Audiobooks narrated by Channie Waites

Twice Enslaved: Liberty and Justice for Henrietta Wood

"Here is the story of Henrietta Wood, who was enslaved twice—but who demanded justice and was awarded the largest reparations ever granted for enslavement. This nonfiction book for ages 9–12 puts a human face on the current issue of reparations. Henrietta Wood was born enslaved. As a teen she was ripped from her family and sold. Years later, a miracle happened, and she was given freedom papers. But Henrietta’s freedom was short-lived. She was tricked back into enslavement and sent to a Mississippi cotton plantation. On June 19, 1865—Juneteenth—she was emancipated. Finally free for good, Henrietta Wood sued the man who had kidnapped her back into enslavement—and she won! Henrietta was one of the few people in United States history to ever receive a reparation payment for slavery. Twice Enslaved is a true story of cruelty, resilience, and ultimately triumph, told lyrically for middle-grade readers by Selene Castrovilla. “Castrovilla’s efficient lines of verse make for a digestible, fast-paced account […] of a woman who endured injustice after injustice. Though readers will easily read this tale in a single sitting, its lessons will linger. A testament to the resilience of the human spirit.”—Kirkus Reviews"

Selene Castrovilla (Author), Channie Waites (Narrator)

Audiobook

Windy Creek Stables: Natalie and the Summer of Surprises

"In Natalie and the Summer of Surprises, Natalie has to discover if she can become the horse girl her mom has always wanted her to be. Natalie is a city kid who loves indoor actives like reading and watching movies. So spending the summer stuck at her mom’s riding school in nowhere, Virginia, is the worst idea she’s ever heard. But twelve-year-olds don’t get to make the rules, which is why Natalie is at Windy Creek with a parent she barely knows and a bunch of horses she couldn’t care less about. Things go from bad to worse when Natalie realizes her mother actually expects her to ride. Windy Creek is full of horse-crazy kids Natalie has nothing in common with, and her mom clearly wishes she had one of them for a daughter instead. Natalie would give anything to get out of there and go back to the city, and even more than that, she wishes her mom didn’t expect her to be someone she’s clearly not. With no choice but to learn to ride, Natalie begrudgingly participates in Windy Creek's summer horse camp. Alongside her are pretty, stuck up Harper, who is a million times better with horses than Natalie is and won’t let her forget it, and energetic and fun Presley, who is at least happy to be Natalie's friend. Slowly, Natalie learns that a little perseverance and grit go a long way, and if she gives the riders (and horses) at Windy Creek a chance, they’ll give her one, too. Natalie and the Summer of Surprises is the third book in Kaitlyn Sage Patterson's engaging Windy Creek Stables series."

Kaitlyn Sage Patterson (Author), Channie Waites (Narrator)

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Mama's Chicken and Dumplings

"Growing up in segregated 1930’s Charlottesville, ten-year-old Allie is determined to find a man for her mama to marry—but not just any man will do! Allie’s life with Mama isn’t bad, but she knows it could be better if Mama would find someone to marry. Allie’s worst enemy, her NOT-friend Gwen, has a daddy, and Allie wants someone like that—someone to fix things when they break, someone who likes to sing, and has a kind-smile. So Allie makes a plan—her super secret Man-For-Mama plan. She has a list of candidates with a clear top choice: Mr. Johnson, who owns the antique store. Best of all, Mr. Johnson went to school with Mama, and he wants to get reacquainted! The battle’s half won, and Allie is sure that when he tries Mama’s yummy chicken and dumplings, he’ll be head over heels. But someone else is interested in Mama: Mr. Coles, Allie’s teacher, who’s also Gwen’s uncle! Mama can’t marry him—no way is Allie going to be related to Gwen. On top of it all, Allie’s best friend is moving to Chicago; Allie keeps getting in trouble; and everyone seems to think she’s jealous of Gwen, for some reason. Nothing is going how she planned, but Allie is determined to get things back on track toward the life she knows she and Mama both deserve … even if Mama doesn’t agree yet. A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection • A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year • 2025 Children’s Book Council Favorite—Librarian Favorites, Grade 3–5 • BCALA Best of the Best 2024 Book List—5th–8th Grade • VLA 2025 Cardinal Cup Overfloweth Title • California Department of Education Recommended Literature “Mann delivers all the right ingredients—an original setting, fresh characters, one truly spunky girl—and serves them up with honesty and love. Mama’s Chicken and Dumplings is delicious!”—Kathryn Erskine, National Book Award Winner"

