Audiobooks Narrated by Shayna Small

I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm

"When snow falls, sparks fly in this irresistible YA queer romance from Schneider Family Book Award and Stonewall Honor winner Mariama J. Lockington-perfect for the winter holidays or all year round. High school senior Lyric has always found Christmas to be the hardest season. While other kids got presents and family time by the fire, she was in and out of foster care. An up-and-coming make-up influencer and aspiring cosmetology student who loves a bold lip, Lyric definitely isn't looking for romance-not when opening up to someone feels a lot like asking to get hurt. Christmas is Juniper's favorite time of year. At least, it was, until her moms' separation. They're back together now, and Juniper hopes they'll stay that way. Because if they're happy, that means Juniper can leave for her gap-year trip after graduation (the one she has yet to tell her parents about, and can't really afford without their help). When a chance meeting brings these two opposite personalities together, they should clash . . . only they don't. Instead, Lyric strikes a deal with Juniper: pose as her fake girlfriend in a series of holiday-themed social media posts and they can split the money from her beauty sponsorships. But soon the lines between what's real and what's not start to blur. Could it be that sparks are flying both in front of the camera and behind it? Told from dual perspectives, one in prose and one in verse, this cozy and modern love story from Stonewall Honor- and Schneider Family Book Award-winning author Mariama J. Lockington is perfect for the holiday season or all year round."

Mariama J. Lockington (Author), Rae De Vine, Shayna Small (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Most Perilous World: The True Story of the Young Abolitionists and Their Crusade Against Slavery

"The stories of the four teenage children of prominent abolitionists before and during the Civil War combine to form a surprisingly familiar tapestry of struggle, disappointment, and ultimately hope. 'Impeccable research and incredible details bring the stories of these four young people to life as they come of age in the years leading up to and during the Civil War.'-Kip Wilson, award-winning author of White Rose Flowers in the Gutter author Kristina R. Gaddy tells the story of America's tumultuous years leading up to the Civil War and of the war itself from the viewpoints of four children of famous abolitionists, including those of Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison. Gaddy crafts a surprisingly contemporary coming-of-age narrative, supported by meticulous research and featuring dozens of primary documents. Each of these four young people-two white, two Black-was strongly committed to the anti-slavery cause but felt just as keenly a need to make their own names, away from the often over-protective or disapproving shadows of the famous adults in their lives. This is a true story of how a torch of resistance is passed and how a new generation makes its mark."

Kristina R. Gaddy (Author), James Fouhey, Kristina R. Gaddy, Nile Bullock, Rachel Jacobs, Shayna Small (Narrator)

Audiobook

It Came from the Trees

"When her best friend is taken by a creature in the woods, Jenna is determined to save her in this scary story perfect for fans of Daka Hermon and Claribel A. Ortega! The wilderness is in Jenna's blood. Her Pap was the first Black park ranger at Sturbridge Reservation, and she practically knows the Owlet Survival Handbook by heart. But she's never encountered a creature like the one that took her best friend Reese. Her parents don't believe her; the police are worthless, following the wrong leads; and the media isn't connecting the dots between Reese's disappearance and a string of other attacks. Determined to save her friend, Jenna joins a new local scout troop, and ventures back into the woods. When the troop stumbles across suspicious signs: huge human-like footprints near the camp, scratch marks on trees, and ominous sounds from the woods, Jenna worries that whatever took Reese is back to take her too. Can she trust her new scout leader? And will her new friend Norrie-who makes her laugh and reminds her so much of Reese-believe her? After the unthinkable happens, the scouts, armed with their wits and toiletries, band together to fight the monster and survive the night."

Ally Russell (Author), Shayna Small (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Real Education of TJ Crowley: Coming of Age on the Redline: An Audio Drama

"Set in 1968 after the slaying of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this immersive audio dramatization, inspired by the author’s own experiences, features an award-winning cast of 15 actors, in a fast-paced, suspenseful coming-of-age story. With his father’s mysterious disappearance and his brother Ronnie enlisting in the Vietnam War, 13-year-old TJ Crowley is left alone with his racist, unstable mother, Kate. The newly enforced Fair Housing Act results in the unthinkable for the Crowleys when a Black family, headed by the eminent Dr. Washington, crosses the racial red line and moves in next door. Kate is quick to warn TJ that their new neighbors are strictly off-limits and makes a panicked call to beg Ray, her old flame, to travel to their home in Wichita Kansas to help deal with “the problem next door.” At his now integrated junior high, TJ resents that teachers tell him he must get to know his Black classmates, yet he understands that staying out of trouble can only help assure him an all-important spot on the basketball team. At school, a violent confrontation with Leon, the tough new kid in 7th grade, lands them in the principal’s office. And at home, Ray ropes him into building a fence that will send the Washingtons a message that they’re not welcome. But the fence can’t quiet the sounds of unfamiliar music floating over the fence nor hide the strength and beauty of his new classmate, Ivy Washington, who fiercely stands up for what she believes in. Over time, TJ begins to question the lessons he’s learned at home and decides to accept Dr. Washington’s invitation to visit their family. Devastated when his poor grades and bad behavior keep him from the basketball team, TJ turns to the doctor, a former athlete, who coaches him for the track team, teaching him how to throw the shot put. When TJ’s secret visits to the Washingtons are discovered, and a series of escalating hate crimes point to Ray, TJ is forced to make a defining choice that will forever change his life. Performed by Dani Martineck, Dion Graham, Tavia Gilbert, Johnny Heller, Kevin R. Free, Shayna Small, Ari Fliakos, Michael Crouch, Kirby Heyborne, Graham Halstead, Peter Berkrot, Thérèse Plummer, Brittany Pressley, John Wright, and Sheila Brown Kinnard, playing the role inspired by her mother, Josephine Brown. Grant Overstake, a storyteller and educator, draws from his background as a former Miami Herald sports writer and decathlon All-American to write authentic sports themed novels of raw emotion. Grant and his wife, Claire, sing in the multicultural ARISE Ensemble, who’s music is featured in this program. An award-winning producer and director with over 400 titles to her credit, May Wuthrich is a former actor with a background in traditional book publishing and book-to-screen script development. Presented by Grain Valley Publishing “The gospel music of the ARISE Ensemble enhances the listening experience. The audio drama has moments of remarkable verisimilitude: from the play-by-play announcing of a basketball game to the whirring of a helicopter in Vietnam. Performed by a gifted cast, this slice of our history stays with the listener.” —AudioFile (Earphones Award winner)"

Grant Overstake, May Wuthrich (Author), Ari Fliakos, Brittany Pressley, Dani Martineck, Dion Graham, Graham Halstead, John Wright, Johnny Heller, Kevin R. Free, Kirby Heyborne, Michael Crouch, Peter Berkrot, Shayna Small, Sheila Brown Kinnard, Tavia Gilbert, Thérèse Plummer, a full cast (Narrator)

Audiobook

The That Summer Night on Frenchmen Street

"Being there for her family is the most important thing to Jessamine Monet. And her family is complicated. Her twin brother Joel has a secret boyfriend, and her transgender cousin Solange is flourishing, despite the disapproval of Solange’s dying mother. Yet Jessamine doesn’t mind being caught up in family drama. Being busy keeps the water at bay—the water of memories, of Katrina, of past trauma. So when Tennessee Williams—a rich white boy named after the writer—asks her out, she hesitantly says yes. He’ll be like a library book, she figures, something to read and return. Falling for him is another burden she can’t afford to carry. Tennessee has always lived his life at the mercy of his mom’s destructive creativity and his dad’s hypermasculine expectations. Jessamine’s caring and aloof nature is a surprisingly welcome distraction. While she fights her attraction to him, Tennessee is pulled into her inner family circle and develops a friendship with Joel’s boyfriend, Saint Baptiste. Together Saint and Tennessee bond over the difficulty of loving the emotionally unavailable Monet twins. As senior year progresses, old traumas and familial pressures rise higher than hurricane waves. Can this group of friends make peace with each other, their families, and most importantly, with themselves?"

