Narrator Ron Butler lends expertise, elegance, and expressiveness to his heartbreakingly beautiful performance of King, a black tween whose older brother has died. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Kacen Callender’s must-listen audiobook for middle graders. Butler’s narration mirrors all of King’s emotions as the story sensitively explores racism, homophobia, child abuse, death, and sexuality. Each character, and most especially King, comes to life through Butler’s voice. Published by Scholastic Audiobooks. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Jolina Petersheim’s How the Light Gets In — a 2020 Audie Awards winner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listeners will want to have a pen and a journal at the ready as they work through Layla F. Saad’s 28 days of examining the ways white supremacy is acting through them. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly tells host Jo Reed about the impact of this workbook that requires real listener participation. Saad first shared the Me and White Supremacy challenge on Instagram in 2018, and the challenge went viral. When she repackaged it as a free downloadable workbook, it was downloaded nearly 100,000 times. Now Saad has added new content, providing more personal and historical context as she helps listeners reflect on their relationship with white privilege, white fragility, and more. Saad narrates clearly and smoothly and keeps listeners in line—you will want to push back against being held accountable, and she knows just what to say to counter that impulse. This is life-changing work. Published by Blackstone Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Jolina Petersheim’s How the Light Gets In — a 2020 Audie Awards winner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Glennon Doyle opens her heart to listeners in her vivid new memoir. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about the power of Doyle’s writing and her moving narration. Doyle is a bestselling author, motivational speaker, and philanthropist, and she narrates with passion as she gets incredibly personal with her storytelling. She speaks about how society has “tamed” women to act and live in certain prescribed ways, stuffing every aspect of their true selves away. She shares insights on why it is so essential to listen to our inner voices, and how her life has changed as a result. No one but Doyle herself could read this memoir. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Jolina Petersheim’s How the Light Gets In — a 2020 Audie Awards winner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An extraordinary production of Pulitzer Prize-winner Elizabeth Strout’s novel of the same name. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this dramatic adaptation of MY NAME IS LUCY BARTON, voiced by actor Laura Linney, who also stars in the Broadway play. Linney alternately transforms herself into tough yet fragile Lucy and Lucy’s croak-voiced mother. Rona Munro’s exquisite adaptation pares the story to its core. Lucy, waking from an operation during a long hospital stay, finds her estranged mother keeping watch. This surprise triggers a flood of memories, and listeners hear the desperation, fury, fear, and yearning of those years of poverty-stricken childhood. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Jolina Petersheim’s How the Light Gets In — a 2020 Audie Awards winner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The plot of EIGHT PERFECT MURDERS is ready-made for classic mystery buffs. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this twisty and surprising audiobook. Narrator Graham Halstead is genuine with his dialogue, especially as Malcolm Kershaw, the crime fiction bookstore owner who seduces listeners into trusting him. Kershaw posted a blog describing eight mysteries in which the murderer succeeds in committing the perfect unsolvable crime. Now, several years later, the FBI is in touch because someone seems to be imitating those murders in real life. A clever audiobook by an author who truly appreciates the genre. Published by Harper Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Jolina Petersheim’s How the Light Gets In — a 2020 Audie Awards winner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dive into an alternative history where Princess Elizabeth and Margaret were sent to Clonmillis Hall in Ireland during the London Blitz. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this new look at World War II from Benjamin Black. Barrie Kreinik narrates with admirable skill, giving the secreted away “Ellen” and “Mary” believable voices, with an imperial no-nonsense voice for the future queen, while Mary vibrates through a range of voices, always letting her feelings show. The unwilling hosts, their help, and the townspeople all come to life with distinct Irish lilts. Published by Macmillan Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Jolina Petersheim’s How the Light Gets In — a 2020 Audie Awards winner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AudioFile’s Josephine Reed spoke with author and National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Jason Reynolds about STAMPED, a remix of Ibram X. Kendi’s STAMPED FROM THE BEGINNING for young people. Highly recommended as a work for young readers, STAMPED, which Reynolds also narrates, is accessible to anyone interested in learning about how racism and antiracism developed in America. In all of his work, Reynolds is known for writing and speaking directly to young listeners, meeting them where they are, and helping young Black readers see themselves reflected in books they are excited to read. In this bonus episode of the Behind the Mic podcast, Reynolds speaks about the importance of writing for younger readers, the power of audiobook listening, and how he came to work on STAMPED. Find more audiobook recommendations, including reviews of Jason Reynolds’ audiobooks, at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Jolina Petersheim’s How the Light Gets In — a 2020 Audie Awards winner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AudioFile’s Robin Whitten and host Jo Reed talk about a revelatory new work about older people and Western medicine. Don’t skip on! You too will be old one day, and you likely have friends and family who are older now. Eliza Foss offers a masterful narration of the audiobook, giving voice to Aronson’s humane and engaging reflection on what she has learned during her decades as a gerontologist and primary care physician. Foss keeps listeners tuned in through subtle engagement and sustains the long form, keeping our interest and maintaining the pace and momentum. The audiobook is full of stories and data that will enlighten, amuse, infuriate, and arm you to go forward into the land of wrinkles and self-advocacy. Published by Bloomsbury Publishing. