Nephew: A Memoir in Four-Part Harmony

Last updated
Nephew: A Memoir in 4-Part Harmony
Nephew by MK Asante.jpg
Author MK Asante
LanguageEnglish
Subject Literature, pop culture, hip hop culture
Genre Memoir, African-American Studies
Publisher HarperCollins/Amistad Press
Publication date
May 21, 2024
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (Hardcover)
e-Book (Kindle)
audio (Audiobook)
Pages208 pp
ISBN 9780063275287

Nephew: A Memoir in Four-Part Harmony is a memoir by MK Asante, published by HarperCollins/Amistad Press in May 2024. [1] It is an epistolary memoir written to Asante's nephew, Nasir, who was shot nine times and survived. [2]

Library Journal selected Nephew as one of their "Books to Know in 2024." [3]

The audiobook, read by Asante, Dion Graham, Adenrele Ojo, and Neph, received the 2024 Earphones Award from AudioFile (magazine). [4]

Critical reception

The Los Angeles Times , reviewing Nephew on May 17, 2024, wrote:

Nephew bears the intriguing subtitle “A Memoir in 4-Part Harmony,” which points to the book’s strongest element: the layering of multiple first-person voices to create a compelling rhythm and flow ... These direct first-person accounts not only create the narrative’s complex harmony but also add a raw authenticity ... As with a great piece of music, the emotions and rhythms of that final chapter lingered in my mind long after I’d put down the book.” [5]

Kirkus Reviews , reviewing Nephew in their April, 2024 issue, wrote:

"The author compellingly frames his family story within an account of historical struggles for Black liberty, and he convincingly argues that a people’s frustrations, aspirations, and evolving ideals—all its efforts to be free—can be tracked in their creative output. Passionate, moving, spirited reflections on art's therapeutic potency.” [2]

Booklist , reviewing Nephew for their April, 2024 edition, wrote:

"Readers will experience the highs and lows of a family's struggles, witness moments of joy and despair, and see miracles unfold. This beautifully crafted and inspiring narrative captures the essence of family life and showcases the power of love and perseverance in the face of adversity. YA's will find Asante's narrative deeply moving and illuminating." [6]

Library Journal gave Nephew a starred review in their May issue, noting in their review:

"This poignant memoir about overcoming devastating odds is a treasure and likely to become a classic. Essential reading for deepening understanding of society, the world, familial relationships, and the meaning of art and life." [7]

AudioFile (magazine) , reviewing the Nephew audiobook, wrote:

"M.K. Asante's performance captures the essence of what makes the audiobook medium vital: a living experience that grabs listeners from start to finish... Listeners experience a collective performance that captures the power of art to touch the soul. The impact is exhilarating." [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M. K. Asante</span> American poet (born 1982)

M. K. Asante is an American author, filmmaker, recording artist, and professor. He is the author of the 2013 best-selling memoir Buck: A Memoir and the 2024 memoir Nephew: A Memoir in Four-Part Harmony.

<i>A Mango-Shaped Space</i> 2003 book by Wendy Mass

A Mango-Shaped Space is a 2003 young adult novel by the American author Wendy Mass. A Mango-Shaped Space is Mass's fourth fiction novel. The book received the American Library Association Schneider Family Book Award in 2004. The novel has since been nominated for, and received, a number of other awards. The hand lettering on the cover is by Billy Kelly. The book is recommended for grades 5–8. A 7-hour long audiobook version, narrated by Danielle Ferland, has been produced.

<i>The Boxer and the Spy</i> 2008 novel by Robert B. Parker

The Boxer and the Spy (2008) is a crime novel for young adults by American author Robert B. Parker.

<i>Buck: A Memoir</i> 2013 memoir by MK Asante

Buck is a memoir by MK Asante, published by Random House/Spiegel & Grau. Buck tells the story of MK's youth growing up in Philadelphia from the perspective of MK as a teenager. Buck illustrates Asante's struggles with the disintegration of his family and the city's urban decay. Buck is often described as inspirational because it details Asante's discovery of his talent for writing at 16 and his decision to pursue it as a career. The paperback edition of Buck made The Washington Post Bestseller List in 2014 and 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbara Rosenblat</span> British actress (born 1950)

Barbara Rosenblat is a British actress. She is best known as a prolific narrator of audiobooks, for which AudioFile named her a Golden Voice. She has also appeared on screen such as in the Netflix original series Orange Is the New Black as the character Miss Rosa.

R. C. Bray is an American producer and voice actor known for over 250 audiobooks, an Audie Award, Earphones Awards, and Voice Arts Awards winner, Off-Broadway and Edinburgh Fringe Festival performer, and TV and radio commercial narrator.

Bahni Turpin is an American audiobook narrator and stage and screen actor based out of Los Angeles. Her audiobook career includes some of the most popular and critically-acclaimed books in recent years, including The Help and The Hate U Give. She has won 9 Audie Awards, including Audiobook of the Year for Children of Blood and Bone; 14 Earphone Awards; and 2 Odyssey Awards. Turpin has also earned a place on AudioFile magazine's list of Golden Voice Narrators, and in 2016, she was named Audible's Narrator of the Year. In 2018, Audible inducted her into the Narrator Hall of Fame.

