Browsing: Biographies and Memoirs

A New York Times bestseller: In this “captivating, powerful” narrative (Booklist), the acclaimed author of Speak explores her own experiences as a survivor of sexual assault — including how it shaped her writing. “Sensitive, incisive… Essential for all young people” (School Library Journal).

When her five-year-old son tested into one of Japan’s elite elementary schools, single mother Kumiko thought his educational path would be straightforward — but her free-spirited child had different plans. A “thoughtful gem of a book” (New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Alter).

What dark motives drove a mother to kill her young son? This compelling work of nonfiction provides “a painstaking and meticulous exploration of all the facts and conjectures surrounding a disturbing case” (Kirkus Reviews).

“How do we become who we are in the world? We ask the world to teach us.”On her 120-acre homestead…

Jessica Hindman went to New York City to pursue her dream of becoming a professional violinist. Instead, she’s caught up in a surreal scam run by a man known as The Composer, where she pretends to perform while a soundtrack that just might be the Titanic plays. “Provocative… A tricky, unnerving, consistently fascinating memoir” (Kirkus Reviews starred review).

Hannah Howard was only 18 when she landed a job at a Michelin-starred restaurant. But as she navigated the heady world of Manhattan’s food scene, she found herself struggling with a destructive eating disorder. A “candid and searching memoir” (Kirkus Reviews) with over 1,600 five-star Goodreads ratings.

Meet an American woman who risked everything to aid the French Resistance in this riveting historical biography of socialite-turned-spy Virginia Hall. With over 9,500 five-star Goodreads ratings, this “excellent” NPR Best Book of 2019 “is as riveting as any thriller” (The New York Times Book Review).

In this poignant memoir, Deborah Burns unravels the legacy of her enigmatic, glamorous mother while looking back on her unconventional childhood in the 1950s. “Devilishly sharp… A masterful balance of psychological excavation and sumptuous description” (Kirkus Reviews).

Diane Dewey was told she had been adopted at age one from an orphanage in Stuttgart — and that her biological parents were dead. But at 47, she received a letter from her birth father, and everything she believed about her life unraveled… A compelling memoir about family and identity.

In this incisive collection of essays, Keturah Kendrick challenges society’s notions of Black women — and recounts how she found empowerment through defying external expectations. An inspiring and thought-provoking read.