AudioFile, the bimonthly magazine dedicated to covering and reviewing audiobooks, has named its Best Audiobooks of 2024. The list, selected annually by AudioFile editors, recognizes audiobooks in nine categories: fiction; nonfiction and culture; biography and memoir; mystery and suspense; multi-voice; science fiction and fantasy; children and family listening; young adult; and romance.
Fiction
The Cemetery of Untold Stories
by Julia Alvarez | Read by Alma Cuervo | Recorded Books | 9 hrs.
Alma Cuervo’s warm, rich timbre and measured style suit this captivating audiobook. Her delivery works perfectly as she emulates the author’s empathetic tone and wit. This is a vividly imagined story of a novelist whose nom de plume is Scheherazade. She leaves Vermont and returns to her native Dominican Republic to bury her untold (unfinished) works.
by Kiley Reid | Read by Nicole Lewis | Penguin Audio | 13 hrs.
Millie Cousins is a senior resident assistant at the University of Arkansas. When a visiting professor and journalist offers her money in exchange for the opportunity to eavesdrop on the dorm’s residents, Millie decides to take the risk and accept. Lewis’s performance makes the vivid dialogue sing. She creates unique voices for all of the major characters, complete with the perfect accents and delivery of expressions.
by Liane Moriarty | Read by Caroline Lee, Geraldine Hakewill | Random House Audio | 16 hrs.
Narrators Caroline Lee and Geraldine Hakewill weave the threads of this tense exploration of free will. Lee voices a nondescript woman on a delayed flight across Australia who suddenly stands and begins pointing to fellow passengers and stating how they will die and when. Hakewill’s narration creates the sense that the other travelers are united in fear and hope.
by Nell Freudenberger | Read by Rebecca Lowman | Random House Audio | 11.75 hrs.
Set in New York City and French Polynesia in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, this mesmerizing audiobook is flawlessly narrated by Rebecca Lowman. Lowman's flexible, emotive delivery and steady pace settle listeners into this contemplative story exploring medicine, environmental devastation, colonialism, family dynamics, and the impact of privilege during the pandemic.
by Percival Everett | Read by Dominic Hoffman | Random House Audio | 7.75 hrs.
Dominic Hoffman narrates this reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but this time Jim tells his own story. Hoffman’s performance captures the varying tone of Jim’s dialogue, highlighting the shifts in his vocabulary and rhythm. With its subtlety and attention to detail, Hoffman’s narration reinforces Jim’s character and narrative arcs as Jim takes back his agency in life.
by Kristin Hannah | Read by Julia Whelan, Kristin Hannah | Macmillan Audio | 15 hrs.
The sure touch of Golden Voice narrator Julia Whelan transforms Kristen Hannah’s absorbing novel about Vietnam War combat nurses into an addictive listen. As the novel interweaves historical research with the characters’ Vietnam and postwar lives, Whelan’s intensity and warmth help listeners empathize with the personal and understand the big picture.
Nonfiction & Culture
Cue the Sun!: The Invention of Reality TV
by Emily Nussbaum | Read by Gabra Zackman | Random House Audio | 15.25 hrs.
Gabra Zackman's narration fully embodies a balance of deep insight and affability—a perfect fit here. Nussbaum's approach to the topic of reality television transcends the usual narrative history as it captures key social commentary of programs unique to their time and place. Zackman's voice is gently entertaining and always engaging, guiding listeners through this fascinating history of modern pop culture.
by Ta-Nehisi Coates | Read by Ta-Nehisi Coates | Penguin Audio | 5.25 hrs.
Author Ta-Nehisi Coates narrates this must-listen, a powerful and thought-provoking collection of essays. Coates frequently addresses listeners in the second person, a technique that creates an intimate connection to his words. This audiobook is a haunting, timely examination of global affairs and the importance of truth and inclusivity in our culture.
Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race and Identity
by Michele Norris | Read by Michele Norris and a Full Cast | Simon & Schuster Audio | 17.75 hrs.
Peabody Award-winning journalist Michele Norris and a full cast deliver a must-listen performance of Norris’s riveting examination of race in America. Based on 12 years of submissions to Norris’s Race Card Project—six words about race from over half-a-million people—the audiobook shifts between Norris’s clear, warm, thoughtful commentary and participants’ contributions, all delivered by a talented group of narrators.
