Former Young People's Poet Laureate Naomi Shihab Nye delivers her latest collection, subtitled "Poems About Families." They're mostly focused on her relationship with her mother. Nye has a comfortable, unaffected delivery. Her voice has an unstudied tone, but, make no mistake, every syllable lands with precise intent. The poems are short and, at times, breathtakingly revealing, touching on acts of love and occasionally betrayal, on mysteries a child can never truly plumb. These snapshots come together to create a portrait of a vibrant, wounded, whole woman. With this gentle, piercing assemblage, Nye gives young listeners a model for understanding the adults in their lives, one poem at a time.
(Poetry. 13-18)Pub Date: May 7, 2024
Duration: 2 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063387829
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This audio gem from Indigenous authors features stories in which elders offer guidance to young Native Americans. Various Native voices introduce listeners to Sandy June's Frybread Drive-In, known as SJ's, which magically opens whenever a teen faces a social challenge--for example, fitting in. An elder cooks while listening to the teen's concerns and offers advice. In "Kathy's Poem," an excellent writer is palpably terrified until performing at SJ's open mic. "Red Patent" features a Cherokee teacher condescendingly criticizing a Native student--both superbly rendered--then having a change of heart after both are stranded at SJ's. Traditional accents, dynamic portraits of young and old tribal members, and the author's note encouraging listeners to honor their elders ensure an unforgettable listening experience.
(Anthology. 13-18)Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2025
Duration: 7 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063314290
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Tony Keith, Jr.--poet, rapper, and hip-hop educator--uses his cultural observations, edgy politics, and sharp ear for concise wordplay and fast rhymes to get the attention of the audience that needs him most: disenfranchised Black school kids he affectionately calls "knuckleheads." With brash and evocative poem titles like "If You Fail to Plan, Then Plan to Fail," "Because When I Write, I'm Dangerous," and "I Don't Have to Imagine Being Black," Keith weaves personal verses of navigating the world as a gay Black man with themes of healing and empowerment. Energetic, enthusiastic, and empathetic, Keith is a veteran of the slam poetry circuit, and one can imagine him commanding the stage like he commands this audiobook.
(Poetry. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2025
Duration: 1 hr, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063296084
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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