Tough Topics Audiobooks

Displaced

"Thirteen-year-old Hadi Saleh and his family are displaced. At least that’s what the Lebanese government calls them and the thousands of other Syrian refugees that have flooded into Beirut. But as Hadi tries to earn money to feed his family by selling gum on the street corner, he learns that many people who travel the city every day don’t think he and his family are displaced—they think they’re in the wrong place, that they don’t belong in this country either. Each day he hears insults, but each day he convinces himself they don’t matter, as he approaches the cars again and again to earn enough money to keep them in their one room home a little longer. He hardly dares to dream anymore that this might change. But then Hadi meets Malek, who has been instructed to work on the same corner. Malek, who talks about going to school, becoming an engineer, and building a whole life beyond their tiny corner. A life Hadi starts to believe might not be as out of reach as he thought. But Malek is new to the streets, and just when Hadi starts to hope, Kamal, the man who oversees many of the local street vendors, tells Malek he must work the corner . . . alone. And people who don’t follow Kamal’s orders don’t last long. Now Hadi is forced to make a choice between engaging in illegal activities or letting his family starve. Can the boys find a way out of their impossible situation, or will the dream of something greater than their harsh present remain stubbornly out of reach? Acclaimed author Dean Hughes delivers a gripping look at the realities faced by those who are forced to flee their homes with no place to go."

Dean Hughes (Author), Amin El Gamal (Narrator)

Audiobook

These Vengeful Hearts

"Anyone can ask the Red Court for a favor… but every request comes at a cost. And once the deed is done, you’re forever in their debt. Whenever something scandalous happens at Heller High, the Red Court is the name on everyone’s lips. Its members—the most elite female students in the school—deal out social ruin and favors in equal measure, their true identities a secret known only to their ruthless leader: the Queen of Hearts. Sixteen-year-old Ember Williams has seen firsthand the damage the Red Court can do. Two years ago, they caused the accident that left her older sister paralyzed. Now, Ember is determined to hold them accountable…by taking the Red Court down from the inside. But crossing enemy lines will mean crossing moral boundaries, too—ones Ember may never be able to come back from. She always knew taking on the Red Court would come at a price, but will the cost of revenge be more than she’s willing to sacrifice?"

Katherine Laurin (Author), Laura Knight Keating (Narrator)

Audiobook

Like Spilled Water

"Na has grown up in the shadow of her younger brother, Bao-bao, her parents’ cherished son. When they were younger, Na’s parents went to work in the city, bringing Bao-bao along and devoting all their savings to his education, while Na was left behind in the countryside. But when Bao-bao dies suddenly, Na realizes how little she knew him. Did he really end his life because of a low score on China’s all-important college entrance exam? Her parents can’t bear to talk about him, so Na investigates on her own. She learns that Bao-bao had many secrets—and that his death may not be what it seems. She also learns that her parents have serious money problems, and as their only remaining child, she’s expected to quit school and go to work to help support them. As more secrets come to light, Na must decide not only what she owes to her brother’s memory, but what she owes to herself."

Jennie Liu (Author), Catherine Ho (Narrator)

Audiobook

I Am Here Now

"Set in the 1960s, Barbara Bottner's I Am Here Now is a beautiful novel in verse about one artist’s coming of age. It’s a heartbreaking, powerful and inspiring depiction of what it's like to shatter your life?and piece it all back together. You can’t trust Life to give you decent parents, or beautiful eyes, a fine French accent or an outstanding flair for fashion. No, Life does what it wants. It’s sneaky as a thief. Maisie's first day of High school should be exciting, but all she wants is to escape. Her world is lonely and chaotic, with an abusive mother and a father who’s rarely there to help. So when Maisie, who finds refuge in her art, meets the spirited Rachel and her mother, a painter, she catches a glimpse of a very different world?one full of life, creativity, and love?and latches on. But as she discovers her strengths through Rachel’s family, Maisie, increasingly desperate, finds herself risking new friendships, and the very future she's searching for."

Barbara Bottner (Author), Frankie Corzo (Narrator)

Audiobook

[Spanish] - Culpa tuya (Culpables 2)

"DESCUBRE LA SAGA QUE HA INSPIRADO LA PELÍCULA #CulpaTuya Más romance, traición y misterio en Culpa tuya, segunda parte de «Culpa Mía», la saga romántica de Mercedes Ron protagonizada por un chico malo con un gran corazón y una chica buena con muchas agallas. Cuando Noah se enamoró de Nick sabía que su relación no iba a ser fácil: son polos opuestos, fuego y electricidad, y cuando están juntos saltan chispas... en todos los sentidos. Hasta ahora, la pasión ha sido más fuerte que el orgullo, pero la diferencia de edad, la universidad, las fiestas, sus padres y los fantasmas que acechan a los dos les ponen a prueba una y otra vez, como una bomba de relojería que amenaza con hacerles estallar. ¿Está Noah realmente preparada para enfrentarse a sus miedos y volver a confiar en alguien? ¿Podrá Nicholas dejar atrás su pasado y abrir el corazón a una sola persona?"

