The Ethan I Was Before

“Beautifully told…Part mystery, part adventure, and totally heartwarming.” —Han Nolan, National Book Award–winning author of Dancing on the Edge

“This debut audiobook will grab listeners’ hearts and not let go…Narrator Kirby Heyborne is extraordinary in the way he inhabits the character of twelve-year-old Ethan, vocal cracks and all. He gives listeners the sense of eavesdropping on his innermost thoughts as he slowly finds his way back to the Ethan he was before. He voices Grandpa Ike with just the right balance of crustiness and compassion and gives tones of believable frustration mixed with longing to big brother Roddie, who had to leave girlfriend and dreams of baseball stardom behind. A perfect listening experience! Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.” —AudioFile

“Readers will be riveted as Ethan, his family, and other well-developed characters face the somber realities of life head on.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“An uplifting book that explores the way grief evolves through the power of remembrance.” —Booklist

“A deft balance between storytelling and accessible reflection for the middle-school reader.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books