Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

Blurb submitted by Ryan L.
Shoe Dog is nonfiction

In 1962, the only thing Phil Knight had on his mind after returning home from Stanford was this crazy idea. This idea was so powerful, so revolutionary, so crazy that it was driving him insane! Phil only knew one thing that could relieve the stress of his demanding father and his need for a job: running.

In his new memoir, the CEO of Nike reminisces about how he launched one of the largest corporations in the world. No longer remaining a mystery, Knight takes readers on his vigorous journey from the track, to Eastern Asia, and to the rest of the world.

Knight shows how all you need is a dream and the tenacity to follow it to reach your goals. With the help of friends and family along the way, Knight flipped the $50 his father gave him into the most recognizable trademark in human history.

The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater

Blurb submitted by Mandrell M.
The 57 Bus is nonfiction

The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives, a book written by Dashka Slater, tells the story of two teenagers: Richard, an African-American boy who attends a large public school; and Sasha, who was born male and now identifies as neither male or female and attends a small private school. They live in Oklahoma and the year is 2013. While the two teens have never really formally met each other, they know each other by association with the bus, and we get to read how in just one day and within a short span of time both of their lives are changed forever.

A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership by James Comey

Blurb submitted by Myles S.

A Higher Loyalty is nonfiction

A Higher Loyalty is an autobiography by former FBI Director James Comey. The book tells about his different assignments that he came across during his time as an FBI agent. He talks about the ins and outs of being an FBI agent and the values of a good FBI agent such as leadership and having a sound mind. The book teaches a lot of lessons about mental health and the wear and tear that being an FBI agent puts on a person mentally. He talks about how he coped with the stress and kept a healthy mindset. He was a director of the FBI for President Obama from 2013-2017. He has been in big controversial cases such as the Hillary Clinton email investigation, taking down the Mafia, and prosecuting Martha Stewart.

The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule

Blurb submitted by Katherine W.
The Stranger Beside Me is nonfiction

The Stranger Beside Me, written by Ann Rule, is a combination between the story of one of the United States' most notorious serial killers, Ted Bundy, and Ann Rule's firsthand experience in knowing Bundy. Rule and Bundy worked together at a crisis hotline center. Little did she know she was friends with a psychopath. Read this book and see the two sides of Bundy: the compassionate crisis hotline volunteer and the serial murderer. By reading this book, you will also be able to relive the investigation, seeing as Rule worked with the police on the case well before discovering how close the killer was all along.

Living the Dream: My Life and Basketball by Hakeem Olajuwon

Blurb submitted by Jeremiah H.

Living the Dream is nonfiction

Most thought he would never make it out of his small African country. Not making it out is usual for the people from Hakeem Olajuwon's small village in Nigeria. Although it wasn’t easy growing up, being 7ft tall and having great footwork made Hakeem’s dream a reality. In this book, you will learn about the humble beginnings that made Hakeem Olajuwon's career so successful and kept him so humble. This book is more than just a book, it is a story filled with ups and downs, triumphs and downfalls.

Brain Body Diet: 40 Days to a Lean, Calm, Energized, and Happy Self by Sara Gottfried

Blurb submitted by Natalie T.

Brain Body Diet is nonfiction

If only people knew how powerful their brains are In Sara Gottfried’s book, Brain Body Diet, she
explains how much your thoughts in your brain can connect to your whole body and everyday
issues. She explains how the female brain is linked to how you feel, how much sleep you get,
and how to lose weight safely. Your brain is the control center of your body, and learning how to
become mentally strong can impact your daily life so much. Using her education and
scientific research to back up her information, Gottfried is able to empower many women to take
control of their mind and body the healthy way.

Lights and Sirens: The Education of a Paramedic by Kevin Grange

Blurb submitted by Aldo C.

Lights and Sirens is nonfiction

The UCLA Paramedic education program is one of the first and largest paramedic schools in the world. It is also the hardest to pass with an 81% success rate. That’s pretty low considering how hard it is to even get in. Kevin Grange talks about how he made it in. As a paramedic, you are put into stressful and mentally challenging life or death situations. He says “In one room you see a dad holding his son for the first time. In the next you see a dad holding his son for the last time. As a paramedic, you are the angel who has the power to save a life.” These people are true heroes.

