Non-Fiction: Biography
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50 x 50: 50 Cent in his own words A fan's collectible volume of 50 Cent memorabilia contains lyrics, drawings, removable letters, album covers, and an audio CD with a previously unreleased track, in a tribute that also features rare photographs and a CD of audio interviews about the hip-hop artist's life. subjects: Rap musicians, Rap music |
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Almost Astronauts : 13 women who dared to dream What does it take to be an astronaut? Excellence at flying, courage, intelligence, resistance to stress, top physical shape, any checklist would include these. But when America created NASA in 1958, there was another unspoken rule: you had to be a man. Here is the tale of thirteen women who proved that they were not only as tough as the toughest man but also brave enough to challenge the government. subjects: Project Mercury (U.S.), Women astronauts, Sex discrimination against women |
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Ain't Nothing but a Man : my quest to find the real John Henry Historian Scott Reynolds Nelson recounts how he came to discover the real John Henry, an African-American railroad worker who became a legend in the famous song. subjects: Henry, John William, 1847?, African Americans, Railroad construction workers, John Henry |
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Andy Warhol: Prince of Pop This book tells the story of Andy Warhol’s life, from his Pittsburgh childhood to his years in New York City. It also examines how Warhol made his art and what a deep impression on American art and culture he made. subjects: Warhol, Andy, 1928- —Juvenile literature. Artists— United States —Biography—Juvenile literature |
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Becoming Billie Holiday Jazz vocalist Billie Holiday looks back on her early years in this fictional memoir written in verse. subjects: Holiday , Billie, 1915-1959, Novels in verse, Jazz singers |
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The Burn Journals 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. subjects: Runyon, Brent. Teenage boys—Biography. Teenage boys—Suicidal behavior—Case studies |
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Carver: a life in poems These 59 remarkable poems capture the essence of George Washington Carver’s life as well as the occurrences. Each poem vibrates with the tension of Carver’s potential versus the prejudice of society. subjects: Carver, George Washington, 1864?-1943—Poetry. African American agriculturists—Poetry |
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Claudette Colvin: Twice Towards Justice Based on extensive interviews with Claudette Colvin and many others, Phillip Hoose presents the first in-depth account of an important yet largely unknown civil rights figure, skillfully weaving her dramatic story into the fabric of the historic Montgomery bus boycott and court case that would change the course of American history. subjects: Colvin, Claudette, 1930-, African Americans-Alabama-Montgomery, African American civil rights workers, African American-Teenage girls, African Americans-Segregation, Segregation in transportation |
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Charles and Emma : the Darwins' Leap of Faith Charles Darwin and his wife, Emma, were deeply in love and very supportive of each other, but their opinions often clashed. Emma was extremely religious, and Charles questioned God's very existence. subjects: Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882; Darwin, Emma Wedgewood, 1808-1896; Naturalists |
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Delicious : the life & art of Wayne Thiebaud One of the giants of American art, Wayne Thiebaud was at first unappreciated because of the everyday subject matter of his paintings. His tasty hot dogs, delectable cakes, dizzy streets, and sleepy deltas have since become icons of twentieth century art. subjects: Painters |
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Frida : viva la vida = long live life Biographical poems about the life and work of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo subjects: Kahlo, Frida, Painters-Mexico |
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Ghosts of War: the True Story of a 19-year-old GI Ryan Smithson joined the Army Reserve when he was seventeen. Two years later, he was deployed to Iraq as an Army engineer. In this extraordinary and harrowing memoir, readers march along one GI's tour of duty. subjects: Iraq War 2003 – Personal narratives, Soldiers-United States |
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Hole in My Life The author relates how, as a young adult, he became a drug user and smuggler, was arrested, did time in prison, and eventually got out and went to college, all the while hoping to become a writer. subjects: Gantos, Jack. Authors, American—20th century—Biography. Ex-convicts— United States —Biography. |
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I am Scout : a biography of Harper Lee This 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. subjects: Authors, American-20th Century |
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I Was a Teenage Professional Wrestler The author-illustrator describes his early days supporting himself as a professional wrestler. subjects: Lewin, Ted. Wrestlers. Illustrators. Authors, American |
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Japan Ai: a tall girl’s adventures in Japan = Nihon ai An animator and author on dolls and Japanese popular culture describes her trip to Japan to visit the place where her favorite dolls are made and to see Kyoto and Tokyo, dress up in costumes, eat at theme restaurants, and shop. subjects: Animators, Cartoonists, Graphic novels, Popular culture-Japan, Japan-Description and travel, Japan-Social life and customs |
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King of the Mild Frontier: an ill-advised autobiography Chris Crutcher, author of young adult novels such as “Ironman” and “Whale Talk,” as well as short stories, tells of growing up in Cascade, Idaho, and becoming a writer. subjects: Crutcher, Chris—Juvenile literature. Authors, American—20th century—Biography—Juvenile literature. Young adult fiction—Authorship—Juvenile literature. Idaho —Social life and customs |
