Marcella Cox portrays 16-year-old Nigeria Jones, whose father views her as a warrior princess for his Black nationalist movement. Cox also captures the sadness and confusion Nigeria has felt since her mother left. Cox amplifies these emotions when Nigeria leaves home to attend the largely white private school her mother selected for her--which her father opposes. Cox heightens Nigeria's anger at her father's attempts to control her and her longing for her mother as her world expands and she examines Black identity, misogyny, homophobia, and stereotyping. As Nigeria grows emotionally and she realizes what she wants, Cox's performance especially shines. Though the story includes elements that address the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, it's Cox's depiction of Nigeria listeners will remember.
(Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 9, 2023
Duration: 9 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063281189
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Nassif gives an emotional voice to survivors of bullying.
Victoria Nassif narrates this story of magic, grief, and racism. Syrian American Jihad Dabbagh enters a private school in her senior year of high school, and she hopes to attend an art school for college. Her name and the hijab she wears make her the target of dangerous bullies. To cope, she draws in a magical sketchbook, telling the story of her deceased mother’s journey from Syria to the U.S. Nassif relates Jihad’s story beautifully, taking her from a shy, introverted teen to a strong Muslim woman willing to call out bullies for their behavior. Her Arabic pronunciations lend authenticity to this story, helping to bring Jihad’s world to life, and she’s equally adept with the pretentious accents of the privileged white students at the academy.
Nassif gives an emotional voice to survivors of bullying. (Fabulism. 14-18)Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 46 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668657515
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: today
A unique portrait of a teen who finds himself by embracing the love, grief, and activism that surround him.
Fifteen-year-old Bryce was born on the Ojibwe Wolf Creek reservation and lived there happily until his father’s death. Now he lives far away, surviving in a shadowy existence with his drug-addicted mother and her abusive boyfriend. Narrator Meegwun Fairbrother effectively expresses Bryce’s fear and anger. When Bryce’s mother is imprisoned, he returns to Wolf Creek to live with his grandmother and dying grandfather. Fairbrother uses accents judiciously and evocatively to ground listeners in the strength and caring of Bryce’s grandparents and other elders. Similarly, Fairbrother conveys the support of Bryce’s old friends, who introduce him to skateboarding, a passion his father also shared.
A unique portrait of a teen who finds himself by embracing the love, grief, and activism that surround him. (Fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 20 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063160453
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: April 28, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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