Tough Topics Audiobooks

Your Corner Dark

""One of those tales that ties you up, turns you inside-out, wrings you like a wet cloth." —Jason Reynolds, New York Times bestselling author of Long Way Down American Street meets Long Way Down in this searing and gritty debut novel that takes an unflinching look at the harsh realities of gang life in Jamaica and how far a teen is willing to go for family. Things can change in a second: The second Frankie Green gets that scholarship letter, he has his ticket out of Jamaica. The second his longtime crush, Leah, asks him on a date, he's in trouble. The second his father gets shot, suddenly nothing else matters. And the second Frankie joins his uncle's gang in exchange for paying for his father's medical bills, there's no going back...or is there? As Frankie does things he never thought he'd be capable of, he's forced to confront the truth of the family and future he was born into—and the ones he wants to build for himself."

Desmond Hall (Author), Karl O'brian Williams (Narrator)

Audiobook

This Will Be Funny Someday

"The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel comes to high school in acclaimed author Katie Henry’s coming-of-age YA contemporary about a girl who accidentally falls into the world of stand-up comedy. Perfect for fans of John Green and Becky Albertalli! Sixteen-year-old Izzy is used to keeping her thoughts to herself—in school, where her boyfriend does the talking for her, and at home, where it’s impossible to compete with her older siblings and high-powered parents. When she mistakenly walks into a stand-up comedy club and performs, the experience is surprisingly cathartic. After the show, she meets Mo, an aspiring comic who’s everything Izzy’s not: bold, confident, comfortable in her skin. Mo invites Izzy to join her group of friends and introduces her to the Chicago open mic scene. The only problem? Her new friends are college students—and Izzy tells them she’s one, too. Now Izzy, the dutiful daughter and model student, is sneaking out to perform stand-up with her comedy friends. Her controlling boyfriend is getting suspicious, and her former best friend knows there’s something going on. But Izzy loves comedy and this newfound freedom. As her two parallel lives collide—in the most hilarious of ways—Izzy must choose to either hide what she really wants and who she really is, or finally, truly stand up for herself. * Rise: A Feminist Book Project Book of the Year * A YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Book of the Year *"

Katie Henry (Author), Sarah Mollo-Christensen (Narrator)

Audiobook

11 Paper Hearts

"Perfect for fans of To All the Boys I've Loved Before and The Kissing Booth, this YA rom-com about a girl who follows a trail of paper hearts from her mystery admirer will give you all the feels. Ella's life was picture perfect. She had a circle of close friends, a jam-packed social life, and an amazing boyfriend. But then something completely unexpected happened: a car accident after a Valentine's Day dance. When Ella woke up in the hospital, she couldn't remember the accident . . . or anything about the weeks before it, including the reason she broke up with her boyfriend. Now, a year later, she begins receiving paper hearts from a mysterious admirer who seems to have the answers she craves. Ella is intrigued. The hearts contain clues to help Ella remember her life before . . . and take her on a journey she never imagined. Following the paper hearts is the most spontaneous thing Ella has ever done . . . but will she find love?"

Kelsey Hartwell (Author), Rebecca Soler (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Life I'm In

"The powerful and long-anticipated companion to The Skin I'm In, Sharon Flake's bestselling modern classic, presents the unflinching story of Char, a young woman trapped in the underworld of human trafficking. My feet are heavy as stones when I walk up the block wondering why I can't find my old self. In The Skin I'm In, readers saw into the life of Maleeka Madison, a teen who suffered from the ridicule she received because of her dark skin color. For decades fans have wanted to know the fate of the bully who made Maleeka's life miserable, Char. Now in Sharon Flake's latest and unflinching novel, The Life I'm In, we follow Charlese Jones, who, with her raw, blistering voice speaks the truths many girls face, offering insight to some of the causes and conditions that make a bully. Turned out of the only home she has known, Char boards a bus to nowhere where she is lured into the dangerous web of human trafficking. Much is revealed behind the complex system of men who take advantage of vulnerable teens in the underbelly of society. While Char might be frightened, she remains strong and determined to bring herself and her fellow victims out of the dark and back into the light, reminding us why compassion is a powerful cure to the ills of the world. Sharon Flake's bestselling, Coretta Scott King Award-winning novel The Skin I'mIn was a game changer when it was first published more than twenty years ago. It redefined young adult literature by presenting characters, voices, and real-world experiences that had not been fully seen. Now Flake offers readers another timely and radical story of a girl on the brink and how her choices will lead her to either fall, or fly."

