Book description
This unique magic-school fantasy series debut from the award-winning author of the Tristan Strong trilogy mixes Black history and thrilling adventure for young readers On his twelfth birthday, Jackson "Jax" Freeman arrives at Chicago's Union Station alone, carrying nothing but the baggage of a scandal back in Raleigh. He's been sent away from home to live with relatives he barely knows. But even worse are the strangers who accost him at the train station, including a food vendor who throws dust in his face and a conductor who tries to steal his skin. At his new school, Jax is assigned to a special class for "summoners," even though he has no idea what those are . . . until he accidentally unleashes an angry spirit on school grounds. Soon Jax is embroiled in all kinds of trouble, from the disappearance of a new friend to full-out war between summoning families. When Jax learns that he isn't the first Freeman to be blamed for a tragedy he didn't create, he resolves to clear his own name and that of his great-grandfather, who was a porter back in the 1920's. By following clues, Jax and his schoolmates unlock the secrets of a powerful Praise House, evade vengeful ghosts, and discover that Jax may just be the most talented summoner of all. What do you get when you combine Kwame Mbalia's incredible imagination and world-building talent with trains, history, and ghosts? Nothing less than middle grade magicReview"Jax Freeman is my new best friend. I loved everything about this book-the characters, the humor, the page-turning adventure. I'm glad Kwame Mbalia is such a prolific writer because I will be bugging him for the sequel immediately."-Rick Riordan, New York Times #1 best-selling author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians "Funny, fast-paced, and full of heart and adventure. You'll be laughing and cheering and racing through the pages-and guessing right up to the end."-Shannon Messenger, New York Times best-selling author of the Keeper of Lost Cities series and Sky Fall series *"With Jax's humor and wit shining even in the darkest moments, fans of Tristan Strong and magic-school stories will want this one on their shelves." -Booklist (starred review)About the AuthorKwame Mbalia is a #1 New York Times best-selling author and the publisher of Freedom Fire, an imprint of Disney Hyperion devoted to stories about the Black diaspora by Black creators. His debut middle-grade novel, Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, was awarded a Coretta Scott King Author Honor, and it was followed by Tristan Strong Destroys the World and Tristan Strong Keeps Punching. Kwame lives with his wife and children outside Raleigh, North Carolina, where he is currently working on the next Jax Freeman adventure. For more information, go to www.KwameMbalia.com.
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Shadow Chaser
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Wildcat Appaloosa
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Willow Dragon
The app's recommendations are surprisingly accurate – it's like they know my taste perfectly! Simplifying my audiobook experience – this app's design is a game-changer. Finally, an app that supports a wide range of audio formats! It's a must-have for audiobook enthusiasts. Not bad, but not amazing either. The narrator’s voice was pleasant, though some parts felt a bit rushed. The story had its moments, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it over similar titles in the genre.
Serendipity
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Dove Dolce
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Berlin Kamikaze
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Boost
I love that I can switch between devices seamlessly and continue where I left off. Audiobooks have made long flights feel like a breeze – a true travel essential. Perfect narration for this genre! The voice actor’s tone matched the atmosphere of the book, enhancing the overall experience. No complaints—just a smooth, enjoyable listen from beginning to end. This audiobook was an absolute pleasure to listen to! The narrator's voice was rich and expressive, perfectly capturing the tone of the material. I found myself completely immersed in the story, often sitting in my car longer than necessary just to hear what happened next. The production quality was excellent with clear audio throughout.
Cosmo
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Dangle
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Tabasco Dracula
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Maple Destroyer
ListenBook's support for playlists in CUE format is a thoughtful touch I appreciate. ListenBook's library organization and book groups make managing my collection effortless.
Trash Master
Effortless audiobook exploration – this app's design is a reader's dream. CUE playlist support is a fantastic feature that allows me to curate themed listening sessions, creating a dynamic and engaging audiobook experience. A functional audiobook. It kept me entertained, but I wasn’t blown away. The narrator’s performance was competent, though some emotional scenes fell a bit flat.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience