Hair Love
By Matthew A. Cherry
Narrated by: Blue Ivy Carter
Length: 4 minutes
Zuri’s hair has a mind of its own. It kinks, coils, and curls every which way. Zuri knows it’s beautiful. When Daddy steps in to style it for an extra special occasion, he has a lot to learn. But he LOVES his Zuri, and he’ll do anything to make her—and her hair—happy. Tender and empowering, Hair Love is an ode to loving your natural hair—and a... Read more »
A Promised Land
By Barack Obama
Narrated by: Barack Obama
Length: 29 hours 9 minutes
A riveting, deeply personal account of history in the making—from the president who inspired us to believe in the power of democracy
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Washington Post • Jennifer Szalai, The New York Times • NPR •... Read more »
Jingle Jangle: The Invention of Jeronicus Jangle
(Movie Tie-In)
By David E. Talbert & Lyn Sisson-Talbert
Narrated by: Phylicia Rashad & Lyn Sisson-Talbert
Length: 3 hours 31 minutes
A joyful middle grade novel based on the Netflix holiday film Jingle Jangle: A Chistmas Journey, starring Phylicia Rashad, Forrest Whitaker, Anika Noni Rose, Keegan Michael Key, and newcomer Madalen Mills, about an eccentric toymaker, his adventurous granddaughter, and a magical invention, that if they can get it to work in time for the... Read more »
The Poet X
By Elizabeth Acevedo
Narrated by: Elizabeth Acevedo
Length: 3 hours 30 minutes
The Poet X
“Getting to listen to the author herself read her poetry, which are clearly a testament to the spoken word and the art of slam, is absolutely the best way to devour this novel-in-verse. Acevedo puts everything into her words, and no one else could do them justice the way she does herself. Despite possible age/cultural/religious differences, any listener will immediately relate to this teenage girl desperately trying to both find herself and her voice, and live up to her family's expectations.”
Amber, Quail Ridge Books
Antiracist Baby
By Ibram X. Kendi
Narrated by: Shayna Small & Guy Lockard
Length: 4 minutes
From the National Book Award-winning author of Stamped from the Beginning and How to Be an Antiracist comes a fresh new audiobook that empowers parents and children to uproot racism in our society and in ourselves, now with added discussion prompts to help listeners recognize and reflect on bias in their daily lives.
Featured on Good Morning... Read more »
White Fragility
Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism
By Robin DiAngelo & Michael Eric Dyson
Narrated by: Amy Landon
Length: 6 hours 20 minutes
The New York Times best-selling book exploring the counterproductive reactions white people have when their assumptions about race are challenged, and how these reactions maintain racial inequality.
In this “vital, necessary, and beautiful book” (Michael Eric Dyson), antiracist educator Robin DiAngelo deftly illuminates the phenomenon of white... Read more »
This Is My America
By Kim Johnson
Narrated by: Bahni Turpin
Length: 9 hours 34 minutes
If you enjoyed The Hate U Give, then you’ll love This Is My America.
“This is My America depicts the effects of police brutality and corrupt prosecution practices in America. Although there are similar Young Adult books tackling racism and police brutality, This is My America distinguishes itself by focusing on the emotional, physical, and financial impact of mass incarceration on the Black family. Johnson shows how the KKK is not a piece of history long-gone, but is an organization continuing to hunt down and torture Americans of color. Johnson explores generational trauma and the danger of being complicit mainly from the perspective of Tracy’s Black family, but also touches on the generational trauma of being a raised to be a racist and the danger of being complicit in that role. These parallel stories of the white and Black family are thought provoking, without centering the white narrative. Along with the personal struggles explored throughout the book, the plot includes a mystery element as Tracy investigates who the real murderers are.
This book narrated by Bahni Turpin, one of my favorite narrators! Turpin brings such life to each of the characters in her narrations, and this book was no different. I would recommend this book (especially the audiobook!) to young adults and adults that can handle content including police encounters, off the page murder, off the page lynching, racism, Black trauma, hate crimes, and police shooting.”Endya, Beausoleil Books
Me and White Supremacy
Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor
By Layla F. Saad
Narrated by: Layla F. Saad
Length: 5 hours 19 minutes
Me and White Supremacy
“Want to learn how to be a good ancestor? Need to address your privilege and feel uncomfortable about talking about racism? You need to read and work through Me and White Supremacy.”
Rachel, Avid Bookshop
Beautiful Blackbird
By Ashley Bryan
Narrated by: Myra Lucretia Taylor
Length: 8 minutes
Coretta Scott King Award winner Ashley Bryan adapted this charming tale from a story told by the Ilaspeaking people of Zambia. All the birds in the forest are jealous of Blackbird, whose black feathers glisten and shine colorfully in the sunbeams. The other birds are a single color from head to foot, and none of them have even a spot of black on... Read more »
Ghost Boys
By Jewell Parker Rhodes
Narrated by: Miles Harvey
Length: 2 hours 51 minutes
A heartbreaking and powerful story about a black boy killed by a police officer, drawing connections through history, from award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes.
Only the living can make the world better. Live and make it better.
