
Walls of Glass
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Narrated by:
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Benjamin Fife
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By:
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J.W. Elliot
About this listen
One crack and the walls will shatter.
When you’re the new white kid in an Oklahoma town hemorrhaging with racial and class divisions, accidentally taking the wallet from a dead black man isn’t a simple matter. James embarks on a tortuous journey to navigate tensions in the town while trying to correct the mistake he never should have made. His efforts are hampered by his inability to understand racial prejudice and by those who refuse to let him cross entrenched racial and class barriers. When James’s only friend his age, an African-American girl, is targeted by both the white and the black kids, James is forced to confront the darkness lurking within his own soul.
©2019 James Wadsworth (P)2020 James WadsworthListeners also enjoyed...
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Listener received this title free
The book itself addresses some subjects of racism and discrimination from the perspective of someone who is discovering what they are for the first time. I can see this book as a great introductory to such topics.
Very compelling narrative
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Listener received this title free
—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
So Fitting for Today - A Must Read
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Listener received this title free
EXCELLENT READ!
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Listener received this title free
Throughout the story, James journeys through a number of emotional battles in this coming-of-age novel, as he wrestles with the issues presented to him in society, and learns to confront the racism that is his through socialization. Though at times, I thought James' ignorance of things like segregation was slightly unbelievable, the reader will find in James a character who is empathetic and relatable in this very real struggle that we still deal with today.
I can see this story being read alongside books like Dear Martin or the Hate U Give, as it adds to the ongoing discussion about race and confronting racism and injustice.
Also, the narrator, Benjamine Fife, does a find job of brining this story to life.
Raw and Honest
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Listener received this title free
Good narration. Good plot and characters. Well told.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from Story Origin.
An excellent story.
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Listener received this title free
A Great Listen
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Listener received this title free
Excellent story for kids & adults
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Listener received this title free
the naive and kind-hearted teenager was a great character.
the narrator did a great job as well.
I loved this story!
I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
loved it!
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Listener received this title free
As James continues to try and find a way to correct his mistake of taking the wallet, he becomes involved - unintentionally - in the racial tensions of the city.
I will admit that I was a bit apprehensive about this book, because of the heavy issues it deals with. Once I started, though, I couldn't stop, and I finished the book in a single sitting - staying up into the wee hours of the morning to do so. The author did such a wonderful job of portraying the characters and the difficulties that James faces. James's characterization, his struggles with understanding the racial tensions, his attempts to navigate this new world that he doesn't understand - all of them had me feeling feelings so powerful that I had to just sit with my thoughts for a few hours in order to understand them.
This is a powerful book and one that many can learn from should they choose to. I also worry that, because of the issues it raises instead of shying away from, this is a book that will be targeted by the increasing book bans that are going after any book that sheds light on the tough issues and causes the readers to face those issues head-on. I hope that it is not, as this is a book that deserves to be read by everyone.
For this book, I listened to the audiobook - narrated by Benjamin Fife - who did an absolutely fabulous job. His performance really added gravitas to the entire book, and I think listening to this book made it that much more powerful. If you listen to audiobooks, consider giving this one a listen. It's worth it.
An absolute must listen!!!
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Listener received this title free
This is the sixth book I have listened to by this narrator ( Benjamin Fife ) and I would definitely listen to another. He does a great job giving life to all these characters. He does the kid’s and adult’s (male and female) voices with appropriate expression. His style let me forget I was being read a story.
There are no explicit sex scenes, excessive violence or swearing. Fully appropriate for preteens to adult.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review.
Please feel free to comment on whether you found my review helpful.
Story 5/5
Narration 5/5
Fantastic must read
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