Staff Picks - Biography

Created on April 23, 2021, 12:28 pm

Last Updated June 9, 2023, 11:53 am

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This is an incredible story of a daughter's love to her family. Lieu discusses various family dynamics and defining what "success" means as a child of refugees in search of the 'American Dream' while living in grief, trauma, and body image. - Katherine C
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A fascinating read about a little known part of history. Chester Nez share his experience growing up Navajo and creating an unbreakable code during WWII. The contributions of Nez and other code talkers were kept secret for over 20 years. - Karen G
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Victory, Stand! is the graphic memoir of Tommie Smith, the Olympic gold medal winning track star of the 1968 Mexico City Games who used his platform to protest against racism. Beautiful, powerful art tells the story of Smith’s courage in the fight for racial equality. - Sarah D.
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Award-winning actress Viola Davis describes her journey from poverty and abuse to stardom. In an honest and straightforward way, Davis shares her love for acting and how she persevered against industry biases to develop the self-love needed to catapult her to the top. - Phaedra B
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A fascinating collection of essays about examining memory and injury through the lens of time. A great read for anyone who wants to learn more about Sarah Polley's career as an author, director and actor, or has struggled through excavating the foundations of their own life. - Alex Z
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Tasha Jun shares her story about being half Korean and half white and never fitting in places especially in the church. With a lyrical writing style, this book is perfect for fans of Crying in H-Mart who seek more stories from Asian American voices and struggles about faith. - Deborah K
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In this graphic memoir, Kate Beaton tells the poignant and, at times, harrowing tale of the two years she spent working in the Oil Sands of Alberta, Canada. It is an artful looks at humanity, nature, and what drives people to leave home in search of their fortune. - Maggie P
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A family’s identity was in jeopardy. It affected the outcome of all Axton's decision as an adult. Her life revolved around that fact and truth about the person who stole her identity has overturned everything. A great revelation about identity theft. Trust no one. - Shahana P
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9) Spare
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Prince Harry is an engaging and witty narrator of his well-written memoir. It is a delight to hear him tell his story as the spare, second to the future King of England. He is honest and, at times, angry. Perception is far from reality. The audiobook is worth a listen. - Alexandra S
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Vibrant, witty, and bursting with delicious-sounding food, My Life in France is not only a memoir. It’s also biography of Julia Child’s transformative cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking and the years-long labor of love that led to its creation. - Anna W
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This series of essays reflects on the role pop culture has played in Branum's life. Part cultural commentary, part memoir, he is insightful and hilarious when discussing everything from Chelsea Handler to The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. - Jennifer R
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George Takei, best known as Star Trek’s Hikaru Sulu, recounts his family’s internment during World War II. Declared US enemies by President Roosevelt in 1942, thousands of American citizens of Japanese descent are imprisoned in 10 relocation centers during the war.
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When she starts college playing for the best basketball team in the country, Elena realizes she no longer loves the sport. The following years of illness and self-discovery lead her back to her love of the game. A great story of finding success on your own terms. - Jennie R
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This inspirational memoir is an honest and vulnerable account of Janet Mock's experiences growing up poor, multiracial, and trans in America. She holds nothing back. - Brit A
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Reminiscent of get rich quick schemes, Paula searches for happiness with new adventures including dance lessons, family movie day, and volunteering. Using a combination of wit and honesty, Paula left me laughing, cringing, and hoping the search for happiness never ends. - Sarah C
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For Ibtihaj Muhammad to become the first Muslim-American woman to medal at the Olympics it took skill & practice--but she also had to fight to find money to pay for her competitions & to find her place in a sometimes unfriendly sports world. Her story's one of perseverance! - Nico P
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In this timely memoir, Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas details his life as an undocumented citizen and humanizes his struggle to belong. He raises an often overlooked issue - the reason for migration in the first place. - Alexandra S
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Caitlin seeks to understand our cultural fear of death. Working at a crematory and attending mortuary school, she describes the death industry practices and cultural norms that often leave the bereaved with little control of and far removed from the death process. - Sarah C
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An incredibly moving memoir of growing up in poverty that is both heartbreaking and awe-inspiring. The author's unbreakable spirit, intelligence, wit and family bonds result in a mostly happy ending in spite of some astonishing odds. - Patricia W
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