With summer in full swing, the librarians at Naperville Public Library have put together a list of audiobook recommendations for you to enjoy on your next road trip.
The list is broken down into three categories based on the length of your journey: Day Trip (less than eight hours), Weekend Getaway (8 to 12 hours) and Long-Haul Adventure (more than 13 hours).
All the audiobooks listed are available through one or more of the library’s download and streaming services, Hoopla, OverDrive or Axis 360. Whether you’re road-tripping solo or with a crew of car companions, there’s something on this list for everyone’s summer trip.
If you want to see all of our recommendations, go to www.naperville-lib.org/roadtrip.
Day Trip (less than eight hours)
“The One and Only Ivan,” Katherine Applegate
Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, Ivan has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. Instead, Ivan thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line. Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home — and his own art — through new eyes. (Length: 3 hours, 46 minutes)
“The Mouse and the Motorcycle,” Beverly Cleary
Ralph is not like the other mice at the Mountain View Inn. He is always looking for adventure. It is Ralph’s lucky day when a young guest named Keith arrives with a shiny miniature motorcycle. Right away, Ralph knows the motorcycle has been especially made to be ridden by an adventurous mouse. And once a mouse can ride a motorcycle … almost anything can happen! (Length: 2 hours, 17 minutes)
“Absolutely Everything!,” Christopher Lloyd
Buckle up for an extraordinary ride through the 14 billion-year history of absolutely everything! Written and narrated by best-selling world history author Christopher Lloyd, this remarkable story (which is far more amazing than anything you can make up) sweeps through natural history starting with the creation of planet Earth, followed by the ancient civilizations and medieval times, eventually arriving in the modern age. (Length: 6 hours, 31 minutes)
Weekend Getaway (8 to 12 hours)
“The Queen of Katwe,” Tim Crothers
Robert Katende, a war refugee turned missionary, had an improbable dream: to empower kids in the Ugandan slums through chess. Of these kids, one girl stood out as an immense talent: Phiona. Now a woman candidate master — the first female titled player in her country’s history — Phiona dreams of becoming a grandmaster, the most elite level in chess. But to reach that goal, she must grapple with everyday life in one of the world’s most unstable countries. (Length: 8 hours)
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“When Dimple Met Rishi,” Sandhya Menon
Dimple Shah is ready to move away from her family and their traditional expectations. Rishi Patel, on the other hand, is all about his parents’ attempt to arrange a marriage for him. With Dimple. Now the two are headed for the same post-graduation summer program in this rom-com that explores the push-pulls of love, family and culture. (Length: 10 hours, 46 minutes)
“We Came, We Saw, We Left: A Family Gap Year,” Charlie Wheelan
What would happen if you quit your life for a year? In a pre-COVID-19 world, the Wheelan family decided to find out; leaving behind work, school and even the family dogs to travel the world on a modest budget. Equal parts “how-to” and “how-not-to,” “We Came, We Saw, We Left” is the insightful and often hilarious account of one family’s gap-year experiment. (Length: 10 hours, 16 minutes)
Long-Haul Adventure (more than 13 hours)
“Watership Down,” Richard Adams
“Watership Down” tells the story of a long and perilous journey of survival for a small band of rabbits. As they skirt danger at every turn, we become acquainted with the band, its humorous characters and its compelling culture. A stirring epic of courage and survival against the odds, “Watership Down” has become a beloved classic for all ages. (Length: 17 hours, 31 minutes)
“Little Women,” Louisa May Alcott
Based loosely on Louisa May Alcott’s own upbringing, “Little Women” follows the lives of four sisters — Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March. Each girl has a vision of what their ideal future will bring, though ultimately experiencing, as most young do, something completely different. “Little Women,” originally written as two volumes, is considered one of the most widely read American novels. (Length: 19 hours, 11 minutes)
“The Nightingale,” Kristin Hannah
With courage, grace and powerful insight, best-selling author Kristin Hannah captures the epic panorama of WWII and illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: the women’s war. “The Nightingale” tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France. (Length: 17 hours, 30 minutes)
Trente Arens is the marketing and communications manager for Naperville Public Library.
