About

Ears on the Odyssey is a mock Odyssey Award blog. The Odyssey award is an annual award given to the producer of the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults. Our goal to offer a space for discussion on high quality youth audiobooks.  This blog will go over specific aspects of audio production of great listens, as well as the kind of critical evaluation that goes into picking an Odyssey winner, and our thoughts on why this all matters.

Founders

Sarah Hashimoto is a branch manager at Jackson District Library in Jackson, Michigan. She is a member of ALSC, YALSA, and RUSA. She has served two years (one year as chair) on YALSA’s Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults Committee and was a member of the 2017 Odyssey Committee. Sarah is currently serving on RUSA’s Listen List Council as well as ALSC’s Membership Committee and reviews for AudioFile. Sarah prefers to read with her ears and is a passionate advocate of audiobooks for all ages and abilities.@SarahHashimoto1 *On hiatus for the 2021 publishing year due to ALSC committee work*

Natalie Marshall is the Director of the Flint River Regional Library System, headquartered in Griffin, Georgia. She earned her MLIS from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and is a member of YALSA. She has served on the 2017 Odyssey Committee, as well as three years on Georgia’s Peach Award Committee. She also reviews for AudioFile. Natalie has been an audiobook lover since college and loves to get new people hooked on the joys of a quality audio production. @natty_bat

Lizzie Nolan is a Senior Librarian in the San José Public Libraries. She is member of YALSA and ALSC. She has served on the 2017 Odyssey Committee and reviews for AudioFile. As a performer of Improv and a dyslexic, Lizzie understands both the power and the fun of outstanding audiobooks. @mslizzyslibrary. *On hiatus for the 2021 publishing year due to ALSC committee work*

Contributing writers

Eti Berland is a Youth and Teen Services Librarian at Lincolnwood Public Library District in Lincolnwood, IL.  She has served on the 2018 Odyssey Committee and the 2015 Newbery Committee. She has been an ardent audio listener from a childhood making radio shows to her current obsession with podcasts and audiobooks.@90SecondNewbery

Emily Calkins is the Readers’ Services Program Coordinator at the King County Library System. Emily reviews for Audiofile and currently a member of RUSA. She served two years on YALSA’s Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults. She co-hosts KCLS’ podcast, The Desk Set, and whenever people ask how she reads so much, she tells them that she listens to most of her books. @emily_calkins

Darla Salva Cruz is the Youth Services Consultant for the Suffolk Cooperative Library System in New York. She is a current member of ALSC, YALSA and REFORMA. She has served on the 2018 Odyssey Committee, is currently serving on Quicklists Consulting Committee, and reviews for School Library Journal. Darla has been a voracious audio listener since at least 8 years old, when she remembers listening to Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt on repeat all summer long. @broughtabook

Andy Myers is an aspiring Librarian toiling his way through the MLIS program at Wayne State University. Andy embraced audiobooks to make lengthy commutes more manageable, but has since fallen in love with this wonderful avenue to enjoying literature. An occasional thespian, Andy understands the power of a great performance and believes that an outstanding narrator can enhance just about any book. @AndyBeau

Colleen Seisser is the Collection Services Manager at the Aurora Public Library in Aurora, IL. She is a current Board Member at Large on the YALSA Board of Directors and she also reviews audiobooks for Booklist Magazine. Colleen attributes ramping up her obsession with audiobooks from serving in various roles on YALSA’s Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults Committee from 2012-15. She has been listening non-stop since then! When not listening, Colleen is either crafting, gardening, or jammin’ on her planner!  @colleenTS81

Katya Schapiro is a Senior Children’s librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library. Some of her first literary loves were audiobooks (on vinyl!), and she remains a voracious listener of radio plays and audiobooks. Originally trained as an actor, she relishes the nuances and the production values of the rapidly expanding audiobook world. Katya also blogs for Guessing Geisel, and reviews for School Library Journal. @KatyaSchapiro

Email: ears.on.the.odyssey@gmail.com

Twitter: @EarsOdyssey

Our super swank logo was designed by Maybe Brilliant, Sergio Perez, 2017.