Do you like to read real life stories? If so, try out this list of teen biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs.
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
Classic work known around the world, Anne Frank and her family went into hiding in Holland to escape the Nazis. Her diary was found there years later, and chronicles her thoughts and her life.
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, written by himself by Frederick Douglass
First-hand account from an escaped slave who became an important figure in the anti-slavery movement.
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
Mid-Twentieth century account of the life as a small-town veterinarian in England, mainly stories about the people and animals he encountered.
Boy: Tales of Childhood by Roald Dahl
Early childhood tales from Roald Dahl, the author of fantastical works such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach.
Girl from Yamhill: A Memoir by Beverly Cleary
Follows the early life of Newbery Medalist author Cleary, author of the Ramona books and many more.
The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom
Memoir of a middle-aged Dutch watchmaker in World War II whose family helped Jews escape the Nazis, until they ended up in a concentration camp themselves.
Bad Boy: A Memoir by Walter Dean Myers
Author Walter Dean Myers describes his life growing up as a trouble-making book-lover in Harlem during the 1940s and 50s.
A Child Called It by David J. Pelzer
The author's account of his early years describes one of the most severe child abuse cases in California history. The story continues in The Privilege of Youth and A Man Named Dave.
Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to get Back on the Board by Bethany Hamilton
Bethany Hamilton account of being a teenage surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii. Not even the loss of her arm keeps her from returning to surfing, the sport she loves. Watch the movie version of the book: Soul Surfer.
The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
Overcoming deafness and blindness to become a legend, Helen Keller embodies courage, passion, and perseverance.
Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution by Ji-li Jiang
A young Chinese girl must make difficult choices when the government urges her to repudiate her ancestors and inform on her own parents.
This Boy’s Life: A Memoir by Tobias Wolff
In and out of trouble in his youth, this charter member of the "Bad Boys' Club" survives a boyhood that stretches from Florida to the Pacific Northwest.
Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different by Karen Blumenthal
This biography looks at the life and career of the man who was CEO of Apple Computers.
Marie Curie : the woman who changed the course of science by Phillip Steele
Presents the life and accomplishments of the Polish-born chemist, discussing her scientific work in radioactivity and her two Nobel prizes.
Feynman by Jim Ottaviani, illustrated by Leland Myrick
Get to know perhaps the most famous personality of nuclear physics: the bongo-playing, safe-cracking, defiantly curious Novel Prize winner Richard Feynman in this meticulously researched graphic biography.
Walt Disney : the triumph of the American imagination by Neal Gabler
This is the definitive biography of one of the most important figures in 20th-century American entertainment and culture. Given complete access to the Disney Archives, the author paints an illuminating portrait of a legendary visionary.
Amelia Earhart: The Sky’s No Limit by Lori Van Pelt
Amelia Earhart earned her pilot’s wings in her early twenties and became the best-known female aviator of her time. During her two-decade career as a pilot, she set altitude records, speed records, and transcontinental flight records.
Charles and Emma: the Darwins’ Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligam
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.
The Notorious Benedict Arnold: a True Story of Adventure, Heroism, Treachery by Steve Sheinkin
An introduction to the life of Benedict Arnold that highlights not only the traitorous actions that made him legendary, but also his heroic involvement in the American Revolution.
Samurai Rising : the Epic Life of Minamoto Yoshitsune by Pamela S.Turner
Minamoto Yoshitsune should not have been a samurai. But his story is legend in this real-life saga. This epic warrior tale reads like a novel, but this is the true story of the greatest samurai in Japanese history.
Being Jazz : My Life as a (Transgender) Teen by Jazz Jennings
Teen activist and trailblazer Jazz Jennings--named one of "The 25 most influential teens" of the year by Time--shares her very public transgender journey, as she inspires people to accept the differences in others while they embrace their own truths.
