Young Adult Winner: Children of Blood and Bone
It was so easy to fall in love with this much-hyped debut work when I first listened to it last year, and I've been thrilled to see it take the YA world by storm. Not only did Tomi Adeyemi create an incredibly rich world, building on a uniquely West African mythology, but narrator Bahni Turpin brought such urgency and life to each of the characters. In this vibrant and intricate fantasy world, once-thriving magic has been squelched and people are being oppressed. It’s both the story of a people’s revolution against a sort of class system, and that of a young woman’s coming into her own as Zélie Adebola learns she's meant to be the catalyst that brings back magic and frees those who are gifted like her. And it’s only the start of a wonderful new series that's perfect for our times.—Abby, Audible Editor
Runners-Up
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Pride
- A Pride & Prejudice Remix
- By: Ibi Zoboi
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Acevedo
- Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Zuri Benitez has pride. Brooklyn pride, family pride, and pride in her Afro-Latino roots. But pride might not be enough to save her rapidly gentrifying neighborhood from becoming unrecognizable. When the wealthy Darcy family moves in across the street, Zuri wants nothing to do with their two teenage sons, even as her older sister, Janae, starts to fall for the charming Ainsley. She especially can’t stand the judgmental and arrogant Darius. Yet as Zuri and Darius are forced to find common ground, their initial dislike shifts into an unexpected understanding.
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Every girl from the hood needs to listen to this
- By Kiana on 09-19-18
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What If It's Us
- By: Becky Albertalli, Adam Silvera
- Narrated by: Noah Galvin, Froy Gutierrez
- Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it. Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things. But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them? Maybe nothing. After all, they get separated. Maybe everything. After all, they get reunited.
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Dull, meaningless slog
- By creatinine on 11-04-18
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Obsidio
- The Illuminae Files, Book 3
- By: Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
- Narrated by: Olivia Taylor Dudley, Olivia Mackenzie-Smith, Ryan Gesell, and others
- Length: 13 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Kady, Ezra, Hanna, and Nik narrowly escaped with their lives from the attacks on Heimdall station and now find themselves crammed with 2,000 refugees on the container ship Mao. With the jump station destroyed and their resources scarce, the only option is to return to Kerenza - but who knows what they'll find seven months after the invasion? Meanwhile Kady's cousin, Asha, survived the initial BeiTech assault and has joined Kerenza's ragtag underground resistance.
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Live a life worth dying for
- By Jessica M. Henn on 03-17-18
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The Poet X
- By: Elizabeth Acevedo
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Acevedo
- Length: 3 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Xiomara Batista feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighborhood. Ever since her body grew into curves, she has learned to let her fists and her fierceness do the talking. But Xiomara has plenty she wants to say, and she pours all her frustration and passion onto the pages of a leather notebook, reciting the words to herself like prayers - especially after she catches feelings for a boy in her bio class named Aman, whom her family can never know about.
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Better
- By KSS on 01-09-19
-
Pride
- A Pride & Prejudice Remix
- By: Ibi Zoboi
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Acevedo
- Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Zuri Benitez has pride. Brooklyn pride, family pride, and pride in her Afro-Latino roots. But pride might not be enough to save her rapidly gentrifying neighborhood from becoming unrecognizable. When the wealthy Darcy family moves in across the street, Zuri wants nothing to do with their two teenage sons, even as her older sister, Janae, starts to fall for the charming Ainsley. She especially can’t stand the judgmental and arrogant Darius. Yet as Zuri and Darius are forced to find common ground, their initial dislike shifts into an unexpected understanding.
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Every girl from the hood needs to listen to this
- By Kiana on 09-19-18
-
What If It's Us
- By: Becky Albertalli, Adam Silvera
- Narrated by: Noah Galvin, Froy Gutierrez
- Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it. Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things. But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them? Maybe nothing. After all, they get separated. Maybe everything. After all, they get reunited.
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Dull, meaningless slog
- By creatinine on 11-04-18
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Obsidio
- The Illuminae Files, Book 3
- By: Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
- Narrated by: Olivia Taylor Dudley, Olivia Mackenzie-Smith, Ryan Gesell, and others
- Length: 13 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Kady, Ezra, Hanna, and Nik narrowly escaped with their lives from the attacks on Heimdall station and now find themselves crammed with 2,000 refugees on the container ship Mao. With the jump station destroyed and their resources scarce, the only option is to return to Kerenza - but who knows what they'll find seven months after the invasion? Meanwhile Kady's cousin, Asha, survived the initial BeiTech assault and has joined Kerenza's ragtag underground resistance.
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Live a life worth dying for
- By Jessica M. Henn on 03-17-18
-
The Poet X
- By: Elizabeth Acevedo
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Acevedo
- Length: 3 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Xiomara Batista feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighborhood. Ever since her body grew into curves, she has learned to let her fists and her fierceness do the talking. But Xiomara has plenty she wants to say, and she pours all her frustration and passion onto the pages of a leather notebook, reciting the words to herself like prayers - especially after she catches feelings for a boy in her bio class named Aman, whom her family can never know about.
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Better
- By KSS on 01-09-19