Audiobooks

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SELECTED REVIEWS

Parenting Beyond Pink & Blue  by Christia Spears Brown PhD

Earphone Award

Though the author’s message may be controversial to some, the charm and authentic positivity in Stina Nielsen’s performance neutralize this audiobook’s polemical aspects, making it a delight to hear. Her youthful timbre and phrasing are part of the appeal, but she also has a remarkable ear for tone and substance. When the subject matter is grave or cautionary, she can shift into serious mode while staying connected to the optimism that gives her performance and this audio its continuity. Some of the author’s strategies are indeed revolutionary–avoidance of gender pronouns and gender-based toy allocation–but that’s what makes this audio compelling. In an age of fluid gender roles, it’s a wake-up call to reject cultural stereotypes about who boys and girls want to be and how they want to live their lives. T.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2020

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Winter Grave  An Embla Nyström Investigation (Book 2) by Helene Tursten

Stina Nielsen is an experienced narrator who consistently excels at playing strong female characters. She does so again as she portrays Swedish detective Embla Nystrom, moving us from the post-traumatic stress of her previous case to the horrors of children going missing in her new one. Nielsen captures the persona of a professional woman beautifully; she sounds both strong and stressed as the story’s tension mounts. There are multiple detectives and bosses packed into this winding story. Nielsen helps us keep track of them as we get closer and closer to the culprit. Fans of Nordic noir will sink into this complicated series of linked crimes. M.R. © AudioFile 2019

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The Lines We Leave Behind  by Eliza Graham (BD = recorded in British dialect)

Maude, a WWII resistance fighter incarcerated in an insane asylum after the war, slowly recovers her memory and recounts a series of horrific events to her psychiatrist and to us, her listeners. Narrator Stina Nielsen is a convincing Maude, whose tightly controlled voice resonates with tension. Nielsen captures Maude’s growing awareness of the events that placed her in the institution. This is a psychological novel, a thriller, a war story, and, in an ironic way, a love story. Resistance fighters are trained not to show emotion, and Nielsen’s Maude is a cool character who endures much. It’s a mesmerizing story delivered in an authentic voice. D.L.G. © AudioFile 2018

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Sit, Stay, Love (Rescue Me, Book 2) by Debbie Burns

Narrator Stina Nielsen’s light tone and easy pacing provide the perfect atmosphere for this story of rescue, rehabilitation, and romance. A dog-fighting ring is broken up, and the High Grove Animal Shelter takes on 30 physically and emotionally wounded animals to try to rehabilitate them for future adoptions. Animal handler Kurt, a veteran who suffers from PTSD, reluctantly takes on the job of rehabbing the animals with shelter worker Kelsey. Nielsen distinguishes characters subtly, changing tone and inflection just enough to make it apparent who’s speaking during dialogue. She perfectly conveys Kurt’s reluctance to feel anything, contrasting it with Kelsey’s openheartedness and warmth. L.C.L. © AudioFile 2018

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No Pity for the Dead by Nancy Herriman

Stina Nielsen, who narrated NO COMFORT FOR THE LOST, is completely at home delivering the second in Herriman’s Mystery of Old San Francisco series. This time, nurse Celia Davies and detective Nick Greaves are on the hunt for answers after 14-year-old Owen digs up a body under the basement floor of the offices of a dodgy real estate company. Nielsen’s portrayal of Owen is so real listeners will swear there’s a teenager in the room. Her Celia is spunky, conflicted about her attraction to Nick, and incorrigible. Her version of Nick sounds like a man trying to be nonjudgmental but whose bias is showing. The plotting is clever, the characters are appealing, and Stina Nielsen’s performance makes this first-rate series even better. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2017

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Angus Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison (BD = recorded in British dialect)

Stina Nielsen is a perfect choice for this narration. She gets 14-year-old Georgia just right, capturing her wry humor and moving easily between the panic, misery, and exultation that make up a teenager’s day. Nielsen does a stellar narration using a bubbly cadence that has you laughing and cringing throughout. If it weren’t for the picture on the cover, you’d be tempted to think her no more than 15 herself. D.G. © AudioFile 2002

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The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James BD

Stina Nielsen’s narration makes it easy to suspend disbelief while listening to Jane Austen’s “lost” memoirs, discovered hidden under the eaves of the author’s home. From the moment Nielsen assumes the informative, authoritative tone of Dr. Jesse, the fictitious Austen scholar who pens the foreword, listeners happily give up trying to distinguish fact from fun speculation. Indeed, James’s use of actual facts, dates, and locations provides such a sturdy underpinning for her fanciful speculations about Austen’s life and secret love that listeners will be tempted to believe in the world she creates. Nielsen’s very British reading highlights James’s sometimes-uncanny imitation of Austen’s style and reveals her own gift for bringing nuanced characters alive through dialogue. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2010

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Junonia by Kevin Henkes

2011 Best Voices in Children and Family Listening – AudioFile Magazine

Earphone Award

Stina Nielsen’s narration complements this touching story…Nielsen’s even cadence captures the gentle tone of the story, which is part coming-of-age and part nature journal. Nielsen demonstrates an excellent use of pacing; she speeds up or slows down her voice at appropriate times to portray Alice’s skepticism and Mallory’s eagerness. The listener can also hear the tenderness in the parents’ voices. Nielsen provides subtle shifts in inflection to indicate who is speaking and easily distinguishes the narrator’s voice from those of the other characters. JKR© AudioFile 2011

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Stop in the Name of Pants! by Louise Rennison BDStop-Young-Adult-British.mp3     