A Poetry Handbook: A Prose Guide to Understanding and Writing Poetry
by Mary Oliver | Read by Kimberly Farr | Harper Audio | 3.5 hrs.
The best poets get that way because they have given a great deal of thought to questions such as: “What is poetry?” “How does it get that way?” Mary Oliver was one of those best poets, and in this audio version of her classic work about how to write and read poetry she offers some answers, both detailed and expansive, to John Ciardi’s classic question: “How does a poem mean?” Kimberly Farr’s performance is wonderful, as witty and wise as the text.
There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension
by Hanif Abdurraqib | Read by Hanif Abdurraqib | Random House Audio | 8.75 hrs.
Hanif Abdurraqib’s latest book is a transcendent feat of poetry, memoir, and—well, magic. His narration is as breathless and beautiful as his prose; this book is epic in every sense of the word. It’s an ode to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio; a love letter to basketball; a meditation on home and belonging; and an exploration of faith, Blackness, music, and place.
What's Next Is Now: How to Live Future Ready
by Frederik G. Pferdt| Read by Sean Pratt | Harper Audio | 7 hrs.
Narrating this cutting-edge guide to personal growth and initiative, Sean Pratt captures every bit of the author’s enthusiasm for the lessons he learned while leading an innovation team at Google. Pratt’s tone and intensity sync perfectly with the author’s stories and insights.
Biography & Memoir
Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me
by Whoopi Goldberg | Read by Whoopi Goldberg | Blackstone Audio | 6.5 hrs.
Entertainer Whoopi Goldberg’s raspy timbre and amused tone make her the only person appropriate to narrate her memoir. As listeners hear just a trace of a New York City inflection at the ends of some sentences, the story of Goldberg’s career is skillfully woven into anecdotes featuring her exceptional mother, Emma Johnson, and her unique older brother, Clyde.
Bitter Crop: The Heartache and Triumph of Billie Holiday's Last Year
by Paul Alexander | Read by Maya Days | Random House Audio | 12 hrs.
Performing this revealing look at the complexities of the revered jazz pioneer Billie Holiday, actress Maya Days connects with every ounce of the brilliance and tragedy of the singer’s life. Her heartfelt resonance with Holiday’s difficult life makes the author’s evocative writing riveting.
by David Greenberg | Read by David Sadzin| Simon & Schuster Audio | 24.5 hrs.
John Lewis has been described as a quiet revolutionary and the conscience of Congress. This sums up the two halves of this biography, which covers his early years as a frontline civil rights campaigner and his later years as a driving force on Capitol Hill. David Sadzin’s smooth narration adds to the compelling nature of the text.
Profiles in Mental Health Courage
by Patrick J. Kennedy, Stephen Fried | Read by Johnny Heller, Patrick J. Kennedy | Penguin Audio | 10 hrs.
Johnny Heller’s moving performance of this excellent audiobook is never out of sync with the shifting moods and overall poignant content offered by the articulate congressman and his cowriter. The authors recount the stories of 12 prominent people with psychiatric disorders as they struggled to manage their symptoms, seek help, and integrate their conditions with their work and personal relationships.
3 Shades of Blue: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, and the Lost Empire of Cool
by James Kaplan| Read by Dion Graham | Penguin Audio | 14 hrs.
This absorbing audiobook looks at the lives of three jazz greats—Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Bill Evans. Their lives were challenging and full of pathos, which narrator Dion Graham captures with the empathy and vocal talent he’s known for. Pauses, pitch patterns, and finely modulated intensity make his performance sing but never upstage the drama.
by Stanley Tucci| Read by Stanley Tucci | Simon & Schuster Audio | 7.75 hrs.
A nuanced narrator who plays with tone and tempo like a jazz musician, Stanley Tucci knows how to be ironic, self-effacing, witty, and charming, yet his performance is most satisfying because of his restraint. Tucci is a creative gourmand who is mischievous (he whispers his preparation of pigeon breasts) and masterfully ends each section with suggestions, recipes, appreciations, and observations.
Multi-Voice
by Harlan Ellison [Ed.] | Read by Mara Wilson, Jim Meskimen, Simon Vance, Steven Jay Cohen, Johnny Heller, Edoardo Ballerini, Ramiz Monsef, Neil Hellegers, JD Jackson, P.J. Ochlan, Dion Graham, Natalie Naudus, Vikas Adam, Scott Aiello, Grover Gardner, Joe Hempel, Steve West, Robert Fass, James Patrick Cronin, Joel Froomkin, Neil Shah, John Pirhalla, Heath Miller, Scott Brick, Shiromi Arserio, Thom Rivera, Bradford Hastings, Feodor Chin, Stefan Rudnicki, Bronson Pinchot, Mark Sanderlin, Suzanne Toren | Blackstone Audio | 24.5 hrs.