Twelve-year-old Jerome is shot by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real threat. As a ghost, he... Read more »
Hood Feminism
Notes from the Women that a Movement Forgot
By Mikki Kendall
Narrated by: Mikki Kendall
Length: 6 hours 57 minutes
Hood Feminism
“Powerful. Important. Compulsively readable. Kendall’s narrative style is top notch - riveting and un-put-down-able. Not only is this a must read, it's a must pay attention. It's a must revisit and keep learning kind of book. Kendall dives deep and doesn't pull punches, but she doesn't seek to shame either. This is necessary reading for anyone who considers themselves a feminist. Because solidarity needs to be for ALL.”
Britt, Second Star to the Right
The Water Dancer (Oprah's Book Club)
A Novel
By Ta-Nehisi Coates
Narrated by: Joe Morton
Length: 14 hours 14 minutes
The Water Dancer (Oprah's Book Club)
“Ta-Nehisi Coates understands something big and he understands it better than anyone else right now. The Water Dancer led me on a journey up and down the landscape of American slavery with a narrative that feels like The Book of Exodus meets, well, Ta-Nehisi Coates. Over 400 pages I have cried, I have laughed, I have been educated, and I have been enlightened. Coates writes with an honesty that can only come from a sublime, even spiritual, understanding of the souls of the white man and the black man in America. Written with poignancy and humanity, The Water Dancer left me stunned but clear-headed, like I had just been woken up from a deep, dream-filled sleep.”
Norris Rettiger, Lemuria Bookstore
The Warmth of Other Suns
The Epic Story of America's Great Migration
By Isabel Wilkerson
Narrated by: Robin Miles
Length: 22 hours 40 minutes
The Warmth of Other Suns
“I'm sorry I hadn't gotten to this sooner. Wilkerson pulls together so much of what I already knew about the US but not necessarily why... a great audiobook, too.”
Jamie, Flyleaf Books
With the Fire on High
By Elizabeth Acevedo
Narrated by: Elizabeth Acevedo
Length: 7 hours 26 minutes
With the Fire on High
“I finished listening to this entire book in one night. It is so real and tender and fierce all at the same time. A teen mother struggling to be a good mom, a good kid, and make her own dreams come true at the same time. This book shows us how a seemingly dysfunctional family can conquer anything that is thrown at them to live happy lives.”
Amy, Bright Side Bookshop
Luster
A Novel
By Raven Leilani
Narrated by: Ariel Blake
Length: 6 hours 39 minutes
Luster
“Luster centers on Edie, a young black woman working in New York publishing and barely making rent each month, who finds herself navigating a suburban white couple’s open marriage. This novel is filled with unexpected turns taken at breakneck speeds. It seamlessly examines the plight of millennials living under capitalism along with the complications of intimacy and race, all while finding both the humor and profound sadness in those things. This is a multifaceted and brilliant book, as well as an extraordinary debut from Raven Leilani.”
Billy Butler, Bookshop Santa Cruz
The Dead are Arising
The Life of Malcolm X
By Les Payne & Tamara Payne
Narrated by: Dion Graham
Length: 18 hours 6 minutes
Les Payne, the renowned Pulitzer Prizewinning investigative journalist, embarked in 1990 on a nearly thirty-year-long quest to interview anyone he could find who had actually known Malcolm Xall living siblings of the Malcolm Little family, classmates, street friends, cellmates, Nation of Islam figures, FBI moles and cops, and political leaders... Read more »
Charming as a Verb
By Ben Philippe
Narrated by: James Fouhey
Length: 8 hours 6 minutes
From the award-winning author of The Field Guide to the North American Teenager comes a whip-smart and layered romantic comedy. Perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and Jenny Han.
Henri “Halti” Haltiwanger can charm just about anyone. He is a star debater and popular student at the prestigious FATE academy, the dutiful first-generation Haitian son,... Read more »
Deacon King Kong
A Novel
By James McBride
Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman
Length: 14 hours 5 minutes
Deacon King Kong
“It's been a while since I wanted to listen to an audiobook from the beginning right after I finished it. Deacon King Kong, narrated by Dominic Hoffman, is well-crafted storytelling with memorable characters and oddball humor that I just loved. It's also gritty and heartbreaking. What more can you ask of an engaging story when you are house-bound by a viral pandemic. Thank you, James McBride!”
Becky, Rediscovered Books
Blended
By Sharon M. Draper
Narrated by: Sharon M. Draper
Length: 5 hours 41 minutes
Blended
“Not only is the book itself amazing, but the narration by the author Sharon M. Draper is beyond stellar. The story deals with tough issues surrounding both family and social strife. The author superbly writes about these issues with wit and wisdom, and with candor and honesty. Aside from the "written" brilliance of Blended, the author delivers this story with so much energy that captures the humor and tenderness of this story. We cannot say enough about this wonderful audiobook and wholeheartedly recommend Blended.”
Triera, Owl Books
Across That Bridge
A Vision for Change and the Future of America
By John Lewis
Narrated by: Keith David
Length: 5 hours 27 minutes
Across That Bridge
“John Lewis narrating his insightful words pulls the reader into his experiences as a civil rights icon. Across that Bridge was an incredibly compelling and encouraging narrative of why the civil rights protests worked and how we can apply the same principles to today's continuing fight for equal rights and justice. I highly, highly recommend this book for readers of all ages.”
Mary, Anderson's Bookshop