The best autobiographies for high school students are not always easy to find. It is best if you have a list so that you know what books to look for in the library or bookstore.
This article will provide you with the 20 best autobiographies for high school students, all of which are great reads!
Best Autobiographies for High School Students
It is best to read autobiographies early on in life before you get too caught up in your own story.
An autobiography is an account of someone’s life written by themselves. These autobiographies are full of great stories and offer a snapshot into different lives all over the world.
Table of Contents
The Diary Of Anne Frank
The Diary of Anne Frank is a book of the writings from the Dutch language diary kept by Anne Frank while she was in hiding for two years with her family during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.
The family was apprehended in 1944, and Anne Frank died of typhus in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
The diary was retrieved by Miep Gies, who gave it to Anne’s father, Otto Frank, the family’s only known survivor, just after the war was over.
The diary has since been published in more than 60 languages.
It became one of the world’s most widely read books; it has been translated into 67 languages and has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide.
Boy by Roald Dahl
The boy is a coming-of-age story of Roald Dahl’s childhood in England.
The book follows the life of young Roald from his birth to age 11 when he goes away to school.
The book is written in first-person narrative with Dahl giving an account of his experiences and feelings at the time.
He describes his family and home life, school, friends, teachers, and other children he knew.
First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers
This book is a personal account of the author’s experiences in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge.
The author, Loung Ung, was five years old when her family was forced to leave Phnom Penh and work as laborers on a collective farm.
She describes how she survived by watching other children die around her from starvation and overwork.
Her father was taken away at night by soldiers; she never saw him again. In 1979, after four years of living in fear, Loung and her surviving family members escaped to Thailand.
This book gives readers an inside look into life under one of history’s most brutal regimes.
It also shows how human beings can adapt to almost anything if they have enough strength of will to survive.
The best autobiographies for high school students will take you on the author’s journey and help you to understand how they made it through tough situations.
All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto
All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto is a book that explores the author’s experience with his father, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease.
The author shares his story of growing up in a family where he felt like an outsider and never quite fit in.
The memoir is divided into two parts: Part 1, “The Boy Who Wasn’t,” covers the author’s childhood and adolescence; Part 2, “The Man Who Would Be King,” discusses the author’s adulthood.
In between these sections are interludes that discuss topics such as what it means to be a man, how men relate to each other (and why they don’t), and how our society treats boys and men.
Being Jazz: My Life As A (Transgender) Teen
I am Jazz, a transgender teen. I live in the suburbs of Los Angeles with my family and two brothers.
I love hanging out with friends, shopping for clothes (I’m kind of a fashionista), and going to school.
But being a teenage girl is tough! Especially when you’re transgender.
It’s hard to know who to talk to about being trans, what kinds of hormones to take, or how best to handle bullies at school.
So I wrote this book for other transgender teens who are looking for advice and support from someone who knows what it’s like to be different from everyone else around you.
May I Have Your Attention Please?
This is a book about how to get people’s attention (and keep it) in an age of information overload.
It’s not just for business people, but for anyone who wants to be heard and understood.
The author is a former marketing executive who knows what he’s talking about.
He has worked with some of the biggest brands in the world, including Cocacola, FedEx, GE, and Microsoft.
My Life and Hard Times by James Thurber
A collection of short stories, essays, and articles by James Thurber
The book is an amusing look at the life of a young man in New York City during the 1920s.
It is filled with stories about his adventures as a reporter for “The New Yorker”, his time spent in Paris, and his love affairs.
He also writes about how he met his wife, Althea Adams, who was a dancer.
Kian And Jc: Don’t Try This At Home!
The book Kian And Jc: Don’t Try This At Home! is a great read for anyone who’s ever been interested in the world of comedy.
It’s an amazing insight into what it takes to be a comedian, and how hard they have to work to get where they are today.
The book contains interviews with some of the biggest names in comedy, including Jimmy Carr, Johnny Vegas, and Lee Mack.
It also includes exclusive photos from their lives on stage, as well as backstage at their gigs.
I Will Always Write Back
I Will Always Write Back is a non-fiction book that chronicles the story of how Caitlin Alifirenka and her friend, Kami, met Pen Pal Andrew Nesbitt in Zimbabwe.
The book details their correspondence with Andrew for several years as well as the trip they took to visit him.
I Will Always Write Back is an inspiring read about friendship, love, and hope.
It’s a heartwarming reminder that there are still good people in this world who care about others despite all the bad news we hear every day.
It’s also an excellent way to learn more about Zimbabwean culture and history.
Night (The Night Trilogy) by Elie Wiesel
The Night is a work of historical fiction and memoir by Elie Wiesel. It is his account of the experience he and his family endured while imprisoned at Auschwitz, in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War II.
Night was first published in 1960 and won the US National Book Award for Fiction that year, an award that annually recognized one “book of outstanding literary merit” published in English.
The book has been translated into more than 30 languages; over 10 million copies have been sold worldwide.
The book’s title alludes to its themes of the “night” or darkness that enveloped European civilization following the Holocaust, as well as to Eliezer’s perception of God having forsaken humanity during the Holocaust.
Courage To Soar: A Body In Motion, A Life In Balance
“Courage To Soar” is a book that will help you find balance in your life, and achieve the things you want to do. It’s easy to read and gives practical advice on how to make it happen.
