PUNCHING THE AIR

Narrator Ethan Herisse's voice is soft, slow, and somber as he narrates the poignant free-verse poems of the fictional character Amal Shahid. Herisse's tone is so tender that one can imagine the sensitive shapes and perfect rhythms drawn and written by this 16-year-old artist-poet before he was incarcerated. Amal and his friends have been arrested for assault after a run-in with racist white boys. Herisse expresses Amal's passion for creativity and how it helps him endure beatings and solitary confinement. The story was co-created by award-winning YA author Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam, a prison reform activist. Both poets shine in every word. Together, the verses build and deepen as Herisse emphasizes the earnestness of Amal's efforts to hold onto hope. A gripping, powerful listen for teens and adults from the opening to the authors' note at the end. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2020 Best Audiobook © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2020]