Tough Topics Audiobooks | LoveReading4Kids

"Set in Northern California in the late ’70s, this timeless coming-of-age story examines the nature of evil, the art of storytelling, and the possibility of redemption. Fifteen-year-old RJ Armante has never known a life outside his deadend hometown of Arcangel, CA. The Blackjacks rule as they have for generations, luring the poorest kids into their monopoly on petty crime. For years, they’ve left RJ alone, but now they have a job for him: prey upon an old loner in town. In spite of the danger, RJ begins to resist. He fights not only for himself, but for his younger brother, Charley, whose disability has always made RJ feel extra protective of him. For Roxanne, the girl he can’t reach, and the kids in his crew who have nothing to live for. Even for the old loner, who has secrets of his own. If RJ is to break from the Blackjacks’ hold, all of Arcangel must be free of its past."

Grant Farley (Author), Christopher Carley (Narrator)

Audiobook

Dear Martin

"'Absolutely incredible, honest, gut-wrenching!' Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give ‘?Painfully timely and deeply moving, this is the novel the next generation should be reading’ Jodi Picoult ‘Justyce's story is earnest, funny, achingly human, and unshakably hopeful. I am forever changed.’ Becky Albertalli, author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda 'Raw and gripping' Jason Reynolds, author of Long Way Down 'A powerful, wrenching, and compulsively readable story that lays bare the history, and the present, of racism in America' John Green, author of The Fault in our Stars Raw, captivating, and undeniably real, Nic Stone boldly tackles American race relations in this #1 New York Times bestselling novel. Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League – but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighbourhood behind, he can't escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates. Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out. Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up – way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty police officer beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it's Justyce who is under attack. Return to the world of Dear Martin in the stunning NEW novel from Nic Stone, Dear Justyce. Available now! "

Nic Stone (Author), Dion Graham (Narrator)

Audiobook

Brave: A Teen Girl's Guide to Beating Worry and Anxiety

"As a parent, you can use certain strategies to help your teenage daughter when she struggles with worry and anxiety. But it is also important that she learns how to work through her emotions on her own, especially as she approaches adulthood. This guide—created for girls ages thirteen to eighteen—will help your daughter understand anxiety's roots and why her brain is often working against her when she starts to worry. With teen-friendly information, stories, and self-discovery exercises, including journaling and drawing prompts, she will learn practical ways to fight back when worries come up. She will find more of her voice and her confidence. In essence, she will find more of herself and the brave, strong, deeply loved girl God made her to be."

Sissy Goff (Author), Lisa Larsen (Narrator)

Audiobook

All Boys Aren't Blue

"Brought to you by Penguin. This powerful YA memoir-manifesto follows journalist and LGBTQ+ activist George M. Johnson as they explore their childhood, adolescence, and college years, growing up under the duality of being black and queer. From memories of getting their teeth kicked out by bullies at age five to their loving relationship with their grandmother, to their first sexual experience, the stories wrestle with triumph and tragedy and cover topics such as gender identity, toxic masculinity, brotherhood, family, inequality, consent, and Black joy. PRAISE FOR ALL BOYS AREN'T BLUE An exuberant, unapologetic memoir infused with a deep but cleareyed love for its subjects. The New York Times An empowering read . . . All Boys Aren't Blue is an unflinching testimony that carves out space for Black queer kids to be seen. Huffington Post Powerful . . . All Boys Aren't Blue is a game changer. Bitch Magazine All Boys Aren't Blue is a balm and testimony to young readers as allies in the fight for equality. Publishers Weekly © George M. Johnson 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021"

George M. Johnson (Author), George M. Johnson (Narrator)

