Audiobooks Narrated by Ruffin Prentiss

Hoops

"An ALA-YALSA Best Book for Young Adults New Bonus Content:-Q&A with Walter Dean Myers-Q&A with screenwriter John Ballard-Teaser chapter from On a Clear Day-Excerpt from 145th StreetAll eyes are on seventeen-year-old Lonnie Jackson while he practices with his team for a city-wide basketball Tournament of Champions. His coach, Cal, knows Lonnie has what it takes to be a pro basketball player, but warns him about giving in to the pressure. Cal knows because he, too, once had the chance—but sold out.As the tournament nears, Lonnie learns that some heavy bettors want Cal to keep him on the bench so that the team will lose the championship. As the last seconds of the game tick away, Lonnie and Cal must make a decision. Are they willing to blow the chance of a lifetime?"

John Ballard, Walter Dean Myers (Author), Ruffin Prentiss (Narrator)

Audiobook

The AI Incident

"The Wild Robot meets Restart when Colorado's unluckiest foster kid battles a rogue AI robot at school.   Malcolm Montgomery is the new kid at Shirley Chisholm Charter Middle School. In no time at all, he’s been slapped with the weird kid label. Is it because he's a foster kid who's been in nine homes? Or maybe because he burps when he gets nervous … which is often? Malcolm has a plan to finally get adopted by a forever family before it's too late. But then on Visiting Professionals' Day, his school invites Dr. Alphonse Hatch, president of Hatch-ED—one of the fastest-growing artificial intelligence companies in the state—to give a presentation. Dr. Hatch brings his AI-powered robot, and events get set in motion that create … THE INCIDENT.   An irresistible MG novel about the role of AI in schools and in our lives … and what it means to be human."

J.E. Thomas (Author), Ruffin Prentiss (Narrator)

Audiobook

This Thing of Ours

"An instant New York Times bestseller!   The powerful and timely YA novel debut from two-time New York Times best-selling author Frederick Joseph is a deeply heartfelt story—and a rallying cry against book banning.   In an instant, Ossie Brown’s entire future is in jeopardy when a torn ACL ends his promising basketball career. Now that basketball is no longer a major part of his identity, Ossie—a Black teen who doesn’t come from wealth and privilege—must navigate his new place in the social and academic ecosystems of his affluent, predominantly white school. When a Black teacher encourages him to join her highly regarded writing program, Ossie begins to find a new purpose, buoyed by not only the rich works of literature by marginalized authors he’s now reading, but also by new friends who see him as something more than an asset to the sports program. Everything changes when some students’ viral “anti-woke” video puts the teacher’s job, the writing program, and even Ossie’s friends’ safety at risk—and Ossie must find his true voice. This unflinching novel confronts critical issues like racism and classism, the treatment of student athletes, homophobia, and book banning while weaving together a moving testament to family, romance, friendship, and the power of words."

Frederick Joseph (Author), Ruffin Prentiss (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Vanished Ones

"From award-winning author Chad Lucas comes an enthralling new story about a strange island where boys go missing—and the two boys intent on uncovering the truth about it   On Rhodenroode Island, a remote colony of the Homeland, there sits a Mission on the Hill, where boys are taken in and taught the ways of the faith.   Darian is the only trainee of his race there, and he doesn’t remember how he came to the Mission. All he remembers are brown hands and the belly of a ship. Life among the other boys and the cantankerous Brothers is not always easy, but Darian is determined to live up to the lofty calling the leaders of the Mission have laid out for him: that one day he will carry the Sacred Word to places it has yet to reach.   But when another trainee at the Mission disappears—the latest in a string of vanishings—Darian is determined to solve the mystery that begins to shake his faith in what he’s always been taught.   When he and his friend Micah sneak away from the Mission and head east to see what they can learn about the rebel sect supposedly responsible for the vanishings, they discover that the island holds far more secrets than they ever could have imagined—and somehow, they must save the other boys at the Mission from a danger that’s even greater than they realized.   'Lucas builds an engaging mystery with a dash of Afrofuturism, giving a thoughtful reflection on colonialism and its effects on society.'—Booklist"

Chad Lucas (Author), Ruffin Prentiss (Narrator)

Audiobook

Hair Like Obama's, Hands Like Lebron's: A Picture Book

"IS YOUR HAIR LIKE MINE? Inspired by the famous White House photograph of five-year-old Jacob Philadelphia touching then President Barack Obama’s hair, Carole Boston Weatherford’s powerful text is an ode to all the things that make Black and Brown kids beautiful, strong, resilient, and powerful. From jazz great John Coltrane to astronaut and engineer Guion Bluford to civil rights lawyer Benjamin Crump, this book is a celebration of Black history and excellence."

