Running Barefoot by Amy Harmon

Running Barefoot

A friendship that changes everything

Written byAmy Harmon
Narrated byTavia Gilbert
Length10h49m
Release dateMarch 26, 2014
LanguageEnglish
★★★★☆ 4.6 (164 ratings)

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Quick Facts

AuthorAmy Harmon
NarratorTavia Gilbert
Runtime10h49m
PublishedMarch 26, 2014
Rating★★★★☆ 4.6 / 5 (164 ratings)
CategoriesLiterature & Fiction, Genre Fiction, Coming of Age, Women's Fiction
FormatAudiobook (Digital)
PlatformAudible

About This Audiobook

Amy Harmon’s *Running Barefoot* isn’t just another coming-of-age tale—it’s a quiet explosion of emotion, raw authenticity, and the kind of friendship that etches itself into your bones. At its core is Josie Jensen, a painfully shy 13-year-old piano prodigy whose only language is music, until she collides with Samuel Yazzie, an 18-year-old Navajo boy carrying the weight of family fractures and simmering anger. Their bond is slow-burning, tender, and occasionally volatile, a dynamic so vivid it feels like eavesdropping on a real relationship. This isn’t a story about overcoming differences; it’s about how two misfits recognize themselves in each other’s wounds. Harmon’s prose shimmers with restraint, letting the emotional undercurrents ripple beneath the surface until they crash over you unexpectedly. The result? A novel that lingers long after the final note fades. Tavia Gilbert’s narration is the secret weapon here—her voice is a velvet hammer, shifting effortlessly between Josie’s hesitant vulnerability, Samuel’s clipped defiance, and the lush, aching melancholy of their shared moments. She doesn’t just read the words; she conducts them.

Tags: young adult friendship fictionNavajo coming of age storyaudiobook narrated by Tavia Gilberttender-brutal emotional fictionliterary fiction with musical themes

Why Listen to Running Barefoot?

  • Expert narration by Tavia Gilbert brings every character and scene to life across 10h49m of immersive audio.
  • Highly rated at 4.6 stars by 164 listeners.
  • Free with your Audible trial — keep the audiobook forever even if you cancel.
  • Perfect for commutes, workouts, and relaxation. Listen anywhere, anytime.
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Editor's Review ★★★★☆

AudioBook Atlas

I’ll admit I was skeptical when a 13-year-old piano prodigy and an 18-year-old with a chip on his shoulder started sharing a spotlight—I feared cliché or forced chemistry. But Harmon sidesteps both with surgical precision. Josie isn’t precocious in a way that grates; she’s *aware* of her awkwardness in a way that makes her heartbreakingly real. Samuel’s anger isn’t performative; it’s a living, breathing thing, and Gilbert nails the way it cracks open inch by inch. My only critique? The middle act drags slightly, weighed down by a subplot involving Josie’s mother that feels like it’s slowing the engine just when the story should be hitting its stride. That said, Gilbert’s narration carries the book through those moments like a seasoned pro—her performance is the audiobook equivalent of a perfectly tuned instrument. The production is crisp, the pacing tight, and the emotional punches land with the force of a freight train. By the time Josie’s fingers fly over the keys in the final chapters, I was breathless, my heart raw. This isn’t a book that just entertains; it *changes* you.

Download: Running Barefoot

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Running Barefoot by Amy Harmon is an immersive listening experience. Performed by Tavia Gilbert with a runtime of 10h49m, you can start with a free trial that you can cancel at any time. The audiobook remains yours forever, even if you end the trial.