Shamed: The Honour Killing That Shocked Britain - by the Sister Who Fought for Justice by Sarbjit Kaur Athwal

Blurb submitted by Aal-E-Aba F.

Shamed is nonfiction

The book began on a normal Friday afternoon. The author of the book was telling about her family. She belonged to an Indian religious Sikh family. They had to follow some specific rules from their elders. After her marriage, there was a family gathering and after that gathering, she heard the old lady saying that "It's decided then, we have to get rid of her." That lady was her mother-in-law. Within three weeks of that meeting, Surjit (Sarbjit's sister-in-law) died: lured from London to India, drugged, strangled, and her body dumped in the Ravi River, never to be seen again. Risking her own life, she secretly fought for justice for her sister-in-law for nine years. She was the first person within the murderer's family to ever go to court. As a result of her testimony, the trial led to the first successful prosecution of an honor killing without the body ever being found. But her life has been threatened and her husband was arrested too. It is actually a story of courage of a woman who risked everything for the justice of her sister-in-law. Some parts of this story are interesting and some are tense but the whole story is motivational and this is a kind of story you do not want to miss out on.

Bossy Pants by Tina Fey

Blurb submitted by Taylor T.

Bossy Pants is nonfiction

I am an avid reader of funny and real autobiographies by women who like to test their limits in the world. This one just so happens to be about Tina Fey, a beloved and hilarious actress and TV show personality. Starting from the beginning, this book outlines more than just the fame but also the dream and the rejection that goes with it. Tina Fey is a comedian who kind of changed the game for comedy. This is a book that helps defy the odds against the inequality of men wanting women to keep their mouths shut. Tina Fey wanted to be heard and was tired of the way things were, so she made her own rules. Interested in all life has to offer and eager to get what she wants, She will do everything she can to get to a place where she can make everyone laugh. I recommend this book to mainly teenage women and maybe upcoming comedians or entertainers who feel down. It's a real story of the struggle and the steps to take when you want something. If you are a young teen or child who is interested in theatre or acting or just plain entertainment, this book is for you. I also would recommend this to anyone who wants a good laugh because I can almost promise that this book will have you laughing inappropriately at some of the events.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Blurb submitted by Mandrell M.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is nonfiction

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, an autobiography by Maya Angelou, tells the story of her early life from her childhood to the birth of her child at the age of 16. She vividly writes about a number of hardships she faced in life and overcoming them. These include living in a segregated south, seeing her grandmother, whom she referred to as "Momma" throughout the book, being mocked by children, and being raped by her mother's husband which would lead to her not speaking for some time while also explaining where and how her love of literature came.

She also writes about being moved back and forth from California to Arkansas due to ongoing conflicts. In addition to facing the problems listed, as well as many more, she is able to break a racial barrier and become the first black employee on the street cars of San Francisco. Even while breaking barriers, she again faces trials only this time with herself and questions herself as well as her sexuality. This leads to a pregnancy at the age of 16 in which she tackles all while graduating high school.

Redemption at Hacksaw Ridge by Booton Herndon

Blurb submitted by Gabe A.

Redemption at Hacksaw Ridge is nonfiction.

Redemption at Hacksaw Ridge is an amazing true story by Booton Herndon. It focuses on a man named Desmond Doss. Desmond is a young man growing up in Virginia when WWII breaks out. As soon as he is old enough, he volunteers for the Army to serve his country. There is just one thing that sets him apart from everyone else: he refuses to carry a gun.  The story of Desmond and the events that led to the first and only conscientious objector to ever win the medal of honor is one of bravery, loyalty, and sheer will. His journey as he rescues 75 men from the nastiest battle fought in the Pacific, is one you won't want to miss.

American Sniper by Chris Kyle

Blurb submitted by Jack M.

