Songs of Irie

By: Asha Ashanti Bromfield

Narrated by: Asha Ashanti Bromfield

Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Short-listed, Golden Crown Literary Awards, 2024

This program is read by the author.

"Author and narrator Asha Bromfield offers an engrossing performance of this coming-of-age audiobook. Bromfield's experience as an actress and her ease with Jamaican Patois will draw listeners into a story that has multiple levels of emotional intensity."—AudioFile on Hurricane Summer

Perfect for fans of The Black Kids, Songs of Irie is a sweeping coming-of-age novel from Asha Bromfield about a friendship struggling to survive amidst the Jamaican civil unrest of the 1970s.

It's 1976 and Jamaica is on fire. The country is on the eve of important elections and the warring political parties have made the divisions between the poor and the wealthy even wider. And Irie and Jilly come from very different backgrounds: Irie is from the heart of Kingston, where fighting in the streets is common. Jilly is from the hills, where mansions nestled within lush gardens remain safe behind gates. But the two bond through a shared love of Reggae music, spending time together at Irie's father's record store, listening to so-called rebel music that opens Jilly's mind to a sound and a way of thinking she's never heard before.

As tensions build in the streets, so do tensions between the two girls. A budding romance between them complicates things further as the push and pull between their two lives becomes impossible to bear. For Irie, fighting—with her words and her voice—is her only option. Blood is shed on the streets in front of her every day. She has no choice. But Jilly can always choose to escape.

Can their bond survive this impossible divide?

Asha Bromfield has written a compelling, emotional and heart-rending story of a friendship during wartime and what it means to fight for your words, your life, and the love of your life.

A Macmillan Audio production from Wednesday Books.

©2023 Asha Ashanti Bromfield (P)2023 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

* One of Indigo Canada's Best Books of 2021 *

* One of NYPL's Best Books for Teens 2021 *

* One of YALSA's Best Fiction for Young Adults *

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, "The Best YA Novels to Read This Summer"

THE NEW YORK TIMES, "13 Y.A. Books to Add to Your Reading List This Spring"

FLORIDA KEYS WEEKLY, "Staff Picks for Best Read, Watch & Listen"

BUZZFEED, "40 Contemporary Books We're Looking Forward To Reading In 2021"

BUZZFEED, "37 Must-Read YA Books By Black Authors That Come Out The First Half Of This Year"

“Songs of Irie is a powerful and urgent reminder of what’s worth fighting for in a world determined to tear you apart. Irie and Jilly’s love for one another is boldly vulnerable, achingly real, and absolutely unforgettable. Bromfield is a bright, burning talent with a voice that demands—and deserves—to be heard. A stunning book.” — Courtney Summers New York Times bestselling author of I’m The Girl

Great book very well written

I loved everything about this book I couldn't stop listening. Very well written I pictured the whole story in head I can't wait for the next book. Would definitely recommend this book you will not be disappointed.

Everything about this audiobook is amazing!!

I loved it the way Asha brought the book to life. To me listening to her change the voice for every character giving them personality. I felt the emotions of each character. If they where sad i was sad. if they where happy i was happy. i really was attached to the characters. That kept me listening. Amazing performance. The story is beautiful and tragic. The story it taught me to cherish the ones you love. Family and friends. Never know when and how you will loose them. I give this book a 1,000 out of ten I will listen to it again and again. This is my favorite story. This audiobook is definitely worth a listen.

Asha Bromfield has done it again!!!

The book is so informative. I learned so much about the political climate that prompted the rise of reggae music. This was also a great examination of the intersections of color and class in Jamaica. Read! This! Book! You won’t regret it😁

The narration was perfection! She can SANG!!

Loved everything about this book! Asha does it again! I loved both perspectives during such a tumultuous time in Jamaica. Very eye opening!

Great story but perpetuates irritating troupe

I really liked the story, the characters were written very well and they all had complex narratives, which was very enjoyable, and the performance was really great, but without spoiling the story, it perpetuates an irritating and unfortunate troupe often done in stories with romance between two women. This kind of spoiled the story, once I figured out it was going to happen.