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com https://audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Jolina Petersheim’s How the Light Gets In — a 2020 Audie Awards winner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This 2020 Audie Finalist is told in the voices of the women interviewed. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten talk about the feeling of genuine interaction that personalizes the audiobook format. For those looking for something new in inspirational listening, this audiobook is a creative experiment worth exploring. Two hundred women from many backgrounds were asked the same five questions. Interviewees range from actress Ashley Judd to chef Alice Waters to Nobel Peace Laureate Rigoberta Menchú, all of whom speak passionately on the unifying theme of the importance of social justice. Published by Chronicle Books. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Jolina Petersheim’s How the Light Gets In — a 2020 Audie Awards winner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb share details about the winning audiobook in this Audie Awards category. Hearing directly from the author can increase the emotional impact of an audiobook, whether it’s compelling fiction or a memoir that you just can’t put down. Hear a sound clip from this year’s winner as we wrap up our week of Audie Awards coverage with Michele and Jo. The finalists for the 2020 Audie Awards Narration by the Author are: BECOMING by Michelle Obama, read by Michelle Obama, published by Penguin Random House Audio INSIDE OUT by Demi Moore, read by Demi Moore, published by HarperAudio MADAME BADOBEDAH by Sophie Dahl, read by Sophie Dahl, published by Bolinda Publishing SHORTEST WAY HOME by Pete Buttigieg, read by Pete Buttigieg, published by HighBridge Audio, a division of Recorded Books TOUGH LOVE by Susan Rice, read by Susan Rice, published by Simon & Schuster Audio WITH THE FIRE ON HIGH by Elizabeth Acevedo, read by Elizabeth Acevedo, published by HarperAudio Find a full list of 2020 Audie Award finalists and winners at theaudies.com Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Jolina Petersheim’s How the Light Gets In — a 2020 Audie Awards winner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Autobiographies and memoirs are a favorite genre in audiobooks, and the subject matter in this category can be wide ranging. Hear host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the impressive finalists and the winner who took home the 2020 Audie Award home in the Autobiography/Memoir category. Listen in for a clip from the winning audiobook, too. The finalists for the 2020 Audie Awards in Autobiography/Memoir are: BECOMING by Michelle Obama, read by Michelle Obama, published by Penguin Random House Audio FROM SCRATCH by Tembi Locke, read by Tembi Locke, published by Simon & Schuster Audio ME by Elton John, read by Taron Egerton, Elton John, published by Macmillan Audio MOTHERSTRUCK! by Staceyann Chin, read by Staceyann Chin, published by Audible Studios TOO MUCH IS NOT ENOUGH by Andrew Rannells, read by Andrew Rannells, published by Penguin Random House Audio Find a full list of 2020 Audie Award finalists and winners at theaudies.com Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Jolina Petersheim’s How the Light Gets In — a 2020 Audie Awards winner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re celebrating the 25th annual Audie Award winners all week with host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb. Today they’re featuring the winner of the Best Male Narrator category, which was surely a tough choice for the Audies judges among so many skilled performances. Listen for their reveal of the winner, and hear a clip of the winning audiobook. The finalists for the 2020 Audie Awards Best Male Narrator are: THE DUTCH HOUSE by Ann Patchett, read by Tom Hanks, published by HarperAudio EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED by Jonathan Safran Foer, read by Robert Petkoff, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt KINGDOM OF THE BLIND by Louise Penny, read by Robert Bathurst, published by Macmillan Audio THE NICKEL BOYS by Colson Whitehead, read by JD Jackson, published by Penguin Random House Audio WATERSHIP DOWN by Richard Adams, read by Peter Capaldi, published by Blackstone Publishing Find a full list of 2020 Audie Award finalists and winners at theaudies.com Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Jolina Petersheim’s How the Light Gets In — a 2020 Audie Awards winner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AudioFile’s Michele Cobb and host Jo Reed discuss the biggest night in the audiobook world, the Audie Awards. Last night was the 25th annual celebration of audiobook excellence. Tune in today as we reveal the winner of the Best Female Narrator award, a category that includes some of the best narrators in the industry, recognized for their excellent work on compelling audiobooks. The finalists for the 2020 Audie Awards Best Female Narrator are: ALL THE LOST THINGS by Michelle Sacks, read by Cassandra Morris, published by Hachette Audio THE BOY by Tami Hoag, read by Hillary Huber, published by Brilliance Audio NOTHING TO SEE HERE by Kevin Wilson, read by Marin Ireland, published by HarperAudio PRIME SUSPECT by Lynda La Plante, read by Rachel Atkins, published by Zaffle THE TEN THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY by Alix E. Harrow, read by January LaVoy, published by Hachette Audio Find a full list of 2020 Audie Award finalists and winners at theaudies.com Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Jolina Petersheim’s How the Light Gets In — a 2020 Audie Awards winner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb talk about the 2020 Audie Awards, one of the biggest events of the year in the audiobook world. Tonight, March 2, is the 25th annual Audie Awards gala, where the big winners will be announced. Today Jo and Michele are discussing the finalists in the Audiobook of the Year category, titles with high-quality content and production values that are recognized as benchmarks of excellence for the industry and serve as worthy ambassadors to new and current listeners.  