand why she’s conflicted - they only notice when Reha doesn’t meet their strict expectations. Reha feels disconnected from her mother, or Amma, although their names are linked - Reha means “star” and Punam means “moon” - but they are a universe apart. Then Reha finds out that her Amma is sick.
By: Rajani LaRocca
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When Stars Are Scattered
- By: Victoria Jamieson, Omar Mohamed
- Narrated by: full cast, Dominic Hoffman, Christine Avila, and others
- Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 133
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 107
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Story5 out of 5 stars 107
Omar and his younger brother, Hassan, have spent most of their lives in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya. Life is hard there: never enough food, achingly dull, and without access to the medical care Omar knows his nonverbal brother needs. So when Omar has the opportunity to go to school, he knows it might be a chance to change their future...but it would also mean leaving his brother, the only family member he has left, every day.
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5 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars for When Stars are Scattered
- By MamaBear on 09-03-21
By: Victoria Jamieson, and others
-
Everything Sad Is Untrue
- (A True Story)
- By: Daniel Nayeri
- Narrated by: Daniel Nayeri
- Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 1,011
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 923
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 919
At the front of a middle-school classroom in Oklahoma, a boy named Khosrou (whom everyone calls "Daniel") stands, trying to tell a story. His story. But no one believes a word he says. To them he is a dark-skinned, hairy-armed boy with a big butt whose lunch smells funny; who makes things up and talks about poop too much.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Could not get through it—2 out of 7 hrs
- By AbqRD on 09-13-20
By: Daniel Nayeri
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The Canyon's Edge
- By: Dusti Bowling
- Narrated by: Casey Holloway
- Length: 3 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 91
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 73
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 73
One year after a random shooting changed their family forever, Nora and her father are exploring a slot canyon deep in the Arizona desert, hoping it will help them find peace. Nora longs for things to go back to normal, like they were when her mother was still alive, while her father keeps them isolated in fear of other people. But when they reach the bottom of the canyon, the unthinkable happens: A flash flood rips across their path, sweeping away Nora's father and all of their supplies.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Amazing Bravery and Strength
- By Beth Schmelzer on 09-04-22
By: Dusti Bowling
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Learning How to Learn
- How to Succeed in School Without Spending All Your Time Studying; A Guide for Kids and Teens
- By: Barbara Oakley PhD, Terrence Sejnowski PhD, Alistair McConville
- Narrated by: Laural Merlington
- Length: 5 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 109
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 96
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 93
Drs. Barbara Oakley and Terrence Sejnowski's popular Online course Learning How to Learn, has enrolled more than 1.8 million students. In this much needed follow-up to A Mind for Numbers, the authors teach kids and teens how to learn effectively at a time when they most need these skills. Learning How to Learn teaches them about the importance of both focused concentration and letting their minds wander, how the brain makes connections between different pieces of information, why procrastination is the enemy of problem solving, and much more.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful
- By Emile on 04-29-19
By: Barbara Oakley PhD, and others
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Black Brother, Black Brother
- By: Jewell Parker Rhodes
- Narrated by: Barrie Buckner
- Length: 4 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 143
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 114
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 113
Sometimes, 12-year-old Donte wishes he were invisible. As one of the few black boys at Middlefield Prep, most of the students don't look like him. They don't like him either. Dubbing him "Black Brother", Donte's teachers and classmates make it clear they wish he were more like his lighter-skinned brother, Trey. When he's bullied and framed by the captain of the fencing team, "King" Alan, he's suspended from school and arrested for something he didn't do.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent
- By Ryan LeBrun on 08-04-20
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Ground Zero
- By: Alan Gratz
- Narrated by: Bernardo de Paula, Ariana Delawari
- Length: 7 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 301
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 232
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Story5 out of 5 stars 231
September 11, 2001, New York City: Brandon is visiting his dad at work, on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center. Out of nowhere, an airplane slams into the tower, creating a fiery nightmare of terror and confusion. And Brandon is in the middle of it all. Can he survive - and escape? September 11, 2020, Afghanistan: Reshmina has grown up in the shadow of war, but she dreams of peace and progress. When a battle erupts in her village, Reshmina stumbles upon a wounded American soldier named Taz. Should she help Taz - and put herself and her family in mortal danger?
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5 out of 5 stars
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great story, but read this book yourself
- By Tracy on 03-22-21
By: Alan Gratz
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New Kid
- By: Jerry Craft
- Narrated by: Jesus Del Orden, Nile Bullock, Robin Miles, and others
- Length: 1 hr and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 465
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 367
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 364
Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds - and not really fitting into either one.
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5 out of 5 stars
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The best little story for your whole family
- By Citizen M on 03-20-19
By: Jerry Craft
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Starfish
- By: Lisa Fipps
- Narrated by: Jenna Lamia
- Length: 3 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 271
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 221
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Story5 out of 5 stars 218
Ever since Ellie wore a whale swimsuit and made a big splash at her fifth-birthday party, she's been bullied about her weight. To cope, she tries to live by the Fat Girl Rules - like "no making waves", "avoid eating in public", and "don't move so fast that your body jiggles". And she's found her safe space - her swimming pool - where she feels weightless in a fat-obsessed world. In the water, she can stretch herself out like a starfish and take up all the room she wants. It's also where she can get away from her mom, who thinks criticizing Ellie's weight will motivate her to diet.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Perfection!
- By JENNE ESTES on 07-02-21
By: Lisa Fipps
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The One Thing You'd Save
- By: Linda Sue Park
- Narrated by: Nancy Wu, Maxwell Glick, Elizabeth Pan, and others
- Length: 23 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 6
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Performance