Listen to the Girls, Chrystal D. Giles
Listen to the Girls, Chrystal D. Giles
List: $15.99 | Sale: $11.20
Club: $7.99

Listen to the Girls

Author: Chrystal D. Giles

Narrator: Tyla Collier

Unabridged: 4 hr 45 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/05/2026


Synopsis

When Calla finds out her favorite teacher has been accused of inappropriate conduct, she decides to take action in this powerful story about growing up and speaking up, about listening to others and learning to listen to yourself. Because the more Calla listens . . . the more she realizes that maybe she has something to say too.

"Important and empowering—this story is a testament to the power of girls supporting one another."—Kate Messner, New York Times bestselling author

What if the truth really is as powerful as it feels?

Calla has always had smart-girl energy. She’s Josiah the track star’s practical younger sister. Charlee and Jacoby’s problem-solving best friend. Attorney Dionne Howard’s model daughter. So it’s nice when someone seems to see her for her, outside of all that. But what if that person is a grown-up who maybe isn’t as trustworthy as Calla thought? Calla’s mom likes to say “Always do what you know is right.” But what if you don’t know what the right thing is?

These are the questions Calla faces on the last day of seventh grade, when she finds out that her favorite teacher has been accused of inappropriate conduct at his old school. Calla doesn’t know what really happened. She does know that people are saying mean things about the girls who have spoken out—and that can’t be right . . . can it? Inspired by her favorite newsblogger, EboniNews (whose motto is Amplify. Connect. Truth. ACT.), Calla has an idea. Can she find a way to ACT?

About The Author

Chrystal D. Giles is a champion for diversity in children’s literature. She is also the author of Take Back the Block and Not An Easy Win, which have received multiple starred reviews and made multiple year end and state award lists. Chrystal lives outside Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband and son and is currently working on her next middle-grade novel.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Shannon on May 12, 2026

A middle grade #MeToo novel about female rage, speaking up and standing up for victims of sexual assault. When seventh grader Calla learns her favorite teacher has been accused of abusing his female students at the last school he taught, she is shocked to learn that everyone seems to be blaming the......more

Goodreads review by Megan on April 23, 2026

This is a wonderful book filled with nuanced, complicated characters and a storyline that will keep readers turning the page. Equal parts moving and funny, the story embraces a complicated topic while always being sensitive to the young readers it is intended for. I can’t wait for this book to make......more

Goodreads review by Melanie on February 04, 2026

Chrystal Giles’ Listen to the Girls is a gentle look at the sexual harassment that happens to so many young people and the power they have to speak up and affect change. Rising 8th grader Calla Howard is a hard-working, people-pleaser from a family of high achievers with friends who “get” her despit......more

Goodreads review by Vanessa on December 23, 2025

Tbh I’m not sure how I feel about this book. It’s important for sure and I’m glad she highlighted grooming as part of sexual assault/harassment. It’s important for everyone to know the signs of being groomed. For the majority of the book, I felt like some of the content were like fillers or somethin......more

Goodreads review by Kim on April 20, 2026

Review of Advance Reader Copy thanks to Penguin Random House I am surprised that this is a plot which I haven't read in a juvenile fiction book until now and love how the author, Chrystal D. Giles, approached it! We need more stories like THIS! The topic of sexual harassment and grooming in the mi......more


Quotes

★ "Giles expertly weaves friendship and family storylines into a novel that is ultimately about sexual harassment and grooming behaviors....a perfect pairing with Barbara Dee’s Maybe He Just Likes You." —School Library Journal, starred review

★ "Giles approaches a difficult subject with care, utilizing clear, compassionate language....The result is a thoughtful, timely exploration of courage and the power of collective voices." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"This well-balanced coming-of-age story explores a highly charged subject with insight and sensitivity....A compelling story with a smart and courageous protagonist." —Kirkus Reviews

"An important book that reads like a breeze, Giles' latest delivers strong Black characters that feel dynamic on the page and in the readers’ hearts. Pair this with Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's Fighting Words and Claire Swinarski's What Happened to Rachel Riley?." —Booklist

"It sets the stage for a discussion on a range of difficult issues, including grooming, sexual harassment, and policing young girls’ bodies, in an accessible way for a younger audience." —The Bulletin