Audiobooks narrated by Karise Yansen

Purple Rising: Celebrating 40 Years of the Magic, Power, and Artistry of The Color Purple

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Pulitzer Prize–winning masterpiece The Color Purple—as well as the acclaimed 1985 film from Steven Spielberg, the Tony-winning Broadway musical, and the all-new film adaptation with this gorgeously designed exploration of the novel's enduring legacy, featuring contributions from Alice Walker, Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Colman Domingo, Fantasia Barrino, Danny Glover, and more. Since its publication in 1982, The Color Purple has resonated with generations of readers across the globe. The novel catapulted author Alice Walker to international fame, brought Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg acting acclaim in the 1985 film adaptation, and inspired theatrical productions around the world, including the Tony Award–winning Broadway musical. This cultural touchstone—which so profoundly touches on race, family, survival, spirituality, sisterhood, and love in all forms—continues to beget new iterations, most recently a feature film. Now, an in-depth exploration celebrates The Color Purple's ever-expanding legacy as never before: Purple Rising features oral histories and fresh anecdotes based on more than fifty original interviews, as well as vibrant, never-before-seen images. It reveals the crucial real-life experiences that inspired the novel, and the transcendent humanity of its themes that continue to connect with audiences, each new adaptation speaking to the changing times and cultural contexts. Creators, actors, producers, activists, cultural critics, and well-known fans comment on the power of Walker's story and how it has affected their lives and artistic choices, including Whoopi Goldberg, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Halle Bailey, Blitz Bazawule, Jon Batiste, H.E.R., Salamishah Tillet, Ricky Dillard, Gabrielle Union, and many more. An insightful and vivid celebration of an enduring classic, Purple Rising is the ultimate gift for fans of all ages and a true celebration of Black joy, storytelling, and achievement.

Lise Funderburg (Author), Amir Abdullah, Daniel Henning, Eunice Wong, Janina Edwards, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Karise Yansen, Kevin R. Free, Ramón De Ocampo (Narrator)

Audiobook

Wishing on a Star: The perfect Christmas romance to curl up with this year

A single mum. A superstar athlete. A Christmas like no other. Anna Heath is divorced, a single mum and trying desperately to keep her life in order. Despite her friends' best efforts, Anna has stopped looking for love and is determined to give her daughter, Ruthie, a Christmas to remember. Sam Jackman has just been dealt with life-altering news, and all he could think to do was run. He's left his American football team back in the US, stuck a pin in a map, and landed in Richmond, London. When Anna and Ruthie literally bump into Sam on the snow-speckled streets, he finds himself being welcomed into their lives. But what begins as a night on the sofa turns into the start of something special...

Mandy Baggot (Author), Karise Yansen (Narrator)

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Mia and the Lightcasters

Nubis has been plunged into the Darkness by the shadowy Reaper King - a figure children know only through their nightmares. When his minions capture her parents and take over the city, then Mia, her friends and her little brother must travel across the Nightmare Plains to reach Stella, the City of Light. But getting there isn't going to be easy. Mia must learn to harness her umbra taming abilities if she stands any chance of confronting the king and rescuing her parents. If she can't, she'll lose her family - and her soul - to the Darkness forever . . .

Janelle Mccurdy (Author), Karise Yansen (Narrator)

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Princess Olivia Investigates: The Wrong Weather

Brought to you by Puffin. The brand new series for young readers from bestselling author Lucy Hawking. 'The more we find out about the world around us, the more we can work out other, more complicated things, such as how the universe began or how life got started on Earth . . .' Olivia Alez is delighted about finally living a life away from the royal palace in the mountains that used to be her home, after the Kingdom of Alez decides it doesn't want a royal family any more. Now she can finally give up boring princess lessons and learn about real things, like volcanoes and the ocean and space! But Olivia is completely unprepared for the world that awaits her. Thick, dark clouds hang low over the city, and the rivers that she so longed to see are choked with rubbish. And on top of it all, the weather just feels wrong. With scorching hot sun one day and torrential rainfall the next, it seems nearly impossible for the people and animals in Alez to adapt to their extreme climate. Olivia, horrified by what she sees, becomes determined to get to the bottom of Alez's dangerous weather patterns. With the help of some new friends and armed with a scientific lab coat that would make Albert Einstein jealous, Olivia sets out to solve the mystery and save Alez from climate destruction before it's too late . . . © Lucy Hawking 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