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Knockout! : photobiography of boxer Joe Louis A biography in pictures of African-American boxer Joe Louis. subjects: Louis, Joe, 1914-1981, Boxers (sports), African American boxers |
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Life and Death of Crazy Horse A biography of the Oglala leader who relentlessly resisted the white man’s attempt to take over Indian lands. subjects: Crazy Horse, ca. 1842-1877. Oglala Indians—Biography. Indians of North America —Biography. |
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The Lincolns : a scrapbook look at Abraham and Mary Though Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln's backgrounds differed considerably, both were intellectuals who shared interests in literature and politics, as well as a great love for each other. subjects: Presidents-United States ; Lincoln, Mary Todd, 1818-1882; Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1965 |
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Mao's Last Dancer Chosen from millions of children to serve in Mao's cultural revolution by studying at the Beijing Dance Academy , Li knew ballet would be his family's best opportunity to escape the bitter poverty in his rural China home. From one hardship to another, Li persevered, never forgetting the family he left behind. subjects: Ballet dancers- China , Defectors-China |
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Out of Line: Growing Up Soviet Tina Grimberg brings color and perception to a life we think of as gray, impersonal, and foreboding. She was born in Kiev and grew up feisty, bright, and funny in a tiny flat with her parents and her older sister. Her descriptions of life in that grand and beleaguered city are by turn hysterical and heartbreaking. subjects: Jewish children- Ukraine , Ukraine-Social conditions-1945-1991 |
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Pick & Shovel Poet: the journeys of Pascal D’Angelo A biography of an Italian peasant who immigrated to America in the early twentieth century and endured poverty and the difficult life of an unskilled laborer, determined to become a published poet. subjects: D’Angelo, Pascal, 1894 - —Juvenile literature. Italian Americans—Biography. Immigrants— United States |
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Pitch Black On the subway, do ever notice that people are always looking, but they only see what they want to? Things can be sitting right in front of them and still they can’t see it. That’s your guide Anthony speaking. He’ll show you how he lives in the tunnels underneath the New York City subway system—that is, if you’ll let him. Which is exactly what Youme decided she would do one afternoon when she and Anthony began a conversation in the subway about art. subjects: Horton, Anthony 1968-, Homeless persons- New York , Homeless persons as artists, Subway-social aspects, Graphic novels |
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The Radioactive Boy Scout: the true story of a boy and his backyard nuclear reactor Growing up in suburban Detroit , David Hahn was fascinated by science, and his basement experiments—building homemade fireworks, brewing moonshine, and concocting his own self-tanning lotion—were more ambitious than those of other boys. subjects: Hahn, David, 1976- Gifted boys— United States —Biography. Problem youth. Breeder reactors. Boy Scouts of America |
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Shakespeare: His Work & His World In what ways has Shakespeare shaped and influenced our words and culture? Find out in this fascinating exploration of the enduring genius. This sweeping account is a biography, a history, and a retelling of some of the more famous plays. subjects: Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616—Juvenile literature. Dramatists, English—Early modern, 1500-1700—Biography—Juvenile literature. Theater— England —History—16th century |
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Teen Angst? Naah—a quasi-autobiography A collection of essays written by the author from age fifteen to seventeen in which he shares impressions of school, sports, cool people, boring people, friends, family, money, music, and obsessions. subjects: Vizzini, Ned, 1981- Teenagers— New York (State)— New York —Biography—Juvenile literature. High school students. Youths’ writings |
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Three Little Words: a memoir Ashley spent nine years in foster care after being taken away from her mother. She endured many caseworkers, moving from school to school and manipulative, humiliating and abusive treatment from one foster family. See how she survives and eventually thrives against the odds. subjects: Adopted children, Foster children, Foster home care |
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The Trouble Begins at 8 : a life of Mark Twain in the wild, wild West Here, in high style, is the story of a wisecracking adventurer who came of age in the untamed West. A rebel who surprised himself by becoming the most famous American of his time. subjects: Twain, Mark, 1835-1910—Childhood and youth, Twain, Mark, 1835-1910—Homes and haunts—West (U.S.), Authors, American—19th century |
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Tweak The author details his immersion in a world of hardcore drugs, revealing the mental and physical depths of addiction, and the violent relapse one summer in California that forever changed his life, leading him down the road to recovery subjects: Drug addicts- California , Methamphetamine abuse, Drug addicts-Rehabilitation |
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When I Was a Soldier: a memoir Like all young Israelis, Valérie Zenatti enlisted in the national defense service on her 18th birthday, where for the next two years she endured rigorous training and harsh living conditions, ultimately participating in top-secret missions with the secret service. subjects: Zenatti, Valérie, 1970- Women soldiers— Israel —Biography. Jews, French— Israel —Biography. Israel —Armed Forces |
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The Year We Disappeared : a father-daughter memoir Cylin and John Busby share the challenges they faced after their family was forced into hiding to protect themselves from a killer who had already shot John, a police officer, and was determined to finish the job subjects: Police-violence against, Fathers and daughters |
List updated August 2009—Joanna Nigrelli
