Biography & Memoir Audiobooks

Wherever I Go

Of all her friends, Abia has been at the Shimelba Refugee Camp the longest-seven years, four months, and sixteen days. Papa says that's too long and they need a forever home. Until then, though, Abia has something important to do. Be a queen. Sometimes she's a noisy queen, banging on her drum as she and Mama wait in the long line for rice to cook for dinner. Sometimes she's a quiet queen, cuddling her baby cousin to sleep while Auntie is away collecting firewood. And sometimes, when Papa talks hopefully of their future forever home, Abia is a little nervous. Forever homes are in strange and faraway places-will she still be a queen? Filled with hope, love, and respect, Wherever I Go is a timely tribute to the strength and courage of refugees around the world.

Mary Wagley Copp (Author), Charon Normand-Widmer (Narrator)

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The Compton Cowboys: Young Readers' Edition: And the Fight to Save Their Horse Ranch

Inspired by a powerful New York Times article that went viral, this young readers’ edition tells the uplifting true story of Black men and women from Compton, California, who found purpose through raising and riding horses. The Compton Cowboys are a group who grew up in the city where Kendrick Lamar and Serena Williams were raised; a city portrayed in the media as ground zero for gang violence. But in 1988, with the creation of the Compton Junior Posse, a youth program set on a horse ranch in the middle of Compton, these men and women found a safe space. In this young readers’ edition, kids will witness how the Cowboys’ lives were shaped by harsh realities. The Cowboys were able to overcome their struggles by joining the Compton Junior Posse. Now they want to keep the program running to help other children do the same. Black cowboys are a part of history that has been all but forgotten, but the Compton Cowboys have made it their mission to carry on the tradition and be role models for their community. Author Walter Thompson-Hernández is a Whiting Grant winner and New York Times reporter.

Walter Thompson-Hernandez (Author), Glenn Davis (Narrator)

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Who Was Harvey Milk?

Learn about one of the most influential leaders in the fight for gay rights. Although he started out as a teacher without aspirations to be an activist or politician, Harvey Milk found himself captivated by the history-making movements of the 1960s. He would eventually make history of his own by becoming the first openly gay elected politician in California. While in office, Harvey Milk advocated for equal rights for the gay community. Even though his life and career were cut short, Harvey is still seen by many as one of the most famous and most significantly open LGBT officials ever elected in the United States. His life and legacy continue to inspire and unite the community.

Corinne A. Grinapol (Author), Vikas Adam (Narrator)

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Rainbow Revolutionaries: Fifty LGBTQ+ People Who Made History

*A Junior Library Guild Selection* This groundbreaking, pop-culture-infused LGBTQ+ biography collection takes readers on an eye-opening journey through the lives of fifty influential queer figures who have made a mark on every century of human existence. Rainbow Revolutionaries brings to life the vibrant histories of fifty pioneering LGBTQ+ people from around the world. Through Sarah Prager’s (Queer, There, and Everywhere) short, engaging bios, readers can delve into the lives of Wen of Han, a Chinese emperor who loved his boyfriend as much as his people, Martine Rothblatt, a trans woman who’s helping engineer the robots of tomorrow, and so many more! This book is a celebration of the many ways these heroes have made a difference and will inspire young readers to make a difference, too. Featuring an introduction, timeline, and glossary, this must-have biography collection is the perfect read during Pride month and all year round. Biographies include: Adam Rippon, Alan L. Hart, Alan Turing, Albert Cashier, Alberto Santos-Dumont, Alexander the Great, Al-Hakam II, Alvin Ailey, Bayard Rustin, Benjamin Banneker, Billie Jean King, Chevalier d'Éon, Christina of Sweden, Christine Jorgensen, Cleve Jones, Ellen DeGeneres, Francisco Manicongo, Frida Kahlo, Frieda Belinfante, Georgina Beyer, Gilbert Baker, Glenn Burke, Greta Garbo, Harvey Milk, James Baldwin, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, José Sarria, Josephine Baker, Juana Inés de la Cruz, Julie d'Aubigny, Lili Elbe, Ma Rainey, Magnus Hirschfeld, Manvendra Singh Gohil, Marsha P. Johnson, Martine Rothblatt, Maryam Khatoon Molkara, Natalie Clifford Barney, Navtej Johar, Nzinga, Pauli Murray, Renée Richards, Rudolf Nureyev, Sally Ride, Simon Nkoli, Stormé DeLarverie, Sylvia Rivera, Tshepo Ricki Kgositau, Wen of Han, We’Wha Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Sarah Prager (Author), Inés Del Castillo (Narrator)

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The Eagle Huntress: The True Story of the Girl Who Soared Beyond Expectations

The subject of the award-winning documentary The Eagle Huntress tells the true story of how she became the first girl to compete in -- and win -- one of Mongolia's most prestigious competitions. In this compelling memoir, teenaged eagle hunter Aisholpan Nurgaiv tells her own story for the first time, speaking directly with award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Liz Welch (I Will Always Write Back), who traveled to Mongolia for this book. Nurgaiv's story and fresh, sincere voice are not only inspiring but truly magnificent: with the support of her father, she captured and trained her own golden eagle and won the Ölgii eagle festival. She was the only girl to compete in the festival. The Eagle Huntress is a striking tale of determination -- of a girl who defied expectations and achieved what others declared impossible. Aisholpan Nurgaiv's story is both unique and universally relatable: a memoir of survival, empowerment, and the positive impact of one person's triumph.

