Audiobooks Narrated by Ron Butler

A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe

"In this poignant mixed voice, mixed form collection of interconnected prose, poems and stories, teen characters, their families, and their communities grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. Amidst fear and loss, these New York City teens prevail with love, resilience and hope. From the award-winning author of Chlorine Sky and Vinyl Moon. '[A] gorgeous, tender testament to the generation of young people who shouldered the pandemic." --Brendan Kiely, award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Grief, pain, hope, and love collide in this short story collection. In New York City, teens, their families, and their communities feel the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. Amidst the fear and loss, these teens and the adults around them persevere with love and hope while living in difficult circumstances: - Malachi writes an Armageddon short story inspired by his pandemic reality. - Tariq helps their ailing grandmother survive during quarantine. - Zamira struggles with depression and loneliness after losing her parents. - Mohamed tries to help keep his community spirit alive. - A social worker reflects on the ways the foster system fails their children. From award-winning author Mahogany L. Browne comes a poignant collection of interconnected prose, poems, and lists about the humanity and resilience of New Yorkers during the Covid-19 pandemic."

Mahogany L. Browne (Author), Ali Nasser, Amir Royale, Andrea Emmes, Brandon Miles, Chantelle Ramdeen, Elena Rey, Emana Rachelle, Kiebpoli Calnek, Mahogany L. Browne, Marie-Francoise Theodore, Nile Bullock, Ozzie Jacobs, Ron Butler, Tyla Collier (Narrator)

Audiobook

Because of You, John Lewis

"An inspiring story of a friendship between Congressman John Lewis and ten-year-old activist Tybre Faw by New York Times bestselling and Coretta Scott King Award-winning author Andrea Davis Pinkney! When young Tybre Faw discovers John Lewis and his heroic march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in the fight for voting rights, Tybre is determined to meet him. Tybre’s two grandmothers take him on the seven-hour drive to Selma, Alabama, where Lewis invites Tybre to join him in the annual memorial walk across the Bridge. And so begins a most amazing friendship! ​​​​​​​ ​​In rich, poetic language, Andrea Davis Pinkney weaves the true story of a boy with a dream—together with the story of a real-life hero (who himself had a life-altering friendship with Martin Luther King, Jr. when he was young!). Keith Henry Brown’s deeply affecting paintings bring this inspiring bond between a young activist and an elder congressman vividly to life. ​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​Who will be next to rise up and turn the page on history?"

Andrea Davis Pinkney (Author), Ron Butler (Narrator)

Audiobook

Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America

"Edited by National Book Award finalist Ibi Zoboi, Black Enough is an essential collection of captivating stories about what it’s like to be young and black. “A powerful collection that opens the reader’s eyes to the breadth and diversity of contemporary experience in America” June Sarpong, author of DIVERSIFY Black is male, Black is female, Black is straight, Black is gay, Black is urban, Black is rural, Black is rich. And poor. Black is mixed-race, Black is immigrants, Black is more. There are countless ways to be BLACK ENOUGH. Featuring some of the most acclaimed bestselling American black authors writing for teens today, Black Enough is an essential collection of captivating stories about what it’s like to be young and black. Whether you are in America, the UK, or anywhere across the globe, this powerful collection of stories will remind you of our shared humanity. With an Introduction by June Sarpong, author of DIVERSIFY Stories from: Renee Watson, Varian Johnson, Leah Henderson, Lamar Giles, Kekla Magoon, Jason Reynolds, Brandy Colbert, Tochi Onyebuchi, Liara Tamani, Jay Coles, Rita Williams-Garcia, Tracey Baptiste, Dhonielle Clayton, Justina Ireland, Coe Booth, Nic Stone and Ibi Zoboi"

Ibi Zoboi (Author), Bahni Turpin, Ron Butler (Narrator)

