One of the great things about the Read Harder Challenge is that it encourages us to not only stretch outside of our comfort zones with content, but also format! While task #7 might feel really specific — listen to an audiobook performed by a person of color of a book written by an author of color — it’s really important because unfortunately, many books by authors of color are still being performed by white narrators in their audiobook editions.
Audiobooks are their own art form, and bringing a story to an audio format comes with a whole slew of considerations. Not only is the ability to read well, sound engaging, and speak with great inflection and emotion important, but there are also considerations like pronunciation, accents, and an understanding of how people sound when conversing that tends to be glossed over or not considered when narrators don’t share the same cultural backgrounds as the protagonist of the story. Just as we would expect a Southern book to have a narrator with a good Southern accent, narrators ought to be able to pronounce Mexican names or Yiddish words correctly. And unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
Listening to audiobooks written by authors of color, performed by narrators of color, shows publishing that readers want and deserve accuracy in the performance, and that narrators of color deserve a place in this industry! Here are some great audiobooks to get you started in your exploration, for all ages and genres.
Whiteout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Angie Thomas, Nic Stone, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon, narrated by a full cast
This YA novel is written by a powerhouse group of Black authors, and the narrators are also Black and include Shayna Small, Bahni Turpin, Korey Jackson, and more! The book is a series of interconnected stories about a surprise snowstorm in Atlanta days before Christmas, and the lengths a friend group will go to to help one of their own pull off the most epic apology ever in an effort to win back her girlfriend!
Sure, I’ll Be Your Black Friend by Ben Phillippe, narrated by James Fouhey
In Ben Phillippe’s hilarious and heartrending memoir, he tells the story of how he emigrated from Haiti to Canada as a young kid, grew up with a single mom, and then moved to New York City for college, Texas for grad school, and figured out how to make his own way as a Black Haitian-Canadian living in the U.S. James Fouhey (who also narrates Philippe’s YA novels) tells these stories with great comedic timing and heart.
The Bride Test by Helen Hoang, narrated by Emily Woo Seller
Esme is a mixed race young woman from Vietnam who is offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to America to marry a Vietnamese American man, but when she arrives, she discovers that the situation isn’t exactly what she thought. Her future husband, Khai, isn’t interested in marriage, and he doesn’t think he is capable of love. But as Esme falls for him, perhaps he can be persuaded. This heartwarming romance is narrated by Emily Woo Zeller, a powerhouse audiobook narrator who has an extensive backlist.
Island Queen by Vanessa Riley, narrated by Adjoa Andoh
Vanessa Riley tells the true life story of Dorothy Kirwan Thomas in this novel, a woman born into slavery who went on to become one of the richest people in South America. This epic story is narrated by the incredible Adjoa Andoh, a talented actress known for many stage and television roles, including Lady Danbury on Bridgerton.
Quiet in Her Bones by Nailini Singh, narrated by Raj Varma
Ten years ago, Aarav’s mother disappeared. Everyone assumed she simply ran off with a million in cash, but when her body is discovered not very far from Aarav’s childhood home, the cold case becomes an active murder investigation. This New Zealand-set mystery is narrated by actor Raj Varma.
The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson, narrated by Cherisse Boothe
Candice is spending a summer in grandmother’s hometown, where it’s bound to be a boring few weeks cleaning out her grandmother’s house. But when she uncovers a notebook with a mysterious scavenger hunt meant to write a historical injustice, Candice is sent on a life-changing journey. Cherise Boothe narrated this great audiobook, which is reminiscent of The Westing Game.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, narrated by Frankie Corzo
Noemí has been summoned to her cousin’s country estate when she falls ill with a mysterious illness. But once she arrives, Noemí realizes that something is very wrong here, and she’s unable to leave without her cousin. Frankie Corzo narrates this chilling gothic novel.
The Knockout by Sajni Patel, narrated by Soneela Nankani
A teen girl hoping to quality for the Muay Thai Nationals and the first Olympic team is at the center of this YA novel about chasing your dreams, smashing stereotypes, and finding your place within your communities. Soneela Nankani narrates this novel, and she has a deep backlist of audio titles she’s lent her talents to as well.
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If you want to look for others outside of this list, we recommend searching the catalog of wherever you get your audiobooks by narrator — here’s a list of great audiobooks narrated by Black women to get you started!
Click here for the full Read Harder 2023 task list, and for previous recommendations, click here.