With a new year comes stacks of exciting new fiction to look forward to. Some of these authors are fresh on the publishing scene while others are familiar names trying something novel for a change. Whatever the case, we’re thrilled to give you a carefully curated list of our favorite brand new stories to keep […]
Overview
A story of family mythology and coming-of-age that you won't want to put down. We can't wait to read what Essie Chambers writes next.
“A powerful novel about how our family history shapes us. Swift River broke my heart, and then offered me hope.” —Ann Napolitano, New York Times bestselling author of Hello Beautiful
It’s the summer of 1987 in Swift River, and Diamond Newberry is learning how to drive. Ever since her Pop disappeared seven years ago, she and her mother hitchhike everywhere they go. But that’s not the only reason Diamond stands out: she’s teased relentlessly about her weight, and the fact that since Pop’s been gone, she is the only Black person in all of Swift River. This summer, Ma is determined to declare Pop legally dead so that they can collect his life insurance money, get their house back from the bank, and finally move on.
But when Diamond receives a letter from a relative she’s never met, key elements of Pop’s life are uncovered, and she is introduced to two generations of African American Newberry women, spanning the 20th century and revealing a much larger picture of prejudice and abandonment, of love and devotion. As pieces of their shared past become clearer, Diamond gains a sense of her place in the world and in her family. But how will what she’s learned of the past change her future?
A story of first friendships, family secrets, and finding the courage to let go, Swift River is a sensational debut about how history shapes us that heralds the arrival of a major new literary talent.
Product Details
ISBN-13: | 9781797174587 |
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Publisher: | Simon & Schuster Audio |
Publication date: | 06/04/2024 |
Sales rank: | 242,213 |
Product dimensions: | 6.00(w) x 1.50(h) x 5.00(d) |
About the Author
Ariel Blake is a Black and Guyanese (American) theater artist, teacher, abolitionist & birth keeper based in Flatbush, Brooklyn. Her voice can also be heard narrating An Abolitionist’s Handbook by Patrisse Cullors and Raven Leilani’s Luster among other titles.
Janina Edwards, an Earphone Award–winning narrator, is a graduate of the acting program at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Robin Miles, named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine, has twice won the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration, an Audie Award for directing, and many Earphones Awards. Her film and television acting credits include The Last Days of Disco, Primary Colors, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order, New York Undercover, National Geographic’s Tales from the Wild, All My Children, and One Life to Live. She regularly gives seminars to members of SAG and AFTRA actors’ unions, and in 2005 she started Narration Arts Workshop in New York City, offering audiobook recording classes and coaching. She holds a BA degree in theater studies from Yale University, an MFA in acting from the Yale School of Drama, and a certificate from the British American Drama Academy in England.