Audiobook

Brave the Page

"The official NaNoWriMo handbook that inspires young people to tackle audacious goals and complete their creative projects. Partly a how-to guide on the nitty-gritty of writing, partly a collection of inspiration to set (and meet) ambitious goals, Brave the Page is the go-to resource for middle-grade writers. Narrated in a fun, refreshingly kid-friendly voice, it champions NaNoWriMo's central mission that everyone's stories deserve to be told. The volume includes chapters on character, plot, setting, and the like; motivating essays from popular authors; advice on how to commit to your goals; a detailed plan for writing a novel or story in a month; and more! National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes in the transformational power of creativity. They provide the structure, community, and encouragement to help people find their voices, achieve creative goals, and build new worlds--on and off the page. With its first event in 1999, the organization's programs now include National Novel Writing Month in November, Camp NaNoWriMo, the Young Writers Program, Come Write In, and the 'Now What?' Months. Includes an introduction written and read by Jason Reynolds   Featuring Motivational Pep Talks from:   JOHN GREEN #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars (read by Ron Butler) MARISSA MEYER New York Times bestselling author of the Lunar Chronicles (read by the author) JENNIFER NIVEN New York Times bestselling author of All the Bright Places (read by the author) DANIEL JOSÉ OLDER New York Times bestselling author of Shadowshaper (read by the author) DANIELLE PAIGE New York Times bestselling author of Dorothy Must Die (read by the author) CELIA C. PÉREZ Pura Belpré Honor-winning author of The First Rule of Punk (read by the author) SCOTT WESTERFELD New York Times bestselling author of the Uglies series (read by the author)"

Grant Faulkner, Rebecca Stern (Author), Celia Perez, Daniel Jose Older, Danielle Paige, Jason Reynolds, Jennifer Niven, Marissa Meyer, Ron Butler, Scott Westerfield (Narrator)

Audiobook

Class Act

"New York Times bestselling author Jerry Craft returns with a companion book to New Kid, winner of the 2020 Newbery Medal, the Coretta Scott King Author Award, and the Kirkus Prize. The audiobook was a 2020 Audie Awards Finalist for Middle Grade and named an Audible Best Audiobook of the Year. This time, it’s Jordan’s friend Drew who takes center stage in another laugh-out-loud funny, powerful, and important story about being one of the few kids of color in a prestigious private school. Eighth grader Drew Ellis is no stranger to the saying “You have to work twice as hard to be just as good.” His grandmother has reminded him his entire life. But what if he works ten times as hard and still isn’t afforded the same opportunities that his privileged classmates at the Riverdale Academy Day School take for granted? To make matters worse, Drew begins to feel as if his good friend Liam might be one of those privileged kids. He wants to pretend like everything is fine, but it's hard not to withdraw, and even their mutual friend Jordan doesn't know how to keep the group together. As the pressures mount, will Drew find a way to bridge the divide so he and his friends can truly accept each other? And most important, will he finally be able to accept himself? This original full-cast audio adaptation of the graphic novel is performed by Jesus Del Orden, Nile Bullock, Guy Lockard, Robin Miles, Peyton Lusk, Marc Thompson, Rebecca Soler, Dan Bittner, January LaVoy, Phoebe Strole, Jordan Cobb, Ron Butler, A.J Beckles, Miles J. Harvey, Kim Mai Guest, Kyla Garcia, and Soneela Nankani. New Kid, the first graphic novel to win the Newbery Medal, is now joined by Jerry Craft's powerful Class Act."

Jerry Craft (Author), A.J Beckles, Dan Bittner, Guy Lockard, January LaVoy, Jesus Del Orden, Jordan Cobb, Kim Mai Guest, Kyla Garcia, Marc Thompson, Miles Harvey, Nile Bullock, Peyton Lusk, Phoebe Strole, Rebecca Soler, Robin Miles, Ron Butler, Soneela Nankani (Narrator)

Audiobook

Cobalt: A Fantasy Novella

"A keen young freshman. A siren at a crossroads. A chance meeting that changes everything. Gina is a mermaid—a siren—on her land cycle and she has found a human mate she loves. In fact, they're engaged, but to overcome a mysterious betrayal she isn't sure she should forgive, she needs some time at sea, ideally above it. So she stows away on a tall ship. Seth is a precocious fifteen-year-old working on a school project, researching Cobalt Girl, a modern sailing vessel. A chance meeting and a fog bank along the Carolina coast will change both of their lives forever… Return to the siren realm of A.L. Knorr with Cobalt, a novella-length prequel to a forthcoming series entitled Pretty Little Mermaids, which expands the lore and worlds established in Born of Water, Mermaid’s Return and The Siren’s Curse, but is set before the events of the latter."

