Biography and Memoir
November 2023
Recent Releases
How to Say Babylon
by Safiya Sinclair

Whiting Award-winning poet Safiya Sinclair (Cannibal) recounts her flight from her strict Rastafarian upbringing in this evocative Read with Jenna Book Club Pick. For fans of: Educated by Tara Westover. 
Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones
by Dolly Parton with Holly George-Warren; curated by Rebecca Seaver

Beloved country superstar Dolly Parton shares the stories behind her favorite fashion moments in this charming full-color memoir featuring 450 photographs, never-before-seen images from her personal archives, and insights from her designers and stylists. Read-alike: Supreme Glamour by Mary Wilson.
A Man of Two Faces: A Memoir, a History, a Memorial
by Viet Thanh Nguyen

Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen (The Sympathizer) incisively explores "the thin border between / history and memory" in his nonlinear memoir detailing how colonization, war, and a fractured sense of self have impacted him as the child of Vietnamese refugees. Read-alike: The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir by Thi Bui.
The woman in me
by Britney Spears

The noted pop star offers a moving story about freedom, fame, motherhood, survival, faith, and hope
Worthy
by Jada Pinkett Smith

Pulling no punches, the global superstar chronicles the lessons of her storied life, from her rebellious youth to Hollywood success, taking us from the depths of suicidal depression to the heights of self-love, spiritual healing and authentic feminine power, in this impactful and rare memoir that engages and educates.
Focus on: Indigenous Stories
An indigenous peoples' history of the United States for young people
by Debbie Reese

"Going beyond the story of America as a country "discovered" by a few brave men in the "New World," Indigenous human rights advocate Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz reveals the roles that settler colonialism and policies of American Indian genocide played in forming our national identity. The original academic text is fully adapted by renowned curriculum experts Debbie Reese and Jean Mendoza, for middle-grade and young adult readers to include discussion topics, archival images, original maps, recommendations for further reading, and other materials to encourage students, teachers, and general readers to think critically about their own place in history"
Living resistance : an indigenous vision for seeking wholeness every day
by Kaitlin B. Curtice

"Popular Indigenous author Kaitlin Curtice argues that resistance isn't just for professional activists but for every human who longs to see their neighbors' holistic flourishing"
Braiding sweetgrass for young adults : indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the teachings of plants
by Robin Wall Kimmerer

"Botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer's best-selling book Braiding Sweetgrass is adapted for a young adult audience by children's author Monique Gray Smith, bringing Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the lessons of plant life to a new generation"
The rediscovery of America : native peoples and the unmaking of U.S. history
by Ned Blackhawk

A sweeping and overdue retelling of U.S. history recognizes that Native Americans are essential to understanding the evolution of modern America.
Notable native people : 50 indigenous leaders, dreamers, and changemakers from past and present
by Adrienne Keene

Perfect for readers of all ages, this celebration of lives, stories and contributions of 50 notable Native American people highlights the vital impact indigenous dreamers and leaders have made on the world.
Contact your librarian for more great books!