Amari and the Night Brothers
Supernatural Investigations: Book #1
By B. B. Alston
Narrated by: Imani Parks
Length: 11 hours 11 minutes
If you enjoyed The Trials of Apollo, Book One: The Hidden Oracle, then you’ll love Amari and the Night Brothers.
“This book was fun! As a reference point, I would say it's a Spy Kids/Men in Black/Percy Jackson/Harry Potter hybrid but honestly, it's in a class all of it's own. Amari was a wonderful main character. She is super smart and caring and despite the absolute terribleness of her peers, prevails by learning to trust herself and use her talents to stand out. There was lots of blatant and unpunished racism, classism, and and brutal meanness coming from the majority of Amari's classmates, both in the non-supernatural world and in the Bureau. On their first day, all trainees have to touch a magical orb and one of their already present abilities gets magnified and becomes a special ability (ie general luckiness becomes unnatural/always happens luckiness). When Amari is bestowed with an illegal ability, she becomes the target of both racism and a form of intense otherism in the supernatural world. I also loved her friendship with Elsie, who was the last of weredragons (like werewolves but for dragons!) and suffered her own share of bullies and otherism for being a bit dorky and for not having shifted to her dragon form yet. The audiobook edition of this novel was well done. Imani Parks gives a perfect voice to Amari and the other young main characters. This is a great read for juvenile readers (anywhere from advanced an advance 8/9 years to teens) and is fun and exciting for adults as well so would also be a great read-aloud book for guardians with younger readers. I would recommend for avid Percy Jackson and Harry Potter fans, those that enjoy spy or adventure books, and even those who enjoy fairy tale epics.”
Kimi, Buttonwood Books and Toys
Self Made
Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker
By A'Lelia Bundles
Narrated by: A'Lelia Bundles
Length: 16 hours 23 minutes
Now a Netflix series starring Octavia Spencer, Self Made (formerly titled On Her Own Ground) is the first full-scale biography of āone of the great success stories of American historyā (The Philadelphia Inquirer), Madam C.J. Walkerāthe legendary African American entrepreneur and philanthropistāby her great-great-granddaughter, AāLelia... Read more »
Ambitious Girl
By Meena Harris
Narrated by: Meena Harris
Length: 8 minutes
Anyone who's ever been underestimated or overshadowed will find inspiration in this empowering new book from Meena Harris,Ā New York Times-bestselling author of Kamala and Maya's Big Idea, which is based on a true story about her aunt, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, and her mother, Maya Harris. Ā When a young girl sees a strong woman on TV... Read more »
Princess Hair
By Sharee Miller
Narrated by: LaQuita James
Length: 3 minutes
Princesses with curls wear pearls. Princesses with head wraps take long naps. And princesses with teeny-weeny Afros wear teeny-weeny bows.
Celebrate different hair shapes, textures, and styles in this self-affirming picture book! From dreadlocks to blowouts to braids, Princess Hair shines a spotlight on the beauty and diversity of black hair,... Read more »
Ida B. the Queen
By Michelle Duster
Narrated by: Michelle Duster
Length: 3 hours 43 minutes
Journalist. Suffragist. Antilynching crusader. In 1862, Ida B. Wells was born enslaved in Holly Springs, Mississippi. In 2020, she won a Pulitzer Prize.
Ida B. Wells committed herself to the needs of those who did not have power. In the eyes of the FBI, this made her a ādangerous negro agitator.ā In the annals of history, it makes her an icon.
... Read more »
Wings of Ebony
Wings of Ebony
By J. Elle
Narrated by: Bahni Turpin
Length: 11 hours 46 minutes
Instant New York Times bestseller!
āA remarkable, breathtaking, earthshaking, poetic thrillride.ā āDaniel JosĆ© Older, New York Times bestselling author of Shadowshaper
āIn this riveting, keenly emotional debut fantasy, a Black teen from Houston has her world upended when she learns about her godly ancestry and must save both the human and god... Read more »
Just as I Am
A Memoir
By Cicely Tyson
Narrated by: Cicely Tyson, Viola Davis & Robin Miles
Length: 16 hours 8 minutes
āIn her long and extraordinary career, Cicely Tyson has not only exceeded as an actor, she has shaped the course of history.ā āPresident Barack Obama, 2016 Presidential Medal of Honor ceremony
"Just As I AmĀ is my truth. It is me, plain and unvarnished, with the glitter and garland set aside. Here, I am indeed Cicely, the actress who has been...
Read more »The Year I Flew Away
By Marie Arnold
Narrated by: Marie Arnold
Length: 6 hours 36 minutes
In this magical middle-grade novel, ten-year-old Gabrielle finds out that America isnāt the perfect place she imagined when she moves from Haiti to Brooklyn. With the help of a clever witch, Gabrielle becomes the perfect American -- but will she lose herself in the process? Perfect for fans of HURRICANE CHILD and FRONT DESK.
Itās 1985 and... Read more »
Red, White, and Whole
By Rajani LaRocca
Narrated by: Priya Ayyar
Length: 2 hours 38 minutes
Newbery Honor Book! A heartbreakingly hopeful novel in verse about an Indian American girl whose life is turned upside down when her mother is diagnosed with leukemia.
* Walter Award Winner * New England Book Award Winner * An NCTE Notable Verse Novel * Golden Kite Award Winner * Crystal Kite Award Winner * Goodreads Choice Nominee * A...
Read more »Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids
By Cynthia Leitich Smith
Narrated by: Kenny Ramos & DeLanna Studi
Length: 6 hours 11 minutes
Edited by award-winning and bestselling author Cynthia Leitich Smith, this collection of intersecting stories by both new and veteran Native writers bursts with hope, joy, resilience, the strength of community, and Native pride.
