Biography

1/10/2018 American Commander Ryan Zinke and Scott McEwen, 2016

American Commander gives the readers an interesting perspective from Ryan Zinke a seal team commander. In this book he excellently frames the mindset of a

seal and stories while in Iraq. It also delivers stories from a real seal without the glamour that movies and TV shows paint. Another ‘pro’ of the book is the vivid

pictures he paints when referring to enemies and things experienced when fighting them.However the book has its negatives. One con of this book is it is clear that

Zinke is not a professional author by any means and it is noticeable. While the book offers an interesting input on Navy SEALs in the perspective of the commander

it also often leads off on random tangents which takes away from the book. Overall the book is worth the read if you are willing to put up with a less than great book

due to the amount of rich content it provides to the reader.

Travis Delrie 2nd

5/29/2013 American Sniper Chris Kyle, 2013

Pros: Real look at a modern war scenario, also tells about the life of his family while he is on deployment, and after he retires of the military. Disclaimer-There are

some cons like every war novel but that comes standard, so here they are. Cons: Graphic battle scenes, and family matters that show his family falling apart. But

the ending is good and all is well.

Drew Ross 4th

2/1/2012 Beyond Belief Josh Hamilton, 2008

Josh Hamilton's Beyond Belief is a true story. It is about the life of the Texas Rangers outfielder. He is one of the greatest hitters of all time. He overcomes drug

addictions and shares his faith in God. If you are not a Christian, you probably would not relate to a lot of his life and decisions. I found this book really interesting.

Ethan Shelton 1st

2/16/2016 Binge Tyler Oakley, 2015

This book is a wonderful, hilarious, and emotional rollercoaster. It is a memoir of one of Youtube’s most popular Youtube personalities, Tyler Oakley. It tells of his

funny stories from throughout his life and the stories that can cause a tear or two. It shows his short, yet interesting, story of his life so far and his journey to

acceptance and discovering who he really is and who he really wants to be. If you watch his videos on Youtube, this will be the perfect book for learning more

behind your friend on the screen. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys real life stories and the funny moments of a young man’s life.

Kaitlyn Ballard 6th

1/31/2012 The Bobby Richardson Story Bobby Richardson, 1965

The Bobby Richardson Story is a true story of the life of Bobby Richardson, a former New York Yankee baseball player. He was an amazing second baseman.

He played with some of the all-time greats. He also talks about his faith in God. I think he was a really good role model. If you are not a Christian, you probably

would not relate to a lot of his life and decisions. I find the book really interesting and enjoyed his story.

Dylan Estep 2nd

1/8/2019 Born A Crime Trevor Noah, 2016

Trevor Noah's Born a Crime is a biography that has both analytical, humorous, and satirical views of South Africa's apartheid. The book talks about Trevor's

growth as a child who was birthed under illegal circumstances, and how he eventually began to grow and navigate throughout different cultures. It's later shown

in the book how he matures and develops throughout his life, and gives credit to his success now. Trevor learns about code switching, different races, family

cultures, and religions, and also the different cultural classes throughout his entire life. He also pays homage to his family, especially his mother, who raised

him almost single handedly and respectively prepared him for a better future. This book offers not only a deep analysis of the oppression, separation, and

isolation of Africans in apartheid, but also a light and playful way of showing how Trevor over came these problems with a positive and optimistic view of his life.

Elliot Etheridge 7th

9/28/2014 Brain on Fire Susannah Cahalan, 2012

This was a very well written book of a young women's battle against a mysterious, life-threatening disease that almost gets her thrown in a mental institution.

Susannah Cahalan was living a normal life as a New York Post reporter when she got sick with what appeared to be a common cold until she started experiencing

changes in behavior, paranoia, hallucinations, seizures, insomnia, and a loss of appetite. She visits multiple doctors who cannot find the cause of these symptoms,

some believing that she is having a mental break down due to the high stress that comes with being a Post reporter. As a reporter, Susanna gets the insights of

many of the people who saw her during this period of her life and clearly describes how her body battled the extremely rare disease she had come into contact with.

