Narrator Cary Hite offers an engrossing and resonant performance of this young adult adaptation of the life of Paul Robeson. Due to his radical civil rights activism, Robeson's legacy as the first internationally renowned Black actor and singer has been largely downplayed. Listeners will follow Robeson's triumphs as an all-star athlete, valedictorian, lawyer, and stage actor, along with his struggles with mental health and personal relationships. Hite seamlessly emulates Robeson's signature baritone and adopts various global accents while quoting other famous figures while keeping a steady pace throughout his narration. This accessible audiobook will introduce younger listeners to a prominent historical figure who succeeded despite setbacks. An inspiring work that new generations of activists will savor.
(Biography. 12-18)Pub Date: June 26, 2021
Duration: 6 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781665092487
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Lipica Shah's stirring narration of this YA biography showcases Emma Goldman's unshakable commitment to improving the lives of the oppressed. In 1885, Goldman immigrated to the U.S. from czarist Russia and became an ardent anarchist. A prolific writer and inspirational speaker, she gave hundreds of well-attended speeches each year. When quoting Goldman, Shah exudes the intensity of her quest to elevate America's working class. When quoting from any of the thousands of period newspaper articles about Goldman, Shah mimics their predominantly disapproving tone. Goldman was even imprisoned because of her progressive positions on government, workers' rights, sex, and birth control. Never deterred, Goldman was once considered the most dangerous woman in America.
(Biography. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250415134
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Listeners will be entranced by the melodic and articulate voice of narrator Angel Pean as she recounts the miserable upbringing, rewarding career, and personal relationships of Lorena Hickok, who was known by many as "Hick." This audiobook reveals not only Hick's ambition for excellence in her writing and journalism career but also the love and admiration she shared with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. After they met, Roosevelt continued to lean on and confide in Hick throughout her husband's path to Washington and, eventually, the White House. It became a romance like no other, especially in the 1930s and '40s, when FDR made major decisions that changed the trajectory of the U.S. forever. Pean delivers a true narrative of an accomplished and passionate individual.
(Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: May 27, 2025
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217069750
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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