This book is about in-depth biography of NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon. Written with Gordon’s involvement, the book explores his journey from a young racing prodigy to a four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. It details his struggles, victories and the mindset that made him one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history. The book includes personal stories, behind-the-scenes insights and contributions from family, friends and rivals.
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah is a funny memoir about growing up in South Africa during Apartheid. As the son of a black mother and a white father, a relationship that was illegal, Noah shares his experiences of feeling like he didn’t belong to any group. Despite facing poverty and racism, Noah’s humor and his mother’s strength helped him navigate life’s challenges. The book mixes laughter with serious lessons about identity, resilience and love, making it an inspiring story of overcoming hardship.
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls is a powerful memoir about resilience and family. Walls shares about her difficult childhood, growing up with her intelligent but alcoholic father and her artistic mother. Despite their love, her parents' choices often left the family hungry and living in poverty. Walls’ storytelling is raw and honest, showing both the pain and the love in her unconventional family.
This book is about the story of Henry Ford, the famous automobile pioneer who revolutionized the auto industry by introducing the assembly line, making cars affordable for everyday people. The book explores his early life, career struggles and ultimate success in establishing the Ford Motor Company. Readers learn how Ford’s vision changed transportation forever, allowing millions to own cars and improving industry efficiency. Venezia presents Ford’s story with a mix of fun illustrations, humor and historical facts, making it engaging for younger readers.
This book is about the story of Bubba Wallace, a talented NASCAR driver who overcame challenges to succeed in a mostly white sport. It covers his early life, career and his efforts in promoting diversity in the racing world. It’s an inspiring and quick read that highlights Wallace’s determination and impact beyond racing. However, it doesn’t go deep into his personal struggles or racing details. A great choice for young sports fans, but experienced NASCAR followers might find it too basic.
American Predator describes Israel Keyes, a dangerous and sneaky serial killer, his capture and past. Maureen Callahan dives into Israel’s killings and unsolved murders. While reading American Predator, Maureen Callahan made it feel like you were living in the book. She did a fantastic job of highlighting Israel's life and the things he did. Callahan describes his murders as if you were hearing it from the news for the first time.
One Dead Spy is part of the series called Hazardous Tales, by Nathan Hale. This book is about Nathan Hale in the American Revolutionary War who spied for the Americans but eventually got caught and hung by the British. It starts with the Americans sieging the British who had earlier taken control of Boston. They recaptured for America and headed to New York. Forts were built all over, but the British simply had a much larger army and were quickly taking over.
The House of My Mother by Shari Franke was an incredibly captivating book about the influence of family vlogging on Shari Franke and her siblings. Coming into this book, I had a lot of knowledge on this case as I grew up watching 8 Passengers. Like many of their fans, I also was incredibly shocked at hearing about the trauma and sadistic influence that Jodi Hildebrant and Ruby Franke had on the family.
The Ugly Cry: A Memoir is a heartfelt, humorous nonfiction novel that revisits the author’s childhood. Raised by her fiercely independent grandmother in New York, Danielle has a life filled with unexpected challenges and hilarious lessons. The memoir dives into Danielle’s experiences growing up in a busy family environment, including her mother’s absence, struggles with racism as a Black girl in a white town and the resilience she had.
The book Shoe Dog by Phil Knight is a memoir by the great Phil Knight, in which he describes his journey as an aspiring businessman who wishes to fulfill his “Crazy Dream” of starting his own startup footwear company. Shoe Dog depicts the uncertainty in the business world, which is shown in this memoir through the adversity and triumphs in his creation of Nike.