Grace Ratley 5th

9/25/2014 A Child Called It Dave Pelzer, 1995

I recommend the book “A Child Called It” because it’s a true story and I believe it really opens up people’s view of the world we live in. A quick summary is it’s

about a young boy who is in a family in which his mother abuses him, but only him, not his siblings. The first book of the trilogy explains his journey on simply

trying to survive until he can escape from his own mom. The book is also a true story, the author Dave Pelzer is the boy in the story. This makes it even that

more real to the reader. Knowing this actually took place while you read the book is a bit shocking. It does get graphic in some parts when he describes the

way his mom tortured him, but it appeals to the senses of the reader. I strongly recommend this book if you are into psychology and real world issues.

Jonathan Toledo 6th

1/10/2018 Chinese Cinderella Adeline Yen Mah, 1999

The book Chinese Cinderella kept me on the edge of my seat the whole entire story. It is the autobiography of a young girl in china that is unwanted due to her mother

dying while giving birth to her. she is hated by her whole family and is seriously neglected. The story takes place during the civil war in china after 1911. I would

recommend the book to people who are into drama and into the Chinese culture. However, I would be careful if you are triggered by things like abuse since it is very

heavy in this novel. Overall, I loved this story and it definitely made me cry two or three times. It is very sad and very nerve racking but if you are up for the emotional

roller coaster it is definitely worth a read!

Destiny Garcia 5th

1/10/2018 Do No Harm Henry Marsh, 2014

Do No Harm is an autobiography that manages to keep your attention with stories that feel like you’re in the author’s shoes. Henry Marsh, the author and main character,

is a brain surgeon in England, and throughout the book you learn about not only the ailments he cures and the operations he performs, but the ethical and emotional

challenges encountered as well. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the field of medicine because in the beginning of every chapter, he introduces the

illness, and explains the causes and the symptoms using simple and easy to understand language. This is also a good book for anyone interested in ethics and the difficult

choices faced by people in the medical field. The book is a bit lengthy, but it’s well worth the read.

Lilly Bolin 7th

1/10/2018 Eleven Rings: Souls to Success Phil Jackson, 2013

This book gives insight into Phil Jackson's success as a player and coach for the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. Throughout his time as a coach he led his teams

to 11 rings which transformed him into a legendary basketball coach in the league. In addition he does a great of describing the very talented players he's had on his team

like Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Shaq. When I was reading this I definitely enjoyed how he was honest about the controversies surrounding these

specific players. Also basketball fans or players would love to read into his perspective on the his tendencies as a coach. During his time as a coach he routinely used different

meditations and spiritual practices to prepare for the upcoming games. This helped the players be prepared mentally before the games and stay focused. This is a must read

for people who are a fan of Phil Jackson and want to see his thoughts on his entire career involving basketball.

Donovan, Myers 4th

1/10/2018 Got Fight? Forrest Griffin, 2009

Forrest Griffin was one of the greatest MMA fighters. He wrote this book about how he became a MMA fighter and the trails he went on to reach that goal. The

book is packed with humor and knowledge. I personally liked this book because it taught me how to cut weight for wrestling at the time and now weightlifting.

When writing this story, Forrest explains to his readers that this is a man’s book and if you don’t want to be a man don’t read it. He informs readers on things about

when he was young, to how he prepared for fights. He talks about basic first aid for these sports. For example, how to drain cauliflower ear and staph infection. He

explains on how he pushed though when things were going tough. If you are looking for a funny, interesting, and educating book then I highly recommend this book

for you.

