My Name is Not Friday

About This Audiobook

Jon Walter’s *My Name Is Not Friday* isn’t just another Civil War-era tale—it’s a razor-sharp reckoning with freedom and identity, told through the eyes of a boy who refuses to be erased. Samuel, a free Black orphan living in a New England institution at the war’s end, isn’t a bystander to history; he’s its reluctant witness. When his younger brother Joshua vanishes after a reckless act, Samuel’s quiet obedience cracks under the weight of his desperate search. Walter doesn’t romanticize the era’s cruelties but instead hones in on the insidious ways power distorts even the most well-intentioned systems. The prose is lean and muscular, never wasting a word, and the historical backdrop thrums with tension without ever overshadowing Samuel’s personal storm. This is a book that demands you feel the heat of every decision, the grit of every refusal to kneel. Dion Graham’s narration isn’t just a performance—it’s a revelation, turning Samuel’s internal defiance into a living, breathing thing. The audiobook’s pacing is relentless, mirroring the urgency of escape, while Graham’s voice shifts effortlessly between Samuel’s measured resolve and Joshua’s wild, untamed spirit. It’s the kind of storytelling that lingers like a bruise long after the last chapter."

"review": "I didn’t expect a Civil War novel to leave me this raw, but *My Name Is Not Friday* got under my skin in ways I’m still picking at weeks later. Dion Graham’s narration is a masterclass in restraint and emotional precision—his Samuel is a boy who’s been taught to be invisible, but Graham refuses to let him stay that way. There’s a scene where Samuel, stripped of his name and forced into servitude, responds to a slur with a single, seething silence. Graham doesn’t overplay it; the silence *hurts*, and that’s the point. That’s the power of this audiobook. The production is crisp, with no overcrowding of soundscapes—there’s no need when the story itself crackles with so much tension. My only critique? At times, the dialogue between Samuel and Joshua veers into an almost *too*-contrasted rhythm, with Joshua’s brash energy clashing against Samuel’s measured tones in a way that occasionally feels jarring. But that’s a small complaint for a book that otherwise nails its tone. Walter’s world-building is immersive without resorting to clutter, and the pacing never lags, even in its quieter moments. If you want a Civil War story that’s less about battles and more about the quiet wars waged in the hearts of those left behind, this is it. Graham’s performance alone makes it worth the listen, but the story? That’s the knockout punch. Listen to this. Then talk about it—and brace yourself for the questions it’ll leave you with."

"tags": ["civil war historical fiction audiobook