A.L. Knorr (Author), Marnie Penning, Ron Butler (Narrator)

Audiobook

Double Cross: Deception Techniques in War

"How does deception factor into fighting wars, and is it effective? In an intriguing companion to The Dark Game, Paul B. Janeczko reveals the truth about the strategic lies of war. The biblical account of Gideon. The ancient story of the Trojan horse. Deceptive techniques have been used in war through the ages. But while the principles have changed very little, the technology behind fooling the enemy has evolved dramatically. Paul B. Janeczko’s fascinating chronology focuses on the American Civil War, World Wars I and II, and the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Gulf Wars to reveal evolving attitudes toward the use and effectiveness of deceptive operations. Find out the secret plan behind the invasion of Normandy and the details of General Schwarzkopf’s “Hail Mary play” during the Gulf War, among many other strategies and maneuvers designed to pull the wool over enemies’ eyes."

Paul B. Janeczko (Author), Ron Butler (Narrator)

Audiobook

Dragons in a Bag

"The dragon's out of the bag in this diverse, young urban fantasy from an award-winning author! When Jaxon is sent to spend the day with a mean old lady his mother calls Ma, he finds out she's not his grandmother--but she is a witch! She needs his help delivering baby dragons to a magical world where they'll be safe. There are two rules when it comes to the dragons: don't let them out of the bag, and don't feed them anything sweet. Before he knows it, Jax and his friends Vikram and Kavita have broken both rules! Will Jax get the baby dragons delivered safe and sound? Or will they be lost in Brooklyn forever?   AN ALA-ALSC NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR A CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR   The Dragons in a Bag series continues! Don't miss The Dragon Thief, and The Witch's Apprentice."

Zetta Elliott (Author), Ron Butler, Zetta Elliott (Narrator)

Audiobook

Dragons in a Bag: Books 1-3: Dragons in a Bag; The Dragon Thief; and The Witch's Apprentice

"The dragon's out of the bag in this urban fantasy series, where a boy from Brooklyn is on a mission to help magical creatures! This magical collection includes books 1 to 3 of the critically acclaimed series by award-winning author Zetta Elliott. There are two rules when it comes to the dragons: don't let them out of the bag and don't feed them anything sweet! When Jaxon is sent to spend the day with a mean old lady his mother calls Ma, he finds out she's not his grandmother-but she is a witch! She needs his help delivering baby dragons to a magical world where they'll be safe. Read about Jax's first three adventures in this collection! This audiobook collection includes: #1 Dragons in a Bag: An epic fantasy in which Jax must deliver baby dragons to a magical world where they'll be safe. #2 The Dragon Thief: Stealing a baby dragon was easy! Hiding it is a little more complicated. #3 The Witch's Apprentice: The baby dragons were returned to the magical realm . . . but things don't seem quite right!   The Dragons in a Bag series continues! Don't miss The Enchanted Bridge, and The War of the Witches."

Zetta Elliott (Author), Ron Butler, Soneela Nankani, Zetta Elliott (Narrator)