T.J. Hart 4th

1/10/2018 The Greatest: Muhammad Ali Walter Dean Myers, 2001

In this biography it tells us a story about one of the most influential and greatest athlete the world has ever seen. It introduces his childhood days to present day,

primarily focusing on his career and controversies he’s had throughout his life. Struggling to get fame being an African American athlete with segregation being

around he had a lot of hate throughout his career. But through hard work and perseverance he later proved the haters wrong becoming a 3 time heavyweight champion,

won gold in the Olympics becoming the greatest athlete and inspiration the world has seen. There are a lot of lessons you can learn from this book, for example when

you get knocked down just get back up and work harder to achieve your goals. I would recommend this book to any sports fan or for anybody who wants motivation.

Joey Cabigas 7th

1/8/2019 Gucci Mane Autobiography Neil Martinez-Belkin and Gucci Mane, 2017

The great novel Gucci Mane the Autobiography tells the story of his life growing up in Atlanta where he now calls his home. *Disclaimer-This book is not for the faint hearted*The book was interesting to see in first hand account him growing up in Atlanta. How the story is told it is in a way that he was very straightforward with everything the bad decisions that he made he had no excuse for them. Although the book was very good to me there was some things that i would add at the end there were some loose ends left at the end which could be tied up that Gucci mane probably just wanted to keep personal. This book was a very good read for those that enjoy to read about rappers but i wouldn't expect to find this book at the library due to the consistent use of profanity and mild drug reference.

Ryan Auclair 4th

9/28/2014 Happy Happy Happy Phil Robertson, 2013

This book is not only interesting, but inspiring. It is told through the eyes of Phil Robertson and describes his life through both hard and great times. It teaches

us about family, faith, and the love of hunting. He starts off by telling about his life as a young child and the struggles of living in rough conditions with many

siblings and low income. As he progresses in life, he begins to fall under pure pressure and experiment with drugs and alcohol. As he plummets into a struggle,

he finds God. He begins to recover through faith and family. During his early years as a teenager, he falls in love with game of football. He started inform of

Terry Bradshaw, who was a future hall of famer. He soon gave up the game after realizing that the game had interfered with duck season. After a good

twenty years or so, he begins his blue prints for the invention of the duck call. After putting in long hours of grueling work for years, Phil’s son, Willie Robertson,

takes Phil’s duck calls and makes them into a multi-million dollar business after attending college and receiving his business degree. This success soon

led to TV shows and booming marketing sales.

Devin Hemenway 5th

2/8/2016 The Hiding Place Corrie Ten Boom, 1971

The Hiding Place is a true story about the life of Corrie Ten Boom and the concentration camps. Written by an inspirational lady named Corrie Ten Boom,

she talks about the life during the time of the concentration camps. Her family hid Jews behind a hole in the wall covered by a bookshelf because her family

did not believe that just because they were Jews they should be killed. As you read this you will see the things that play out and what happens to her family

and the people they had been hiding. This is a very inspirational book and it has a strong message that can really benefit people and give them the insight

of what really happened. I definitely recommend this book and it is a book I will be reading a lot.

Kiara Rolon 6th

2/3/2016 I Hate Myselfie Shane Dawson, 2015

The book that I have enjoyed reading the most is Shane Dawson’s autobiography, “I Hate Myselfie.” One of the things that I enjoyed about this book is the

fact that he let his fans draw pictures for each short section (which is like a chapter) of his book. These drawings are funny and on the back of them it says

a little bit about the artist and where to find more of their work. I think that this is meaningful and it is a very cool way to connect with his fans, while letting

them contribute to him for others with similar interests to see. Another thing that I like about this book is the horrific experiences that he went through. The

reason why I like this is because he turns all of these bad experiences into things to laugh about. Even if you are going through tough times, this book may

show you how to laugh at them so they do not seem as bad as you may picture them now. (He also uploads videos daily to YouTube as a career so you

can watch them as well! His channels are Shane Dawson and Shane Dawson TV.)

