The Darkest Child Audiobook By Delores Phillips cover art

The Darkest Child

 Preview

$0.00 for first 30 days

Try for $0.00
Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

The Darkest Child

By: Delores Phillips
Narrated by: Bahni Turpin
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $21.49

Buy for $21.49

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

A new edition of this award-winning modern classic, with a new introduction

In 1958 Georgia, the shade of a 13-year-old black girl's skin can make the difference in her fate. Tangy Mae is the smartest of her mother's 10 children, but she is also the darkest complected. The Quinns - all different skin shades, all with unknown fathers - live with their charismatic, beautiful, and tyrannical mother, Rozelle, in poverty on the fringes of a Georgia town where Jim Crow rules.

Rozelle's children live in fear of her mood swings and her violence, but they are devoted to her. Rozelle pulls her children out of school when they are 12 years old so that they can help support her by going to work - as domestics, as field laborers, or down at "the farmhouse", where Rozelle takes her oldest daughters to turn tricks for her.

Tangy Mae has been offered the opportunity to apply to an integrated high school and might even have the chance to graduate if she can somehow avoid her sisters' fate. Can she break from Rozelle's grasp without violent - even fatal - consequences?

©2004 Delores Phillips (P)2018 Recorded Books African American Coming of Age Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Small Town & Rural Heartfelt
Powerful Storytelling • Complex Characters • Emotional Depth • Vivid Language • Immersive Performance
Highly rated for:
All stars
Most relevant  
What a book! This gem sat in my library for way too long. This is a heavy, but fantastic listen full of characters to which you will feel an emotional connection. The writing is rich and poetic, and Ms. Turpin always gives a stellar performance. This story will stay with you long after you have finished it.

Fabulous story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I found myself emersed in every word. I dared to know an understand every secret held by the Quinn's. I knew some of those Characters when I was little, like Ms Pearl and old uncle's like crow.
This book made me angry, made me cry an reminded me how cruel an evil people can still be towards black people and each other. This book showed the heart of man regardless of bloodline and race. It showed the broken fabric of a people once told they can never be anything but...the darkest child.
Humanity must come to a better understanding If not we as a collective people will always an forever remain lost. I searched frantically for the sequel, unfortunately with Dolores Phillips untimely passing I can only create my own ending and for me God made all things right for her. This reality is the one I pray for as I'm certain based on what's happening with hate an racism all these centuries later, true reality tells me it most likely did not. I highly recommend this read, it will touch your soul and dare you to look deeply at the many darkest children that remain left behind.

A must read!!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
one of my favorite novels. well written, great and unnerving story. narration could have been better but did not take away from the story. saddened that this was Delores Phillips only novel before her passing. thoroughly enjoyed, cried and clutched my pearls from this story. listened to it 4 times....preparing to listen for a fifth!

Story hit home for me...

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This audiobook kept me riveted throughout. It was as though I moved into this dysfunctional family as an observer.
It is a shame the author passed away and never finished the sequel. I was invested in the story and wanted to know what the future held for the narrator, tanji May.

Moving story with superb narration. Highly recommended!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book made me angry, sad, disgusted. But ohhh, Tangie! What a powerful young woman! Bahni Turpin’s voice transports you into the story! Wonderful book, Ms. Phillips!!

Wow!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Deeply moving characters and story. Sad, hard poverty effected children who cope with mother's mental illness.

Stellar Reading and Listening Experience

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The writing was only matched by the reader who gave such a great performance I was moved to tears more than once. So sad the follow up book wasn’t finished.

Devastatingly good read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Though hard to get through at times, I still enjoyed and would recommend it completely

Powerful Read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
An amazing story that captures the true essence of each character. It’s definitely our loss that the author was unable to complete the sequel, as I’m sure it would have been as spectacular as the original. She had an amazing voice.

Outstanding

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Loved this book , please hurry with part 2 !!
I have listened to over 30 Audible books
This is by far the best !!! The narrator is fantastic!

VERY GOOD ! BUT VERY SAD

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews