Book description
"A riveting indictment of the child welfare system . . . [A] bracing gut punch of a book." --Robert Kolker, The Washington Post "[A] moving and superbly reported book." --Jessica Winter, The New Yorker "A harrowing account . . . [and] a powerful critique of [the] foster care system . . . We Were Once a Family is a wrenching book." --Jennifer Szalai, The New York Times A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice The shocking, deeply reported story of a murder-suicide that claimed the lives of six children--and a searing indictment of the American foster care system. On March 26, 2018, rescue workers discovered a crumpled SUV and the bodies of two women and multiple children at the bottom of a cliff along the Pacific Coast Highway. Investigators soon concluded that the crash was a murder-suicide, but there was more to the story: Jennifer and Sarah Hart, it turned out, were a white married couple who had adopted six Black children from two different Texas families in 2006 and 2008. Behind the family's loving facade was an alleged pattern of abuse and neglect that had been ignored as the couple withdrew the children from school and moved west. It soon became apparent that the State of Texas knew all too little about the two individuals to whom it had given custody of six children. Immersive journalism of the highest order, Roxanna Asgarian's We Were Once a Family is a revelation of precarious lives; it is also a shattering exposé of the foster care and adoption systems that produced this tragedy. As a journalist in Houston, Asgarian sought out the children's birth families and put them at the center of the story. We follow the lives of the Harts' adopted children and their birth parents, and the machinations of the state agency that sent the children far away. Asgarian's reporting uncovers persistent racial biases and corruption as young people of color are separated from birth parents without proper cause. The result is a riveting narrative and a deeply reported indictment of a system that continues to fail America's most vulnerable children while upending the lives of their families.
Soda Delirium
Listening to audiobooks has become a ritual, thanks to this incredible app. This app is a game-changer for anyone who's always on the go – it's like carrying a library in my pocket. The app's performance is exceptional, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted audiobook experience. It's clear that it's designed with audiobook enthusiasts in mind.
LuminaLore
💪 Achieving double wins – workouts become invigorating with stories to fuel my motivation! 💪🎧 Tone adjustment is such an innovative feature. It adds a personal touch to narration. Noise reduction on ListenBook Pro is a revelation. It enhances the audio quality and makes listening comfortable.
Pink C
ListenBook’s audio filters are great. The app provides a high-quality listening experience. Absolutely loved the narration! The voice actor brought the characters to life with distinct tones and emotions. The production quality was top-notch, with no background noise or distractions. A truly immersive experience!
Bad Badminton
This app has transformed my daily walks into exciting literary adventures. I love how this app turns even the dullest tasks into exciting storytelling moments. ⭐️ Who knew cleaning could be this exciting? This app turns chores into adventures! 🧹🏰 ListenBook's customizable audio filters add a new dimension to my audiobook enjoyment. The app supports a wide range of formats. ListenBook is very versatile.
Freaky Ratbuster
This app is my secret weapon for making the most of my free time. The app's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch enhances my listening experience on the go. ListenBook has become an essential part of my day, enhancing my commute and allowing me to enjoy audiobooks like never before. An average audiobook experience. Nothing was wrong with it—the narration was fine, and the story was okay—but nothing particularly stood out. It served its purpose as entertainment during my commute.
Insane SweepKick
ListenBook has transformed my listening habits, making them more engaging and enjoyable. With this app, I've unlocked the secret to reading even on the busiest days. I can't get enough of ListenBook's silky-smooth playback and intuitive design. It's my go-to app for both leisurely listening and study sessions. ListenBook's audio filters are a valuable tool for customizing my audiobook playback to perfection. I love the auto-bookmark feature. It saves my place automatically.
Force
This app's compatibility with different formats has made my audiobook collection diverse and enjoyable. I'm in awe of this app's ability to make reading so accessible and convenient. The customizable controls and playback options cater perfectly to different audiobook preferences.
Freeze Queen
💼 Making every minute count – this app's ease of use ensures I'm always making progress in my audiobook adventures. 📱📖 ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature from web browsers is incredibly convenient. Downloading audiobooks has never been this easy. Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique feature. I'm loving it! The app is very easy to use. ListenBook makes managing my audiobook library simple. I’ve tried several audiobook players, but ListenBook stands out for its reliability and ease of use. The equalizer and voice boost features make every book sound amazing. Plus, the dark mode is perfect for nighttime listening. Great job, developers!
Dance Bloom
I can't believe how easy it is to download and manage my audio content using ListenBook. My long walks have turned into exciting adventures with this app.
Venom Petunia
Audiobooks on this app have made me look forward to my long commutes. The app supports a wide range of formats. ListenBook is very versatile. ListenBook’s playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches. The ability to download audiobooks directly is fantastic. ListenBook is very convenient.
Midnight Rambler
ListenBook's dedication to providing an excellent user experience sets a new standard in audiobook apps. I love how this app allows me to enjoy books even when I'm on the move. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch is a testament to its innovation. CUE playlist support is a fantastic feature for those who enjoy organized and structured listening. The app's compatibility with CarPlay is a fantastic bonus. It keeps me entertained during long drives.
Fatsy Bear
The captivating narrators make each story come alive in a unique way. ListenBook's commitment to excellence shines through in its powerful features and seamless performance. 📱 Carrying stories wherever I go – this app's convenience allows me to indulge my love for reading on the move. 📚🛍️ A reasonable choice for casual listening. The audiobook was well-produced, but the pacing felt uneven in places. I didn’t dislike it, but I also didn’t feel strongly about it one way or another.
Trash Sling
ListenBook has revolutionized my audiobook experience. Now I can enjoy my favorite lectures and speeches with ease! The app’s design is sleek and modern. ListenBook is my favorite audiobook player.
Phoenix Tetra
I've never been so excited about my daily commute – thanks to this app. I'm addicted to this app's ability to seamlessly blend books into my life. Adjusting the narrator's voice tone is a creative feature that adds a personal touch to the experience. Beautiful design and intuitive interface. Very user-friendly.
Pexxious
I'm impressed by how this app seamlessly syncs across my devices. I'm hooked on this app's sleek design and seamless performance – it's a must-have for any reader. ⭐️ Who knew cleaning could be this exciting? This app turns chores into adventures! 🧹🏰 Elevating my reading experience to a whole new level, this app's user-friendly interface and easy navigation have me hooked. Audiobooks have never been this enjoyable! 📱🔊 Adjusting playback speed has revolutionized the way I consume audiobooks. I can cover more ground while maintaining comprehension.
DARK HQ
With this app, I'm discovering the joy of reading during my commutes. ListenBook has breathed new life into my audiobook collection. I can't imagine using anything else.
Blister
The app's ability to extract artwork and metadata automatically is a huge time-saver. The statistics tracking is a nice touch. ListenBook helps me keep track of my audiobook habits.
SpellTansy
I can't believe how much more productive I am – I'm learning and growing while multitasking! Effortlessly accessing my favorite audiobooks has become a reality, all thanks to this app's user-centric design and comprehensive format support. A must-download! 📱🎧
London Fox
This app has added a touch of magic to my mundane moments – I'm forever grateful. This app's convenience has turned my exercise sessions into enlightening moments. 🧘♂️ Finding zen through storytelling – this app makes meditation even more calming. 🧘♂️🎧 ListenBook's loop and shuffle playback options have made audiobook revisiting and studying a breeze. My workouts have become more enjoyable and productive with ListenBook's compatibility with Apple Watch.
CuriousCrafter
I'm amazed at ListenBook's intuitive interface and precise controls – it's a joy to navigate. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to find specific sections.
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