Natalie Cross 6th

1/30/2012 Inside the Helmet: Life as a Sunday Afternoon Warrior Michael Strahan, 2007

This is one of the best books I have ever read. I would recomend this book to any sports fan or anyone who would enjoy a back stage pass into the NFL. The

book details the ups and downs of life as an NFL superstar, along with vivid descriptions of how the league works and the numerous titles that come with being

in the NFL. You get to see the world of the NFL and the secrets you may have never known about all through Michael Strahan's eyes on every page. This is a

great book for anyone looking to read about sports or the NFL and offers a wide variety of content that will surely please many readers. This book does, however,

contain some language and content that may be offensive to readers.

Connor McJunkin 1st

9/28/2014 Killing Kennedy Bill O'Reilly & Martin Dugard, 2012

I really enjoyed this book because it gave me new insight into the assassination of president John F. Kennedy. This book doesn't just talk about the

assassination itself but the personal and private lives of the two men at the center of it all. It talks about how Kennedy got into politics and into the white

house along with his political and personal affairs as well as the life and death of Lee Harvey Oswald and why he assassinated the president. This book

is the second in a series by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard, following Killing Lincoln. This story also includes people who were affiliated with the president

such as Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Jack Ruby, J. Edgar Hoover, and Martin Luther King Jr.

Cody Manard 5th

10/20/2014 Kisses From Katie Katie Davis, 2011

Kisses from Katie is a book about a high school senior who takes a mission trip to Uganda and falls in love with the country and the people. She ends up

deciding she doesn’t want to go to college because she is called by God to help the people in Uganda full time. Her parents were not really fond of her not

going to college and she ended up going for one year, but she talks about how much she hated living in America again, because people were so materialistic

and had way more than they needed. She adopts thirteen children throughout the book and she starts a ministry called Amazima to provide kids in Uganda

food and an education. Throughout the book you here the heartbreaking stories of all the people she meets on her journey. It is such an inspiring book and

it really makes you view the world in a different way, and it really shows you how fortunate we are just to have the necessities.

Grayton Scheinkman 3rd

1/31/2012 Letters to a Young Brother Hill Harper, 2006

There is a subtitle to this book. Its says, "MANifest Your Destiny". This book is great for all men who need to understand how life is. It shows how people

can go through their life with turmoil and still come out on top. This book really doesn't have anything that makes people not want to read it. No violence, a

little language here or there. But this book is filled with life lessons that men should follow during their life. But it's not what in the book that counts, it's how

you learn to abosorbe the knowledge it gives and reflect that to the outside world.

Jaelon Jones 2nd

1/9/2019 A Long Way Gone Ishmael Beah, 2007

A Long Way Gone is a true story written by Ishmael Beah who lived in Sierra Leone, Africa. At the age of twelve, he had to flee the attacking rebels of the country.

Everywhere was filled with violence. When Beah was thirteen years old, he was picked up by the government’s army. While known as a gentle and good-hearted

boy, the army made him capable of doing horrific acts he never thought he could. By the age of sixteen, he was taken out of the army by UNICEF, and sent to

a rehabilitation center where he learned how to forgive himself, regain his humanity, and heal. The book puts you through what no young boy or girl should ever

have to go through. The book brings to light some events that happen around the world that maybe some people don't know about because they live somewhere

where things like that don’t happen. To them it may seem like a nightmare but in reality, is not impossible.

Elias Jimenez 4th

1/10/2018 The Lost Boy Dave Pelzer, 1997

The Lost Boy is after the child called it. Shortly after he was abused by his mother. His mother hated him so much she called him it.After getting in trouble

with a kid named jimmy he was sinking in a deep hole. Soon most bad things start getting better and he starts to find a family. In the lost boy he starts to

find a family by being put into foster care. Where he will soon meet new people in his life. Where he will find new problems to overcome. He even stole food

and was shamed upon once. He is a sad but strong kid. I believe he will get through it.

Dominik Gomez 7th

1/10/2018 The Magnolia Story Chip and Joanna Gaines, 2016

This is a well written book written by a couple who is success driven. It is an autobiography written by the stars of the hit TV series on HGTV, Fixer Upper.