Dionna L. Mann (Author), Channie Waites (Narrator)

Audiobook

I Am the River: Sarah E. Ray and the Bob-Lo Boat

"I am the river. Blue and green, fast and flowing, sweeping river grasses aside … moving between Lake Erie and Detroit. The Detroit River has long had a story to tell. It has seen a time before people. And it has seen many faces cross its waters, from Indigenous people guiding canoes to settlers on its banks and freedom seekers riding the underground railroad north toward liberty, with Bob-Lo Island at the river’s end, so close to Canada. At one time, a giant steamboat carried hundreds of excited children and adults to the amusement park that was built on Bob-Lo. But Sarah E. Ray discovered in 1945 that not all people were invited on this boat, to this island, once a symbol of the journey to freedom. It depended, she discovered, on the color of your skin. This is the dramatic story of how one young woman’s courage could create a dramatic turning point that would stand out proudly, and forevermore, in the history of a river older than the country called America."

Leah Henderson, Patricia Lee Gauch (Author), Channie Waites (Narrator)

Audiobook

Windy Creek Stables: Presley and the Impossible Dream

"'A sure-fire hit for horse lovers!'—Kirkus Presley and the Impossible Dream is the first book in the middle grade Windy Creek Stables series set at a rural Virginia riding school—a 21st-century Saddle Club, full of authentic detail, realistic drama, and tons of heart. Presley's life is pretty great—she has a loving family, friends at school, and plenty of rambunctious rescue pets. There's just one little problem … She's never gotten to ride a horse. And her mom has banned her from ever, ever, ever getting on one. And sure, Presley knows riding can be a little dangerous, and a little expensive, but she’s loved horses for as long as she can remember. She’s read every book in the library about horses and horsemanship, she watches professional horse competitions on the internet, and she’s always dreamed about learning to ride. So when she gets the opportunity to tag along with her stepdad on a vet visit to Windy Creek Stables, she jumps at the chance. And even after a surprise run in with Harper, a popular girl who's never given Presley a second glance, Windy Creek is everything she thought it would be … except, well, maybe it's a little messy? Clean and dirty saddle pads are all jumbled together, and there’s a tangle of bridles hanging on a hook in the corner. Which gives Presley the perfect idea: In exchange for cleaning stalls and helping around the barn after school, Tracie, the stable owner, will give her lessons—if she can get her mom to agree to the deal."

Kaitlyn Sage Patterson (Author), Channie Waites (Narrator)

Audiobook

Windy Creek Stables: Harper and the Horse Show Sabotage

"In Harper and the Horse Show Sabotage, the second book in the charming middle grade Windy Creek Stables series from author Kaitlyn Sage Patterson, Harper and Presley must uncover the mystery behind who is undermining the stables before it's too late! Every year, the team at Windy Creek Stables packs up the trailer and makes the trip to the famous Kentucky Horse Park for the best and biggest horse show of the year. Usually, the competition is Harper's favorite thing in the world, and she can't wait to show off for her new best friend, Presley, who is competing for the first time. This year, though, she's more than a little nervous. It's her first time competing against her old barn, Foxcroft Equestrian Center, and she isn't looking forward to seeing the mean girls who still ride there. Her anxiety only increases when she gets a midnight call that Isolde, her beautiful grey Andalusian mare, is sick. Luckily, Isolde recovers, but when another Windy Creek Stables horse starts to show signs of illness, Harper and Presley know something is up. One sick horse is just a sick horse, but two sick horses are a mystery. The girls must don their detective hats and figure out who's sabotaging the stables before anything else happens … and ace their competition as well, of course!"

