How the Boogeyman Became a Poet
by Tony Keith Jr.
🏆 2025 Odyssey Award: Best Audiobook for Young Adults
This is the beautifully written coming-of-age memoir of a closeted gay Black boy in the American South, narrated by the author, an accomplished spoken word artist. The narration gives audiences “the simultaneous experience of a slam poetry reading and an intimate conversation between friends”, said the Chair of the Odyssey Award Committee.
Recommendations from our site
“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.” Read more...
