Andraka, Jack Breakthrough : How One Teen Innovator is Changing the World TEEN BIO ANDRAKA
Teen scientist Jack Andraka chronicles his development of an inexpensive early detection test for pancreatic, ovarian, and lung cancer, and recounts his own personal story of overcoming depression and homophobic bullying. Includes hands-on science experiments. Grades 7 and up.
Andrews, Arin Some Assembly Required: The Not-So-Secret Life of a Transgender Teen TEEN BIO ANDREWS
Seventeen-year-old Arin Andrews shares all the hilarious, painful, and poignant details of undergoing gender reassignment as a high school student in this winning teen memoir.
Bainton, Roland H Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther TEEN BIO LUTHER
A biography of the German monk whose protest against some of the doctrines of the Catholic Church led to the Protestant Reformation.
Beck, Gad An Underground Life: Memoirs of a Gay Jew in Nazi Berlin TEEN BIO BECK
Beck was a homosexual and a teenage leader in the resistance. But that he endured the ongoing horror with an open heart, with loveand has written about it so beautifully is truly miraculous. This is Gad Beck’s story.
Brand, Russell My Booky Wook: A Memoir of Sex, Drugs, and Stand-Up TEEN BIO BRAND
The English television personality reveals his struggles to become a successful comedian, discussing his troubled childhood, his addiction to drugs, sex, and alcohol, his mental illness, and his recovery aided by the support of his family and friends.
Burcaw, Shane Laughing At My Nightmare TEEN BIO BURCAW
With acerbic wit & a hilarious voice, Shane Burcaw’s YA memoir describes the challenges he faces as a 20-year-old with muscular atrophy. From awkward handshakes to trying to finding a girlfriend and everything in between. Grades 8 and up.
Burlingame, Jeff John Lennon: Imagine TEEN BIO LENNON
A biography of British-born rock-and-roll legend John Lennon, who lived and died in New York City. This book discusses his early life, rise and fall of the Beatles, personal hardships, and legacy.
DePrince, Michaela Taking flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina TEEN BIO DEPRINCE
The memoir of Michaela DePrince, who lived the first few years of her live in war-torn Sierra Leone until being adopted by an American Family. Now seventeen, she is one of the premiere ballerinas in the United States. Grades 6-up.
Dunkle, Elenv Elena vanishing : a memoir TEEN 616.85 DUNKLE
Seventeen-year-old Elena is vanishing. Every day means renewed determination, so every day means fewer calories. This is the story of a girl whose armor against anxiety becomes artillery against herself as she battles on both sides of a lose-lose war in a struggle with anorexia. Grades 8 and up.
Ex, Kris From pieces to weight: once upon a time in Southside Queens TEEN BIO FIFTY CENT
The rap artist recounts the story of how he abandoned his dangerous life of crime to pursue a hip-hop career, his confontation with a rival drug lord that nearly ended his life, and his rise to success in the music business.
Frank, Anne Anne Frank : the diary of a young girl TEEN BIO FRANK
A thirteen-year-old Dutch-Jewish girl records her impressions of the two years she and seven others spent hiding from the Nazis before they were discovered and taken to concentration camps. Grades 8 and up.
Hamilton, Bethany Soul Surfer TEEN BIO HAMILTON
A true story: Bethany Hamilton, a teenage surfer, lost her arm in a shark attack off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii. Not even the loss of her arm keeps her from returning to surfing, the sport she loves.
Hawk, Tony Hawk: Occupation, Skateboarder BIO TEEN HAWK
For Tony Hawk, it wasn’t enough to skate for two decades, to invent over eighty tricks. It wasn’t enough to knock himself unconscious more than ten times, fracture ribs, break his elbow, knock out his teeth twice, compress the vertebrae in his back, pop his bursa sack, get more than fifty stitches laced into his shins, rip apart the cartilage in his knee, bruise his tailbone, sprain his ankles, and tear his ligaments too many times to count.No.He had to land the 900. And after thirteen years of failed attempts, he landed it. The story of a professional skateboarder who defied the odds of impossibility.