The book has been written by a woman who knows what it’s like to have a busy life, with lots of demands on her time.
She shares her personal experiences of finding ways to balance work and family commitments, and shows how she achieved her goals.
“Courage To Soar” is available in paperback or as an ebook (for Kindle).
Mud Sweat And Tears (Junior Edition) by Bear Grylls
Bear Grylls is a British adventurer and television presenter who holds the world record for the longest ever unassisted trek to the South Pole.
His show Man vs Wild has been broadcast in over 120 countries worldwide. He’s climbed Mount Everest, crossed the Arctic Ocean, walked across America, and swum across both of Africa’s deepest lakes.
In this book, he shares his experiences of adventure through stories from his life as well as advice on how to be prepared for anything that might happen when you’re out in nature.
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
My Family and Other Animals is a classic work of natural history, memoir, and travel.
It was the first book to introduce the world to Gerald Durrell’s unique brand of humor and his unforgettable cast of characters: eccentric relatives, mischievous siblings, irascible pets, and some truly wild creatures.
The Durrell family moves from England to Corfu in 1935 when Gerald is ten years old. He befriends many animals on the island including two pet tortoises named Adolphus and Hitler.
When World War II breaks out they are evacuated back to England where they live with the rest of the Durrell family at their new home at Bournemouth.
During this time he also meets his future wife Jacquie while working for the military.
A Child Called “It” by Dave Pelzer
A Child Called “It” is a memoir of Dave Pelzer, a child who was abused and tortured by his mother for years.
It’s an inspirational story that will make you cry, laugh, and want to change the world.
This book is about a young boy named Dave Pelzer. He had two loving parents but he wasn’t happy with them because they didn’t give him enough attention.
His mom was too busy working and his dad was always at work or drinking beer with his friends.
When he turned five years old he started getting beaten up by his alcoholic father until one day when he tried to defend himself from being hit again by punching him in the face.
Then his father took him into the bathroom where he tied up Dave’s hands and feet with a belt. He stuck his head in the toilet bowl right up to his nose, then he flushed it several times until Dave couldn’t hold his breath any longer.
He was afraid of dying so he started to breathe the water in and out of his nose which made him choke and cough.
After that Dave’s dad started to beat him up with his belt until he passed out from the pain.
Eventually, after all of this, Dave’s dad took him to the hospital.
Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton
Bethany Hamilton’s life was changed forever when she lost her left arm in a shark attack.
This is the true story of how she overcame this tragedy and became one of the world’s most well-known surfers.
Bethany Hamilton had an incredible journey to becoming a professional surfer, overcoming obstacles that would have stopped most people in their tracks.
In Soul Surfer, Bethany tells her story with candor and humor.
She talks about the challenges she faced while learning to surf with one arm; the pain of losing friends who were taken by sharks; and how God helped her find peace even during times of despair.
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Tuesdays with Morrie is a true story about the life-changing lessons learned by Mitch Albom, a sportswriter for the Detroit Free Press.
The book was published in 1997 and has sold over 3 million copies worldwide.
Mitch Albom’s professor from his college days, Morrie Schwartz, was dying of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis).
To show his appreciation to his old professor, he visits him every Tuesday at the assisted living facility where he lives.
He takes notes on their conversations and writes them down as lessons that everyone should learn in life.
Tuesdays with Morrie is an inspirational book that will make you laugh and cry at the same time! It teaches us about love, loss,
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster
“Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer” is a book that describes the author’s experience on Mt. Everest in 1996 when eight people died during a single expedition.
The book was published in 1997 and became an international bestseller.
It has been translated into more than 20 languages and sold more than two million copies worldwide.
In May 1996, experienced mountaineer Jon Krakauer set out to summit Mt. Everest with Rob Hall’s Adventure Consultants expedition group, led by Hall himself and supported by guides Anatoli Boukreev and Scott Fischer.
After reaching the summit on May 10th, tragedy struck as three members of the party fell to their deaths while making their descent on the “Balcony” section of Mount Everest.
Hall, a best-selling author and one of New Zealand’s most experienced mountain climbers, had also died.
Krakauer was one of the last three climbers to reach the top, and he would later write a best-selling book about the disasters.
The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
Barack Obama’s bestseller, “The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream” is a reflection on what has gone wrong with America and how to fix it.
The book is written in three parts. Part one focuses on the problems facing America today.
In part two, Obama explains why he chose to run for president and gives an account of his campaign trail experiences.
Part three offers solutions to the problems discussed in part one, including a discussion of possible ways that Barack Obama could change America if elected President of the United States.
Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup
The book is about Solomon Northup, a free black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Louisiana.
He tells of the many hardships he faced as a slave and the cruelty that was inflicted upon him by his master.
The story begins with Solomon’s childhood and ends with his return to freedom after twelve years of slavery.
A truly inspirational story that will change your perspective on life forever!
With these 20 best autobiographies for high school students, you’ll be able to find the perfect read. Share them with your friends and classmates or save them on your phone so that when you’re looking for something new, they are just a click away!
You may also like:
- 20 Best English Literature Books for High School Students
- 20 Best American History Textbooks for High School Students
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