Carole Boston Weatherford (Author), Ruffin Prentiss (Narrator)

Audiobook

Mascot

"In Rye, Virginia, just outside Washington, DC, people work hard, kids go to school, and football is big on Friday nights. An eighth-grade English teacher creates an assignment for her class to debate whether Rye’s mascot should stay or change. Now six middle schoolers get involved in the issue that already has the suburb turned upside down with everyone choosing sides and arguments getting ugly. At the center of this story about human rights and Native sovereignty, there are six young people. Callie, a Black Cherokee Nation citizen, is new to the town and school; Franklin loves football, wearing fresh kicks, and so far has resisted his parents’ desire for him to learn more about his Black heritage; Priya wants to be a journalist and has four grandparents all born in India; Sean is a sixth-generation Rye student in an Irish family that often needs help from the food pantry; Tessa, who is white, was previously homeschooled and has grandparents who marched with MLK Jr.; Luis immigrated from El Salvador at seven and aspires to be a math teacher and coach. Written from several points of view, this novel in verse asks, “What happens when a mascot is seen as racist, but not by everyone?” This audiobook is narrated by Karen Chilton, Merissa Czyz, Kyla Garcia, Christopher Gebauer, Robb Moreira, Soneela Nankani, and Ruffin Prentiss."

Charles Waters, Traci Sorell (Author), Christopher Gebauer, Karen Chilton, Kyla Garcia, Merissa Czyz, Robb Moreira, Ruffin Prentiss, Soneela Nankani (Narrator)

Audiobook

Neverwraith

"Nothing stays hidden for long in this fast-paced, inventive new paranormal series that imagines The Hulk in high school. Yasir has always felt he was meant for more…he has no idea how much. A native son of the Island Republic of Kindara, he is ripped from his homeland as a small boy, escaping an invasion that decimated his family. For the past decade, he has been living with his uncle in the small town of Oakwood Grove, Georgia, while dealing with life as an outsider—in more ways than one. All that would change over the course of a few weeks, thanks to a series of unfortunate incidents that brings Yasir into the spotlight, complete with new friends, the affections of a girl who he swore didn’t know he existed—and enemies. He has been told all his life that he must hide in plain sight, with no reasonable explanation, only vague references to a reckoning, should he be found. But what no one knows—including Yasir himself—is that the horrors of that tragic event have awakened something that would change the course of his life forever. With the help of a Kindaran priestess, he has the chance to find out who he truly is, and why he is so important. But first…he has to get through high school."

Shakir Rashaan (Author), Ruffin Prentiss (Narrator)

Audiobook

Black Was the Ink

"Malcolm Williams hasn't been okay for a while. He's angry and despondent and feels like nothing good ever happens for teens like him in D.C. All he wants is to be left alone in his room for the summer to draw or play video games—but no such luck. With growing violence in his neighborhood, his mother ships him off to his father’s family farm in Mississippi, and Malcolm is anything but pleased. A few days after his arrival, his great-aunt tells him that the State is acquiring the farm to widen a highway. It's not news Malcolm is concerned about, but someone plans to make it his concern. One minute Malcolm is drawing in the farmhouse attic, and the next he's looking through the eyes of his ancestor Cedric Johnson in 1866. As Cedric, Malcolm meets the real-life Black statesmen who fought for change during the Reconstruction era: Hiram Revels, Robert Smalls, and other leaders who made American history. But even after witnessing their bravery, Malcolm's faith in his own future remains shaky, particularly since he knows that the gains these statesmen made were almost immediately stripped away. If those great men couldn't completely succeed, why should he try? Malcolm must decide which path to take. Can Cedric’s experiences help him construct a better future? Or will he resign himself to resentments and defeat? Perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and Nic Stone, Black Was the Ink is a powerful coming-of-age story and an eye-opening exploration of an era that defined modern America."