Audiobook

Fresh Ink: An Anthology

"All it takes to rewrite the rules is a little fresh ink in this remarkable YA anthology from thirteen of the most recognizable, diverse authors writing today including Nicola Yoon, Jason Reynolds, Melissa de la Cruz, and many more, and published in partnership with We Need Diverse Books. This collection features ten short stories, a graphic short story, and a one-act play from Walter Dean Myers never before in-print. It will give readers the opportunity to discover how the next chapter is up to them. 'I absolutely love this mix of established and newer talents, and I'm really intrigued and excited by the mixed formats.' --BookRiot Careful--you are holding fresh ink. And not hot-off-the-press, still-drying-in-your-hands ink. Instead, you are holding twelve stories with endings that are still being written--whose next chapters are up to you. Because these stories are meant to be read. And shared. Thirteen of the most accomplished YA authors deliver a label-defying anthology that includes ten short stories, a graphic novel, and a one-act play about topics like gentrification, acceptance, untimely death, coming out, and poverty and ranging in genre from contemporary realistic fiction to adventure and romance. This collection will inspire you to break conventions, bend the rules, and color outside the lines. All you need is fresh ink. AUTHORS INCLUDE: Schuyler Bailar, Melissa de la Cruz, Sara Farizan, Sharon G. Flake, Eric Gansworth, Malindo Lo, Walter Dean Myers, Daniel José Older, Thien Pham, Jason Reynolds, Aminah Mae Safi, Gene Luen Yang, Nicola Yoon Includes a bonus PDF of "Paladin/Samurai" by Gene Luen Yang, illustrated by Thien Pham Audiobook Table of Contents: Eraser Tattoo by Jason Reynolds, read by Guy Lockard Meet Cute by Malinda Lo, read by Kim Mai Guest Don't Pass Me By by Eric Gansworth, read by the author Be Cool for Once by Aminah Mae Safi, read by the author Tags by Walter Dean Myers, with narration read by Dominic Hoffman; 'Big Eddie' read by Dion Graham; 'Willie' read by Guy Lockard; 'D'Mario' read by Ron Butler; and 'J-Boy' read by J.B. Adkins Why I Learned to Cook by Sara Farizan, read by the author A Stranger at the Bochinche by Daniel Jose Older, read by Henry Leyva A Boy's Duty by Sharon G. Flake, read by J.B. Adkins One Voice: A Something In-Between Story by Melissa de la Cruz, read by Donabella Mortel Paladin/Samurai by Gene Luen Yang, with 'Wujae/Game Master' read by Raymond Lee; 'Owen/Knight/Samurai' read by Sunil Malhotra; 'Cameron/Wizard' read by Kirby Heyborne; 'Macie/Thief' read by Kim Mai Guest;  Catch, Pull, Drive by Schuyler Bailar, read by the author Super Human by Nicola Yoon, read by Bahni Turpin About We Need Diverse Books read by Lamar Giles"

Lamar Giles (Author), Aminah Mae Safi, Bahni Turpin, Dion Graham, Dominic Hoffman, Donnabella Mortel, Eric Gansworth, Guy Lockard, Henry Levya, J. B. Adkins, Kim Mai Guest, Ron Butler, Sara Farizan, Schuyler Bailar, Various (Narrator)

Audiobook

Futureland: Battle for the Park

"When an extraordinary flying theme park arrives above Atlanta, one boy must stop a sinister force from stealing the park's tech and taking over the world. An electrifying illustrated series with the Afrofuturism of Black Panther that took the world by storm. Perfect for fans of Spider-Man: Miles Morales. 'Hold on tight, Futureland will be the ride of your life . . . and maybe the last!' -Kwame Mbalia, #1 New York Times bestselling author Welcome to the most spectacular theme park in the world. Everyone wants a ticket to Futureland, where you can literally live out your wildest dreams. Want to step inside your favorite video game? Go pro in a sports arena? Perform at a real live concert? Grab your ticket and come right in. Yet with all its attractions, Futureland has always just been home to Cam Walker, the son of the park's famous creators. And when Futureland arrives at its latest stop, Atlanta, Cam is thrilled for what promises to be the biggest opening ever. . . . But things aren't quite right with the Atlanta opening. Park attractions are glitching. Kids go missing. And when his parents are blamed, Cam must find the missing kids and whoever's trying to take down his family . . . before it's too late. This audiobook contains a downloadable PDF of images from the book."

H.D. Hunter (Author), Fred Berman, Jeanette Illidge, Lynnette R. Freeman, Nathan Nonhof, Ron Butler (Narrator)

Audiobook

Futureland: The Nightmare Hour

"The theme park of your dreams is back in this action-packed sequel as Cam Walker and his friends take on creepy carnivals, insidious tech, and a nightmarish new enemy to save the world. An electrifying illustrated series for fans of Spider-Man: Miles Morales. The most spectacular theme park in the world is headed to the Big Apple. After Atlanta, Cam Walker and his family are ready to turn over a new leaf with Futureland. This is where dreams literally come true, and the Walkers are going to show the people of New York City that their park is back and better than ever. But trouble isn't done with the Walkers yet. Glitches keep happening with the park attractions. There's a creepy carnival in town that gives Cam goosebumps. Plus, he just can't shake the feeling that his family is being watched. And it may be his imagination, but are the people around him acting . . . stranger than usual? Can Cam get to the bottom of what's going on before Futureland becomes a playground of terrors? * This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF that contains a map of Futureland and other images from the printed book."

H.D. Hunter (Author), Fred Berman, Jeanette Illidge, Lynnette Freeman, Nathan Nonhof, Ron Butler, Sarah Beth Goer (Narrator)

Audiobook