The finalists for the 2020 Audie Awards Audiobook of the Year are: ANGELS IN AMERICA: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes by Tony Kushner, read by Andrew Garfield, Nathan Lane, Susan Brown, Denise Gough, and a Full Cast, published by Penguin Random House Audio BECOMING by Michelle Obama, read by Michelle Obama, published by Penguin Random House Audio CHARLOTTE'S WEB by E.B. White, read by Meryl Streep, January LaVoy, Kirby Heyborne, MacLeod Andrews, and a Full Cast, published by Penguin Random House Audio THE DUTCH HOUSE by Ann Patchett, read by Tom Hanks, published by HarperAudio THE ONLY PLANE IN THE SKY: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff, read by Holter Graham and a Full 45-Person Cast, published by Simon & Schuster Audio THE TESTAMENTS by Margaret Atwood, read by Ann Dowd, Bryce Dallas Howard, Mae Whitman, Derek Jacobi, Tantoo Cardinal, Margaret Atwood, published by Penguin Random House Audio Find a full list of 2020 Audie Award finalists and winners at theaudies.com Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Jolina Petersheim’s How the Light Gets In — a 2020 Audie Awards finalist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Jonathan Smith discuss this deliciously grisly full-cast recording that captures the campy horror of EC Comics’ 1950s stories. The cast features Phil Proctor, Denise Poirier, and an outstanding performance by Kevin Grevioux as the Vault Keeper, whose rumbling voice and wicked laugh nearly steals the show. A multilayered soundscape including creepy period music and carefully engineered sound effects (footsteps that advance ominously out of the darkness, screams that echo in an abandoned house) contributes to the unsettling atmosphere that marks each tale. Published by The AudioComics Company. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Looking for a bookish community that focuses on positivity and inspiration? That’s Page Chaser’s mission: to have conversations with avid readers who believe that everything is worthy of discussion – from Mister Rogers to the Hunger Games to Little Women. Join the Page Chaser crew at www.PageChaser.com, where you can read articles, watch videos, sign up for amazing bookish deals, and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listeners get a sense of 19-year-old Sally Miyake’s curiosity and intuition about the world in a new mystery for children from NPR’s Scott Simon. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Jonathan Smith discuss Lauren Fortgang’s skill at bringing the residents and staff of Sunnyside Plaza to life. The author draws on his own experiences working in a group home for adults with developmental disabilities. Sally and her friends have independence and community, and when a disturbing pattern emerges, she becomes enlisted by detectives to help solve the case. Published by Hachette Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com If you’re looking for some bookish positivity, visit the crew at Page Chaser for conversations about everything from the Hunger Games to Mister Rogers to Little Women. Join the Page Chaser crew at www.PageChaser.com. While there, be sure to sign up for Page Chaser Deals, which will give you a daily dose of the best inspirational audiobook and ebook deals on the internet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Jefferson Mays is the perfect partner in suspending disbelief for this latest entry in the Pendergast mystery series. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Jonathan Smith discuss Mays’s dry, cultured elocution that so perfectly captures Pendergast’s personality. Pendergast and his new partner, Agent Coldmoon, are trying to discover why there are scores of amputated feet washing up on the shores of Captiva Island in Florida. The real tour de force in Mays’s performance is his utter attention and commitment to the plot. He adds to the pleasures of this kind of high-voltage blam-pow adventure. Published by Hachette Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Looking for a bookish community that focuses on positivity and inspiration? That’s Page Chaser’s mission: to have conversations with avid readers who believe that everything is worthy of discussion – from Mister Rogers to the Hunger Games to Little Women. Join the Page Chaser crew at www.PageChaser.com, where you can read articles, watch videos, sign up for amazing bookish deals, and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dion Graham offers an amazing performance of P.I. Leonid McGill’s descent into a tangled web of secrets and deceit, gunmen and assassins. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Jonathan Smith discuss why Walter Mosley and Dion Graham are a must-listen combination. “Catfish” Worry, a 94-year-old black blues musician, asks Leonid to deliver a letter to a seemingly white billionaire’s daughter before her wedding, letting her know that her father is his son. Graham delivers Mosley’s mystery with his usual excellence, giving each character an individual personality. Together, Mosley and Graham deliver suspense best listened to. Published by Hachette. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com If you’re looking for some bookish positivity, visit the crew at Page Chaser for conversations about everything from the Hunger Games to Mister Rogers to Little Women. Join the Page Chaser crew at www.PageChaser.com. While there, be sure to sign up for Page Chaser Deals, which will give you a daily dose of the best inspirational audiobook and ebook deals on the internet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Holter Graham provides a stellar narration for Joseph Finder’s latest audiobook. AudioFile’s Jonathan Smith tells host Jo Reed about Graham’s skill with a colorful cast and a twisting storyline. Private Investigator Nick Heller infiltrates a powerful family hiding a sinister secret. At the funeral for an army buddy who suffered from opiate addiction, Nick is approached by a whistleblower suggesting his friend was murdered. Holter Graham keeps the story on an even keel with his clever pacing and delivery of dialogue. Published by Penguin Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Looking for a bookish community that focuses on positivity and inspiration? That’s Page Chaser’s mission: to have conversations with avid readers who believe that everything is worthy of discussion – from Mister Rogers to the Hunger Games to Little Women. Join the Page Chaser crew at www.PageChaser.com, where you can read articles, watch videos, sign up for amazing bookish deals, and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Nic Stone and narrator Dion Graham make a powerful team. Stone’s newest audiobook CLEAN GETAWAY came out this winter, and it’s another Earphones Award winner narrated by Dion Graham. We thought this was the perfect time to revisit our conversation with the author and narrator duo. Host Jo Reed spoke with both Stone and Graham when their audiobook, DEAR MARTIN, first released.  