2011 ALA Amazing Audio Books for Young Adults

Earphone Award

Stina Nielsen channels her inner prima donna for another foray into the teenage mind of Brit Georgia Nicolson. With Nielsen’s effervescent narration, Georgia’s summer escapades come to life, including international phone calls to the Italian-stallion “love god” Masimo and Viking-era interpretive dances with her gal pals. Nielsen perfectly captures Georgia’s teenage mood swings and impatience with adult sensibilities. Nine books into the series, there’s still something fresh and fun here. Different voices, as well as variation in pace and tone, ensure that Georgia’s friends remain distinct throughout the hectic social whirl. CA© AudioFile 2010

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Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks BD Year-of-Wonders-Historical-Fiction-Adult-British.mp3     

Portraying goodness over the length of any performance is a dicey proposition. It so easily becomes cloying and saccharine, sometimes to the point of distracting from the story itself. That Stina Nielsen avoids such a pitfall it a testament to her talent.ielsen imbues Anna with such honest passion and generosity that the character maintains our sympathies throughout a story steeped in loss, betrayal, and faith. M.O. © AudioFile 2001

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The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope by Rhonda Riley

Stina Nielsen uses a Southern accent to recount the story of the mysterious Adam, who becomes Evelyn’s husband… Nielsen delivers the story steadily, enticing the listener to savor the descriptions of farming, life, and love. Nielsen uses subtle variations of tone and inflection to differentiate the characters, especially Adam. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2013

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The Miner’s Lady by Tracie Peterson

Family feuds and forbidden romance combine in this gentle listen. The Panettas and Calarcos have been enemies for years… Narrator Stina Nielsen offers an overall soothing pace but adds tension to the narration when the families are faced with accidents and tragedy. She seamlessly blends Italian accents, giving charm to the characters. The production is crisp and clear, and Nielsen’s narration is relaxing and enjoyable–perfect for listeners of inspirational romance. S.B.T. © AudioFile 2014

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Are These My Basoomas I see Before Me? by Louise Rennison BD

2012 Top Ten List, ALA Amazing Audio Books for Young Adults

Georgia’s love trials continue as Massimo questions her maturiosity and Dave fluctuates between “horn and hump.” In the final installment of this series, Stina Nielsen escorts the listener on an angst and humor filled journey through Georgia’s world. ALA

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The Lemonade Crime by Jaqueline Davies 1LemonCrime-CH-American.mp3     

By matching the style of the prose with narration that is fluid and spare, Stina Nielsen allows the heart of the story to shine. With her subtle vocal differentiation, Evan and Jessie feel like real characters rather than characterizations. There isn’t a false step in the story, as written or narrated. This is a sequel that stands alone, on its own two feet, without wobbling a bit. A.M.P. © AudioFile 2011

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Love is a Many Trousered Thing by Louise Rennison BD

Earphone Award

High energy doesn’t even begin to describe Stina Nielsen’s narration of the latest Georgia Nicolson book. Nielsen portrays Georgia as a vivacious teen and provides equally dramatic voices for the other characters in Georgia’s universe. Rennison’s hysterically funny writing coupled with Nielsen’s perfectly posh British, tinged with just the right combination of enthusiasm, sarcasm, and outrage, makes this an adventure not to miss. E.N. © AudioFile 2010

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Airhead by Meg Cabot

Stina Nielsen narrates with an appropriate balance of matter-of-factness and sensitivity, seamlessly becoming the protagonist.E.S. © AudioFile 2004

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The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

2006 YALSA Select Audio Book for Young Adults

Stina Nielsen’s narration has an appealing tone and cadence that feature detailed nuances for each defined character. L.D.H. © AudioFile 2005

“Nielsen’s reading expresses both Macy’s peculiarities and the poignancy of her struggle.” -YALSA blurb

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Evie & Margie by Bernard Waber

Stina Nielsen narrates with gentle understanding of her heroines. She paces the story unobtrusively so that the girls are center stage. Their emotions–whether tentative or forceful, fearful or hopeful, despondent or elated–are foremost. At the end she brings genuine pleasure to the triumphant finale. A.R. © AudioFile 2004

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Rebecca’s Reward by Lauraine Snelling

Stina Nielsen subtly captures Rebecca’s grief when she loses her parents and brother in North Dakota in 1903.With frankness and humor, Nielsen perfectly renders their attempts to teach Rebecca feminine wiles in order to attract an eligible bachelor. With sensitivity Nielsen delivers a surprising ending listeners won’t soon forget. G.D.W. © AudioFile 2009

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Across The Wide & Lonesome Prairie by Kristiana Gregory (co-read with Barbara Rosenblat)

Stina Nielsen’s youthful voice graces a teenager’s account of her family during their six-month journey on the Oregon Trail in 1847. Nielsen animates the diary with the awe of Hattie’s discoveries.N.M.C. © AudioFile 2006

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The Hello Goodbye Window by Norton Juster

Stina Nielsen is an unobtrusive narrator. She relates the story in a quiet manner so that each anecdote and the engaging illustrations take center stage. A.R. © AudioFile 2006

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Jackie’s Wild Seattle by Will Hobbs

Stina Nielsen narrates with an appropriate balance of matter-of-factness and sensitivity, seamlessly becoming the protagonist.E.S. © AudioFile 2004

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The Other Queen by Phillipa Gregory (Co-read with Jenny Sterlin and Ron Keith) BD

Stina Nielsen and Jenny Sterlin portray two sharp-minded women engaged in a battle of wits as one endeavors to reclaim her throne while the other strives to recoup her fortune. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2009

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The Brethren by Beverly Lewis

Stina Nielsen’s skill in depicting Amish characters is enhanced by her ability to deliver a Pennsylvania Dutch accent. Nielsen builds the suspense as the listener wonders how Annie will ever find happiness and delivers an outstanding performance as Annie attempts to come to terms with her own identity. N.L. © AudioFile 2007

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