Mercedes Ron (Author), Carla Torres Danés, Luis Torrelles (Narrator)

Audiobook

[Spanish] - CYCLO: Tu menstruación sostenible y en positivo

"Menstruación sostenible: una manera más sana y ecológica de vivir tu ciclo. Vive tu menstruación en positivo. Este audiolibro está narrado por la misma Paloma Alma. ¿Es posible menstruar sin dolor y sin medicamentos?, ¿qué productos de higiene menstrual puedo usar que sean respetuosos con el medio ambiente? La copa menstrual, el sangrado libre, las compresas de algodón ecológico... Cómo usar estos productos, cómo gestionar la menstruación, las hormonas, los estados de ánimo: todo lo que necesitas saber recogido en un libro perfecto para empezar a conocer tu ciclo. Un libro de educación menstrual para cambiar el modo en que vivimos la menstruación: ahora eres tú la que manda en tu ciclo menstrual."

Paloma Alma (cyclo) (Author), Paloma Alma (cyclo) (Narrator)

Audiobook

JOURNEY MADE AWESOME: THIS ONE STEP, CHOOSING A GOAL AND STICKING TO IT, CHANGES EVERYTHING.

"This ONE step-choosing a goal and sticking to it- changes everything!  “Who am I? Why am I like this? What kind of life do I wish to have? Where in the near future do I want to be? What are my strength and weakness?” These are the questions that many teenagers ask when beginning their quest for self-discovery. In Journey Made Awesome, Shivathmaj M. Shenoy provides answers to all of these questions and more. Shiva was faced with certain obstacles early in life but has since overcome his fears. It is from the lessons he took away from the challenges and personal experience that he inspires you so you can know, among other things: ·       all you need to know about self-discovery including the rules and principles to follow ·       purpose and the things that can prevent you from achieving your purpose ·       the way to create an achieving strategy ·       how to motivate yourself, where to find your motivation and the different types of motivation ·       the basics and importance of goal setting ·       the seven proven ways to make money online ·       the power and benefits of consistency With this book, you will learn straightforward methods of doing things that will set you apart from all other teenagers around. Using simple techniques that Shiva teaches will enable you to know where you are going and what you want to achieve at any given time. The book is filled with Shiva’s real-life experiences so that you know that the guides apply to your life too, and not merely theory. The book Journey Made Awesome has a lot of exercises that you have to follow diligently to discover yourself. Begin your journey of self-discovery today and realize how easy it feels to be successful when you have a clear direction in mind."

Shivathmaj Shenoy M (Author), Robert Mccracken (Narrator)

Audiobook

[German] - Die verschwindende Hälfte (Gekürzte Lesefassung)

"Zwei Schwestern, die eine ganze Welt trennt Ein kleiner Ort im ländlichen Louisiana. Seine afroamerikanischen Bewohner blicken mit Stolz auf eine lange Tradition und Geschichte, und vor allem auf ihre Kinder, die von Generation zu Generation hellhäutiger zu werden scheinen. Stella und Desiree etwa, Zwillingsschwestern von ganz unterschiedlichem Wesen. Aber in einem sind sie sich einig: Hier sehen sie keine Zukunft für sich. In New Orleans trennen sich ihre Wege. Denn Stella tritt unbemerkt in eine nur weißen Amerikanern vorbehaltene Welt - und bricht alle Brücken hinter sich ab. Desiree dagegen heiratet den dunkelhäutigsten Mann, den sie finden kann. Und Jahrzehnte müssen vergehen, bis zu einem unwahrscheinlichen Wiedersehen."

Brit Bennett (Author), Tessa Mittelstaedt (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Poet X – WINNER OF THE CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL 2019

