The library is closed Sunday, March 31 for Easter.

Staff Picks Youth Biographies

« All Staff Picks

November 2020

Free Lunch

by Rex Ogle

In this intense autobiography of the first semester of Rex’s sixth grade, Rex is embarrassed that he’s on the free lunch program at school and tries to hide it from his classmates. His home life is fairly unhappy as he never knows where his next meal is coming from, when he’ll have to watch his little brother and if he’ll get hit by either his mother or stepfather. This title is also available on OverDrive.

Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager

Posted in: Youth Biographies


September 2020

All in a Drop: how Antony van Leeuwenhoek discovered an invisible world

by Lori Alexander

This biography tells us about the life of Antony van Leeuwenhoek, a self-taught scientist who built a microscope to examine minute creatures. He was initially met with skepticism but eventually revered for the strides he made in discovering microbial life. This is a great book for all science enthusiasts. This title is also available on Hoopla.

Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager

Posted in: Youth Biographies


Marie’s Ocean: Marie Tharp Maps the Mountains Under the Sea

by Josie James

A mixed-format picture book biography about Marie Tharp, who in the 1940s, began paving the way for women to be scientists as well as the first person to map the ocean floors. She discovered many trenches and mountains that then supported the idea of plate tectonics. She felt as if she was putting a jigsaw puzzle together. Being determined and capable, she became the most noted oceanographic cartographer of the 20th century. Since she was a woman, she struggled to get the credit she deserved for her discoveries and efforts. A good book for anyone to learn about the accomplishment of a brilliant woman in the area of STEAM.

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I

Posted in: Youth Biographies


Stay Curious!: a Brief History of Stephen Hawking

by Kathleen Krull

A highly readable picture book biography written by Krull, author of other readable biographies such as How They Croaked or The Only Woman in the Photo. The title is a nod to the title of Hawking’s book, A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes, a bestseller that explained the mystery of life in an understandable way. Even after being diagnosed with ALS in his twenties, Hawking stayed curious about the “why” of the universe and continued enjoying life and helping others understand the universe we share.

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I

Posted in: Youth Biographies


August 2020

Unbeatable Betty : The First Female Olympic Track & Field Gold Medalist

by Allison Crotzer Kimmel

An inspiring biography of the first woman to win a gold medal in track and field at the 1928 Olympics. While preparing to compete in the 1932 Olympics, she was in a plane crash. Her left leg was crushed. Would her hopes of repeating as a gold medal winner at the Olympics also be crushed?

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I

Posted in: Youth Biographies


The Fighting Infantryman: The Story of Albert D. J. Cashier, Transgender Civil War Soldier

by D. J. Albert

A lyrical telling of the life and challenges of Jennie Hodgers/Albert D. J. Cashier who served in the infantry during the Civil War and lived life as a man. When it was discovered that Albert was born a woman, the government wanted to stop the military pension.

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I

Posted in: Youth Biographies


April 2020

Child of the Dream: a Memoir of 1963

by Sharon Robinson

The author, Sharon Robinson, is the daughter of Jackie Robinson, the African-American who broke the color barrier in baseball in 1947. This book centers on the year 1963 and the civil rights events that are taking place around the country such as the March on Washington. Robinson gives the reader a unique perspective into both her life and into the atmosphere of the United States at a turbulent time in its history. Also available on Hoopla.

Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager

Posted in: Youth Biographies


Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code: A Navajo Code Talker’s Story

by Joseph Bruchac

Taken from the reservation and sent to a missionary school, Chester, as he is now called, has no idea that his ability to speak Navajo and English will set him on an important path in WW II. He and other “code talkers” develop a code based on the Navajo alphabet that the Japanese could not break. Learn that code on after pages in this book. Older readers will also enjoy this author’s book, Code talkers. Also available on OverDrive.

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I 

Posted in: Youth Biographies


1 2 3