Jingle Jangle: The Invention of Jeronicus Jangle
(Movie Tie-In)
By Lyn Sisson-Talbert & David E. 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
“The Poet X is written and narrated by Elizabeth Acevedo. It is a novel made up of poems by a teenager, Xiomara Batista, growing up in Harlem. Acevedo's narration is wonderful and brings the story to life. Xiomara's dad is MIA even though he lives at home; her mother is extremely religious and pushes her faith onto her daughter; her twin brother is quiet and also working through his own feelings; she starts her first relationship with a guy; and all the time Xiomara is told what she can and cannot do, gets accosted by men, has to defend herself because no one else will, is questioning God and has no one to open up to. She releases her pent of feelings in a notebook. It isn't until her new English teacher introduces her to spoken poetry that she realizes that is what she is meant to be: a poet. This is a lovely story of a young, misunderstood girl, coming of age and showing the world that she is worth it. Great for adults who enjoyed Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson and extremely relevant literature for the #metoo movement.”
Kelly, M. Judson Booksellers
Antiracist Baby
By Ibram X. Kendi
Narrated by: Shayna Small & Guy Lockard
Length: 9 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 Dr. Robin DiAngelo
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.
“I can’t believe this is Kim Johnson’s debut novel! It has easily cemented a spot in the social justice YA canon, alongside The Hate U Give, Monster, and co. Written with an expert hand, This Is My America follows Tracy Beaumont as she fights to get her innocent father off of death row, while also trying to keep her community safe from police violence by teaching Know Your Rights workshops. But she’s soon forced to divert her attention to a murder case in which her brother is the main suspect. A compelling story of injustice and resistance—with a bit of a love triangle—This Is My America is required reading.”
Mary, Raven Book Store
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
“Another fantastic piece of literature by the remarkable Elizabeth Acevedo. "With the Fire on High" weaves together a beautiful story told from the perspective of high school senior and culinary prodigy Emoni Santiago. While tackling the challenges of school, young love, and raising her two-year-old daughter, Emoni must find the strength to fight for the ones she loves while also fighting to pursue her dreams.”
Colleen, An Unlikely Story
Luster
A Novel
By Raven Leilani
Narrated by: Ariel Blake
Length: 6 hours 39 minutes
Luster
“Edie's story reveals the complicated truths of dating in your 20s, while also discussing being Black, class, and depression. This short book gives all of the feels.”
Tara, Old Firehouse Books
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 Prize–winning investigative journalist, embarked in 1990 on a nearly thirty-year-long quest to interview anyone he could find who had actually known Malcolm X—all 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
“Deacon King Kong centers around an uncharacteristic event life in the projects in 1960's New York City. McBride’s highly energetic story encompasses a multitude of characters that circle the Five Ends Baptist Church, where his main character, Sportcoat, is a Deacon. Sportcoat is a hard-drinking, odd-job handyman that lost his wife two years ago (but continuously argues with her ghost), defies death multiple times, coaches a youth baseball team, and teaches Sunday School. The reader bounces around from character to character learning about the internal dynamics of the community; the mysteries, myths, and urban legends of the community and each individual’s take on shared events. The characters felt so real and the interactions often made me laugh out loud. The semi-chaotic writing style, jumping from one character’s perspective to another, was a bit challenging for me to get into at first, but soon the style clicked and I was swept away! And somehow, despite the chaos, everything ties up brilliantly at the end.”
Emma, Content
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
Their Eyes Were Watching God
By Zora Neale Hurston
Narrated by: Ruby Dee
Length: 6 hours 44 minutes
“A deeply soulful novel that comprehends love and cruelty, and separates the big people from the small of heart, without ever losing sympathy for those unfortunates who don’t know how to live properly.” —Zadie Smith
One of the most important and enduring books of the twentieth century, Their Eyes Were Watching God brings to life a Southern love...
Read more »The Hate U Give
By Angie Thomas
Narrated by: Bahni Turpin
Length: 11 hours 50 minutes
The Hate U Give
“This bestselling, powerful young adult novel about social justice and one teen girl's effort to fight for what is right, will leave you breathless. The narration by Bahni Turpin is hands down the best I've ever heard. This is such an important book it should be required reading for life in general. Or listening. Definitely listening.”
Kristen, Tattered Cover