• Magnolia Flower by Zora Neale Hurston and Ibram X. Kendi, Read by Sheryl Lee Ralph

    A Story of Love and Freedom for Young Listeners

    Every Monday through Friday, AudioFile’s editors recommend the best in audiobook listening. We keep our daily episodes short and sweet, with audiobook clips to give you a sample of our featured listens.

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    Sheryl Lee Ralph, from the movie Abbott Elementary, displays her magical acting talents throughout her bold narration of this adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston’s short story, Magnolia Flower, for young listeners. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Ralph’s resonant, full voice. Ralph delights listeners as she breathes additional life into this story of love and freedom. The wise river tells the young, babbling brook about Bentley, an enslaved man who escaped to freedom and built a community of other freed people.

    To listen to the whole archive of Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine, subscribe and listen on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or wherever else you find your favorite podcasts.

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    Behind the Mic
    Behind the Mic
    Every Monday through Friday, AudioFile Editors recommend the best in audiobook listening. All in 6 minutes or less. It’s short, sweet, and just what your ears need.





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