Aisholpan Nurgaiv (Author), Alexa Khan (Narrator)

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Le déluge-Le tisserand intelligent

Laurence Biava est peut-on dire amoureuse de Fraançois Mauriac. Sa façon d'en parler, avec x fois le verbe aimer est renforcée par le suivi des parcours de l'auteur et des messages d'ailleurs nombreux qu livre Malagar.

Laurence Biava (Author), Evelyne Moser (Narrator)

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Knothole In The Closet: A Story About Belle Boyd, A Confederate Spy

Early in the Civil War, 19-year-old Belle Boyd risks capture to spy for the South and her native state of Virginia. On the eve of battle, she races to the Confederate camp to deliver important information to General Stonewall Jackson. Thanks in part to Belle's courage, the Confederates drive the Federal forces from Front Royal, Virginia, and win a major victory on May 23, 1862. Marilyn Weymouth Seguinis the author of eight historical books for young readers. Marilyn teaches in the English Department at Kent State University.

Marilyn Weymouth Seguin (Author), Kate Fleming (Narrator)

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Marie Curie

Krull presents another top-notch scientific biography in the outstanding Giants of Science series. Readers have come to expect chatty, direct narratives that develop distinct characters and place those individuals squarely in the context of both their times and their disciplines, and this account of the noted physicist’s life delivers the goods. From her childhood in an oppressed Poland, the daughter of two highly educated individuals, Curie emerges as a driven woman, determined to excel for both her parents’ and her country’s sake—this drive informing everything that followed. As in previous series entries, this offering manages to take a wildly complex subject—atomic physics—and render it comprehensible to the child listener, emphasizing the legacy Curie left behind. Curie’s personal life—her unusual (for the times) partnership with her husband, her frustration with the limitations imposed on her because of her sex, her difficulty balancing work and family—receives admiring, but frank consideration. Listeners will emerge from this account with a new appreciation for both the scientific and social advances made by Curie, whose towering achievements justly earn her a place among the “Giants.”

Kathleen Krull (Author), Tavia Gilbert (Narrator)

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Dolley Madison: First Lady of the United States: Primary Source Readers Focus on Women in U.S. Histo

Dolley Madison was married to James Madison, the fourth President of the United States. Dolley was known for her kind heart and gracious hospitality. She was an intelligent woman who helped not only her husband, but also President Thomas Jefferson. Dolley was a woman with great courage. Her strong will and unique personality helped her become one of the most honored First Ladies in history.

Melissa Carosella (Author), Teacher Created Materials (Narrator)

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Frederick Douglass: Leader of the Abolitionist Movement

Explore the extraordinary life of Frederick Douglass and his transition from slave to freed man. Born as a slave in 1818, Douglass endured many hardships, including being separated from his family when he was a young child. Throughout his life, Douglass struggled to become a freed man and risked his life to fight for equality for all people. He worked hard to become literate and eventually published his own autobiography. Douglass became friends with influential people, like President Lincoln, who helped Douglass work to achieve freedom for slaves. After the Civil War, Douglass continued to fight for the equality of women and immigrants. Today, Douglass is remembered as a famous orator, author, editor, and statesman who made America a better place for all people.

Melissa Carosella (Author), Teacher Created Materials (Narrator)

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26 Fairmount Avenue: I'm Still Scared

First-grader Tomie dePaola experiences uncertainty in the weeks following the attack on pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. What are the grown-ups talking quietly about at home and even at school? Why does his class have to go to the spooky furnace room for an air raid drill? Why does the family hang thick black curtains over the windows? Tomie's mother is there to comfort and explain the confusion, and Tomie feels better... but he's still scared.

Tomie Depaola (Author), Danny Gerard (Narrator)

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Who Was Ida B. Wells?

The story of how a girl born into slavery became an early leader in the civil rights movement and the most famous black female journalist in nineteenth-century America. Born into slavery in 1862, Ida Bell Wells was freed as a result of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1865. Yet she could see just how unjust the world she was living in was. This drove her to become a journalist and activist. Throughout her life, she fought against prejudice and for equality for African Americans. Ida B. Wells would go on to co-own a newspaper, write several books, help cofound the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and fight for women's right to vote.

Sarah Fabiny (Author), Robin Eller (Narrator)

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