Kaitlyn Sage Patterson (Author), Channie Waites (Narrator)

Audiobook

Teaching for Change: How Septima Clark Led the Civil Rights Movement to Voting Justice

"This powerful picture book biography spotlights Septima Poinsette Clark, the civil rights leader who taught Black adults how to combat Jim Crow-era voting regulations. Written by Septima’s granddaughter, Yvonne Clark-Rhines, along with acclaimed author Monica Clark-Robinson, this is a must-have for readers who were moved by Hidden Figures, The Oldest Student, and I Am Ruby Bridges. Septima Clark was born poor, Black, and a girl. Being one of those things in 1898 was hard, but all three meant that access to education was going to be a fight. But with strong, hard-working women in her life, a determination to learn, and a passion for knowledge, Septima learned to read and write against all odds. With stunning art by debut illustrator Abigail Albano-Payton, this lyrical biography charts the monumental life of one tenacious woman—once referred to as The Mother of the Civil Rights Movement by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—who made it her mission to bring equity to literacy. Thanks to her efforts, the Black community was able to rise up against oppressive Jim Crow laws that tried to stifle their votes. Septima persevered through adversity, discrimination, and even wrongful arrests to ensure that the road to liberation remained open for all people. This story is a testament to the power and importance of community-minded action. "

Monica Clark-Robinson, Yvonne Clark-Rhines (Author), Channie Waites (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Hug Like Michelle's, a Voice Like Beyoncé's: A Picture Book

"From Misty Copeland to Rosa Parks to Nina Simone, this companion to Hair Like Obama’s, Hands Like Lebron’s is a celebration of Black history and excellence from powerhouse author Carole Boston Weatherford With a voice as bold as Beyoncé’s, my vocals strike a chord. With vision as clear as Oprah’s, success is my reward. With arms as open as Michelle’s, I’m bringing others along. With the breath of my ancestors, I’m singing a new song. Inspired by photographs of Michelle Obama’s famously warm hugs, this is a delightful companion book to Hair Like Obama’s, Hands Like LeBron’s. Carole Boston Weatherford’s powerful text is an ode to the beauty, strength, resilience, and power that all children have within them. Young readers will learn about 17 inspiring female figures, gaining confidence in their own abilities and cultural legacy as they see themselves in each one. From ballerina Misty Copeland to NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson to Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, this is a celebration of Black history and excellence. Young readers will learn about the inspiring, strong female figures in Black history up to the present day, gaining confidence in their abilities and their cultural legacy as they learn. The back matter includes an author’s note and biographies of each of the featured figures: Simone Biles, Misty Copeland, Angela Davis, Kamala Harris, Iman, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Katherine Johnson, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Edna Lewis, Michelle Obama, Rosa Parks, Faith Ringgold, Nina Simone, Dawn Staley, Harriet Tubman, Kerry Washington, and Oprah Winfrey."

Carole Boston Weatherford (Author), Channie Waites (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Memory Hunters

"Inception meets Indiana Jones in this cinematic, slow burn, romantic fantasy following a headstrong academic and her equally stubborn bodyguard as they unearth an ancient secret that rocks the foundations of their society … and challenges their unspoken love for one another. A sapphic, dark academia-adjacent, climate dystopia—with mushrooms—for readers of Blood Over Bright Haven, A Memory Called Empire, and Ink Blood Sister Scribe. Kiana Strade can dive deeper into blood memories than anyone alive. But instead of devoting her talents to the temple she’s meant to lead, Key wants to do research for the Museum of Human Memory … and to avoid the public eye. Valerian IV's twin swords protect Key from murderous rivals and her own enthusiasm alike. Vale cares about Key as a friend—and maybe more—but most of all, she needs to keep her job so she can support her parents and siblings in the storm-torn south. But when Key collects a memory that diverges from official history, only Vale sees the fallout. Key’s mentor suspiciously dismisses the finding; her powerful mother demands she stop research altogether. And Key, unusually affected by the memory, begins to lose moments, then minutes, then days. As Vale becomes increasingly entangled in Key’s obsessive drive for answers, the women uncover a shattering discovery—and a devastating betrayal. Key and Vale can remain complicit, or they can jeopardize everything for the truth. Either way, Key is becoming consumed by the past in more ways than one, and time is running out."

