The daughter of a Jordanian father and American mother tells how food reflected her mixed cultural heritage growing up, sometimes joyfully and sometimes with tension.
Angelou's memoir focuses on segregated life in the South, social injustice, economic hardship, and racism. It ultimately chronicles the triumph of a young girl over all of these.
The personal story of Lance Armstrong's life so far, from childhood
through early success, nearly fatal cancer, recovery, survivorship, more
triumph (victory in the 1999 Tour de France), marriage, and first-time
fatherhood.
In the 1930s Ruth Harkness became the first American to bring back a baby giant panda from China and establish the tradition of American zoos showcasing and protecting the animals. Little Su-Lin came to the Brookfield Zoo in the Chicago suburbs, with a frenzy of fanfare.
Today P. T. Barnum might host a reality show and grace the covers of celebrity magazines. Back in his day he promoted enormously successful circuses as popular entertainment. This biography explores the showman’s life and strategies for popular entertainment in mid-to-late 1800s America .
Poet Maya Angelou comes to life in this biography that showcases her powerful triumph over adversity to become an accomplished poet, playwright and civil rights activist. Author Gillespie uses multiple photos and some of Angelou’s handwritten notes and personal reflections to enhance the biography.
Best-selling memoir by a woman who, as a child, recovered from a
potentially terminal illness during which one third of her jaw was
surgically removed. She then had to confront the tragedy of being deemed
unacceptable in a world that worships physical beauty.
Warhol’s name is associated with “pop art,” originating in the 1960s, and his work is synonymous with images such as the Campbell’s soup can and repeating poster-like images of Marilyn Monroe. This biography captures Warhol’s spirit growing up, his personal struggles as an artist and his eventual fame.
Author Grennan began a short volunteer stint in a Nepal orphanage until he realized the children were not orphans, but victims of child trafficking during political strife. He then began a mission to reunite the children to their families, a much longer and intense project that is told about here with passion and drama.
Uber Skateboarder Tony Hawk tells the story of his business promoting skateboarding, organizing charitable endeavors, and helping cities build skateboard parks for kids. This book about his adult life works as a good business “how to” and companion volume to the earlier Hawk: Occupation: Skateboarder.
Nimitz, perhaps not as famous as other World War II leaders, began his military career designing submarine engines and rose up through the Navy ranks. Today he is viewed as one of the major architects of victory in the Pacific.
Despite its longer than usual length, this inside story of Apple and its legendary leader Steve Jobs will fascinate interested readers who can’t imagine life without their “i” gadgets .
The author describes his spring 1996 trek to Mt. Everest, an
expedition that ended in disaster, claiming the lives of eight climbers,
and explains why he survived, in a definitive, firsthand account of the
tragedy.
Holocaust survivor Clara tells her story of terror and hiding in Poland during World War II, where she and others were hidden by righteous gentiles. Clara’s diary, the basis for this very dramatic telling, is now at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C.
Brilliant young pianist Lang Lang tells of his early life in China as a musical prodigy and the high-stakes competitive gruel it took that catapulted him to the top of the classical music world today in the United States.
The story of a woman who “picked up a needle and thread and created a thriving business” under Taliban rule in Afghanistan when schooling and other opportunities were not available to her.
Scientist Rachel Carson’s work in the area of pesticides helped save the bald eagle from extinction. She was a pioneer of environmentalism. Levine tells of Carson’s life and career and the barriers she faced as a woman in the science field several decades ago.
Michael Oher was a young foster teen with steep odds against him who, with the help of a loving family who adopted him, began to succeed in school and excel at football as an offensive tackle—all the way to the NFL.
Journalist Lopez discovered gifted violinist Nathaniel Ayres on the streets of Los Angeles, challenged by mental illness and homelessness. The story highlights the difficulty of finding support for brilliant musician Ayres.
Frank McCourt, who was born in Brooklyn but grew up in the slums of
Limerick, Ireland, conveys the constant pains and occasional joys of an
impoverished childhood.
Chicago Tribune reporter Mendell portrays the 44th president’s life and early political career— through his U.S. Senate seat and first run for president in this insightful biography.
The very popular young adult author tells of growing up in Harlem in
the 1940s, facing gang warfare, racism, and the dark secret his father
kept for years.
Telfair was a “straight-to-NBA-from high-school” player. O’Connor’s book tells of his journey and the pressure on him, and others, as high school athletes.
Lennon’s story , particularly the Beatles breakthrough and events leading up to it, is told here with a wealth of eye catching, high quality photos of the early Beatles.
Written as fiction, The Bell Jar presents only a lightly disguised account of the poet's descent into depression and mental illness, and her first suicide attempt at the age of twenty.
Quinones-Hinojosa pursued legal status and the very highest educational achievement in medicine in this gripping story of pursuing success against huge odds.
Emily really was the March of Dimes poster child. This spirited memoir tells of her life trying to take on challenges in spite of a leg amputation at an early age and the cruelty of other children’s reaction to her disability.
Famed author Alcott sought to help her impoverished family through writing and other jobs, and also worked as a nurse during the Civil War. Her passion for writing eventually brought her breakthrough success at a time when respected women writers were few.
Brent Runyon was fourteen years old when he set himself on fire. In
this book he describes that suicide attempt and his recovery over the
following year.
Not just for baseball fans—this graphic biography captures the action of the game through the lively art along with Clemente’s acclaimed career with the Pittsburgh Pirates before his tragic death in a plane crash.
Aaron’s life and his career in baseball, all leading up to the dramatic breaking of Babe Ruth’s home run record, take center field here in this spirited biography and portrait of American sports history.
Tammet invented a web program for learning languages. He can do complex mathematical calculations in a blaze of speed. Becoming socially comfortable is much harder for him, though, as his personal story of life with autism tells.
Born and raised in the United states, author Tran researches his family history in Vietnam , especially during the Vietnam War years, and tells of their life as immigrants to America in this vibrant graphic telling—some strong language.
Growing up white in a mostly black Seattle neighborhood, Mishna struggled with racial identity—at home, in her neighborhood and at school in this memoir told with poignancy, humor and thoughtfulness.
