Biography & Memoir Audiobooks

How They Choked: Failures, Flops, and Flaws of the Awfully Famous

Over the course of history, famous people made mistakes that were so monumental they could never escape them, no matter how brilliant their successes! Ferdinand Magellan is credited as the first man to sail around the world . . . but he only actually made it halfway. His terrible treatment of everyone he met cut his life journey short. Queen Isabella of Spain is remembered for financing Columbus's expeditions--and for creating the Spanish Inquisition. J. Bruce Ismay commissioned the unsinkable marvel of the sea, the "Titanic"--and then jumped the line of women and children to escape death on a lifeboat. Readers will be fascinated well past the final curtain and will empathize with the flawed humanity of these achievers. Famous successful "failures" include: Marco Polo - Queen Isabella of Spain - King Montezuma II - Anne Boleyn - Ferdinand Magellan - Isaac Newton - Benedict Arnold - George Armstrong Custer - Vincent Van Gogh - Susan B. Anthony - Thomas Alva Edison - J. Bruce Ismay - Amelia M. Earhart - Joseph Jefferson Jackson ("Shoeless Joe")

Georgia Bragg (Author), L.J. Ganser (Narrator)

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Hitler's Daughter

A prizewinning novel for readers of 8 - 12, told through the voice of a contemporary child, as she weaves a story about a secret child of Hitler.The bombs were falling, the smoke was rising from the concentration camps, but all Hitler's daughter knew was lessons with Fraulein Gelber, the hedgehogs she rescued from the cold and infrequent visits from her beloved Duffi, her father.Was it just a story? Did Hitler's daughter really exist? If you were Hitler's daughter, would it all be your fault? Could you still love your own father if he had done what Hitler did? Mark, a contemporary child, starts to question his own beliefs as he listens to the story that Anna weaves.A wonderfully sensitive and gripping time-slip novel that will sit well with When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit; Number the Stars and Big Tom. WW2 is a major historical topic studied in in UK primary and secondary schools, but this novel also deals with questions children so often ask of the 'What if?' variety.

Jackie French (Author), Scarlett Mack (Narrator)

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A Boy and a Jaguar

Alan loves animals, but the great cat house at the Bronx Zoo makes him sad. Why are they all alone in empty cages? Are they being punished? More than anything, he wants to be their champion--their voice--but he stutters uncontrollably. Except when he talks to animals... Then he is fluent. Follow the life of the man "Time Magazine" calls, "the Indiana Jones of wildlife conservation" as he searches for his voice and fulfills a promise to speak for animals, and people, who cannot speak for themselves. This real-life story with tender illustrations by Catia Chen explores truths not defined by the spoken word.

Alan Rabinowitz (Author), Adam Grupper (Narrator)

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The Last Days of Jesus: His Life and Times

Packed with fascinating details, this fast-paced narrative will transport readers back in time. In an exploration of the political and social landscape at the time of Jesus's life, Bill O'Reilly takes on the questions surrounding his death. Who was involved in the trial and sentencing of Jesus? What circumstances led to his conviction? What were the motivations in killing Jesus? In the same way that the author gave fresh insight into the lives and times of Lincoln and Kennedy, this is an intimate portrait of the Jesus of history. The Last Days of Jesus is geared toward young readers, and is sure to make kids reconsider the man they thought they knew.

Bill O'Reilly (Author), Edward Hermann, Edward Herrmann (Narrator)

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An Owl on Every Post

Sanora Babb experienced pioneer life in a one-room dugout, eye-level with the land that supported, tormented and beguiled her; where her family fought for their lives against drought, crop-failure, starvation, and almost unfathomless loneliness. Learning to read from newspapers that lined the dugout' s dirt walls, she grew up to be a journalist, then a writer of unforgettable books about the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, most notably Whose Names Are Unknown. The author was seven when her parents began to homestead an isolated 320-acre farm on the western plains. She tells the story through her eyes as a sensitive, fearless young girl who came to love the wind, the vastness, the mystery and magic in the ordinary. This evocative memoir of a pioneer childhood on the Great Plains is written with the lyricism and sensitivity that distinguishes all of Sanora Babb' s writing. An Owl on Every Post, with its environmental disasters, extreme weather, mortgage foreclosures, and harsh living conditions, resonates as much today as when it first appeared.

Sanora Babb (Author), Alyssa Bresnahan (Narrator)

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Rompiendo El Silenci

No hay escritoras jOvenes en Colombia? SOlo tenemos muchas y buenas poetas? Las preguntas vienen al caso porque en las antologIas de relatos ellas no aparecen y escasean las novelas de mujeres menores de 40 aNos. Sin embargo, pensamos que aquI, como en muchas partes, tenIa que haber jOvenes narradoras. Las buscamos durante meses, las desenterramos aquI y en otros paIses, les insistimos, las alentamos a romper su silencio, y llegamos a esta selecciOn. Fuimos los primeros sorprendidos. Nos encontramos con unas jOvenes que vienen trabajando con tenacidad sus escritos. Y creemos que dentro de estas catorce cuentistas hay mAs que autEnticas promesas.

