Showing results by narrator "Kevin R. Free" in All Categories

How do you learn to be a Black man in America? For young Black men today, it means coming of age during the presidency of Barack Obama. It means witnessing the deaths of Oscar Grant, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Akai Gurley, and too many more. It means celebrating powerful moments of Black self-determination for LeBron James, Dave Chappelle, and Frank Ocean. In Invisible Man, Got the Whole World Watching, Mychal Denzel Smith chronicles his own personal and political education during these tumultuous years.

Can you keep a beat and bust a rhyme? Did you know that learning can help you earn a hard dime? With rhythm and flow, the voices of U.S. history hip-hop to life.

Wherever your home is, it’s probably not as tough as Gary, Indiana. Gary has been called a lot of things. The Armpit of Chicago. The Land of Robbing Hoods. Hell. For the children of Gary, living often boils down to surviving. Maybe these kids get caught up in games of gin rummy. Maybe they spin tops as a way to scratch something fun out of their desperation. Maybe they stand by helplessly as their tenement buildings go up in flames. Or maybe they get held up at gunpoint by somebody who wants more money than he could steal from his church collection box.

Jesse Owens’ mother frequently told him, “Put your best foot forward.” So Jesse followed her advice, worked hard, and made his dreams come true as one of the greatest Olympic champions of all time. But it wasn’t easy, as Jesse had to overcome many obstacles. Even though World War II hadn’t started yet, Adolf Hitler controlled Germany during the 1936 Olympics. He wanted to prove during the games that Germans were a superior “race” to other people of the world. Little did he know that a black American would smash those claims.

Winner of the Sonja H. Stone Prize in Literature, Preston L. Allen’s Jesus Boy was listed by O, the Oprah Magazine as one of “Ten More Titles to Read Now.” Sixteen-year-old Elwyn Parker is dedicated to God. But when the one he loves marries another man, Elwin gets involved with a much older woman. Soon, his lust will test his devotion - and may alienate him from his congregation. 

This Old West adventure from genre stalwart Mike Kearby comes heartily recommended by Historical Novels Review. Free Anderson's days as a soldier may be over, but his war is just beginning. An enemy stalks him, waiting to exact vengeance. Now framed and set to hang in Texas, Free is aided by a friend from his army days. Together again on the trail of Free's accuser, the two men encounter such towering figures as Wild Bill Hickok and General Custer.

Making Futures brings together 18 young entrepreneurs from 14 countries doing incredible work across the continent. Their stories are both inspirational and aspirational, providing a template for listeners who might be interested in embarking on their own entrepreneurial journey, and allowing others to see the incredible energy and work that is happening across the continent.

A girl walks home from school. She's tall for her age. She's wearing her winter coat. Her headphones are in. She's hurrying. She never makes it home. In the aftermath, while law enforcement tries to justify the response, one fact remains: A police officer has shot and killed an unarmed 13-year-old girl. The community is thrown into upheaval, leading to unrest, a growing movement to protest the senseless taking of black lives, and the arrival of white supremacist counter-demonstrators. 

A stunning collection of new fiction previously published as The Decameron Project and originally commissioned by The New York Times Magazine as the COVID-19 pandemic first spread across the world, from twenty-nine authors including Margaret Atwood, Tommy Orange, Edwidge Danticat, Rachel Kushner...

Melvin Robinson wants a strong, smooth He-Man voice that lets him say what he wants, when he wants - especially to his crush Millie Takazawa, and Gary Ratliff, who constantly puts him down. But the thought of starting high school is only making his stutter worse. And Melvin's growing awareness that racism is everywhere - not just in the South where a boy his age has been brutally killed by two White men, but also in his own hometown of Spokane - is making him realize that he can't mutely stand by.

Two-time Caldecott Honor author/illustrator Lane Smith tells a whimsical story about a little rabbit searching for the best gift for someone very special. A thoughtful little Rabbit sets out to find the perfect gift for his Nana. He knows she will love anything he brings her but Rabbit wants...

From the New York Times bestselling authors of All the Bright Places and Every Day comes a story of hope, siblinghood, and finding your home in the people who matter the most. Subject: You. Missing. Ezra Ahern wakes up one day to find his older sister, Bea, gone. No note, no sign, nothing but an...

From the brilliant mind of New York Times bestselling author David Yoon comes a lightning-fast and scorchingly observant thriller about how we can save ourselves from the very real perils of a virtual world. Max, a data whiz at the social media company Wren, has gotten a firsthand glimpse of the...

*"[An] excellent exercise in narrative nonfiction." --Booklist (starred review) From New York Times bestselling author Andrew Maraniss comes the remarkable true story of Glenn Burke, a "hidden figure" in the history of sports: the inventor of the high five and the first openly gay MLB player...

One of Silicon Valley's top leadership trainers distills his proven framework that has empowered teams at the world's most innovative companies--from Google and Facebook to Cisco Systems and biotech giant Genentech/Roche--to do the best work of their lives. Richard Lee has worked with thousands...

"For junior conspiracy theorists everywhere." - Booklist Driftwood Harbor may seem like an ordinarily boring, small New England town, but there's something extremely strange and downright creepy happening within town limits. Twins Beacon and Everleigh McCullough are moving from their home in...

The renowned radio host and one of the most trusted voices in the nation candidly and compassionately addresses the hotly contested right-to-die movement, of which she is one of our most inspiring champions. The basis for the acclaimed PBS series. Through interviews with terminally ill patients...

After exiting the Trials, Dabu and Uhane set off in pursuit of Phoenix. However, after encountering a magically charged sandstorm, the pair find themselves far from their intended course. Running short on food and water, they have no choice but to try to find civilization. Instead, they find deserted villages, rumors of a terrifying beast that stalks the night, and no way to turn back. All they can do is forge on, both to find supplies and to discover what sort of creature can send entire villages fleeing for their lives.

"listeners looking for a quick action story will find that Reid's novel paired with Free's skilled narration provides a pleasurable listening experience." - AudioFile Magazine From beloved YA author Kimberly Reid comes an exciting new audiobook that will speak to young listeners. A CIA prodigy's...

Celebrate the seasons with The Very Hungry Caterpillar and his friends in this classic collection of tales! First Winter: There are so many ways to spend a chilly winter day. Join The Very Hungry Caterpillar and explore everything winter has to offer! Welcome winter with The Very Hungry...