Michelle Coles (Author), Ruffin Prentiss (Narrator)

Audiobook

Control Freaks

"One week. One prize. Seven really weird challenges. The kids at Benjamin Banneker College Prep are a little … competitive. Okay. They’re A LOT competitive. The minute Principal Yee announces an epic competition for the golden B-B trophy, seventh-grader Frederick Douglass Zezzmer knows he has to win. But it won’t be easy. The competition doesn’t just include science, technology, engineering and math. It also has arts and sports. Not Doug’s best subjects. Even worse, it’s a TEAM competition. Instead of being in a superstar group, Doug gets paired with four middle school misfits no one else wants. Worst of all, Doug’s dad has a horrible backup plan. If Doug doesn’t win, he has to forget about becoming The World’s Greatest Inventor and spend the summerin sports camp, with his scary stepbrother."

J.E. Thomas (Author), Brian Nishii, Cortney Wright, Imani Parks, Jeed Saddy, Marc Anthony Samuel, Maxwell Glick, Merissa Czyz, Michael Rishawn, Ruffin Prentiss (Narrator)

Audiobook

Other Side of the Tracks

"This "stirring…emotionally raw" (Publishers Weekly) young adult debut novel about three teens entangled by secret love, open hatred, and the invisible societal constraints wrapped around people both Black and white is perfect for readers of All American Boys and The Hate U Give. There is an unspoken agreement between the racially divided towns of Bayside and Hamilton: no one steps over the train tracks that divide them. Or else. Not until Zach Whitman anyway, a white boy who moves in from Philly and who dreams of music. When he follows his dream across the tracks to meet his idol, the famous jazz musician who owns The Sunlight Record Shop in Hamilton, he's flung into Capri Collins's path. Capri has big plans: she wants to follow her late mother's famous footsteps, dancing her way onto Broadway, and leaving this town for good, just like her older brother, Justin, is planning to do when he goes off to college next year. As sparks fly, Zach and Capri realize that they can help each other turn hope into a reality, even if it means crossing the tracks to do it. But one tragic night changes everything. When Justin's friend, the star of Hamilton's football team, is murdered by a white Bayside police officer, the long-standing feud between Bayside and Hamilton becomes an all-out war. And Capri, Justin, and Zach are right in the middle of it."

Charity Alyse (Author), Angel Pean, Ruffin Prentiss, Shaun Taylor-Corbett (Narrator)

Audiobook

Let the Monster Out

"An equal parts heart-pounding and heartfelt middle-grade mystery about facing––and accepting––your fears, perfect for fans of Stranger Things and The Parker Inheritance Bones Malone feels like he can’t do anything right in his new small town: He almost punched the son of the woman who babysits him and his brothers, he’s one of the only Black kids in Langille, and now his baseball team (the one place where he really feels like he shines) just lost their first game. To make matters worse, things in town are getting weird. His mom isn’t acting like herself at all—she’s totally spaced out, almost like a zombie. And then he and his brothers have the same dream—one where they’re running from some of their deepest fears, like a bear and an eerie cracked mirror that Bones would rather soon forget. Kyle Specks feels like he can never say the right thing at the right time. He thinks he might be neurodivergent, but he hasn’t gotten an official diagnosis yet. His parents worry that the world might be too hard for him and try to protect him, but Kyle knows they can’t do that forever. Even though he’s scared, he can’t just stand by and do nothing while things in this town get stranger and stranger, especially not after he and Bones find a mysterious scientist’s journal that might hold answers about what’s going on. But when faced with seemingly impossible situations, a shady corporation, and their own worst nightmares, will Kyle and Bones be brave enough to admit they're scared? Or will the fear totally consume and control them?"

Chad Lucas (Author), Ruffin Prentiss (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Last Chance for Logan County

"Otto and Sheed are back! With their last otherworldly adventure behind them, cousins Otto and Sheed are definitely ready for things to get back to normal—or as normal as it can ever be in Logan County. But when Sheed develops a weird talent that makes it storm frogs, Otto’s mom and Sheed’s dad are drawn back home, and things may never be the same. Especially with a suspicious company known as GOO sniffing around, seeking to acquire a bunch of property around the county for nefarious purposes. It’s up to the Legendary Alston Boys of Logan County, the Ellison twins, Grandma, and the rest to save their town and keep their newly reunited family together before GOO destroys it all."

Lamar Giles (Author), Ruffin Prentiss (Narrator)

Audiobook