Thirty-three stories from thirty-two legends in the sci-fi genre are narrated by a selection of talented narrators. Each narrator also wraps up their short story with a compelling performance of the story’s afterword. The collection is half fantastic science fiction and half commentary of the sci-fi industry with insightful thoughts from Ellison and all the authors in the collection.
by George Orwell, Joe White [Adapt.] | Read by Andrew Garfield, Cynthia Erivo, Andrew Scott, Tom Hardy, Chukwudi Iwuji, Romesh Ranganathan, Natasia Demetriou, Francesca Mills, Alex Lawther, Katie Leung | Audible, Inc. | 3.5 hrs.
Narrators Andrew Garfield and Cynthia Erivo lead a crew of inspired English actors in creating a full-cast, filmlike 21st-century reimagining of one of the twentieth century's most important novels. The production is peppered with eerie urban soundscapes and a haunting musical score. 1984—sounding more dystopian than ever.
How Women Made Music: A Revolutionary History from NPR Music
by Alison Fensterstock [Ed.], Ann Powers [Intro.], National Public Radio | Read by Alison Fensterstock, Ann Powers, et al. | Harper Audio | 10.75 hrs.
Alison Fensterstock and Ann Powers deliver an ambitious, sprawling project recentering women in the history of music. Often, performers’ own voices are present, providing their perspectives directly. It's exhilarating to hear Dolly Parton, Nina Simone, and Queen Latifah in the mix, giving listeners this mosaic of music history. The impact is undeniable.
by R.C. Sherriff | Read by James Callis, Josh Cole, Jack Cutmore-Scott, Tobias Echeverria, Adam Godley, Ian Ogilvy, Darren Richardson, Simon Templeman, Matthew Wolf | L.A. Theatre Works | 1.75 hrs.
By the waning months of WWI, English troops remained dug in 100 yards from the enemy. Waiting. In this superb audio adaptation of this 1928 classic drama, the naturalistic dialogue is what will draw the listener into the trenches—it’s that realistic and affecting. The production features a cast of top-tier English character actors. Tense, all too human, and devastating—like war itself.
Moon Called: Mercy Thompson, Book 1
by Patricia Briggs | Read by Khaya Fraites, Gregory Linington, Christopher McLinden, Rayner Gabriel, Chris Stinson, Renee Dorian, and a Full Cast | Graphic Audio | 6.75 hrs.
A full cast of creatures—including a shape-shifting coyote, werewolves, vampires, fae, the local witch, and humans—are depicted by a talented cast of voice actors. Most impressive is Khaya Fraites, who takes on the role of first-person narrator Mercy Thompson, a plucky 20-something mechanic and shape-shifter. Joyous yips, howls, and growls create a clever soundscape that also includes clicking claws and ethereal music.
When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day
by Garrett M. Graff [Ed.] | Read by Edoardo Ballerini, Garrett M. Graff [Note], and a Full Cast | Simon & Schuster Audio | 19.75 hrs.
This excellent full-cast production uses the recollections of those who participated in D-Day—its planning, training, and actual combat—to tell the story of the largest amphibious assault in history. The author, Edoardo Ballerini, and nearly 25 other narrators portray the 700 roles in this book. This moving history, which makes it seem like one is hearing from the actual participants, is difficult to pause.
Mystery & Suspense
by Kate Quinn | Read by Saskia Maarleveld | Harper Audio | 15 hrs.
Narrator Saskia Maarleveld enlivens the characters in this masterfully crafted window onto the 1950s. While there are murders and other crimes, the focus is the individual stories of the women boarders of Briarwood House in Washington, DC. Maarleveld’s talent for accents coupled with Quinn’s vivid writing makes this audiobook a compelling and informative listening experience.
The Grey Wolf: Chief Inspector Gamache, Book 19
by Louise Penny | Read by Jean Brassard | Macmillan Audio | 12.75 hrs.