<i>The Inquisitors Tale</i> Young adult novel by Adam Gidwitz

The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog is a young adult novel written by Adam Gidwitz and illuminated by Hatem Aly, published by Dutton Children's Books in 2016. It is set in medieval France and describes how three magical children meet each other and become outlaws. It was named a Newbery Honor book in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Black Reckoning</span> Novel

The Black Reckoning is the third novel of the children's fantasy trilogy The Books of Beginning by John Stephens. The narrative focuses on siblings Kate, Michael, and Emma as they race to find the Book of Death before the primary antagonist Dire Magnus. The book was released in 2015, two years after the sequel.

<i>The Dead Are Arising</i> 2020 biography of Malcolm X by Les Payne and Tamara Payne

The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X is a biography of Malcolm X by Les Payne and Tamara Payne. The book was published in September 29, 2020 by Liveright in hardcover format while an audiobook, narrated by actor Dion Graham, was simultaneously released by Recorded Books. Among other honors, the book won the 2020 National Book Award for Nonfiction and the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Biography.

<i>The Paperboy</i> (childrens book) 1996 picture book by Dav Pilkey

The Paperboy is a 1996 children's picture book by American author and illustrator Dav Pilkey. Inspired by Pilkey's own experiences as a paperboy, it tells the story of a paperboy and his dog as they deliver newspapers in the early hours of the morning. The Paperboy received positive reviews from critics and was awarded a 1997 Caldecott Honor for its illustrations.

<i>Sadie</i> (novel) 2018 novel by Courtney Summers

Sadie is a novel written by Courtney Summers. The book was released on September 4, 2018, and is told from two perspectives: some chapters offering Sadie's point of view and some chapters being styled as transcripts from a podcast called "The Girls" hosted by a man named West McCray. The release of the book was accompanied by the release of a mock true-crime podcast titled The Girls: Find Sadie which is available on Apple Podcasts and Stitcher.

The Audie Award for Audiobook of the Year is one of the Audie Awards presented annually by the Audio Publishers Association (APA). It has been awarded since 2004.

<i>The Rock and the River</i> 2009 novel by Kekla Magoon

The Rock and the River is a young adult historical fiction novel by Kekla Magoon, published January 6th 2009 by Aladdin.

Dion Graham is an American actor and narrator. As an actor, he has worked both on and off-Broadway, as well as in TV series and film. As of April 2024, he has narrated at least 280 audiobooks. He has earned a place on AudioFile magazine's list of Golden Voice Narrators, as well as Audible's Narrator Hall of Fame. Further, he has won 11 Audie Awards, 71 Earphone Awards, 3 Listen-Up Awards, and 1 Odyssey Award.

MacLeod Andrews is an American actor and audiobook narrator. He has won 15 Earphone Awards, and 2 Audie Awards, as well as acting awards.

JD Jackson is an American audiobook narrator, actor, and theater professor. Jackson won 26 Earphone Awards and 1 Audie Award. In 2020, AudioFile named him a Golden voice Narrator and two years later Booklist named him a voice of Choice Narrator.

Michael Lockwood Crouch is an American voice actor. He has recorded over 300 audiobooks, through which he received 29 Earphone Awards, 2 Audie Awards, 1 Voice Arts Award, and 1 Odyssey Award honor. In June 2021, AudioFile named him a Golden Voice Narrator. As an actor, he is best known for his roles on the English-language Pokémonand Yu-Gi-Oh! television series.

Kyla Tucaya Garcia is an American stage, film, and television actress and audiobook narrator. As an audiobook narrator, she has received 14 Earphone Awards and has been a finalist for four Audie Awards.

<i>Stuntboy, In-Between Time</i> 2023 middle grade graphic novel by Jason Reynolds

Stuntboy, In-Between Time is a 2023 middle grade graphic novel written by Jason Reynolds and illustrated by Raúl the Third.

References

  1. "The On-Sale Calendar: May 2024". Publishers Weekly . Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  2. 1 2 "NEPHEW". kirkusreviews.com. Kirkus Reviews . Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  3. "The Readers' Almanac - Books To Know in 2024". libraryjournal.com. Library Journal . Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  4. "NEPHEW by MK Asante Read by MK Asante Dion Graham Adenrele Ojo Neph | Audiobook Review | AudioFile Magazine". audiofile.com. AudioFile . Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  5. "How rap and writing help heal a family's old wounds". Los Angeles Times . 17 May 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  6. "Nephew: A Memoir in 4-Part Harmony". booklistonline.com/.com. Booklist . Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  7. "NEPHEW". libraryjournal.com. Library Journal . Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  8. "NEPHEW by MK Asante Read by MK Asante Dion Graham Adenrele Ojo Neph | Audiobook Review". AudioFile . Retrieved 2024-07-29.