American Sniper is nonfiction

American Sniper is a nonfiction Autobiography that depicts the things that go on in war. Some of the stories told by Chris Kyle explain the almost impossible decisions he has to make while serving. Chris is one of the reasons that we are so lucky to be free in this country and he explains the sacrifices members of the military have to make to keep us safe. He made so many sacrifices with his family and being away from his wife and child so long to keep protecting us.

The first part of the book explains who Chris Kyle is and where he came from and how he got plugged into the war. The second part of the book shows how his past helped him be so effective in the war and shows all the tough things military people have to go through and what they deal with. At the end of the book, it shows how when he comes back from the war he was messed up and not the same and struggled to get back to a normal life.

So Chris Kyle shows you real-world examples and real-life stories from his time in the war and it is very moving and powerful and will give you a great understanding of what truly happens over there. This book will give you a different view of the war and what these people really are doing and sacrificing for us every day.

Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

Blurb submitted by MyKenzie H.
Outliers: The Story of Success is nonfiction

Success is not just some ability you are born with. According to Malcolm Gladwell, he tells you just that in his book about the key to success. Gladwell provides many case studies of different cultures and time periods showing you there are so many key factors to being successful.

 By using real-life examples and case studies, Gladwell proves to you that success is not an innate ability you are born with, you can get out of whatever situation you are born with and be successful.

No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies by Naomi Klein

Blurb submitted by Ian G.
No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies is nonfiction

Brands, brands, brands! It's the 21st century. Nowadays we have just got to have the best brand out! In this book, author Naomi Klein talks about the way brands have got us hooked. No matter what they are selling, they somehow find a way to grab our attention and get us to buy their product. What we fail to see are the things that go on behind the scenes such as the places these products are made or the type of conditions they’re made in.

The first part of the book is the part you can relate to, such as the advertisements that you and I see on TV or even on a billboard on an everyday street. The second part might not be something you’d be too familiar with, such as where these big brands make their products or how much money it takes for them to create them.

Using real-life cases and experiments, Naomi Klein shines a light on the big brands and the things that the everyday person wouldn’t know about them. This book will help educate readers on what these big brands go through to stay on top.

We Beat the Street: How A Friendship Pact Led to Success by Drs. Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, and Rameck Hunt

Blurb submitted by Kayla W.
We Beat the Street is nonfiction

The book is about three African American young boys who grew up in a bad neighborhood in New Jersey where there were drugs, crime rates were high, and people were poor.  They were smart boys, but they had the struggle of dealing with peer pressure, drug use, and being minorities in a cruel world.  They made a pact that they would get out of this situation with help from each other.  They applied to pre-med and pre-dentistry programs at Seton Hall University and they all got accepted.  The pact they made was to push each other and finish the program together, and that is exactly what they did.

I would recommend this book to all teenagers, but especially to teenage boys.  It shows how hard it is for a male growing up without a positive role model, but there is always hope.  They went through some of the same things happening with the youth of today.   As long as there are friends with the same goals in life and they are there for each other, success is always possible regardless of your background.

Getting Away with Murder:The True Story of The Emmett Till Case By Chris Crowe

Blurb submitted by Grant P.
Getting Away with Murder is nonfiction

Getting Away with Murder is a very quick read that will leave you astounded. In the book it tells the story of a young African American boy from Chicago, Coming down to visit his cousins and uncles in Money, Mississippi. Once he got there, he wanted to impress all his other friends and said that he could go "pick up" the white lady that was working behind the counter of the convenient store. He went in there and ultimately had to be dragged out because of the show he put on in the store. Emmett thought he had done something very hysterical and cool, but he couldn't have imagined what was going to happen next. The woman's husband heard about the stunt the boy pulled and decided to take matters into his own hands.

The first part of the book is very friendly and a good story about a boy going to visit his cousins. It made me think of the times I went down on Christmas or summer break to see my extended family. The second part of the book is pretty horrific and disturbing. I don't want to give away too many of the interesting details, but the person reading this could probably guess what is going to happen next based on the title. The husband ends up brutally killing the young boy and is set free with the whole world watching and the whole world knowing he was guilty.

