Audiobooks narrated by Ruffin Prentiss

"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)

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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)

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The Cheater's Wife

"A twist-filled psychological and domestic thriller packed with family secrets, shocking twists, and suspense, following a woman who protects her stepson from a murder accusation only to discover deadly secrets in her home, perfect for fans of Freida McFadden and Kiersten Modglin. She turned her husband's betrayal into a second chance. Now, it might cost her everything. Camille Bell never wanted to raise her husband's mistake. RJ, the son of Ryan's most public betrayal, was a constant reminder of everything she lost—the picture-perfect life, the adoring husband, the future she was promised. But instead of casting him aside, she did what no one expected. She made him hers. RJ grew into the perfect son—strong, ambitious, successful. Unlike her own child, Gideon, who always seemed to fall short. Then a girl is murdered at a high school party. And all signs point to RJ. Camille knows what happens to jocks accused of crimes. The media frenzy. The courtroom battles. The public trial before the real one even begins. She knows the justice system won't wait for the truth. So, she does what she swore she'd never do—she protects him. But the deeper she digs, the more she realizes RJ isn't the only one with secrets. Someone in her house is a killer. And the closer she gets to the truth, the more she starts to wonder—has she been raising a monster? This shocking, fast-paced psychological thriller is packed with twist and turns that will leave you gasping, questioning everything, and then dying to read it again."

CN Mabry, N'Dia Rae (Author), Machelle Williams, Ruffin Prentiss (Narrator)

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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)

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Seed on Fire: A Romantic Suspense Novel about Family, Loyalty, and Parenthood

"NOTHING ABOUT THEIR LOVE HAS EVER BEEN TYPICAL. In a world where fantasy and reality collide, Seed on Fire by multi-award-winning author Michele Sims will take you on an unforgettable journey. Kaiden and Alicia Moore, originally from North Carolina, were enjoying a life full of love and passion. As a young, beautiful, and upwardly mobile professional couple who had made their home in New York City, they were busy balancing their careers with the demands of a new marriage—which, as fate would have it, included an unexpected bundle of joy. They got pregnant on their honeymoon, and so began the first book of the Moore Family Saga, Seed on Fire—a sexy, romantic suspense novel. Their relationship will forever be changed by a series of nightmarish events that threaten their love and the life of their unborn child. Will their commitment to each other be enough to cope with the challenges? Come and join them as they await the birth of their son, Miles Aridio Moore."

Michele Sims (Author), Ruffin Prentiss (Narrator)

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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)

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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

The New Brownies' Book: A Love Letter to Black Families

"'[A] heartfelt tribute to young people of color and their 'reflection of resplendent beauty, ancient history ... and irreplaceable value.' It's a standout.'—Publishers Weekly, starred review Inspired by the groundbreaking work of W. E. B. Du Bois, this beautiful collection brings together an outstanding roster of Black creative voices to honor, celebrate, and foster Black excellence. Give yourself a joyful smile as you look at your beautiful skin. Hug yourself. You are as unique as your fingerprints. This is TRUTH.—Halima Taha, “A Love Letter for You” from The New Brownies’ Book In 1920, as art and writing flourished during the Harlem Renaissance, W. E. B. Du Bois published The Brownies’ Book: A Monthly Magazine for Children of the Sun—the first periodical for African American youth, collecting original art, stories, letters, and activities to celebrate their identities and inspire their imaginations and ambitions. Building upon Du Bois’s mission, esteemed professor and scholar Karida L. Brown and celebrated artist Charly Palmer reimagine the groundbreaking publication with The New Brownies’ Book, gathering the work of more than 50 contemporary Black writers, including Ntozake Shange, Frank X Walker, Danny Simmons, and Alice Faye Duncan. Created by and for Black families today, this anthology is filled with inspiring essays, poems, and short stories reflecting on the joy and depth of the Black experience. Delivering delight to adults and children alike, this powerful celebration of twenty-firstcentury Black culture fulfills the promise of its source material by reminding readers of all ages that Black is brilliant, beautiful, and bold."

Charly Palmer, Karida L. Brown (Author), Jasmin Walker, Ruffin Prentiss (Narrator)

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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)

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Star Bringer

"Firefly meets The Breakfast Club in this snarky, new adult romance. The sun is dying … and it’s happening way too damn fast. With the clock ticking, the Nine Planets’ only hope of survival rests on a fancy space station and the alien artifact it’s carrying. Which is why it really sucks when some jackass doesn’t want the universe saved and blows that station up—while you’re still on it. So if your only choices are flaming death or stealing a flying hunk of space junk—you pick that busted-ass spaceship. Even if it leaves seven strangers with deadly secrets trapped together: a princess, a prisoner, a con artist, a warrior, a priestess, a mercenary, and an asshole in charge of us all. Now every faction in the galaxy is hunting this ship—from the Sisterhood to the Corporation, and the rebellion’s joining in on the fun, too. We just need to stop drinking, fighting, and screwing long enough to evade them all and save the freaking universe … somehow. Because apparently the only thing standing between a dying sun and ultimate salvation is seven unlikely misfits … ahem, heroes."

Nina Croft, Tracy Wolff (Author), Liv Anderson, Mia Barron, Ruffin Prentiss, Samara Naeymi (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

Audiobooks Narrated by Ruffin Prentiss