Jean Brassard, Louise Penny’s choice to narrate her 19th Armand Gamache/Three Pines novel, proves an inspired selection. From his portrayals of familiar Three Pines residents to his introduction of new characters, Brassard, a native Quebecois and award-winning actor, gets it right. Brassard’s accents—whether French Canadian, Italian, or continental French—create indelible characters.
A Nest of Vipers: Bangalore Detectives Club, Book 3
by Harini Nagendra| Read by Soneela Nankani | Tantor Media | 11 hrs.
AudioFile Golden Voice Soneela Nankani immerses listeners in 1920s India on the eve of a visit from Edward, Prince of Wales. This third installment in the Bangalore Detectives Club series is rife with intrigue, politics, and the fight for autonomy—for women, for the lower classes, and for India itself. Nankani’s brisk, distinctly voiced performance is riveting as she expertly distinguishes among the large cast of characters.
The Sequel: The Book Series, Volume 2
by Jean Hanff Korelitz | Read by Julia Whelan | Macmillan Audio | 10 hrs.
Fans of The Plot, and they were legion, will rejoice at this sequel, performed with mesmerizing skill by the wonderful Julia Whelan. It’s no small feat to make a lethally dislikable character irresistible on the page, let alone in the ear, but Korelitz and Whelan have done it. Anna is a monster of ego, incapable of sympathy for anyone but herself. Whelan’s achievement here seems like a little miracle, relentlessly compelling and wonderfully satisfying.
by Joseph Kanon | Read by Jonathan Davis | Simon & Schuster Audio | 10.5 hrs.
Jonathan Davis digs deep into his narration toolbox in this atmospheric audiobook set in 1939. As the world prepares for war, displaced European Jews attempt a departure to parts unknown. When the disparate citizens gather on a last-chance trip to Shanghai, Davis modulates the tempo and emotion throughout the remainder of the audiobook, ratcheting up the excitement for the final confrontation.
You'll Never Find Me: Angelhart Investigations, Book 1
by Allison Brennan | Read by Hillary Huber | Harlequin Audio | 10.5 hrs.
Hillary Huber has found the perfect voice for PI Margo Angelhart, portraying her as confident, righteous, and brave. Margo's chapters, told in the first person, let listeners experience her thoughts and emotions as she protects an abused woman and uncovers her own client’s deceptions. Listeners hear the points of view of several other characters who have their own chapters, all masterfully differentiated by Huber.
Romance
Avenging Angel: Avenging Angel, Book 1
by Kristen Ashley | Read by Stella Bloom | Audible, Inc. | 11.25 hrs.
Narrator Stella Bloom faithfully re-creates the joy, peril, and humor in Kristen Ashley’s series opener. Raye investigates potential crimes in Phoenix, and Bloom deftly balances Raye’s sense of humor with the dark events that push her to fight injustice. Ashley’s story has several emotional peaks, and Bloom hits them all with sensitivity and solid pacing.
by Emma Lord | Read by Natalie Naudus | Macmillan Audio | 9.25 hrs.
Natalie Naudus narrates this delightful romantic comedy with confidence. Naudus navigates the emotional and comedic narrative with impeccable timing, skillfully capturing the essence of each character without disrupting the seamless pacing. Her ability to convey the perfect tones through her intonation enhances the charm of the story
by Abby Jimenez | Read by Christine Lakin, Zachary Webber | Hachette Audio | 11.75 hrs.
Fans of the author will welcome back familiar narrators Christine Lakin and Zachary Webber in this stand-alone rom-com. Every woman Justin dates finds her soulmate immediately after they break up. Emma is similarly cursed. The two decide to “fake date” in the hope that their curses will cancel each other out.
by Jenn McKinlay | Read by Brittany Pressley | Penguin Audio | 9.75 hrs.
Brittany Pressley's narration is exceptional in this heartwarming Irish story. Pressley's Irish accent is outstanding; she smoothly transitions between accents and male and female voices, along with giving each character a distinct timbre and cadence that matches their personality. Pressley also intensifies and softens her tone with perfect timing.
The Ornithologist's Field Guid to Love: Dangerous Damsels, Book 4, Love's Academic, Book 1
by India Holton | Read by Elizabeth Knowelden | Penguin Audio | 10.25 hrs.
Elizabeth Knowelden will capture listeners’ hearts with her charming performance. Rival ornithologists are on the hunt for the death whistler bird, one of the rare jewels in birding. Knowelden’s performance is so charismatic and detailed that listeners will laugh at every scoff and playful jab. With its winning romantic payoff, this performance is a crown jewel.
by Casey McQuiston | Read by Emma Galvin, Max Meyers | Macmillan Audio | 14.25 hrs.