Bringing an author and narrator together allows for a fascinating perspective on the creative forces behind audiobooks we love. Listen for a moving conversation about race and trauma, and learn more about Stone’s character Justyce McAllister, who chronicles his anger and trauma following a dangerous encounter with the police. DEAR MARTIN combines Justyce’s letters addressed to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with in-class conversations told from many perspectives. It’s a tricky audiobook to narrate on multiple levels, and Graham rises to the challenge to show Justyce’s depth of character and inner conflict. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Looking for a bookish community that focuses on positivity and inspiration? That’s Page Chaser’s mission: to have conversations with avid readers who believe that everything is worthy of discussion – from Mister Rogers to the Hunger Games to Little Women. Join the Page Chaser crew at www.PageChaser.com, where you can read articles, watch videos, sign up for amazing bookish deals, and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listeners won’t look at the discarded things around them in the same way after hearing this poetry collection on audio. Naomi Shihab Nye shares her experience as a self-appointed trash collector, and she narrates with a warm voice and a storyteller’s cadence. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly share their thoughts on Nye’s appealing and engaging narration style, which makes her clever and insightful poems sound like musings—and calls to action. Nye takes a closer look at the things we throw away and considers the experience of refugees. The collection makes a wonderful tool for the classroom and will reward repeat listening. Published by HarperAudio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Looking for a bookish community that focuses on positivity and inspiration? That’s Page Chaser’s mission: to have conversations with avid readers who believe that everything is worthy of discussion – from Mister Rogers to the Hunger Games to Little Women. Join the Page Chaser crew at www.PageChaser.com, where you can read articles, watch videos, sign up for amazing bookish deals, and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Nancy Wu’s arch, knowing tone sets the stage for a family saga steeped in drama and danger. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Tiffany Tsao’s compelling literary audiobook that turns the thriller genre on its head. Listeners discover at the beginning of the audiobook that Estella has murdered 300 people by poisoning the shark fin soup at her grandfather’s birthday party. Wu voices Gwendolyn, Estella’s sister, who is the family’s sole survivor. As she traces back through family history to discover her sister’s motivations, listeners are taken into a world of luxury and jealousy in Indonesian high society. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com If you’re looking for some bookish positivity, visit the crew at Page Chaser for conversations about everything from the Hunger Games to Mister Rogers to Little Women. Join the Page Chaser crew at www.PageChaser.com. While there, be sure to sign up for Page Chaser Deals, which will give you a daily dose of the best inspirational audiobook and ebook deals on the internet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AudioFile Golden Voice Edoardo Ballerini narrates Isabel Allende’s lyrical prose with a sensitive and heartfelt narration. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly share their thoughts on Allende’s new work of historical fiction, set during the Spanish Civil War. Franco’s Fascists have overthrown the government, and the people of Barcelona are forced to flee. Allende traces the story of the Dalmau family as they escape first across the mountains to France, and then, with the help of poet Pablo Neruda, find refuge in Chile until they must flee another repressive government. Ballerini expertly delivers Allende’s reminder of how delicate the boundary is between precious freedom and insidious tyranny. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Looking for a bookish community that focuses on positivity and inspiration? That’s Page Chaser’s mission: to have conversations with avid readers who believe that everything is worthy of discussion – from Mister Rogers to the Hunger Games to Little Women. Join the Page Chaser crew at www.PageChaser.com, where you can read articles, watch videos, sign up for amazing bookish deals, and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrating alternating chapters, Michael Crouch and Tiya Sircar are just as appealing as the pair of Georgia teenagers they portray. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly tells host Jo Reed all the many reasons she loved listening to the new YA audiobook co-authored by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed. Jamie and Maya are roped into canvassing for a state senate candidate, and both have their reasons for being nervous about knocking on strangers’ doors. For Jamie, casual conversation is hard, but nothing is scarier than the idea of giving a speech at his little sister’s bat mitzvah. Maya’s feeling vulnerable about her parents’ separation during Ramadan, and losing her best friend. They’re motivated to get even more involved in local politics when they face instances of personal and systemic discrimination. Listeners will be equally invested in Jamie and Maya’s growing relationship and the outcome of the election, and may find themselves inspired to take political action. Published by HarperAudio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com If you’re looking for some bookish positivity, visit the crew at Page Chaser for conversations about everything from the Hunger Games to Mister Rogers to Little Women. Join the Page Chaser crew at www.PageChaser.com. While there, be sure to sign up for Page Chaser Deals, which will give you a daily dose of the best inspirational audiobook and ebook deals on the internet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a story that shifts through time, Ramón de Ocampo is a welcome guide, and his narration is as lush and mesmerizing as the prose itself. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about Paul Yoon’s historical novel that begins in Laos in 1969, and shows three very different paths taken by teenagers caught up in the bombing of the country by the United States. Alisak, Pranny, and Noi have found work in an almost completely abandoned field hospital, getting paid to ride motorbikes through streets and fields of unexploded bombs to ferry in supplies and the injured. The friends are separated when a doctor helps them escape, and we discover how tiny actions can have huge ramifications. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Looking for a bookish community that focuses on positivity and inspiration? That’s Page Chaser’s mission: to have conversations with avid readers who believe that everything is worthy of discussion – from Mister Rogers to the Hunger Games to Little Women. Join the Page Chaser crew at www.PageChaser.com, where you can read articles, watch videos, sign up for amazing bookish deals, and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A crowd-pleasing short story collection about love from young adult author David Levithan. AudioFile’s Michele Cobb tells host Jo Reed what she loved about this audiobook that includes representation from several points across the LGBTQIA spectrum. David Levithan narrates autobiographical stories, while an ensemble casts brings stories about new and favorite characters at quiz bowls, in a youth choir, and trapped in a snowstorm. Michele was especially delighted to hear that the collection is born from the author’s tradition of writing short stories for his friends on Valentine’s Day. Published by Listening Library. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Looking for a bookish community that focuses on positivity and inspiration? That’s Page Chaser’s mission: to have conversations with avid readers who believe that everything is worthy of discussion – from Mister Rogers to the Hunger Games to Little Women. Join the Page Chaser crew at www.PageChaser.com, where you can read articles, watch videos, sign up for amazing bookish deals, and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Superlative writing and research and stellar narration make this a powerful listening experience. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb share their thoughts on Ann Napolitano’s new fiction audiobook about a plane crash with just one survivor. Narrator Cassandra Campbell keeps the many characters and frequent time-shifts in focus. As Adler family is flying to L.A., listeners become acquainted with the family and other travelers, including 12-year-old Edward. Campbell’s voicing of the characters makes each distinct and believable. Chapters alternate with the lead-up to the accident and Edward’s miraculous survival. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com If you’re looking for some bookish positivity, visit the crew at Page Chaser for conversations about everything from the Hunger Games to Mister Rogers to Little Women. Join the Page Chaser crew at www.PageChaser.com. While there, be sure to sign up for Page Chaser Deals, which will give you a daily dose of the best inspirational audiobook and ebook deals on the internet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Eoin Colfer’s latest fantasy—and it’s something completely different. Narrator Johnny Heller’s pitch-perfect timing and thoughtful characterizations make the action and humor pop in this very adult contemporary fantasy. The setting is the Louisiana bayou, and the characters include the last of the dragons, an opportunistic teenager, and a dirty constable. Heller’s flawless and unique portrayals of the pop-culture–loving, crotchety dragon; naïve but hardworking Squib; and the evil, vengeful constable are unforgettable. Heller brings out the best in this fun but violent fantasy. Published by HarperAudio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Looking for a bookish community that focuses on positivity and inspiration? That’s Page Chaser’s mission: to have conversations with avid readers who believe that everything is worthy of discussion – from Mister Rogers to the Hunger Games to Little Women. Join the Page Chaser crew at www.PageChaser.com, where you can read articles, watch videos, sign up for amazing bookish deals, and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listeners are in capable hands as Ada Calhoun persuasively lists the social and personal considerations that plague women from their twenties onward. AudioFile’s Michele Cobb tells host Jo Reed how she connected with this audiobook on contemporary American women’s angst and malaise. Calhoun interviewed more than 200 women while she was writing this book, and listening to the audiobook makes us feel as if we’re hearing their voices, increasing the impact. Calhoun is precise, measured, and empathetic as she narrates, though she also manages to find some humor in a heavy topic. Published by Audible, Inc. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com If you’re looking for some bookish positivity, visit the crew at Page Chaser for conversations about everything from the Hunger Games to Mister Rogers to Little Women. Join the Page Chaser crew at www.PageChaser.com. While there, be sure to sign up for Page Chaser Deals, which will give you a daily dose of the best inspirational audiobook and ebook deals on the internet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Follow Anna Wiener’s journey from the elitist world of publishing to the intense world of startups in this new memoir. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb talk about Wiener’s heady journey from book nerd to tech entrepreneur, delivered with an easy narration style by Suehyla El-Attar. She is energetic, funny, and swift while sharing Wiener’s clear and insightful perspectives on the tech bro world of Silicon Valley. Published by Macmillan Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Looking for a bookish community that focuses on positivity and inspiration? That’s Page Chaser’s mission: to have conversations with avid readers who believe that everything is worthy of discussion – from Mister Rogers to the Hunger Games to Little Women. Join the Page Chaser crew at www.PageChaser.com, where you can read articles, watch videos, sign up for amazing bookish deals, and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cynthia Farrell’s narration gives the listener a delicious sense of having been transplanted to Havana, a treat you couldn’t get from the page alone. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss a new intricately plotted mystery from Teresa Dovalpage. Juan, a Cuban construction worker who fled by raft 20 years earlier, has returned to Havana for the first time. He seeks out old friends and ex-girlfriends, but soon after, one of them is murdered. Padrino, a Santería priest and former detective on the Havana police force, must untangle complicated relationships that go back decades to discover the killer. Farrell’s performance is atmospheric and assured, making this a delightful listen. Published by Recorded Books. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Looking for a bookish community that focuses on positivity and inspiration? That’s Page Chaser’s mission: to have conversations with avid readers who are believe that everything is worthy of discussion – from Mister Rogers to the Hunger Games to Little Women. Join the Page Chaser crew at www.PageChaser.com, where you can read articles, watch videos, sign up for amazing bookish deals, and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Take a voyage with Doctor Dolittle in a new recording of three classic stories. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten talk about the fun of listening to audiobooks with children, especially one with such an endearing, excitable, and eccentric naturalist. Narrator James Langton embodies the exuberant fun and charm of these stories without overdoing the voicing of the talkative animals. Dolittle’s peaceful approach to the world and all its creatures makes his adventures worth listening to and discussing with young listeners, especially to break down the colonialist attitudes. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com If you’re looking for some bookish positivity, visit the crew at Page Chaser for conversations about everything from the Hunger Games to Mister Rogers to Little Women. Join the Page Chaser crew at www.PageChaser.com. While there, be sure to sign up for Page Chaser Deals, which will give you a daily dose of the best inspirational audiobook and ebook deals on the internet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten share what they love about this new collection of 44 short but moving biographies of Black Americans from ESPN’s The Undefeated. Narrator JD Jackson’s warm baritone makes an excellent companion to chapters featuring familiar icons, such as Barack Obama and Oprah, as well as lesser-known figures, such as Robert Abbott. This inspiring collection features activists, athletes, scientists, entrepreneurs, and musicians. An accessible and fascinating collection for young listeners that will leave them inspired to learn more. Published by Dreamscape. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Looking for a bookish community that focuses on positivity and inspiration? That’s Page Chaser’s mission: to have conversations with avid readers who are believe that everything is worthy of discussion – from Mister Rogers to the Hunger Games to Little Women. Join the Page Chaser crew at www.PageChaser.com, where you can read articles, watch videos, sign up for amazing bookish deals, and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A masterwork of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen is given a contemporary feel in a new L.A. Theatre Works production. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten share their thoughts on this piece of audio theater. The varied voices interact at breakneck speed and pacing, which can create a simultaneously overwhelming yet rewarding listening experience. Ibsen’s play is in full dramatic effect, with Jocelyn Towne’s Hedda raving and her husband jauntily oblivious as the intrigue of a marriage with a past plays out in our ears. Published by L.A. Theatre Works. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com If you’re looking for some bookish positivity, visit the crew at Page Chaser for conversations about everything from the Hunger Games to Mister Rogers to Little Women. Join the Page Chaser crew at www.PageChaser.com. While there, be sure to sign up for Page Chaser Deals, which will give you a daily dose of the best inspirational audiobook and ebook deals on the internet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Corretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award-winning author Mildred D. Taylor concludes her Logan family series with this moving audiobook. AudioFile’s Robin Whitten and host Jo Reed talk about the subtle yet emotive performance by Allyson Johnson. She welcomes listeners with her warm narration of a story centered around Cassie Logan, whom listeners first met as an 8-year-old in ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY (1976). Now Cassie is grown, and she’s moving from Mississippi north, and then to California, discovering that prejudice and racism exist even all the way across the country. The drama of the plot and the depth of the characterizations ensure that this audiobook is unforgettable. Published by Listening Library. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Looking for a bookish community that focuses on positivity and inspiration? That’s Page Chaser’s mission: to have conversations with avid readers who are believe that everything is worthy of discussion – from Mister Rogers to the Hunger Games to Little Women. Join the Page Chaser crew at www.PageChaser.com, where you can read articles, watch videos, sign up for amazing bookish deals, and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chuck Palahniuk may be best known for FIGHT CLUB, and in this audiobook on the craft of writing, he shares what he’s learned over the years. AudioFile’s Jonathan Smith and host Jo Reed discuss Edoardo Ballerini’s talent as a narrator, making what could seem a self-aggrandizing work approachable and engaging. He conveys a degree of snark that anyone who has read Palahniuk won’t be surprised to hear. Published by Hachette Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from GraphicAudio, A Movie In Your Mind. Unique Audio Entertainment featuring a Full Cast and Imaginative Sound Scapes with new releases such as Brent Weeks’ Lightbringer Saga 5, Michael J. Sullivan's Riyria Revelations, S.M Stirling's Emberverse, and over 1,300 more full cast titles available only at www.GraphicAudio.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Rachel Fulginiti is the calming voice behind this alarming audiobook about how Big Tech ate the economy and everyone’s privacy along with it. