Promise Boys

Written by Nick Brooks

Narrated by Alfred Vines, Anthony Lopez, Brad Sanders and 9 more

Winner of the 2024 Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production for Young Adults!

"Skilled vocal performances from more than a dozen narrators immerse listeners in a schoolyard murder mystery involving race, wealth, and power."- AudioFile

This audiobook features a full cast, musical accompaniment, and sound design. Listen along and become immersed in Promise Boys.

The Hate U Give meets One of Us Is Lying in Nick Brooks's Promise Boys, a trailblazing, blockbuster YA mystery about three teen boys of color who must investigate their principal’s murder to clear their own names—for fans of Jason Reynolds, Angie Thomas, and Karen McManus.

"The full-cast narration helps the listener track the extensive collection of characters in this whodunit....Musical accompaniment is peppered throughout the production as well, adding to its overall polished production and thrilling atmosphere." - Booklist

"A brilliant pulls-no-punches mystery with bruised hearts at its core." —Adam Silvera, #1 New York Times bestselling author of They Both Die at the End

"Thrilling, captivating, and blade-sharp. Promise Boys will stay with you long after the last page." —Karen M. McManus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying

The Urban Promise Prep School vows to turn boys into men. As students, J.B., Ramón, and Trey are forced to follow the prestigious "program's" strict rules. Extreme discipline, they’ve been told, is what it takes to be college bound, to avoid the fates of many men in their neighborhoods. This, the Principal Moore Method, supposedly saves lives.

But when Moore ends up murdered and the cops come sniffing around, the trio emerges as the case's prime suspects. With all three maintaining their innocence, they must band together to track down the real killer before they are arrested. But is the true culprit hiding among them?

A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt & Company.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Jan 31, 2023
• ISBN: 9781250877253

Nick Brooks

Nick Brooks is an author and award-winning filmmaker from Washington, DC, Promise Boys is his first YA debut. He is a 2020 graduate of USC's TV and Film Production program. His short film, Hoop Dreamin', earned him the George Lucas Scholar Award and was a finalist in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Film Fest. He is currently in development for his first feature film, We Were Born Kings, with Mandalay Pictures. Before becoming a filmmaker, Nick was an educator working with at-risk youth and many of his stories are coloured by his experiences with the children and families of his community.

Reviews for Promise Boys

[Kelly · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was an enjoyable listen, the multi narration was a treat.

[Jennifer Williams · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

By far the best most unique audiobook I’ve ever listened to! Each character has its own narrator and even the background noises. You are truly immersed in their lives and what’s going on! It’s a great book with an incredible story that you can truest see from each character’s perspective. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one and man was it worth it!