They tell their story of how they went from dirt poor and living paycheck to paycheck, to fixing up houses and making millions. For example, they had to

have a very small wedding and after could barely afford to buy a house, and couldn’t afford barely anything. Fast forward a couple years later, they are living

on a big piece of land in a nice house with their 4 kids, fixing up houses and making a lot of money, all stemming from hard work. This book is not only inspiring

but also motivating, I think it shows that hard work and determination can get you anywhere in life, proven by Chip and Joanna Gaines. If you like books that face

reality and are inspirational, then this is the book for you.

Mackenzie James 3rd

1/8/2019 My Fight/Your Fight Ronda Rousey, 2015

My Fight/Your Fight is an Autobiography written by Ronda Rousey. She tells her story from the very beginning- the day she was born. She describes the struggles

and obstacles she faced throughout her childhood, adult life, and career. With each struggle and obstacle explained, Rousey also included how she faced them and

overcame them. This book is a great insight into Rousey’s mind, and she takes you through her thought process every step of the way. All in all, this book was very

inspirational, and proved that no matter who you are and where you’ve come from, what obstacles may stand in your way, and what struggles you may face, you can

always fight and succeed… Just like Ronda Rousey. This is a book that I would definitely recommend reading. Whether you are looking for an inspirational life story,

or just looking for a good book to read, this is an interesting book that you won’t want to put down.

Athena Hobbs 4th

4/25/2012 The Old Man and The Boy Robert Ruark, 1953

The old man and the boy is a very inspiring book. it tells the life of a young immature boy who goes to live with his grandfather out on his farm. if you like adventure

books then this is the right one for you. it is an amazing outdoors book and you can learn a ton about outdoors life and what things to do and just life lessons that

ties everything together. this is a very good book that is followed up by another one that is just as good. it'll get you hooked!

Dylan Estep 2nd

11/3/2011 Over the Edge of the World Laurence Bergreen, 2003

I was surprised to see how much I enjoyed this book. It is all about Ferdinand Magellan's circumnavigation of the globe - the first successfully completed

by any European. Even though we all know Magellan did not live to the end of this journey, it is fascinating to read about what the sailors had to go through

as they made their journey. Not only will you learn about the mystery of the new frontier, you will also learn about the politics of Europe during the greatest

age of discovery.

Kim Escoffier

1/9/2019 Papi: My Story Micheal Holley and David Ortiz, 2017

I recommend this amazing book to all uprising athletes and people who are in need of new hope. I recommend this amazing book because the main character of

this book, David Ortiz, went through many hardships including leaving the Dominican Republic and his closest family to get to the major leagues. From my

personal experiences, David’s book has helped me evolve as a better person and player. I have used much of David's advice that was in the book to better my

game. This book altered the way I go about my training as well. David hits on key aspects on ways to jump start the way you practice that really carries over to

the way you preform. Overall this book is a great way to gain confidence in yourself and gain hope if you need it because if David can make it to the big leagues

then so can anyone else willing to work. This book is definitely a must read for all athletes across the globe! I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Wilson Perkins 2nd

5/1/2012 The Pursuit of Happyness Chris Gardner, 2006

This incredibly powerful story will motivate you. Motivate you to see every situation as an opportunity to better your self and situation. This book is the

amazing life story of Christopher Gardner, a homeless father. Chris truly goes from rags to riches the RIGHT way. He works hard and sets himself apart,

refusing to conform to a statistic or be taken over by self pity. This book is a fabulous read that would make even the coldest person smile by the end.

You must read and enjoy!

Jenay Mohr 5th

1/10/2018 Redemption at Hacksaw Ridge Booton Herndon, 2016

If you’re reading this, you must be in one of Mrs Escoffier’s English classes and will have to complete a Literature Analysis sometime in the near future.

