Books by Angie Thomas
“There’s a lot going on in the book, but there’s also some history woven into it, and it makes for a really exciting audiobook. It’s the first in a series and I know kids love a good series.” Read more...
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2023
Emily Connelly, Journalist
Concrete Rose
by Angie Thomas
***American Library Association Amazing Audiobook for Young Adults 2022***
***2022 Michael L. Printz Honor Book (for Young Adult Literature)***
Readers in the United States will know what to expect: set in the late 1990s this is the prequel to Thomas’ bestselling The Hate U Give (which also has an acclaimed audio version). For people elsewhere it might take a bit of effort to get into the style, which is written as the narrator speaks, with slang and pop culture references. It is well worth it. Thomas is an excellent writer and readers will come to care about the 17 year old protagonist and the difficult choices he has to make when he finds out that he is a father. Everyone tells Maverick that he has to man up, but in his situation what does that really mean?
“This book is important because it bears witness. It holds within its pages some of the urgency and anger of the Black Lives Matter movement and could even be an act of resistance in and of itself. The book is such a relevant read… We know the names and the statistics when it comes to police brutality in the USA but this story makes readers actually feel it.” Read more...
“The Hate U Give was one of those blockbuster books that connected with so many teens, no matter what their cultural background might have been. It let them see into another world and forged this super-strong connection with so many teens and adults. Replicating the same duo of author plus narrator—with Bahni Turpin again doing Angie Thomas’s book—there’s this nice alignment of an author-narrator team.” Read more...
Interviews where books by Angie Thomas were recommended
The 2020 Audie Awards: Best Audiobooks for Young Adults, recommended by Mary Burkey & Robin Whitten
Audiobooks are a great way to keep teenagers entertained and informed. Mary Burkey, an expert on kids’ audiobooks, and Robin Whitten, editor and founder of AudioFile magazine, talk us through the wonderful titles that were finalists in this year’s Audie Awards in the ‘Young Adult’ category.
Realistic Fiction
Realistic fiction depicts situations that could happen in real life, with authentic characters who react in a believable way.
The best books on Interracial Relationships, recommended by Tineka Smith and Alex Court
You might think that books about interracial couples aren’t relevant unless you’re part of one or are close to someone who is, but nothing could be further from the truth. In Mixed Up: Confessions of an Interracial Couple, a fascinating audiobook narrated by Tineka Smith and Alex Court, the husband and wife duo tell the story of their own relationship and, in doing so, give the listener unique insights into racism and racial identity. Here, they recommend their top books on interracial relationships.
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1
The Skull
Jon Klassen, Fairuza Balk (narrator) -
2
Stuntboy, In-Between Time
Jason Reynolds, Raúl the Third (illustrator), Guy Lockard (narrator) -
3
Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy
by Angie Thomas & Joniece Abbott-Pratt (narrator) -
4
Ander & Santi Were Here
Jonny Garza Villa, Avi Roque (narrator) -
5
Warrior Girl Unearthed
by Angeline Boulley & Isabella Star LaBlanc (narrator)
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2023, recommended by Emily Connelly
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2023, recommended by Emily Connelly
From the USA to Germany to China, audiobooks are growing in popularity, especially with young people. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talks us through her selection of the five best audiobooks for children and teens in 2023.