Andrea Cheer, Andrea Cheer, Juliana Borrero, Juliana Borrero, Juliana Burrero, Maria Acosta, Maria Castilla, Melissa Diaz (Author), Irma Bello (Narrator)

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Gabe & Izzy: Standing Up for America's Bullied

The moving, true story of the young woman dubbed "The Voice of America's Bullied"; how her bond with her dog, Izzy, changed her life; and their mission to help break the cycle of bullying. In middle school, Gabrielle "Gabe" Ford developed a degenerative muscle disease, and was harassed by bullies as a result. She did her best to keep her head high, but it wasn't easy. Then Gabe got a dog, Izzy, who developed an uncannily similar disorder. They were invited to appear on Animal Planet to talk about their bond, which in turn led to an invitation to speak at a school. And so began Gabe's career as an anti-bullying advocate. Dubbed "The Voice of America's Bullied" by the Huffington Post, Gabe now makes a career of public speaking and has received numerous honors for her hard work. Here is her amazing story--from her lowest days dealing with various challenges, to the unbelievable and immediate bond with Izzy, to her ongoing mission to put an end to bullying, one school at a time. Biographical Note: Gabrielle Ford never dreamed that a long-eared coonhound could change her life. But that's just what happened when she cared for her ailing pet Izzy and found the voice to help others in need as a nationally-known motivational speaker. Today Gabe's incredible story has drawn media attention from The Today Show, Cosmopolitan Magazine and Animal Planet, among others. As a child, Gabrielle loved dance and dreamed of becoming a prima ballerina. That dream was shattered by a rare genetic neuromuscular disease, Friedreich's Ataxia, that would eventually place her in a wheelchair. Gabe not only struggled with the devastation of the illness, but also endured constant and cruel bullying from classmates. The constant torment took her on a path of depression and isolation. That all changed when Izzy, a long-eared coonhound pup, entered Gabe's life. Izzy became Gabe's best friend and constant companion. When this special friend mysteriously developed a condition mirroring Gabe's, Gabe re-entered the world to get Izzy the best treatment available. Speaking out for the voiceless Izzy gave her the courage to speak out for another voiceless group: the thousands of children bullied in American schools every day. Through countless personal trials, Gabe found her way back to the stage as an outspoken advocate against school bullying. In addition to her countless school visits, she has also been a keynote speaker at various conferences and conventions. Her dedication even earned her the 2011 Communications & Leadership Award from Toastmasters International, The 2011 Peace Maker of The Year Award (Gandhi Award /Genesee County MI), as well as the Community Hero Award in 2008 from the Fenton Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Gabrielle Ford, Sarah L. Thomson (Author), Susan Bennett (Narrator)

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NSync

John Grabowski (Author), Scott Shina (Narrator)

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Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker

In exuberant verse and stirring pictures, Patricia Hruby Powell and Christian Robinson create an extraordinary portrait of the passionate performer and civil rights advocate Josephine Baker, the woman who worked her way from the slums of St. Louis to the grandest stages in the world. Meticulously researched by both author and artist, Josephine's powerful story of struggle and triumph is an inspiration and a spectacle, just like the legend herself.

Patricia Hruby Powell (Author), Lizan Mitchell (Narrator)

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Exciting Events: Volume 01

Your Story Hour proudly presents a new set of exciting, dramatized stories. Listen as Desmond Doss, the courageous WW2 medic, saves the lives of 75 wounded American soldiers on Okinawa. Or return to the year 1781 as teenger Emily Geiger risks her life to carry a secret message from patriot officer Nathan Greene through enemy lines. Catch the action as 11-year-old Allen Jay helps a runaway slave escape via the Underground Railway...or as young Johnny Darragh bravely carries coded messages to George Washington's army. Discover how teenage sculptress, Vinnie Ream, becomes a true friend of Abraham Lincoln...or how young Abbie Burgess single-handedly saves countless sailors by keeping the Matinicus Rock lighthouse burning when violent storms keep her father from returning home. Great listening entertainment for the whole family!

Your Story Hour (Author), Aunt Carole, Uncle Dan (Narrator)

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On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein

A boy rides a bicycle down a dusty road. But in his mind, he envisions himself traveling at a speed beyond imagining, on a beam of light. This brilliant mind will one day offer up some of the most revolutionary ideas ever conceived. From a boy endlessly fascinated by the wonders around him, Albert Einstein ultimately grows into a man of genius recognized the world over for profoundly illuminating our understanding of the universe. Jennifer Berne and Vladimir Radunsky invite the reader to travel along with Einstein on a journey full of curiosity, laughter, and scientific discovery. Parents and children alike will appreciate this moving story of the powerful difference imagination can make in any life.

Jennifer Berne (Author), Rich Orlow (Narrator)

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Homesick: My Own Story

This heartwarming fictionalized autobiography tells a story of what it is like for a little girl to be growing up in an unfamiliar place. While other girls her age were enjoying childhood in America, Jean Fritz was in China in the midst of political unrest. During this time, foreigners were becoming more and more unpopular, and evacuation at a moment’s notice was imminent. Although Jean appreciated the beauty of China—the mountains, the countryside, the sea—she knew she belonged in America, and longed to make her home there. “Rich in the telling observations of sights, sounds, and people.”—Publishers Weekly

Jean Fritz (Author), Jean Fritz (Narrator)

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