If you’re anything like me and hate reading, finding a good book that is actually bearable can be a real challenge. I was having lots of trouble finding a book

until my Dad recommended Redemption at Hacksaw Ridge. I had already seen the movie which I did enjoy very much, so I decided to read the book. After

I had read the book I went back to my Dad and thanked him for suggesting such a powerful and moving book that tells the story of Desmond Doss, a medic

during WW2 who, with the help of his faith in God, was able to save 74 people from the horrific battlefield at Hacksaw and in turn, be awarded the Congressional

Medal of Honor. If you want a book that will show you the true meaning of God’s love and protection while also telling an amazing, uplifting story, this is definitely

the book for you.

Logan Kraus 7th

1/10/2018 Sully Chesley Sullenberger and Jeffrey Zaslow, 2009

This was an awesome novel about a boy with a childhood dream and him just sticking with it. You might of heard about him, Chesley Sullenberger or

better known as Sully. The novel follows Sully from his young childhood, dreaming about being a pilot and him actually growing older and becoming a

pilot and possibly one of the greatest pilots known because of his courageous act on the Hudson River. He is considered a very brave hero because he

saved so many lives. This book really proves that you can always make your childhood dream come true if you just pursue it. Sully always dreamed of

being a pilot as a little kid and this book is such an awesome true story of how he actually become one. I recommend this to people who like just a good

read and an inspiring true story. After you read the book go check out the movie “Sully”.

Coleman Dorsett 7th

1/9/2019 This Is The Day Tim Tebow, 2018

The book I recommend to be read is called ¨This Is The Day¨, written by Tim Tebow. ¨This is The Day¨ mainly talks about how people do not usually take action

and how it needs to be the day to take risks. Tebow talks about his past and how he was afraid to take chances, but he also says that when he takes chances

he makes things happen. This book is a very inspiring and uplifting book about people who go from being scared to being fearless, from holding back to letting

out their true selves and making things happen. The book tells multiple stories and how being the best and strongest you can be does not only let you thrive

but it also allows your piers to see just how amazing you can be if you show no fears. I strongly recommend reading this book, it is very inspiring and will most

likely be very helpful.

Aidan Davis 7th

1/10/2018 Through My Eyes Tim Tebow, 2011

This is a great book that follows the life of Tim Tebow from his childhood all the way until he makes it to the pros. Tim grew up with many brothers and sisters

and all of them were great at what they did. Tim was a great athlete who excelled in many sports. Tim eventually found a love for the game of football and was

determined that he was going to make it to the NFL. This is also a great book because he was always humbled with what he had and was never cocky in any way.

This story is very inspirational and after reading it makes you want to work harder for whatever goal you want to achieve. This book is written by Tim himself so it

gives you all his thoughts and first person accounts of what was going on in his life during that time.

Parker Milam 3rd

2/3/2016 Unbroken Laura Hillenbrand, 2010

Unbroken is one of the best books I have ever read. It is a story about survival, finding who you really are, and forgiveness. This book is about a an

Olympic athlete that was drafted into World War II. He became a bomber in B-24 airplane. His plane was shot down over the pacific ocean, and with

extreme wit and will to live, he was able to survive 47 days in a life raft before being captured by the Japanese. He was horrifyingly mistreated, but

stayed strong until the war was over and was able to return home to his family. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes to read. Even if you

don’t like to read, this is a great book.

Collin Kaufman 7th

2/4/2016 Unbroken Laura Hillenbrand, 2010

Unbroken is a remarkable true story about a man who is pushed to his limits during WW2. It is a tale of endurance, unwavering courage, and remarkable

strength that keeps your attention throughout the whole book and will amaze you with the unbelievable feats that are accomplished by the real life Olympian

and war veteran Louis Zamperini. His story of perseverance throughout many hardships, and his strength to carry on and succeed are truly incredible. It

shows the true benefits of never giving up and always believing in yourself even in the worst of times. You will not find a more thrilling and amazing true story

anywhere.

Andrew Boilini 2nd