This tour de force of accents and vocal work is a testament to narrators Emma Galvin and Max Meyers’s skills. Any scene can require a half dozen international accents belonging to characters with varying moods and personalities. A true feast of vocal work and culinary descriptions!
Science Fiction & Fantasy
by M.L. Wang | Read by Moira Quirk | Random House Audio | 15.5 hrs.
Narrator Moira Quirk shines in this dark academic fantasy, which explores the ripple effects of colonization. Quirk delivers a stand-out performance, bringing immersive emotion to every scene. This is a story about how revolutions arise, and Quirk is the perfect leader.
The Crone of Midnight Embers: Myrtlewood Crones, Book 1
by Iris Beaglehole | Read by Bethan Dixon Bate | Podium | 8.25 hrs.
Bizarre things keep happening to 60-ish Delia Spark. She travels to remote Myrtlewood, where she meets a strange group of older women. Witches? A magical mafia? Delia’s adventures are fast and outrageous, some psychedelic and some painfully real, and Bethan Dixon Bate makes this delightful audiobook choice listening.
The Mercy of Gods: Captive's War, Book 1
by James S.A. Corey | Read by Jefferson Mays | Recorded Books | 15 hrs.
Stellar narrator Jefferson Mays and bestselling author James S.A. Corey are in warp drive as they launch the first book of a planned trilogy set in the far future. The narration matches the action; conversations are realistic; personalities are vibrant and distinct. Add Mays’s crystalline enunciation and agreeable timbre—and this is a winner.
by Emily Hamilton | Read by Vico Ortiz | Harper Audio | 11.5 hrs.
Vico Ortiz narrates a raucous space adventure rom-com with infectious energy. It’s 2061, and Cleo and her three best friends—all scientists—sneak aboard to explore a neglected rocket. Ortiz’s considerable acting talents bring each character—human and otherwise—to life. They bounce between each voice with skill, especially shining in scenes packed with banter.
by Katherine Arden | Read by Michael Crouch, January LaVoy, Katherine Arden | Random House Audio | 11.5 hrs.
January LaVoy and Michael Crouch perform this historical novel with a supernatural twist. Laura is a nurse who has recently returned from a WWI battlefield to her home in Halifax, Nova Scotia; her brother, Freddie, has gone missing in the cold, wet trenches of Belgium. LaVoy’s and Crouch’s deeply moving and captivating performances work together to create a must-listen audiobook.
by Veronica Roth | Read by Helen Laser, James Fouhey, Tim Campbell | Macmillan Audio | 4.5 hrs.
Helen Laser, James Fouhey, and Tim Campbell bring depth to their performances of a trio seeking an audience with the legendary witch Baba Jaga. The world-building, based on Polish folklore, in modern Chicago is epic. This explosively addictive dark fairy tale examining cultural heritage makes for an engaging listening experience.
Children & Family Listening
by Yamile Saied Méndez | Read by Maria Liatis | Hachette Audio | 7.5 hrs.
Maria Liatis delivers a heartwarming performance as a 13-year-old with a passion for fútbol and her family. Valeria is a star player on the boys’ soccer team, coached by her gruff abuelo. Liatis’s sensitive, understated narration showcases the book’s rich themes of family, resilience, and perseverance.
Bridges Instead of Walls: The Story of Mavis Staples
by Mavis Staples, Carole Boston Weatherford | Read by Mavis Staples, Adenrele Ojo | Listening Library | 28 mins.
Singer and activist Mavis Staples brings her iconic, resonant voice to the narration of this audiobook, giving young listeners an unforgettable glimpse of her remarkable musical life. In a voice ringing with warmth, humor, and conviction, Staples describes her musical roots. Adenrele Ojo capably narrates the supplemental materials, including a timeline and suggestions for further study.
by Ali Terese | Read by Josephine Huang, Cassandra Morris | Scholastic Audiobooks | 7 hrs.
Josephine Huang and Cassandra Morris join forces to deliver the captivating story of best friends in this exceptional middle-grade audiobook. Helen and Gracie are known for their mischievous antics. Their latest escapade leads them to join the Community Action Club, currently dedicated to promoting period equity.
