AUTOBIOGRAPHIES

Where the Flame Trees Bloom
by Alma Flor Ada
Noted author Alma Flor Ada offers young readers eleven stories from her own childhood.

Taking Hold: My Journey Into Blindness
by Sally Hobart Alexander
The true story of the author's loss of vision as a young woman, and of her adaptation to blindness.

The Secret Ship
by Ruth Kluger and Peggy Mann
The author relates the tremendous obstacles involved in the rescue of European Jews who were being secretly and illegally transported to Palestine on the ship "Hilda" to escape destruction by the Nazis.

The Amazing "True" Story of a Teenage Single Mom
by Katherine Arnoldi
Tells of a young, poor mom with a simple dream:  She wants to go to college.

A Writer's Story: From Life to Fiction
by Marion Dane Bauer
The author explores the influences that led her to become a writer including the importance of inspiration.

Long Ago When I Was Young
by E. Nesbit
The author remembers her childhood as the youngest of five children.

Self-Portrait: Erik Blegvad
by Erik Blegvad
A well-known illustrator discourses on himself, his life, and his work.

The Days Before Now
by Margaret Wise Brown
The author describes the brick city in which she was born at the turn of the century and her family's move from Brooklyn, New York, to the beaches of Long Island.

A Girl from Yamhill
by Beverly Cleary
Follows the popular children's author from her childhood years in Oregon through high school and into young adulthood, highlighting her family life and her growing interest in writing.

My Own Two Feet
by Beverly Cleary
Follows the popular children's author through college years during the Depression; jobs including that of librarian; marriage; and writing and publication of her first book, "Henry Huggins".

Flying to the Moon: and Other Strange Places
by Michael Collins
The author tells of his career in flight and space travel.

Boy
by Roald Dahl
The author describes his childhood adventures recalling only the memories that stand out as spectacular.

26 Fairmont Avenue
by Tomie dePaola
Children's author-illustrator Tomie dePaola describes his experiences at home and in school when he was a boy. 

Here We All Are
by Tomie dePaola
Children's author-illustrator Tomie dePaola describes his experiences at home and in school when he was a boy.

Kindertransport
by Olga Levy Drucker
The author describes the circumstances in Germany after Hitler came to power that led to the evacuation of many Jewish children to England and her experiences as a young girl in England during World War II.

Chapters: My Growth as a Writer
by Lois Duncan
The author traces the path of her writing career in personal anecdotes interspersed with the stories she wrote during the period she is describing.

My Book for Kids with Cansur
by Jason Gaes
A young boy describes his successful two-year battle with cancer and offers advice to other cancer patients.

My Life with the Chimpanzees
by Jane Goodall
The author tells her story of the adventures she had with the chimps and the important discoveries she has made about them.

Stick Figure: A Diary of my Former Self
by Lori Gottlieb
A young teen tells of her battle with anorexia nervosa.

Self-Portrait: Trina Schart Hyman
by Trina Schart Hyman
A well-known illustrator of children's books discusses her life and art.

Girl, Interrupted
by Susanna Kayson
In 1967, after taking 50 aspirins to abort the parts of her that she didn't like, the author for the first time visited a psychiatrist, who immediately called a taxi and hospitalized her. The money that her parents had intended to spend on her college education instead went into paying for a two-year stay at McClean Hospital.

Heart of a Champion
by Michelle Kwan
The popular figure skating champion tells of her journey from glory to disappointment and back again.

I Was a Teenage Professional Wrestler
by Ted Lewin
The author-illustrator describes his early days supporting himself as a professional wrestler.

Looking Back
by Lois Lowry
Using family photographs and quotes from her books, the author provides glimpses into her life.

In Your Face: a Cartoonist at Work
by Doug Marlette
The popular cartoonist writes about the wild and untame side of cartooning.

Robyn's Book
by Robyn Miller
The author tells of her life and battling cystic fibrosis.

In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer
by Irene Gut Opdyke
Recounts the experiences of the author who, as a young Polish girl, his and saved Jews during the Holocaust.

My Life in Dog Years
by Gary Paulsen
The author describes some of the dogs that have had special places in his life, including his first dog, Snowball, in the Philippines; Dirk, who protected him from bullies; and Cookie, who saved his life.

Winterdance: the Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod
by Gary Paulsen
Fueled by a passion for running dogs, Gary Paulsen entered the Iditarod--the 1150-mile winter sled-dog race between Anchorage and Nome-- in dangerous ignorance and with a fierce determination. Winterdance is his account of this seventeen-day battle against Nature's worst elements and his own frailty.

Bill Peet: An Autobiography
by Bill Peet
The well-known author and illustrator relates the story of his life and work.

But I'll be Back Again
by Cynthia Rylant
The author relates her experiences growing up in a West Virginia town.

Taking Flight
by Vicki Van Meter
The story of the daring twelve-year-old who became the youngest person to fly across the Atlantic.

Ryan White: My Own Story
by Ryan White
Ryan white describes how he got AIDS, engaged in a legal battle to return to school, and became a celebrity and spokesman for issues concerning the deadly disease.

The Pigman and Me
by Paul Zindel
An account of Paul Zindel's teenage years on Staten Island, when his life was enriched by finding his own personal pigman, or mentor.