SLAY Audiobook By Brittney Morris, Michael Boatman, Alexandra Grey, Dominic Hoffman, Sisi Aisha Johnson cover art

SLAY

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SLAY

By: Brittney Morris, Michael Boatman, Alexandra Grey, Dominic Hoffman, Sisi Aisha Johnson
Narrated by: Kiersey Clemons
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Buy for $18.74

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A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2019!
“Gripping and timely.” —People
“The YA debut we’re most excited for this year.” —Entertainment Weekly
“A book that knocks you off your feet while dropping the kind of knowledge that’ll keep you down for the count. Prepare to BE slain.” —Nic Stone, New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin and Odd One Out

Ready Player One meets The Hate U Give in this dynamite debut novel that follows a fierce teen game developer as she battles a real-life troll intent on ruining the Black Panther–inspired video game she created and the safe community it represents for Black gamers.

By day, seventeen-year-old Kiera Johnson is an honors student, a math tutor, and one of the only Black kids at Jefferson Academy. But at home, she joins hundreds of thousands of Black gamers who duel worldwide as Nubian personas in the secret multiplayer online role-playing card game, SLAY. No one knows Kiera is the game developer, not her friends, her family, not even her boyfriend, Malcolm, who believes video games are partially responsible for the “downfall of the Black man.”

But when a teen in Kansas City is murdered over a dispute in the SLAY world, news of the game reaches mainstream media, and SLAY is labeled a racist, exclusionist, violent hub for thugs and criminals. Even worse, an anonymous troll infiltrates the game, threatening to sue Kiera for “anti-white discrimination.”

Driven to save the only world in which she can be herself, Kiera must preserve her secret identity and harness what it means to be unapologetically Black in a world intimidated by Blackness. But can she protect her game without losing herself in the process? Racism & Discrimination Video Game Difficult Situations Literature & Fiction Discrimination Game Self Esteem & Self Image Depression & Mental Health Fantasy

Critic reviews

"Narrator Kiersey Clemons portrays high school honor student Kiera, who is the secret developer of SLAY, a popular online role-playing game aimed at celebrating black culture. When a gamer is killed in the real world due to an in-game conflict, SLAY is slammed by the media as racist. Clemons's portrayal of Kiera is youthful and emotional as she struggles with her real-world relationships, and gains ferocity as Kiera stands up for her creation and protects the community she's carved out for black gamers. A few chapters explore the perspectives of other characters, and several narrators are brought in to fully embody the diversity of the gamers who find so much meaning in a world that is unapologetically black."
Engaging Storyline • Cultural Representation • Exceptional Cast • Thought-provoking Themes • Unique Concept

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LOVED this story! Morris's book is a rally to embrace the difference/diversity found within the Black community.

Can't wait for more by Brittney Morris!

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As a high school English teacher, and semi-secret gamer, I appreciated how this book presented Black gamers. I know what it feels like to be called the n-word simply for gaming while Black, and the protagonist, Kiera, did what so many of us wish we could to remedy that issue: create a space where we can go to simply exist and nerd out! This book was part coming of age, part thriller, and part who-done-it and I was here for all of it. I literally couldn’t put it down once I started it. And the twist! My goodness.

Hands down one of my top two favorite books of 2023.

A Must Read!

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Loved the narrators. They brought so much life and enjoyment to the entire book. Will enjoy it over and over.

Loved

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Awesome story! The reader/listener gets a better understanding of what it’s like being Black in today’s world! The readers totally added to the story! I’ve listened twice and read the book once! It’s our July book club book and I can’t wait to talk about it!!

Gotta Read This!

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From a Gen Xer white lady, this was such a great listen! From learning more about the Black experience, especially in America, to the relatable family dynamics. Really good reading by the main actor, as well.

great story!

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