Audiobook

Dear Justyce

"In the stunning sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller Dear Martin, bestselling author Nic Stone unflinchingly explores the impact of racism and inequality on young Black lives. For readers of Angie Thomas, Danielle Jawando and Jason Reynolds. Vernell LaQuan Banks and Justyce McAllister grew up a block apart in the Southwest Atlanta neighborhood of Wynwood Heights. Years later, Justyce walks the illustrious halls of Yale University . . . and Quan sits behind bars at the Fulton Regional Youth Detention Center. Through a series of flashbacks and letters to Justyce, Quan's story takes form. Troubles at home and misunderstandings at school give rise to police encounters and tough decisions. But then there's a dead cop and a weapon with Quan's prints on it. What leads a bright kid down a road to a murder charge? Not even Quan is sure... "Brilliant" – i News "An electrifying story" – The Spectator Praise for Dear Martin: "Powerful, wrenching" John Green "A must-read" Angie Thomas "Raw and Gripping" Jason Reynolds "Deeply moving" Jodi Picoult Also by Nic Stone: Dear Martin Odd One Out Jackpot"

Nic Stone (Author), Dion Graham (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Gravity of Us: After the Launch

"For fans of THE GRAVITY OF US--a glimpse of Cal and Leon's life one year after the launch. In Houston, NASA's mission to Mars brought 'Astrokids' Cal and Leon together. Back in New York one year later, Cal is excited to show his boyfriend the city and finally introduce him to his best friend Deb, but everything feels different, from the ads posted in Times Square to the location of Cal's favorite falafel cart. Deb has new friends, a new apartment--a new life--and Cal isn't sure of his place in it anymore. Though all Cal wanted a year ago was to come back to Brooklyn, he no longer feels like he belongs. Phil Stamper brings his signature heart, wisdom, and romance to this touching THE GRAVITY OF US short story. Includes the first chapter of Phil Stamper's sophomore novel, AS FAR AS YOU'LL TAKE ME. Praise for THE GRAVITY OF US: YALSA Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults Nominee 'From the insider knowledge and space facts to the frank discussions about family, sexuality, and mental health, Stamper's debut was truly out of this world (I'm sorry, I had to).'--Audible Editor's Pick 'Michael Crouch carries the performance here, brilliantly capturing all of Cal's ups and downs, but additional narrators add depth and interest the story. From the host of the reality show 'Shooting Stars' that follows the astronauts and their families, to the show's many guests, the full cast makes this near-future world feel absolutely plausible.'--BookRiot, '20 Must-Read New Full-Cast Audiobooks' 'Phil Stamper's The Gravity of Us is so interesting and well crafted that it's hard to believe it's his first novel. . . . Readers will root for Cal and Leon, their budding romance, their astronaut families and, of course, the prospect of life among the stars.'--BookPage, starred review 'Phil Stamper's The Gravity of Us is the first love, first launch, astronaut story I didn't know I needed. I'm so starry-eyed for this wise, romantic gem of a book.'--Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author of SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA 'A big-hearted, witty, and intensely relatable debut about reaching for your dreams without losing what grounds you.'--Karen M. McManus, New York Times bestselling author of ONE OF US IS LYING and TWO CAN KEEP A SECRET"

Phil Stamper (Author), Michael Crouch (Narrator)

Audiobook

One Stupid Thing

"Summer on Nantucket island. Three high-school friends drinking warm beer on a rooftop. Everything is cool, until a seemingly innocent game takes a sinister turn, and the course of their lives are changed forever. For a year, they keep it a secret—until the following summer when they meet a mysterious girl with her own dark past who may have the answers they’re looking for. A story about friendship, mistakes, and questing for redemption, One Stupid Thing follows Jamie, Sophia, Trevor and Violet as they contend with the consequences of their choices, navigate the drama in their individual lives and try to uncover what really happened on that fateful night."

Stewart Lewis (Author), Pete Cross (Narrator)

Audiobook

Be Dazzled

"Raffy has a passion for bedazzling. Not just bedazzling, but sewing, stitching, draping, pattern making-for creation. He's always chosen his art over everything-and everyone-else and is determined to make his mark at this year's biggest cosplay competition. If he can wow there, it could lead to sponsorship, then art school, and finally earning real respect for his work. There's only one small problem...Raffy's ex-boyfriend, Luca, is his main competition. Raffy tried to make it work with Luca. They almost made the perfect team last year after serendipitously meeting in the rhinestone aisle at the local craft store-or at least Raffy thought they did. But Luca's insecurities and Raffy's insistence on crafting perfection caused their relationship to crash and burn. Now, Raffy is after the perfect comeback, one that Luca can't ruin. But when Raffy is forced to partner with Luca on his most ambitious build yet, he'll have to juggle unresolved feelings for the boy who broke his heart, and his own intense self-doubt, to get everything he's ever wanted: choosing his art, his way."