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Jonathan Smith talk about Rana Foroohar’s account of Big Tech—including Google, Amazon, and Facebook — and the industry’s avarice, lust for power and control, and endless appetite for everyone’s personal data. Listen to learn about the consequences of having only a few key players dominating the online universe. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from GraphicAudio, A Movie In Your Mind. Unique Audio Entertainment featuring a Full Cast and Imaginative Sound Scapes with new releases such as Brent Weeks’ Lightbringer Saga 5, Michael J. Sullivan's Riyria Revelations, S.M Stirling's Emberverse, and over 1,300 more full cast titles available only at www.GraphicAudio.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Will Damron makes Buddy Levy’s fascinating account of Greely’s Polar Expedition come to life. AudioFile’s Jonathan Smith and host Jo Reed discuss this audiobook history that takes listeners on a high-stakes mission to reach the North Pole. In the late nineteenth century, Greely’s crew conducted scientific research, launched rescue missions, and fought to stay alive. This is a harrowing adventure story, and with Damron at the helm, listeners will almost be able to feel the brutal Arctic cold. Published by Macmillan Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from GraphicAudio, A Movie In Your Mind. Unique Audio Entertainment featuring a Full Cast and Imaginative Sound Scapes with new releases such as Brent Weeks’ Lightbringer Saga 5, Michael J. Sullivan's Riyria Revelations, S.M Stirling's Emberverse, and over 1,300 more full cast titles available only at www.GraphicAudio.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Isaiah Quintabe is back in Joe Ide’s gripping PI series. AudioFile’s Jonathan Smith and host Jo Reed talk about narrator Zeno Robinson’s skills in narrating this dynamic mystery. Robinson not only provides narrative clarity and excellent pacing but also expertly voices a large cast of characters to the point where it’s hard to believe he’s this audiobook’s sole narrator. IQ’s latest case has especially high stakes: A powerful arms dealer is forcing him to solve a shooting death and threatening IQ’s girlfriend if he fails. But the main suspect? The arms dealer’s daughter, who has multiple personalities. Published by Hachette Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from GraphicAudio, A Movie In Your Mind. Unique Audio Entertainment featuring a Full Cast and Imaginative Sound Scapes with new releases such as Brent Weeks’ Lightbringer Saga 5, Michael J. Sullivan's Riyria Revelations, S.M Stirling's Emberverse, and over 1,300 more full cast titles available only at www.GraphicAudio.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessie and John Frémont captured the country’s attention in the 1800s, and Steve Inskeep’s enthusiasm and keen insights into their story are apparent in his audiobook narration. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Jonathan Smith discuss America’s first political couple on today’s episode. John Frémont was one of the United States’s leading explorers in the nineteenth century, and one of the most acclaimed people of the age, thanks in large part to the promotional skills of his wife, Jesse Benton Frémont. The two became closely tied to three great national movements of their time — westward settlement, women’s rights, and opposition to slavery. Inskeep is known to many as one of the hosts of NPR’s Morning Edition, and his narration is crisp and engaging. Listeners will draw many parallels to today’s political scene. Published by Penguin Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from GraphicAudio, A Movie In Your Mind. Unique Audio Entertainment featuring a Full Cast and Imaginative Sound Scapes with new releases such as Brent Weeks’ Lightbringer Saga 5, Michael J. Sullivan's Riyria Revelations, S.M Stirling's Emberverse, and over 1,300 more full cast titles available only at www.GraphicAudio.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A young woman has put her soul at risk by bargaining with a monster. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly tells host Jo Reed what impressed her about narrator Angela Dawe’s performance in this audiobook full of myth and magic. Enna has struck a deal with a creature, Maekallus, and when he fails in his mission and finds himself trapped in the human realm, their lives become even more intertwined. Dawe is able to draw listeners deep into a complex world and enlivens each character with unique voices, particularly the magical non-human creatures who lurk in the wildwood. She makes this listening experience as magical as the story itself. Published by Brilliance Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from GraphicAudio, A Movie In Your Mind. Unique Audio Entertainment featuring a Full Cast and Imaginative Sound Scapes with new releases such as Brent Weeks’ Lightbringer Saga 5, Michael J. Sullivan's Riyria Revelations, S.M Stirling's Emberverse, and over 1,300 more full cast titles available only at www.GraphicAudio.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Carmen Maria Machado narrates her memoir chronicling an abusive relationship with her former girlfriend with a steady, vulnerable voice. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly share their thoughts on a compelling memoir from the National Book Award finalist (HER BODY & OTHER PARTIES). Machado and her then-girlfriend, “the Woman from the Dream House,” fell into an intense relationship. She covers the heady emotional terrain of events from their first meeting onward using brief chapters, from many perspectives, breaking through the “archival silence” of women’s accounts of abuse, particularly between queer women. Published by HighBridge Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from GraphicAudio, A Movie In Your Mind. Unique Audio Entertainment featuring a Full Cast and Imaginative Sound Scapes with new releases such as Brent Weeks’ Lightbringer Saga 5, Michael J. Sullivan's Riyria Revelations, S.M Stirling's Emberverse, and over 1,300 more full cast titles available only at www.GraphicAudio.