Hillenbrand, Laura Unbroken : an Olympian’s journey from airman to castaway to captive TEEN 940.547252 HILLENBR
The inspirational true story of how Louis Zamperini, a juvenile delinquent-turned-Olympic athlete and World War II pilot, crashed into the ocean and survived for weeks on a life raft only to become a prisoner of war. Grades 6 and up.
Howell, Dan The Amazing Book is Not On Fire: The World of Dan and Phil TEEN BIO HOWELL
YouTube stars Dan Howell and Phil Lester tell the humorous story of growing up, becoming YouTube stars, and give advice to their teen followers.
Jennings, Jazz Being Jazz : my life as a (transgender) teen TEEN BIO JENNINGS
Jazz Jennings shares her very public transgender journey, as she inspires people to accept the differences in others while they embrace their own truths. Grades 6 and up.
Kuklin, Susan Beyond magenta : transgender teens speak out TEEN 306.768 KUKLIN
Draws on six first-person interviews to share compassionate insights into the teen transgender experience, tracing each individual’s emotional and physical journey as it was shaped by family dynamics, living situations and the transition each teen made during the personal journey toward acknowledgement of gender preference. Grades 8 and up.
Lewis, Michael The Blind Side: Evolution of A Game TEEN BIO OHER
The market for football players — Crossing the line — The blank slate — Death of a lineman — Inventing Michael — The pasta coach — Character courses — Birth of a star — The egg bowl — Freak of nurture — And Moses stuttered.
Lindin, Emily UnSlut BIO LINDIN
The author revisits her middle school diary, commenting on her experiences with bullying, crushes, popular culture, and what it means to be labeled a “slut.” Grades 8 and up.
Manzano, Sonia Becoming Maria: love and chaos in the South Bronx TEEN BIO MANZANO
‘Maria’ on Sesame Street–delivers a beautifully wrought coming-of-age memoir. Set in the 1950s in the Bronx, this is the story of a girl with a dream. Grades 8 and up.
McCollum, Sean Joseph Stalin TEEN BIO STALIN
Traces the life of the Soviet Union’s most brutal dictator, who inflicted recurring waves of terror and used his police to eliminate anybody who criticized his decisions.
O’Reilly, Bill Hitler’s Last Days: The Death of the Nazi Regime and the World’s Most Notorious Dictator TEEN BIO O’REILLY
A narrative account of the events surrounding the death of Adolf Hitler and the downfall of the German Nazi State adapts the author’s historical thriller, Killing Patton, and covers the advancement of the Allied Forces and the contributions of key historical figures.
Paulsen, Gary Guts: The True Story Behind Hatchet and the Brian Books TEEN BIO PAULSEN
The author relates incidents in his life and how they inspired parts of his books about the character, Brian Robeson.
Rawl, Paige Positive : surviving my bullies, finding hope, and living to change the world TEEN BIO RAWL
A teenager’s memoir of the experiences of bullying, being HIV positive and surviving the experiences to become a force for positive change in this world.
Rocco, John M The Nirvana Companion: Two Decades of Commentary TEEN BIO NIRVANA
A collection of writing on the bands that changed it all. Nirvana changed rock by breaking down the walls between underground music and pop. The Nirvana Companion examines the rubble, the rumble, and the legacy of the most important rock group of the ’90s.
Sharp, Wallace Anne LeBron James TEEN BIO JAMES
A prodigy — Overcoming poverty and deprivation — The chosen one — Believe the hype — Rookie sensation — “King James”.
Shields, Charles J I am Scout: The Biography of Harper Lee TEEN BIO LEE
His biography tells the story of how Harper Lee struggled to become an author and created one of the most popular novels of the 20th century.
Smith, Emily Wing All Better Now TEEN BIO SMITH
Author Emily Wing Smith chronicles her childhood struggles with mental and learning disabilities and the car accident when she was twelve that led to the discovery of a brain tumor at the base of her skull. Grades 7 and up.