Lucy Hawking (Author), Karise Yansen, Kristin Atherton (Narrator)

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Frankie Best Hates Quests

Brought to you by Penguin. From the incredible imagination of Chris Smith - bestselling author and now a major new solo talent - comes an extraordinary accidental adventure for fans of Cressida Cowell and Pixar's Onward. Frankie Best is not happy. She's stuck at Grandad's with her annoyingly nerdy brother Joel for a whole week while her parents swan off to the Arctic. Things take a turn for the worse when Grandad gets kidnapped by gnoblins (no, that is not spelt incorrectly) forcing Frankie to embark on a rescue mission across a magical realm filled with strange creatures, dangerous enemies and - worst of all - absolutely no WiFi. Frankie did have big plans to watch YouTube and eat pot noodles that weekend but it looks like she'll just have to go on an epic mega-dangerous quest instead . . . © Chris Smith 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

Chris Smith (Author), Chris Smith, Karise Yansen, Roy Mcmillan (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Dream Team: Jaz Santos vs. the World

Brought to you by Penguin. A heart-warming, funny and accessible new series: Bend It Like Beckham for fans of Jacqueline Wilson and Ella On The Outside. Things begin to go wrong for Jaz when her mum moves out, leaving her family behind. Determined to fix everything, she creates her own girl's football team to be the star her mum always wanted. First, she recruits a brilliant new group of friends to join her team. But after a shaky start, seven very different personalities to manage, and no one at school taking the girls' team seriously, football stardom feels a long way off. Can Jaz keep everyone - and herself - out of trouble long enough to convince her mum to come home? A relatable, inclusive story about families, unlikely friendships and girl power. © Priscilla Mante 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

Priscilla Mante (Author), Karise Yansen (Narrator)

Audiobook

This Lovely City

THIS LOVELY CITY has been included in the biggest 2020 round-ups: Featuring an original piece of jazz music, composed and performed by AZAD, a second year band from East London Arts and Music School (ELAM). One of OBSERVER’S 10 best debut novelists of 2020 WOMAN & HOME Best of 2020 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING Best of 2020 EVENING STANDARD Best books of 2020 MAIL ON SUNDAY 2020 Highlights I Best of 2020 ********************************************** ‘Full of life and love… it made my heart soar, and should be on every Londoner’s shelf’ Stacey Halls, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Familiars ‘I loved, loved, loved it, and desperately wanted things to work out for Lawrie and Evie’ Cathy Rentzenbrink, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Last Act of Love ‘This atmospheric novel is a triumphant debut’ Woman & Home ‘Expect to be obsessed . . . [a book] you need to know about’ Good Housekeeping ‘Hotly tipped debut’ Metro ‘A tale to wring the heart and make the blood boil, swirling with post-war gloom, illuminated by the shining lights of Lawrie and Evie’ Saga ****** The drinks are flowing. The music is playing. But the party can’t last. With the Blitz over and London reeling from war, jazz musician Lawrie Matthews has answered England’s call for help. Fresh off the Empire Windrush, he’s taken a tiny room in south London lodgings, and has fallen in love with the girl next door. Touring Soho’s music halls by night, pacing the streets as a postman by day, Lawrie has poured his heart into his new home – and it’s alive with possibility. Until, one morning, he makes a terrible discovery. As the local community rallies, fingers of blame are pointed at those who had recently been welcomed with open arms. And, before long, the newest arrivals become the prime suspects in a tragedy which threatens to tear the city apart. Atmospheric, poignant and compelling, Louise Hare’s debut shows that new arrivals have always been the prime suspects. But, also, that there is always hope.

Louise Hare (Author), Karise Yansen, Theo Solomon (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Karise Yansen