Impossible Creatures: Impossible Creatures, Book 1
by Katherine Rundell | Read by Samuel West | Listening Library | 9 hrs.
If Christopher weren’t holding a baby griffin, he never would have come to believe his grandfather about the hidden archipelago where magical creatures live. Samuel West’s presentation shines as he provides voices appropriate for the magical world’s denizens, depth for several emotional moments, and increasing emphasis as the journey becomes more dangerous.
by Allie Millington | Read by Christopher Gebauer, Simon Vance | Recorded Books | 4.5 hrs.
A charming story and two narrators exuding energy and warmth knock it out of the park. Simon Vance is Olivetti, a typewriter who breaks the “typewriterly” code of silence to spill his tapestry of tales in order to find his missing owner. Twelve-year-old Ernest, portrayed expertly by Christopher Gebauer with an appealing mix of anxiety, heart, and wry humor, prefers dictionaries and solitude, but he must trust a sentient typewriter and make a friend to find his mother.
by Lois Lowry | Read by Hope Newhouse | Harper Audio | 3.25 hrs.
This humble and wonderful performance by Hope Newhouse will engage a wide audience. Two Sophies are best friends; one is an elementary school student, and the other is an aging woman who is beginning her struggle with memory loss. Newhouse’s ability to transform her narration to highlight both the stark age difference and the friendship between both characters is a cornerstone of the performance.
Young Adult
by Jonny Garza Villa | Read by Alejandro Antonio Ruiz | Macmillan Audio | 10 hrs.
Alejandro Antonio Ruiz embodies all of the roiling emotions in this compelling queer teen love story. Rafie learned his love of mariachi from his abuelo. He’s devastated when his abuelo dies yet is determined to bring home another first-place trophy from the Mariachi Extravaganza. Ruiz yells, cries, whispers, laughs, and sings, revealing all the many layers to the story.
by June Hur | Read by Greg Chun, Michelle H. Lee | Listening Library | 10 hrs.
Greg Chun and Michelle Lee portray the alliance and the attraction between the two main characters whose alternating chapters tell this historical mystery set in 1506 Korea. Lee’s narration is suffused with 17-year-old Isuel’s desire to free her older sister from cruel King Yeonsan. Chun’s portrayal shows Daehyu, the king’s wise half brother, yielding regretfully to the increasing demands of the king while slyly plotting treason.
How the Boogeyman Became a Poet
by Tony Keith, Jr. | Read by Tony Keith, Jr. | Harper Audio | 5 hrs.
Hip-hop artist Tony Keith, Jr., narrates his free-verse coming-of-age memoir. His pacing and tone allow listeners to feel the power of his words and imagine his world. His skill as a narrator is evident as he delivers lyrical imagery mixed with dialect. Sound effects illuminate the poems’ themes: Drums aid listeners in picturing the richness of African imagery in one poem; in another listeners hear the murmurs of a cafeteria.
Jupiter Rising: Orbiting Jupiter, Book 2
by Gary D. Schmidt | Read by Christopher Gebauer | Harper Audio | 3.5 hrs.
Christopher Gebauer narrated the tragic novel Orbiting Jupiter and now delivers its companion; both stories are told in the voice of an eighth-grader named Jack. Listening to these novels in order will allow fans to appreciate Gebauer’s portrayal of Jack’s astounding growth. Gebauer’s portrayals of adults are fully realized, particularly Jack’s caustic but caring coach and his domineering grandfather, who has a broken heart.
Twenty-Four Seconds from Now... A Love Story
by Jason Reynolds | Read by Guy Lockard | Simon & Schuster Audio | 4.25 hrs.
Guy Lockard narrates this fresh and funny novel from Jason Reynolds. Told from the perspective of 17-year-old Neon, the novel moves backward over Neon’s past 24 months. As he prepares to celebrate his anniversary with his girlfriend, he reflects on everything that has happened since they first met. Lockard’s deep, resonant voice is expressive and full of humor that fits Neon’s youth and the bright banter between Neon and his friends.
by Jandy Nelson| Read by Michael Crouch, Alex McKenna, Briggon Snow, Caitlin Kinnunen, Julia Whelan | Listening Library | 17.25 hrs.
This performance by a five-narrator cast is truly special. Every perspective offers an individual personality and a spectrum of emotions. It genuinely feels like each character is a complete story on their own, but when blended together, they create a symphony of mystery, challenges, and compelling world-building.