Chris Clarkson (Author), Kirby Heyborne, Shayna Small (Narrator)

Audiobook

DanSing Pancakes' Healthy Choices Musical Story

"The DanSing Pancakes’ Healthy Choices Musical Story is a new, edu-taining, high-action, illustrated children’s book written in rhymes, and with a “scan and play” audiobook by voiceover narrator and actress Shayna Small and with a hot new song, written and performed by legendary Platters® lead singer Joe Coleman. The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington [DC] proudly had a cameo part in the fun song and will receive a percentage of every book sold. Please visit www.DanSingPancakes.com to meet Pablo & Priscilla Pancake and experience the fun and games on their website! Pablo and Priscilla Pancake were born suddenly in a frying pan at a home near yours. They bathe in bowls of syrup and they attend Panfry Primary School. There they encounter “human” classmates smoking, and talking about drinking and doing drugs. Through their adventurous story and a hot new song, the DanSing Pancakes help kids resist drugs, alcohol, and smoking while teaching them positive choices such as studying hard, eating healthy foods, and being good friends. Pablo and Priscilla help their friends lead healthy lives and fulfill their dreams. Wonderfully illustrated by a young artist and her mother, the story includes a cool “pledge” with fun coloring pages from the story and other interactive family activities to encourage kids to make healthy choices. It is a must-have book for every parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, aunt, uncle, guardian, older brother or sister to teach young kids these valuable lessons in a fun, child-friendly way. A portion of each book sold is donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington [DC] (https://www.bgcgw.org). Testimonial: 'I was so excited to see your book. I wanted to tell you about a little boy I read it to in the play therapy room. His mother, who has struggled with addiction and is on the verge of losing him, was in the lobby. He sang [your] song until he memorized it.'"

Joe Coleman, Philip Auerbach, Rick Vitacco (Author), Shayna Small (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Dark Place

"You can only hide from your nightmares for so long. Seventeen-year-old Hylee Williams didn’t ask to disappear. She didn’t ask to move from Kansas City, Kansas out to the suburbs in Missouri. But she did disappear, and not only that, but when she vanished from our world, she materialized in a dark, twisted version of the night that changed her life forever: the night her older brother went missing. Just as Hylee realizes this moment could be the key to unraveling the truth about her brother, she’s yanked away from the dark place back to our world. Craving a sense of normalcy, she goes to a party with her best friend—where she meets Eilam Roads. Tall, handsome, and undeniably, inexplicably familiar, Hylee can’t help the pull she feels towards him. It’s a classic teen girl-meets-boy situation, until it happens again. She disappears, right in front of him. Together, Hylee and Eilam investigate the truth about time, space, and reality, with Hylee increasingly convinced her time travel holds the key to saving her brother. But the more they learn, the more Hylee begins to see darkness lurking in her world—and in herself. Britney S. Lewis’s sophomore novel combines the quotable relatability, swoony romance, and emotional resonance of John Green with the surrealist horror imagery and razor-sharp wit of Jordan Peele. At once haunting and enchanting and entirely unforgettable."

