The Raffle Baby cover art

The Raffle Baby

An Astounding Lyrical Novel Inspired by a Shocking True Story of the Great Depression

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The Raffle Baby

By: Ruth Talbot
Narrated by: David Mann
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About this listen

A rich, cinematic listening experience — made for book clubs, history lovers, and anyone who craves a story that both breaks and heals the heart.

Experience The Raffle Baby through an evocative performance by narrator David Mann, whose authentic delivery and memorable character voices bring every heartbeat of this story to life.

Set against the dust-choked backdrop of the Great Depression, three abandoned children cling to one another as their only family. Teeny — fierce and full of imagination. Sonny Boy — quiet, loyal, and watchful. And Vic — a boy whose silence carries its own secrets.

Guided by Sonny Boy’s voice and Teeny’s unforgettable imagination, this audiobook is a testament to resilience, found family, and the power of storytelling itself.

As they ride the rails, chase the harvests, and fight off hunger and prejudice, their nights are sustained by the wondrous tales Teeny spins around campfires — including the haunting legend of the “raffle baby,” a child given away as a prize.

But when a solemn pact fails to protect them, tragedy upends their fragile world. And Sonny Boy is left to carry not only their survival, but their memories — the ones too painful to tell, and the ones too beautiful to forget.

With breathtaking prose, hints of magical realism, and a deeply felt narration, The Raffle Baby becomes an immersive listening experience — a journey of love, loss, resilience, and the kind of chosen family that defies even the darkest times.

Perfect for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing and The Lincoln Highway, this is a story that will stay with listeners long after the final word.

©2022 Ruth Talbot (P)2023 Ruth Talbot
Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Feel-Good Magic
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