JD Jackson’s narration of this 1994 biography has the understated assuredness of a master and keeps the focus on Walter Dean Myers’s beautiful text. Occasionally, Jackson’s voice resonates with pain, as it does during the tragedies of Malcolm’s childhood. Overall, Jackson’s voice is like a steady wind steering the story on a perfectly charted course. The text doesn’t shy away from the controversial or painful truths surrounding the civil rights leader. It asserts the validity of anger in the face of oppression without romanticizing it. Likewise, it deals with the comparisons made between Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcolm X by digging deeper into the larger dialogue within the struggle for civil rights and showing the two leaders’ different perspectives to be parts of a larger whole.
Young AdultPub Date: Feb. 12, 2013
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780792793311
Publisher: AudioGo
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Much has been written on Jackie Robinson's groundbreaking career and legacy, but it's nice to see a well-done synopsis covering the highlights of his life for young people. Narrator JD Jackson carries the story as he conveys the importance of Robinson's life without overdramatization. It covers Robinson's growing up, time in the Army, and deliberate recruitment for the purpose of breaking Major League baseball's color barrier. Jackson gives various players, coaches, and individuals--including Robinson's wife, Rachel--slight accents. His steady, animated narration reflects the well-researched book and is sure to hold the attention of both young and older listeners.
(Biography. 10-13)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2017
Duration: 2 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Classical music provides an enjoyable background to the story of Cecilia Chiang. She first watched cooking in her family home in China and then was introduced to its varied cuisine as she crossed the country during WWII. Later, she immigrated to the US. Cindy Kay's soft voice transmits Cecilia's dedication to the dishes she loves and grows stronger and more determined as she finds herself wanting to share them. The accuracy of Kay's accent and the descriptions of dishes as Chiang opens San Francisco's Mandarin, the first restaurant to treat Chinese food as fine dining, awakens listeners' taste buds, provides authenticity, and creates appreciation for Chiang's accomplishments.
(Picture-book biography. 5-10)Pub Date: April 29, 2025
Duration: 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668647394
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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