“TJ Crowley" Wins Audie Award!
Celebrated as the "Oscars of Audiobooks," this event, hosted by the Audio Publishers Association (APA), honored the industry’s finest in spoken-word storytelling. Captured on the red carpet, celebrating this incredible win: Claire Overstake, Dion Graham, Grant Overstake, Dani Martineck, Kevin R. Free, May Wuthrich, Graham Halstead, Thérèse Plummer, Tavia Gilbert, Brittany Pressley, and Michael Crouch. Cast members not pictured, Johnny Heller, Shayna Small, Ari Fliakos, Peter Berkrot, John Wright, and Sheila Brown Kinnard.
Best Young Adult Audiobook – 2025 Audie Awards
This immersive audio dramatization earned an Earphones Award from AudioFile Magazine before capturing the much-deserved Audie. Inspired by the author’s own experiences, this speaks to America’s challenging race relations in the late 1960s after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A cast of 15 actors plus a music ensemble lend their immense talents to this fast-paced, suspenseful, important, and revelatory coming-of-age story. — BARNES & NOBLE
We are beyond thrilled to announce that The Real Education of TJ Crowley: Coming of Age on the Redline has won the Audie Award for Best Young Adult Audiobook! Recognized as the highest honor in the audiobook industry, the Audies celebrate excellence in spoken-word storytelling—placing Grant Overstake and May Wuthrich’s full-cast adaptation among the finest productions of the year.
About the 30th Annual Audie Awards Ceremony
The 30th Annual Audie Awards, hosted by the Audio Publishers Association (APA), took place on March 4, 2025, in New York City, celebrating the best in spoken-word entertainment. Often called the "Oscars of Audiobooks," the Audies are the most prestigious awards in the industry, recognizing outstanding performances, production quality, and storytelling in audiobooks across multiple categories.
Where to Listen
Don’t miss the Audie Award-winning audiobook that’s making history:
This year's star-studded gala brought together some of the most influential voices in publishing, entertainment, and narration, with major industry figures and celebrities in attendance, including Whoopi Goldberg, Barbra Streisand, and Kate McKinnon. The event highlighted the growing cultural and artistic significance of audiobooks, showcasing how the medium continues to evolve and captivate audiences worldwide.
Winning an Audie Award is a rare and career-defining honor, cementing The Real Education of TJ Crowley as one of the top audiobooks of the year and further establishing its impact in both literary and educational spaces. The recognition from the APA underscores the exceptional storytelling, production, and performances that make this full-cast adaptation a groundbreaking achievement in the Young Adult category, which is awarded for excellence in narration, production, and content of a teen audiobook, ages 13-18.
Where to Listen
Don’t miss the Audie Award-winning audiobook that’s making history:
A Story That Resonates Today
Set in 1968 Wichita, The Real Education of TJ Crowley follows 13-year-old TJ as he comes face-to-face with racism, injustice, and self-discovery during the height of the Civil Rights Movement.
Meet the Audie Award-Winning Cast
We are proud to celebrate the exceptional talent and dedication of the cast and crew who brought The Real Education of TJ Crowley: Coming of Age on the Redline to life. Their outstanding efforts made this prestigious recognition possible.
Narrators:
Dani Martineck as TJ Crowley
Dion Graham as Dr. Washington, Leon Bowman
Tavia Gilbert as Kate Crowley
Johnny Heller as Raymond Hatcher (Uncle Ray)
Kevin R. Free as Andy (Birmingham) Campfield
Shayna Small as Ivy Washington
Ari Fliakos as Detective Harris
Michael Crouch as Ronnie Crowley
Kirby Heyborne as Eric Armstrong
Graham Halstead as Mr. Johnson, Coach Gordon
Thérèse Plummer as Mrs. Armstrong, Widow Bender
Brittany Pressley as Mrs. Peters
Peter Berkrot as Vice Principal Scott
John Wright as Radio Announcer
Sheila Brown Kinnard as Mrs. Lorraine Washington
Production Team:
Grant Overstake – Co-Author and Executive Producer
May Wuthrich – Co-Author, Director, and Producer
Cameron Potts – Producer at John Marshall Media
John Marshall Media – Production Company
Music:
ARISE Ensemble – Featured Music
Distribution:
Blackstone Publishing
Where to Listen
Don’t miss the Audie Award-winning audiobook that’s making history download now:
Ask Your Local Library!
TJ Crowley is available in more places than ever, and you have choices on how to listen. You can download your own copy today or check it out from your local library. If your library doesn’t have TJ Crowley yet, librarians are amazing about adding award-winning audiobooks when you request them!
And if you prefer to support independent bookstores, you can find TJ Crowley on Libro.fm, the audiobook service that shares profits with local, independent bookstores instead of big corporations. Whichever way you choose, we hope you’ll start listening today and experience this Audie Award finalist for yourself!