Mia Tsai (Author), Channie Waites (Narrator)

Audiobook

Guardians of the Gods: In the Shadow of the Fall: In the Shadow of the Fall

"An untried acolyte desperate to speak with the orisha she worships accidentally reignites a cosmic war. The fate of her gods – and of her world – now lies in her inexperienced hands. Perfect for fans of N. K. Jemisin, Suyi Davies Okungbowa, Daughters of Nri, and Godkiller. Ashâke is an acolyte in the temple of Ifa, yearning for the day she is made a priest and sent out into the world to serve the orisha. But of all the acolytes, she is the only one the orisha refuse to speak to. For years she has watched from the sidelines as peer after peer passes her by and ascends to full priesthood. Desperate, Ashâke attempts to summon and trap an orisha—any orisha. Instead, she experiences a vision so terrible it draws the attention of a powerful enemy sect and thrusts Ashâke into the center of a centuries-old war that will shatter the very foundations of her world."

Tobi Ogundiran (Author), Channie Waites (Narrator)

Audiobook

Guardians of the Gods: At the Fount of Creation: At the Fount of Creation

"The fate of the Orisha will be decided in the concluding volume of the Guardian of the Gods duology, inspired by Yoruba mythology. Perfect for fans of N. K. Jemisin, Suyi Davies Okungbowa, Daughters of Nri, and Godkiller. For four hundred years, the world’s remaining Orisha have fought to survive the rapaciousness of the soul-stealing Godkillers and the charismatic words of the singular, mysterious figure who leads them, known as the Teacher. Now they seek to kill the one person whose existence defies their very mandate. Now that Ashâke carries within herself the spirits of the surviving Orisha, she is on the hunt for allies who can help her defeat the encroaching army of Godkillers. But their influence is everywhere, and no one is immune?not even Ashâke. If she is to succeed, Ashâke will need to answer the question the Godkillers pose?are the Orisha even worth saving?"

Tobi Ogundiran (Author), Channie Waites (Narrator)

Audiobook

Make a Pretty Sound: A Story of Ella Jenkins—The First Lady of Children's Music

"Once upon a time, children's music was just Mother Goose, nursery songs, and lullabies. And then came Ella Jenkins. Ella Jenkins is an American folk singer and living legend dubbed The First Lady of Children's Music. For nearly 70 years, she has been writing and performing music that has entertained and engaged generations of young listeners. In Make a Pretty Song, Ella's life and legacy are captured in vibrant sights, sounds, and stories that leap right off the page. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised in Chicago, Ella grew up loving music of all kinds—the call-and-response of Cab Calloway, the exciting rhythms of Moroccan and Indian records spun in a local record shop, the bluesy notes her uncle teased from his harmonica. She listened to music from around the world, and no matter what language it was in, she could feel what it meant—the bridge in understanding and feeling that music offers from one heart to another. When she began working with children, she knew just what to do. She knew music would offer children a kinetic learning experience that engaged them physically, verbally, and empathetically, creating community out of song. Soon, she was recording her own albums and became an international star. Ella's journey—from the gritty streets of Chicago to the classrooms where she found her calling to an opportunity to raise her voice for freedom alongside Martin Luther King, Jr., to the spotlight of the world's stage—is rhythmically, joyfully, brilliantly illuminated. For readers familiar with Ella Jenkins or new to her work, this nonfiction book offers a treasury of inspiration that touches on American history, civil rights, cultural awareness, and the incredible power of music."

Traci N. Todd (Author), Channie Waites (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Channie Waites

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