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed welcomes Golden Voice narrator Jim Dale to Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine for a conversation about his audiobook narration and his extraordinary career in the entertainment industry. Jim Dale has narrated 40 audiobooks, including the Harry Potter series, treasured classics, the audiobook musical SPIN, and the worldwide bestseller, THE NIGHT CIRCUS. He’s garnered numerous awards, including Audie Awards, Grammy Awards, and an MBE from the Queen of England. If you ask an audiobook listener about their favorite audiobook, odds are they’ll say they adored Jim Dale’s narration of the Harry Potter series. What many listeners may not know is that HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE was his introduction to audiobook narration. Jim came to audiobooks accidentally, and later in his career, and we are so lucky he did. Discover reviews of Jim Dale’s audiobooks and thousands more at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from GraphicAudio, featuring series such as The Stormlight Archive, Deathlands, Smoke Jensen, Demon Cycle, and over 1,000 more A Movie In Your Mind full cast productions available only at www.GraphicAudio.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bahni Turpin draws listeners back into the world of Orïsha, where Maji warriors and a corrupt monarchy battle to determine the fate of the kingdom. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly tells host Jo Reed about diving back into this dynamic new young adult audiobook from Tomi Adeyemi. Bahni truly excels in conveying all of the raw emotion, with Reaper Zélie and Princess Amari both mourning close family members after the conclusion of CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE. Listeners will be propelled into a rich world where magic has been brought back — but at huge costs. Published by Macmillan Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from GraphicAudio, A Movie In Your Mind. Unique Audio Entertainment featuring a Full Cast and Imaginative Sound Scapes with new releases such as Brent Weeks’ Lightbringer Saga 5, Michael J. Sullivan's Riyria Revelations, S.M Stirling's Emberverse, and over 1,300 more full cast titles available only at www.GraphicAudio.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meg is known as the “Planner of Park Slope” and is getting great recognition for the hand-lettering career she loves. Then why is everything going so wrong? Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about a shared love for literary love letters to New York, and all the reasons this audiobook should be your next listen. Nicol Zanzarella’s playful and heartfelt delivery highlights Meg’s love for her city, and her frustration. Meg’s creative block and problems with her best friend seem insurmountable — but when a past client approaches her asking about the secret message she put in his wedding program, she has no idea how her life will change. This audiobook will appeal to romance fans and is also a great choice for curious listeners new to the genre. A delight! Published by Tantor Media. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com. Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from GraphicAudio, A Movie In Your Mind. Unique Audio Entertainment featuring a Full Cast and Imaginative Sound Scapes with new releases such as Brent Weeks Lightbringer Saga 5, Michael J. Sullivan's Riyria Revelations, S.M Stirling's Emberverse, and over 1,300 more full cast titles available only at www.GraphicAudio.net. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scoob has just jumped aboard his G’ma’s Winnebago for a road trip like no other — at least, that’s what Scoob thinks. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly tells host Jo Reed all about Nic Stone’s latest audiobook, narrated by Dion Graham. It has the perfect mix of humor and emotions, powerful writing, and complex lessons about personal and political injustices that are all marvelously expressed by Graham in this compelling listen. Perfect for middle grade listeners and for listening together as a family. Published by Listening Library. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com. Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from GraphicAudio, A Movie In Your Mind. Unique Audio Entertainment featuring a Full Cast and Imaginative Sound Scapes with new releases such as Brent Weeks Lightbringer Saga 5, Michael J. Sullivan's Riyria Revelations, S.M Stirling's Emberverse, and over 1,300 more full cast titles available only at www.GraphicAudio.net. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A memorable debut novel on race, privilege, and money. AudioFile’s Michele Cobb tells host Jo Reed why she loved listening to this gripping audiobook. Nicole Lewis’s lively pacing and vivid characterizations enliven the story. Emira is an African American babysitter who is briefly and falsely accused of kidnapping her young charge. Lewis superbly captures the fallout from this disturbing encounter--Emira’s growing unease, intrusive behavior from the white mother who hired her, and complications from a romantic entanglement with the young white man who filmed the incident. Published by Penguin Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com. Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from GraphicAudio, A Movie In Your Mind. Unique Audio Entertainment featuring a Full Cast and Imaginative Sound Scapes with new releases such as Brent Weeks Lightbringer Saga 5, Michael J. Sullivan's Riyria Revelations, S.M Stirling's Emberverse, and over 1,300 more full cast titles available only at www.GraphicAudio.net. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The story of how Prince’s memoir came to be is in many ways as compelling as the brief portion of his story we get in this audiobook. AudioFile’s Michele Cobb and host Jo Reed discuss this incomplete memoir. Dan Piepenbring’s introduction, which he narrates, tells of how he came to work with Prince on his memoir, and the tragedy of Prince’s death before they truly were able to dig into the writing. Musician Esperanza Spaulding and actress Adepero Oduye narrate Prince’s story, which focuses on his early life and rise to stardom. Fans of the music and the musician will enjoy this exploration of the man behind the music. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com. Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from GraphicAudio, A Movie In Your Mind. Unique Audio Entertainment featuring a Full Cast and Imaginative Sound Scapes with new releases such as Brent Weeks Lightbringer Saga 5, Michael J. Sullivan's Riyria Revelations, S.M Stirling's Emberverse, and over 1,300 more full cast titles available only at www.GraphicAudio.net. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices