Reviews by Category: Biography

Teen Review
Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin

Black Like Me

By John Howard Griffin
Star Rating
★★★

Rated by
Saathwika A.
Jun 18, 2021

In this true story, a white man, journalist John Howard Griffin, decides to become a Negro to see how it feels like. At the beginning of the book, he meets with his friend and tells him his idea. Regardless of what others thought, John goes to New Orleans and consults with doctors. He changes his skin color to see how one would treat a negro. However, he learns that some still treat black men without equality. John decides to change that.

Teen Review
The Dog Who Could Fly by Damien Lewis

The Dog Who Could Fly

By Damien Lewis
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Gemma K.
May 5, 2021

The Dog Who Could Fly is the true story of a German Shepherd who was rescued by a Chezhslovakian WWII airman. The dog, who was named Antis, formed an unbelievably close relationship with Robert, his master. When Robert was on missions flying, Antis would wait beside the runway till he returned, refusing food and water till his master was back. He became the good luck charm of Robert’s plane and teammates in the British Air Force.

Teen Review
Led By Faith by Immaculee Ilibagiza

Led By Faith

By Immaculee Ilibagiza
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Gemma K.
May 1, 2021

Led by Faith is the incredible true story of Immaculee Ilabagiza. She was a Tutsi tribe member during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which the Hutu majority attempted to stamp out the Tutsi ‘cockroaches,’ as they called them. She came from a family of four children, of which she was the only girl. Out of the six members in her family, only she and one of her brothers survived. Immaculee hid in a small bathroom with seven other women for ninety one days, all the while hearing the killers outside hunting down the Tutsis.

Teen Review
Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell

Lone Survivor

By Marcus Luttrell
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Gemma K.
Apr 27, 2021

Lone Survivor is a true eyewitness account of Operation Redwing written by SEAL Marcus Luttrell. In it, he tells the remarkable and tragic story of how he became the only surviving member of SEAL team ten. Near the beginning of the book, to help explain the phenomenal stamina, strength, and courage SEALs have, the author describes his experiences in SEAL training.

Teen Review
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Just Mercy

By Bryan Stevenson
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Brooke G.
Feb 24, 2021

Just Mercy is a first-person account of Bryan Stevenson, a black lawyer, who helps prisoners that did not receive fair trials as part of a non-profit organization. Stevenson writes about various clients that he has worked for over the years and how the justice system has failed them.

Teen Review
How About Never-is Never Good For You by Bob Mankoff

How About Never-is Never Good For You?

By Bob Mankoff
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Delaney M.
Feb 7, 2021

How About Never--is Never Good for You? ​is Bob Mankoff’s engrossing memoir that focuses primarily on his experiences as a cartoonist and editor of The​ New Yorker​ magazine. Wryly funny and a little tongue-in-cheek, this book is a quick and enjoyable tidbit. The story initially focuses on Bob Mankoff’s life, but gradually shifts to his professional experiences and the cartoons of The New Yorker​.

Teen Review
Cover photo of the book The Battle for Room 314

The Battle for Room 314

By Ed Boland
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Miranda H.
Jan 14, 2021

The Battle for Room 314 by Ed Boland, published in 2016, tells the compelling story of his year teaching in an inner-city high school in New York City. As a young man, Boland worked for Project Advance, a non-profit working to place low-income, inner-city students in elite boarding schools and eventually Ivy League universities; however, he begins to feel unfulfilled and wants to widen his impact to help more deserving students.

Teen Review
Cover photo of the book Mind and Matter

Mind and Matter: A Life in Math and Football

By John Urschel
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Raghu P.
Nov 5, 2020

John Urschel played professional football and is completing his Ph.D. at Harvard University in Mathematics. This memoir reveals John’s challenges of living with divorced parents, trying to become a math major and earning a Ph.D., and making it to the National Football League. Mr. Urschel’s biography is heart-warming and shows the ups and downs of his journey of making it to the NFL and earning a Ph.D. Urschel was interested in math at a very young age and loved solving math problems. It wasn’t until later in middle school that Urschel became interested in football.

Teen Review
Mighty Moe by Rachel Swaby and Kit Fox

Mighty Moe

By Rachel Swaby

Rated by
Zoe D from Blue Valley YA Lit Council
Aug 26, 2019

Mighty Moe is a story that highlights the true essence of women's empowerment: incredible achievements and minimal recognition for said achievements. This is the story of a female named Maureen who, in the face of misogyny, ignorance, and conflict, achieved a record-breaking marathon time. The most compelling aspect of the book was that it is a true story. This book promotes empowerment and perseverance in the face of challenges. I was not disappointed with the book for any reason.

Teen Review

Americanized: Rebel Without a Greencard

By Sara Saedi

Rated by
Olivia from Leawood Pioneer Library YAAC
Aug 10, 2018

Life is hard enough being a teenager. But when you and your family are secretly illegal immigrants from Iran, things can get even more complicated. Sara's parents fled Iran when she was only two years old, and she didn't learn her undocumented status until her sister tried to apply for an after-school job, but couldn't because she didn't have a social security number. This memoir follows her teenage experiences with her family and at school as well as her progress toward getting her green card.

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