Sharon G. Flake (Author), Bahni Turpin (Narrator)

Audiobook

To Look A Nazi in the Eye: A teen's account of a war criminal trial

"She had expected to hate him. But hate, just like forgiveness, can be complicated. The true story of nineteen-year-old Jordana Lebowitz's time at the trial of Oskar Groening, known as the bookkeeper of Auschwitz, a man charged with being complicit in the death of more than 300,000 Jews. A granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Jordana was still not prepared for what she would see and hear. Listening to Groening's testimony and to the Holocaust survivors who came to testify against him, Jordana came to understand that by witnessing history she gained the knowledge and legitimacy to be able to stand in the footsteps of the survivors who went before her and pass their history - her history - on to the next generation."

Kathy Kacer (Author), Gabi Epstein (Narrator)

Audiobook

Hidden Gold

"When Poland is invaded in WWII, the Gold family sticks together in horrific conditions to survive It's 1942, and the Nazis are rounding up Jews in the Polish town of Pinczow for transport to the Treblinka death camp. Leib and Hanna Gold thought they had more time to develop an escape plan. While Leib leaves to negotiate a hiding place, Hanna and their children, Shoshana, Esther, and twelve-year-old David, steal away in the night to find shelter with a family friend. Leib promises to join them in the morning, but when daylight breaks, Leib had vanished. Hanna must flee to a safer refuge or she and her children will perish. So begins a true story of terror, suspense, and deplorable hardship that lasts more than two years. In a place where everyone is afraid, neighbors turn on neighbors, gentiles betray Jews, and Jews victimize each other, hoping to survive the Holocaust. David Gold's memories of his formative years during World War II are captured by his niece, author Ella Burakowski, in this heart-stopping testament to the human spirit. Learn more about the book and see historic photos of the Gold family at www.hiddengoldbook.com."

Ella Burakowski (Author), Theresa Tova (Narrator)

Audiobook

On the Spectrum

"The unexpected responsibility of caring for her autistic brother during her summer in Paris turns out to be just the adventure that Clara needed. Growing up in the shadow of a famous mother, Clara has never felt good about her body. Now, at sixteen, she has an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating. After a social media disaster, she decides to escape for the summer to Paris to stay with her estranged dad and her six-year-old brother, Alastair, who is on the autism spectrum. Charged with his care, Clara and Alastair set out to explore the city. Paris, and a handsome young French baker, teaches Clara about first love, and a new love of food. And Alastair teachers Clara about patience, trust, and the beauty of loving without judgment."

Jennifer Gold (Author), Shauna Haracka (Narrator)

Audiobook

What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know

"A teen boy confronts the complications of love in this award-winning free verse novel. Don’t get me wrong—my girlfriend’s amazing. But the way things have been going lately, I’m starting to believe that the only thing worse than not getting what you want, is getting it. Even though Murphy’s thrilled to be with Sophie, the consequences of their relationship—and the temptations outside of it—force him to consider everything he knows about love. Told in free verse and brimming with authenticity, this novel provides unique insight into the mind of a young man. Can be enjoyed as a standalone or follow up to Sonya Sones critically acclaimed WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN’T KNOW (S&S 2001)."

Sonya Sones (Author), Tristan Josiah (Narrator)

Audiobook

One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies

"Following her mother’s death, Ruby is reluctantly reunited with her estranged movie star father in this award-winning and bestselling free verse novel. When Ruby’s mother dies, she’s dragged three thousand miles away from her gorgeous boyfriend, Ray, to live in LA with her father, who she’s only ever seen in movies. He’s a mega-famous actor who divorced her mom before Ruby was even born, and while the rest of the world may love him, Ruby definitely does not. But as time passes and pages turn, Ruby comes to understand that circumstances are far more complicated than they seem, and sometimes forgiveness is found where you least expect it."

