YOUNG ADULT
WINNER: Cemetery Boys
Performed by Avi Roque
Aiden Thomas burst onto the YA scene this year with his buzzy debut jam-packed with creative storytelling. Cemetery Boys, performed by debut narrator Avi Roque, combines the paranormal with romance, LGBTQIA+ heroes, Latinx culture, themes of acceptance and identity, and so much more. The originality and incredible execution by Thomas and Roque make this our best YA listen of 2020. Rounding out the top five are Leah Johnson’s debut You Should See Me in a Crown, an f/f prom rom-com that will make your heart soar; Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed, which expertly kicked off the 2020 YA trend of political fiction; Clap When You Land, Elizabeth Acevedo's latest #ownvoices tale in which she once again pulls double duty as author and narrator; and Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi, a timely reimagining of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning, which explores racism—and antiracism—in America.
Best of Young Adult: Four More
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You Should See Me in a Crown
- By: Leah Johnson
- Narrated by: Alaska Jackson
- Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 491
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 434
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 432
Liz Lighty has always believed she’s too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small Midwestern town. But it’s okay - Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor. But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz’s plans come crashing down...until she’s reminded of her school’s scholarship for prom king and queen.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Here - just take my money!
- By Valkyrie on 06-18-20
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Yes No Maybe So
- By: Becky Albertalli, Aisha Saeed
- Narrated by: Tiya Sircar, Michael Crouch
- Length: 10 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 271
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 245
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 246
Jamie Goldberg is cool with volunteering for his local state senate candidate - as long as he’s behind the scenes. When it comes to speaking to strangers (or, let’s face it, speaking at all to almost anyone) Jamie’s a choke artist. There’s no way he’d ever knock on doors to ask people for their votes...until he meets Maya. Maya Rehman’s having the worst Ramadan ever. Why her mother thinks the solution to her problems is political canvassing - with some awkward dude she hardly knows - is beyond her.
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4 out of 5 stars
-
Great read!
- By Aly P on 06-04-20
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Clap When You Land
- By: Elizabeth Acevedo
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Acevedo, Melania-Luisa Marte
- Length: 5 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,572
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 2,257
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,242
In a novel-in-verse that brims with grief and love, National Book Award-winning and New York Times best-selling author Elizabeth Acevedo writes about the devastation of loss, the difficulty of forgiveness, and the bittersweet bonds that shape our lives.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Narration
- By VB on 06-05-20
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Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You
- A Remix of the National Book Award-Winning Stamped from the Beginning
- By: Jason Reynolds, Ibram X. Kendi
- Narrated by: Jason Reynolds, Ibram X. Kendi - introduction
- Length: 4 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 3,607
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 3,136
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 3,109
The construct of race has always been used to gain and keep power, to create dynamics that separate and silence. This remarkable reimagining of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning reveals the history of racist ideas in America, and inspires hope for an antiracist future. It takes you on a race journey from then to now, shows you why we feel how we feel, and why the poison of racism lingers. It also proves that while racist ideas have always been easy to fabricate and distribute, they can also be discredited.
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5 out of 5 stars
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You can't fight what you don't know-Jason Reynolds
- By C. Owens on 06-14-20
-
You Should See Me in a Crown
- By: Leah Johnson
- Narrated by: Alaska Jackson
- Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 491
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 434
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 432
Liz Lighty has always believed she’s too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small Midwestern town. But it’s okay - Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor. But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz’s plans come crashing down...until she’s reminded of her school’s scholarship for prom king and queen.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Here - just take my money!
- By Valkyrie on 06-18-20
-
Yes No Maybe So
- By: Becky Albertalli, Aisha Saeed
- Narrated by: Tiya Sircar, Michael Crouch
- Length: 10 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 271
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 245
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 246
Jamie Goldberg is cool with volunteering for his local state senate candidate - as long as he’s behind the scenes. When it comes to speaking to strangers (or, let’s face it, speaking at all to almost anyone) Jamie’s a choke artist. There’s no way he’d ever knock on doors to ask people for their votes...until he meets Maya. Maya Rehman’s having the worst Ramadan ever. Why her mother thinks the solution to her problems is political canvassing - with some awkward dude she hardly knows - is beyond her.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Great read!
- By Aly P on 06-04-20
-
Clap When You Land
- By: Elizabeth Acevedo
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Acevedo, Melania-Luisa Marte
- Length: 5 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,572
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 2,257
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,242
In a novel-in-verse that brims with grief and love, National Book Award-winning and New York Times best-selling author Elizabeth Acevedo writes about the devastation of loss, the difficulty of forgiveness, and the bittersweet bonds that shape our lives.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Narration
- By VB on 06-05-20
-
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You
- A Remix of the National Book Award-Winning Stamped from the Beginning
- By: Jason Reynolds, Ibram X. Kendi
- Narrated by: Jason Reynolds, Ibram X. Kendi - introduction
- Length: 4 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 3,607
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 3,136
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 3,109
The construct of race has always been used to gain and keep power, to create dynamics that separate and silence. This remarkable reimagining of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning reveals the history of racist ideas in America, and inspires hope for an antiracist future. It takes you on a race journey from then to now, shows you why we feel how we feel, and why the poison of racism lingers. It also proves that while racist ideas have always been easy to fabricate and distribute, they can also be discredited.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
You can't fight what you don't know-Jason Reynolds
- By C. Owens on 06-14-20