Autobiographies for Youth

Updated November 19, 2024
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The truths we hold : an American journey
Harris, Kamala
Paper Book
Adapted for young readers, Vice President Kamala Harris's empowering memoir about the values and inspirations that guided her life. With her Democratic presidential nomination, her election to the vice presidency, her election to the U.S. Senate, and her position as attorney...
Child of the dream : a memoir of 1963
Robinson, Sharon
Paper Book
An incredible memoir from Sharon Robinson about the pivotal year of the civil rights movement -- and her unique role in it alongside her father, baseball legend and activist Jackie Robinson.In January 1963, Sharon Robinson turns thirteen the night before George Wallace declares on national...
Call me American : the extraordinary true story of a young Somali immigrant
Iftin, Abdi Nor
Paper Book
Adapted from the adult memoir, this gripping and acclaimed story follows one boy's journey into young adulthood, against the backdrop of civil war and his ultimate immigration to America, in search of a better life. In Somalia, Abdi Nor Iftin grew up amidst a blend of cultures....
Ugly
Hoge, Robert
Paper Book
A funny, moving, and true story of an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face that's perfect for fans of Wonder--now available in the U.S.   When Robert Hoge was born, he had a tumor the size of a tennis ball in the middle of his face and short, twisted legs....
The beautiful struggle : a memoir
Coates, Ta-Nehisi
Paper Book
Adapted from the adult memoir by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Water Dancer and Between the World and Me, this father-son story explores how boys become men, and quite specifically, how Ta-Nehisi Coates became Ta-Nehisi Coates. As a child,...
Brown girl dreaming
Woodson, Jacqueline.
Paper Book
Jacqueline Woodson's National Book Award and Newbery Honor winner is a powerful memoir that tells the moving story of her childhood in mesmerizing verse. A President Obama "O" Book Club pick Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt...
A girl from Yamhill : a memoir
Cleary, Beverly.
Paper Book
Generations of children have grown up with Henry Huggins, Ramona Quimby, and all of their friends, families, and assorted pets. For everyone who has enjoyed the pranks and schemes, embarrassing moments, and all of the other poignant and colorful images of childhood brought to life in Beverly Cleary...
Path to the stars : my journey from Girl Scout to rocket scientist
Acevedo, Sylvia
Paper Book
The inspiring memoir for young readers about a Latina rocket scientist whose early life was transformed by joining the Girl Scouts and who currently serves as CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA. A meningitis outbreak in their underprivileged...
The cat I never named : a true story of love, war, and survival
Sabic-El-Rayess, Amra
Paper Book
The stunning memoir of a Muslim teen struggling to survive in the midst of the Bosnian genocide--and the stray cat who protected her family through it all. *Six Starred Reviews*"Extraordinary." - Booklist | "A must-read." - School Library...
This promise of change : one girl's story in the fight for school equality
Boyce, Jo Ann Allen
Paper Book
Recipient of a Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Honor Winner of the 2019 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Nonfiction 2020 National Council for the Social Studies Carter G. Woodson Honor Recipient A NYPL Top Ten of 2019 A Kirkus...
Balcony on the moon : coming of age in Palestine
Barakat, Ibtisam
Paper Book
Picking up whereTasting the Skyleft off, Balcony on the Moon follows Ibtisam Barakat through her childhood and adolescence in Palestine from 1972-1981 and chronicles her desire to be a writer. A Junior Library Guild Selection A Palestine Book Award...
The red bandanna
Rinaldi, Tom
Paper Book
Winner of the Christopher Award An ILA-CBC Children's Choices Book A NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Book Welles Crowther did not see himself as hero. He was just an ordinary kid who played sports, volunteered at his local fire department, and eventually headed...
Becoming Kareem : growing up on and off the court
Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem
Paper Book
The first memoir for young readers by sports legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. At one time, Lew Alcindor was just another kid from New York City with all the usual problems: He struggled with fitting in, pleasing a strict father, and overcoming shyness that made him feel...
We're in this together : a young readers edition of We are not here to be bystanders
Sarsour, Linda
Paper Book
An empowering young readers edition of We Are Not Here to Be Bystanders, the memoir by Women's March coorganizer and activist Linda Sarsour that's "equal parts inspiring, emotional, and informative" (Kirkus Reviews). You can count on me, your Palestinian Muslim...
I am Malala : how one girl stood up for education and changed the world
Yousafzai, Malala
Paper Book
The bestselling memoir by Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai. I am Malala. This is my story. Malala Yousafzai was only ten years old when the Taliban took control of her region. They said music was a crime. They said women weren't...
Knucklehead : tall tales & mostly true stories of growing up Scieszka
Scieszka, Jon.
Paper Book
How did Jon Scieszka get so funny, anyway? Growing up as one of six brothers was a good start, but that was just the beginning. Throw in Catholic school, lots of comic books, lazy summers at the lake with time to kill, babysitting misadventures, TV shows, jokes told at family dinner, and the result...
Chance : escape from the Holocaust
Shulevitz, Uri
Paper Book
Winner of the SCBWI Golden Kite Award for Illustrated Books for Older Readers A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2020 A New York Times Best Children's Book of 2020 Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2020 Booklist Best...

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