Britney Lewis (Author), Shayna Small (Narrator)

Audiobook

What They Found: Love on 145th Street

"By the groundbreaking author of the award-winning Monster-a visionary who influenced and inspired a generation-this story take us back to the world of 145th Street: Short Stories to show how love can be found, and thrive, in the most unlikely places. Curtis finds love in Iraq as he struggles to stay alive in a war he doesn't want to fight, and Letha discovers her own beauty in the love of her child. There is the 'good daughter' who realizes that there's only one way to help her brother and her family. Other stories center on the daily drama of the Curl-E-Que beauty shop, or capture the slapstick side of passion. AWARDS FOR WALTER DEAN MYERS: New York Times Bestselling Author 3-Time National Book Award Finalist Michael L. Printz Award 5 Coretta Scott King Awards 2 Newbery Honors National Ambassador for Young People's Literature (2012-2013) Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement Children's Literature Legacy Award"

Walter Dean Myers (Author), Amanda Alcántara, Brandon Gill, Emana Rachelle, Heather Alicia Simms, JaQwan J. Kelly, James Fouhey, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Kamali Minter, Karen Murray, Khaya Fraites, Shayna Small, Tyla Collier, William DeMeritt (Narrator)

Audiobook

Whiteout

"Atlanta is blanketed with snow just before Christmas, but the warmth of young love just might melt the ice in this novel of interwoven narratives, Black joy, and cozy, sparkling romance—by the same unbeatable team of authors who wrote the New York Times bestseller Blackout! As the city grinds to a halt, twelve teens band together to help a friend pull off the most epic apology of her life. But will they be able to make it happen, in spite of the storm? No one is prepared for this whiteout. But then, we can’t always prepare for the magical moments that change everything. From the bestselling, award-winning, all-star authors who brought us Blackout—Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon—comes another novel of Black teen love, each relationship within as unique and sparkling as Southern snowflakes."

Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, Dhonielle Clayton, Nic Stone, Nicola Yoon, Tiffany D. Jackson (Author), Alaska Jackson, Bahni Turpin, Danielle Shemaiah, James Fouhey, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Kevin R. Free, Korey Jackson, Shayna Small (Narrator)

Audiobook

Snail's Ark

"In this timeless story of friendship and perseverance, two snails journey to the ark. When Esther woke she knew something curious was happening-a storm was in the air. Not just any storm but the biggest storm the world had ever seen. In lyrical and rhythmic verse, with a common refrain of hurry hurry, Esther makes her way to the ark, encountering other animals along the way. Joys, troubles, and journeys are best shared, and so Esther finds her friend Solomon and together-with the help of a small miracle-they find a way to safety. This heartwarming audiobook celebrates the importance of community and helping others, featuring two brave snails who embark on the journey of a lifetime."

Irene Latham (Author), Shayna Small (Narrator)

Audiobook

Recognize!: An Anthology Honoring and Amplifying Black Life

"In the stunning follow-up to The Talk: Conversations About Race, Love & Truth, award-winning Black authors and artists come together to create a moving anthology collection celebrating Black love, Black creativity, Black resistance, and Black life. 'A multifaceted, sometimes disheartening, yet consistently enriching primer on the unyielding necessity of those three words: Black Lives Matter.' -Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review   BLACK LIVES HAVE ALWAYS MATTERED.   Prominent Black creators lend their voice, their insight, and their talent to an inspiring anthology that celebrates Black culture and Black life. Essays, poems, short stories, and historical excerpts capture the pride, prestige, and jubilation that is being Black in America. In this audiobook, find the stories of the past, the journeys of the present, and the light guiding the future.   BLACK LIVES WILL ALWAYS MATTER."

Cheryl Willis Hudson, Wade Hudson (Author), Cary Hite, Chanté Mccormick, Cheryl Willis Hudson, Ella Turenne, James Fouhey, Joshua David Scarlett, Karen Murray, Ryan Vincent Anderson, Shayna Small, Tashi Thomas, Wade Hudson (Narrator)

Audiobook

What Was the March on Washington?

"On August 28, 1963, more than 200,000 people gathered in Washington, DC, to demand equal rights for all races. It was there that Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his 'I Have a Dream' speech, and it was this peaceful protest that spurred the momentous civil rights laws of the mid-1960s. The March is brought to life in this audiobook!"

Kathleen Krull (Author), Shayna Small (Narrator)

Audiobook