Keena Ford and the Secret Journal Mix-Up

I started this audiobook expecting a lighthearted school-day caper, but by the end, I was genuinely invested in Keena’s emotional journey. Tyla Collier’s narration is the star here—she nails Keena’s restless energy, the way her voice cracks when she’s nervous, and the slow burn of realization when she finally owns up to her mistake. Collier also has a knack for Tiffany’s sneering superiority, making her just unlikable enough to cheer when Keena outsmarts her without ever crossing into mean-spirited territory. That said, the ending feels a smidge too tidy; I would’ve loved a little more friction between Keena and her parents to show the real-world fallout of her journal mix-up. The pacing is snappy, clocking in at just over an hour, which is ideal for bedtime or car rides, but it also means some of the deeper emotional moments get short shrift. Still, the production is crisp—no muffled dialogue or awkward pauses—and the chapter breaks are timed perfectly for tiny attention spans. If your child struggles with honesty or peer pressure, this audiobook could be the gentle nudge they need to talk it out. Just don’t expect it to tackle the topic with the depth of a novel; it’s more of a spark than a deep dive.