Sonya Sones (Author), Almond Eastland (Narrator)

Audiobook

[Vietnamese] - Bật Đèn: Mở cửa ba tầng giấc mơ, đánh thức phù thủy trí nhớ

"Con người thật là lạ, họ toàn nhớ những thứ nên quên, và toàn quên những thứ cần nhớ, họ dành một phần ba cuộc đời để ngủ, mà hầu hết chẳng biết gì về nó... Bật đèn là một cuốn 'sách truyện' 2 trong 1: Tiểu thuyết viễn tưởng hài hước kết hợp với rèn luyện kỹ năng, với chủ đề phiêu lưu vào thế giới giấc mơ và đánh thức những khả năng tiềm ẩn của con người, cụ thể là khả năng ghi nhớ và sức mạnh của sự tập trung. Nếu yêu thích những câu chuyện, bạn sẽ hòa mình vào một thế giới vừa lạ vừa quen, những tình huống thú vị khiến bạn bật cười, để rồi được trả lời một câu hỏi bí ẩn mà ngày bé, có lẽ ai cũng từng tự hỏi: Khi ngủ ta đi đâu? Tại sao có những giấc mơ? Nội dung chi tiết hơn, bạn nên tự khám phá. Nếu thích kỹ năng, Bật Đèn sẽ giúp bạn hiểu về nguồn gốc trí nhớ, cách tâm thức hoạt động, và quan trọng hơn là cách áp dụng sống động của nhân vật trong truyện để cải thiện trí nhớ, rèn luyện sự tập trung, tránh khỏi cám dỗ, thậm chí… có được giấc ngủ ngon! Cuốn sách phù hợp với các độc giả từ lứa tuổi học sinh cấp 2 trở lên, hoặc bất cứ ai quan tâm tới giấc mơ, tới não bộ, tới thế giới bên trong, nơi tiềm ẩn mọi sức mạnh tuyệt vời nhất của con người, và cách phát huy chúng! Đây cũng là tiểu thuyết đầu tay của tác giả Nguyễn Chu Nam Phương (Fususu) sau 7 năm hoàn thiện, Fususu là chủ nhân của nhiều đầu sách 5 sao trên Tiki. Còn chờ gì nữa, hãy rinh về, 'Bật đèn' lên và cùng cô bé Nata, bắt đầu cuộc phiêu lưu mở cửa ba tầng giấc mơ bí ẩn! Mong tin tốt lành,"

Fususu (Author), Phuong Nguyen (Narrator)

Audiobook

Memphis Grace

"Graceland was named after the King of Pop’s mansion by her Elvis- obsessed mum. But she’s not rich, not famous and definitely not noticeable. She’s always just been Mikaela’s best friend. That is, until Mikaela leaves school without explanation and Graceland finds herself noticed by Cooper Dally. Popular boy and Mikaela’s EX-BOYFRIEND. Now she’s the centre of attention: big parties, new dresses and girlfriend to Cooper. Graceland is finally changing her stars. But Cooper has expectations Graceland can’t meet. And when the truth behind Mikaela’s leaving comes out, Graceland realises Cooper might not be the guy she thought he was. Worse, it could cost Graceland more than she’s willing to give to be noticed. It will empower me to tell the story, to use the word rape ... Rhiza Edge acknowledges the support of the Australian Council for the Arts in the recording and production of this audiobook."

Catriona Mckeown (Author), Catriona Mckeown (Narrator)

Audiobook

Spin

"Sixteen-year-old Jenna Kemp is a typical high school girl, complete with a loyal group of friends and a seemingly understanding boyfriend. But when the demons from Jenna's childhood resurface, she's suddenly spinning out of control--drinking, partying--anything to numb the pain of the past. After distancing herself from her friends and befriending an outcast, her friends and family start questioning and judging her choices. But when Jenna doesn't come home one night, her friends and family realize it's more than just adolescent rebellion. Jenna's mysterious disappearance proves that there's more on the line than they realized. As they sift through a series of her personal diaries, the truth becomes terrifying. Will Jenna's final diary entry reveal the greatest mystery of all--her whereabouts?"

K. J. Farnham (Author), Nikki Yabut (Narrator)

Audiobook