"WINNER OF THE THE CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL 2019 SHORTLISTED FOR THE WATERSTONES CHILDREN'S BOOK PRIZE 2019 THE WINNER OF THE 2018 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD THE WINNER OF THE MICHAEL L.PRINTZ AWARD THE WINNER OF THE PURA BELPRÉ AWARD THE WINNER OF THE BOSTON GLOBE-HORNBOOK AWARD 'I fell in love at slam poetry. This one will stay with you a long time.' – Angie Thomas, bestselling author of The Hate U Give 'This was the type of book where 'I'll just do 50 pages' turned into finishing it in 2 reads. I felt very emotional, not just because the story and the words themselves were so beautiful but because I knew it was going to make so many teens who felt like no one cares about them or listens to them feel seen.' – Tomi Adeyemi, bestselling author of The Children of Blood and Bone THE POET X – THE WINNER OF THE CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL. A stunning New York Times bestseller with a powerful and unforgettable YA voice. Perfect for fans of Tomi Adeyemi's The Children of Blood and Bone, Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give and Sarah Crossan's One. Xiomara has always kept her words to herself. When it comes to standing her ground in her Harlem neighbourhood, she lets her fists and her fierceness do the talking. But X has secrets – her feelings for a boy in her bio class, and the notebook full of poems that she keeps under her bed. And a slam poetry club that will pull those secrets into the spotlight. Because in spite of a world that might not want to hear her, Xiomara refuses to stay silent. A novel about finding your voice and standing up for what you believe in, no matter how hard it is to say. Brave, bold and beautifully written – dealing with issues of race, feminism and faith. “Crackles with energy and snaps with authenticity and voice.… Justina Ireland, author of Dread Nation “An incredibly potent debut.… Jason Reynolds, author of the National Book Award Finalist Ghost “Acevedo has amplified the voices of girls en el barrio who are equal parts goddess, saint, warrior, and hero.… Ibi Zoboi, author of American Street 'A story that will slam the power of poetry and love back into your heart.' – Laurie Halse Anderson, author of Speak and Chains 'Acevedo breathes words instead of air' – Lisa Heathfield, author of award-winning Paper Butterflies ‘Powerful, finely crafted verse … Readers will yearn to finish this verse novel in a single sitting, but its echoes will remain with them much longer’ Guardian ELIZABETH ACEVEDO was born and raised in New York City and her poetry is infused with Dominican bolero and her beloved city’s tough grit. The Poet X is her debut novel and a National Book Award winner. With over twelve years of performance experience, Acevedo has been a featured performer on BET and Mun2, as well as delivered several TED Talks. She has performed internationally and her poetry has been featured in Cosmopolitan, The Huffington Post and Teen Vogue. Acevedo is a National Slam Champion, Beltway Grand Slam Champion, and the 2016 Women of the World Poetry Slam representative for Washington, D.C, where she lives and works."

Elizabeth Acevedo (Author), Elizabeth Acevedo (Narrator)

Audiobook

Snowhook

"Hannah must rely on her survival instincts to endure a brutal ice storm and save her family. At first, when a massive ice storm traps fourteen-year-old Hannah and her family in a remote cabin, it feels like a game to practise the survival skills she's been learning. That all changes when an accident leaves her mother desperately low on insulin. With no power and no way to contact the outside world, Hannah steals away with the four family dogs tied to an old dogsled. All she has to do is make it to the nearest cabin and find a working phone to save the day. But a wrong turn and worsening weather leave her in grave danger and saddled with an unexpected passenger. Hannah must use all her skills and resourcefulness to get help for her family - before they all freeze to death in the wilderness."

Jo Storm (Author), Dana Stoutenburg (Narrator)

Audiobook

How It All Blew Up

"Arvin Ahmadi has written a novel that is authentic, hilarious and heart-wrenching all at once. A unique point of view combined with riveting storytelling, How It All Blew Up will grab you from the first page and won't let go - Angie Thomas, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE HATE U GIVE and ON THE COME UP Eighteen-year-old Amir Azadi always knew that coming out to his Muslim family would be messy, but he wasn't expecting it to end in an airport interrogation room. Now, he's telling his side of the story to the stern-faced officer. Amir has to explain why he ran away to Rome (boys, bullies, blackmail) and what he was doing there for a month (dates in the Sistine Chapel, friends who helped him accept who he is, and, of course, drama) . . . all while his mum, dad and little sister are being interrogated in the room next door. A nuanced take on growing up brown, Muslim and gay in today's America, HOW IT ALL BLEW UP is the story of one boy's struggle to come out to his family, and how that painful process exists right alongside his silly, sexy romp through Italy."

Arvin Ahmadi (Author), Ali Afkhami, Nazanin Nour, Nikki Massoud, Vikas Adam (Narrator)

Audiobook

Denim Diaries 2: Grown in Sixty Seconds

"After seventeen-year-olds Patrice and DeMario spend one intimate yet careless night together, they find themselves anticipating the birth of their first child. Unfortunately, their excitement is not all that it could be because their two best friends are not around to share in their joy. Estranged from Denim after a heated argument, Patrice battles with bouts of depression as she struggles through a difficult pregnancy. DeMario is feeling alienated after the mysterious disappearance of his friend André and the stress of finding a job to support his family. Isolated and alone, even more pressure is added when the young couple finds out that Patrice and their unborn child could be facing life-threatening complications. Will DeMario be left a widower, or will lifelong friendships be just what the doctor ordered in time to save Patrice and her baby?"

Darrien Lee (Author), Mishi Lachappelle (Narrator)

Audiobook