Native families from Nations across the continent gather at the Dance for Mother Earth Powwow in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
... Read more »The Gilded Ones
The Gilded Ones: Book #1
By Namina Forna
Narrated by: Shayna Small
Length: 12 hours 46 minutes
The Gilded Ones
“This is a bold and powerful book about the bonds of sisterhood and finding your strength. This story is as rich and vivid as the cover is (which is AMAZING)āa tantalizing fantasy with a splash of mystery, fierce, magical warriors, dangerous monsters, and a war-ravaged empire. Absolutely fantastic!”
Anna, The Well-Read Moose
The Prophets
By Robert Jones, Jr.
Narrated by: Karen Chilton
Length: 14 hours 52 minutes
The Prophets
“I am at a loss for words. How can I even begin to describe the breathtaking language Robert Jones, Jr. has gifted us in his debut novel, The Prophets? How can I begin to explain how he achieves a feat so marvelous it almost seems impossible? Well, thatās the key word: almost. From his innovative restructuring of the Bible through the lens of Americaās history with slavery to characters that leap off the page with colorful grace and dignity, Jones masterfully weaves a narrative that serves as a warning from the past, a prophecy for the future, and a testament to the present. His writing defies all great American novels that have come before, and in doing so becomes one of the greatest Iāve ever had the pleasure of reading. I canāt wait for everyone to be as spellbound by this book as I am; it will stay with me forever.”
Gage Tarlton, Flyleaf Books
Four Hundred Souls
A Community History of African America, 1619-2019
By Ibram X. Kendi & Keisha N. Blain
Narrated by: Various
Length: 14 hours 1 minutes
Four Hundred Souls
“An absolutely stunning history of African America for people who do not normally read history. Compiled of short stories, essays, and poems, it is perfect for someone who is intimidated by lists of names and dates. Each individual voice stands on its own but together they truly make a 'choir' that flows together beautifully. This is a one-of-a-kind history that is essential reading for everyone.”
Tia, Quail Ridge Books
The Three Mothers
How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation
By Anna Malaika Tubbs
Narrated by: Anna Malaika Tubbs
Length: 6 hours 51 minutes
This program is read by the author.
Much has been written about Berdis Baldwin's son James, about Alberta King's son Martin Luther, and Louise Little's son Malcolm. But virtually nothing has been said about the extraordinary women who raised them.
In her groundbreaking and essential debut The Three Mothers, scholar Anna Malaika Tubbs celebrates...
How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House
A Novel
By Cherie Jones
Narrated by: Danielle Vitalis
Length: 8 hours 41 minutes
How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House
“Lala wants more. More than her grandmotherās small house and strict admonishments. More than a hand on her head for her birthday. And certainly more than her grandmotherās tale about the one-armed sister, a tale of what happens to disobedient girls who venture where they shouldnāt. But mostly Lala wants her loving and protective mother who sang her name to her and who was murdered in her home while a very young Lala stood outside. Lalaās story becomes intertwined with the stories of Mira Whalen, the wealthy woman whose husband is murdered; Tone, the surfer gigolo; and her criminal husband Adan. They are stories of poverty, sexual abuse, loss, and pain. As their stories converge, there are harsh revelations for both the characters and the reader, and continuous suspense. This novel of poverty and survival, beautifully narrated, drew me in and often left me horrified at the actions and abuses of its characters. The suspense ebbs and flows but is ever-present, leading to a very effective open-ended conclusion.”
Nancy, Raven Book Store
Ikenga
By Nnedi Okorafor
Narrated by: Ben Onwukwe
Length: 6 hours 10 minutes
Nnedi Okorafor's acclaimed first novel for middle grade children introduces a boy who can access super powers with the help of the magical Ikenga.
Nnamdi's father was a good chief of police, perhaps the best Kalaria had ever had. He was determined to root out the criminals that had invaded the town. But then he was murdered, and most people... Read more »
Black Magic
What Black Leaders Learned from Trauma and Triumph
By Chad Sanders
Narrated by: Chad Sanders
Length: 7 hours 41 minutes
A ādaring, urgent, and transformativeā (BrenĆ© Brown, New York Times bestselling author of Dare to Lead) exploration of Black achievement in a white world based on honest, provocative, and moving interviews with Black leaders, scientists, artists, activists, and champions.
āI remember the day I realized I couldnāt play a white guy as well as a... Read more »
I Believe I Can
By Grace Byers
Narrated by: Grace Byers
Length: 3 minutes
From theĀ New York TimesĀ bestselling creator ofĀ I Am EnoughĀ comes an empowering follow-up that celebrates every childās limitless potential.
Don't miss this audiobook edition, read by the author, Grace Byers!
I Believe I CanĀ is an affirmation for boys and girls of every background to love and believe in themselves, from actress and activist Grace...
Read more »Hair Love
By Matthew A. Cherry
Narrated by: Blue Ivy Carter
Length: 4 minutes
Zuriās hair has a mind of its own. It kinks, coils, and curls every which way. Zuri knows itās 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 heāll do anything to make herāand her hairāhappy. Tender and empowering, Hair Love is an ode to loving your natural hairāand a...
Read more »A Promised Land
By Barack Obama
Narrated by: Barack Obama
Length: 29 hours 9 minutes
A Promised Land
“No one really needs my blurb to help sell this book, but I wanted to give it anyway, especially for the audiobook, narrated by Barack Obama himself. If you want to know his incredible knowledge and wisdom that guided him through major decisions, and also hear him drop a few F-bombs, you need to listen to this fantastically written book. ”
Amber, Quail Ridge Books