This book shows the injustices blacks had to face that took place not too long ago. It shows me how far the nation has come in such a short amount of time. I couldn't imagine how I'd feel if that was my brother or family member. This book is a great read if you like interesting true stories.

Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely

Blurb submitted by Ashleigh C.
Uninvited is nonfiction

Uninvited is a Christian book written by Lysa TerKeurst. The subtitle of the book is “Living loved when you feel less than, left out, and lonely.” Each chapter of Uninvited is about a different struggle the author went through in her life and how she overcame that struggle. Lysa is a very well spoken and relatable author. Everyone can get something out of Uninvited because it is likely whatever you are going through, she has gone through something similar. The book includes quotes from the Bible that relate to what she is going through in that chapter. The overall message of the book is that whatever you are going through, you can overcome, just like she did.

Original Gangstas: The Untold Story of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Tupac Shakur, and the Birth of West Coast Rap by Ben Westhoff

Blurb submitted by Tyrell G.
Original Gangstas is nonfiction

This book is about how rap went from being a fun, funky, upbeat type music, to a hardcore, "real life" type music. The book talked about how N.W.A changed the rap game by rapping about what is going on in the streets. They did not sugar coat anything. They influenced other rappers to talk about what they see in the streets. They also revealed how the police were treating Black people in their hit song. It made people take a stand against police, and people across the nation tried to pursue equality. It also talked about Tupac and his road from superstar success to unfortunate tragedy.

West Coast rap evolved from being a baby brother of East Coast rap to becoming the most popular genre of music in the late 80s and early 90s. West Coast rap was often called “Gangsta Rap" because of the hardcore lyrics in the songs. Rappers did not mean it in any way to harm anyone. They were just rapping about what they saw every day in the streets. The would rap about drugs, guns, prostitutes, and liquor.

This book helps explain how the lives of rappers were back then, that just because they rap about guns and drugs does not mean anything. They just want you to grasp what their lifestyle is about.

Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis

Blurb submitted by Austin S.
Scar Tissue is nonfiction

Scar Tissue is a book about the singer named Anthony Kiedis, who is in the band The Red Hot Chili Peppers. He tells his story of growing up and doing drugs as a young kid. He had a major drug abuse and addiction issue that caused many problems for him down the road. His band helped him solve his issues with drugs after much trial and error.

In the first part of the book, Anthony explains how he had his first drug experience with his father when he was 11 years old and how long it went on. The second part is about how his band became popular, and he was doing severe drugs with his bandmate Hillel Slovak. After Slovak's death, Anthony did not attend the funeral. He was without his best friend and did not know what to do with himself; it caused more issues down the road for Anthony because his drug addiction became more severe. Finally near the end, as of December 24th, 2000, Anthony Kiedis is clean and sober.

It is a good book to read if you are interested in "The Red Hot Chili Peppers" or if you just want an interesting read. Through much trial and error with Anthony's life, he is still one of the greatest singers of all time. It is good to understand that even with the mistakes in your life, you can still become successful and achieve your goals.

Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday

Blurb submitted by Connor C.
Ego is the Enemy is nonfiction

Ego is the Enemy focuses on helping people in life with tasks they think they are too good for. Ryan Holiday, the author, discusses many real-life events and things he achieved while maintaining a very good ego. Ryan never finished college. He dropped out of school when he was 19 years old. He wanted to become a writer and became one that a lot of people look up to. His work helps young students, mostly athletes, know what real life is about. Young kids these days think everything is about them and that everything revolves around them. In sports, for example, you will always have that one guy who thinks he is better and doesn't have to work as hard as other people.

Midway through the book, Holiday gives brief examples of how to overcome having a big ego and how you can become more successful in life if you help others before you make it about yourself.

I believe using examples from the book and putting them into your own life will greatly affect your life and others around you in many different ways. There is always something you can do to help someone no matter the circumstance. I recommend this book to young athletes because I strongly believe if you take examples from here it can turn your team around quickly.