Challenge Your Listening

Nikole Hannah-Jones, herself a persuasive narrator, has brought together a remarkable mosaic of voices, stories, and poems that tell the story of America through the lens of slavery. So much inspired writing and outstanding narrating in this audiobook make it difficult to select only a few to single out. The chapters by Bryan Stevenson, Ibram X. Kendi, Jamelle Bouie, and... Read More

Journalist and activist George M. Johnson tells their story about growing up a queer Black boy. The vivid memories Johnson revisits exhibit the dynamics of family, sexual discovery, and the sobering juxtaposition of navigating several identities. Johnson's easygoing pace and conversational language lend themselves to a deeper understanding of the queer experience, especially... Read More

After hearing a call for people to keep notes or diaries about their wartime experiences, Anne Frank, age 13, decided to heed the request. Her diary, kept over a two-year period, details WWII and the Nazis from a young person's perspective. Selma Blair is the perfect narrator—her manner and delivery make Anne a girl for all time. Her sunny voice has a modern sound as it... Read More

More than 50 years after its initial print publication, Morrison's debut novel, narrated by the author, continues to resonate with lyricism and relevance. Eleven-year-old Pecola Breedlove desperately longs for the pinnacle of whiteness--blue eyes--which she believes will transform her ugly Blackness and allow her to escape the appalling abuse of her everyday life. With... Read More

The lucid and accessible discussion of the connection between fascism and lying made by Argentine historian Federico Finchelstein comes to listeners through the equally clear and agile narration of Edoardo Ballerini. International in scope and spanning the twentieth century’s infamous fascist leaders and their followers—Argentina’s Lugones, Spain’s Franco, Italy’s Mussolini,... Read More

Author and narrator Dylan Marron shares a series of conversations he had with adversarial Internet strangers for his hit podcast, "Conversations with People Who Hate Me." He began by making some videos that explored complex social issues. Speaking candidly, he details his process of reading through the hateful comments left on those videos, reaching out to the people who left... Read More

This story begins immediately after Feyre's death and rebirth Under the Mountain. Anger and distress color narrator Jennifer Ikeda's voice as Feyre is haunted by the choices she had to make in Book 1. Ikeda's measured pace and cool tone suit the frustration and deep depression Feyre feels living under suffocating rules. But as the story continues, Feyre finds unexpected solace,... Read More

Judy Blume's classic teenage romance makes its way to audio for the first time. The moment Katherine and Michael meet, there's a spark between them. As the two teens fall in love, they're sure it's forever--especially after Katherine loses her virginity to Michael. But what does forever mean when you're a teen? Narrator Caitlin Kinnunen adopts a leisurely pace for this teen... Read More

Narrator Janina Edwards delivers the latest essay collection from poet and cultural critic Claudia Rankine with nuanced and confident pacing. These pieces take listeners into Rankine’s personal spheres of family, friendship, work, and travel as she considers the behaviors arising from white privilege—and occasions of white consciousness—presented to her, and endemic in... Read More

This novel comes alive as an audiobook because of narrator P.J. Ochlan's ability to create unique voices for each of Evison's characters. At its core, it's a coming-of-age story featuring Mike Muñoz, a Chicano landscaper who is seeking a break in a society that is seemingly stacked against him. As Muñoz meets the novel's other characters, his life changes, and in small ways, so... Read More

Recent events and Picoult’s powerful description of the horrors of a school shooting make this a hard story to hear. Carol Monda’s voice is calm as she leads listeners back and forth through time, revealing the shooter, Peter’s, torment. Bullied since kindergarten, he can’t put up with it a moment longer and in 19 minutes guns down 10 students and injures many more. Peeling... Read More

With his enthusiasm and considerable vocal charm, narrator Jonathan Todd Ross brings to life this timely discussion of the joys of talking with strangers. His likable voice will make listeners smile as they listen to this pleasing combination of evolutionary history, social science, and the often heartwarming experiences of the author and others as they reached out to talk with... Read More

Malcolm Gladwell is a fabulous narrator of his latest book, this one about the biases and blind spots people have when trying to understand people who are not like they are. His pleasing tone, phrasing palette, and exceptional skill with dramatic pauses all sound natural, yet add sparkling energy to his writing. He says we often misunderstand others because of cultural and... Read More

Dawson provides a sincere support book on understanding and accepting gender and sexual identities that is useful for parents, adults who work with youth, and the youth themselves. Narrator Christopher Solimene's delivery is gentle and inviting, the exact kind of voice listeners need for the sometimes complicated and uncomfortable conversations the audiobook guides them... Read More

Hagerman's qualitative study of white upper-middle class families and how they engage or disengage from their white privilege comes across as earnest and thought provoking in Tavia Gilbert's well-balanced narration. Gilbert's pacing and emphasis enhance Hagerman's cultural context and critical insight so that even listeners unfamiliar with white privilege and how it operates... Read More