Ryan La Sala (Author), Pete Cross (Narrator)

Audiobook

What Kind of Girl

"The girls at North Bay Academy are taking sides. It all started when Mike Parker's girlfriend showed up with a bruise on her face. Or, more specifically, when she walked into the principal's office and said Mike hit her. But her classmates have questions. Why did she go to the principal and not the police? Why did she stay so long if Mike was hurting her? Obviously, if it's true, Mike should be expelled. But is it true? Some girls want to rally for his expulsion—and some want to rally around Mike. The only thing that the entire student body can agree on? Someone is lying. And the truth has to come out."

Alyssa Sheinmel (Author), Cady Zuckerman (Narrator)

Audiobook

I Hope You're Listening

"In her small town, seventeen year-old Delia Dee Skinner is known as the girl who wasn't taken. Ten years ago, she witnessed the abduction of her best friend, Sibby. And even though she told the police everything she remembered, it wasn’t enough. Sibby was never seen again. At night, Dee deals with her guilt by becoming someone else: the Seeker, the voice behind the popular true-crime podcast Radio Silent, which features missing-persons cases and works with online sleuths to solve them. Nobody knows Dee’s the Seeker, and she plans to keep it that way. When another little girl goes missing and the case is linked to Sibby’s disappearance, Dee has a chance to get answers, with the help of her virtual detectives and an intriguing new girl at school. But how much is she willing to reveal about herself in order to uncover the truth? Dee’s about to find out what’s really at stake in unraveling the mystery of the little girls who vanished."

Tom Ryan (Author), Caitlin Davies (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Teen's Guide to Face-to-Face Connections in a Screen-to-Screen World: 40 Tips to Meaningful Comm

"Phones can be a great tool for connecting with people outside the room, when they don't interfere with the people inside the room. You can dare to be relationally different in a screen-to-screen culture. But. . .honestly, I like my phone. So what should I do? You probably enjoy screens but don't want them hurting your relationships with the people who matter most, right? What if you could improve your face-to-face relationships, develop deeper connections, resolve conflict, and confidently communicate with friends, parents, teachers, roommates, coworkers, potential employers...even the barista at your local coffee shop? What if your phone truly helped you connect with the people more than disconnect with those around you? What if you paused to think before you posted, avoiding some of the hurt and consequences that almost always lead to regret after? What if you became a master of your own screen-time instead of letting it master you? What if you became more screen-wise? 40 real-life realizations including. . . * Your phone doesn't have an UNSEND button. * Sometimes less is more. * We all need a digital detox every once in a while. * Sometimes the people we love the most are the people we ignored all day. * If you find someone who doesn't look at their phone once during a meal...marry them! Author and youth culture expert, Jonathan McKee, and his daughter Alyssa McKee, uncover forty random realizations they've discovered over the last five years. Screens provide fun platforms to connect with faraway friends; and sometimes the people we love the most are the people we ignore all day. Jonathan and Alyssa help young adults navigate face-to-face communication in a screen-to-screen world too! Maybe they'll help you navigate face-to-face communication in a screen-to-screen world too!"

Alyssa Mckee, Jonathan Mckee (Author), Adam Verner, Natalie Budig (Narrator)

Audiobook

Bleak: A Story of Bullying, Rage, and Survival

""Why did he come back?" Tommy Tate finished his sophomore year alone at home, suspended from Latimer High School. Hated, dangerous, and accused of plotting to murder a classmate, Tommy was considered a monster by his peers and community. He swore that he would never step foot in LHS again. But now it's fall, and after a summer of silence, Tommy arrives for the first day of school, leaving everyone to ask - why did he come back?"

Benjamin Honeycutt (Author), Rebecca Gallagher (Narrator)

Audiobook