Showing results for "life" in Biographical Fiction

Charlotte Parkhurst was raised in the mid-1800s and was expected to live her life without the freedoms she dreamed of. But Charlotte was smart and determined, and she figured out a way to live her life the way she wanted; Charlotte became an expert horse rider, a legendary stagecoach driver, and the first woman ever to vote—at a time when such things were outlawed for women.

It's the turn of the 20th century in New York's Lower East Side and a sense of adventure and excitement abounds for five young sisters. Follow along on their adventures and experience their holiday fun.

Gary Paulsen has owned dozens of unforgettable and amazing dogs. In each chapter he tells of one special dog, among them Cookie, the sled dog who saved his life; Snowball, the puppy he owned as a boy in the Philippines; Ike, his mysterious hunting companion; Dirk, the grim protector; and his true friend Josh, a brilliant border collie.

“I can’t speak for all dogs. Not all dogs are alike. And most certainly, not all dogs have the same experiences. . . .” Squirrel is not like most dogs. Born a stray, she must make her own way in the world, facing busy highways, changing seasons, and humans both gentle and brutal. Her life...

This classic tale from Newbery- and Caldecott-winning author and illustrator Robert Lawson tells the story of a little mouse—and his good friend, American icon Ben Franklin. Did you ever wonder where inventors get their ideas? Benjamin Franklin is one of the most famous inventors in...

Jeska doesn't know why her mother keeps the curtains drawn so tightly every day. And what exactly is she trying to drown out when she floods the house with Mozart? What are they hiding from? When Jeska's grandmother accidentally calls her by a stranger's name, she seizes her first clue to uncovering her family's past, and hopefully to all that's gone unsaid. With the help of an old family photo album, her father's encyclopedia collection, and the unquestioning friendship of a stray cat, the silence begins to melt into frightening clarity.

Chronicles of Wonder tells the story of the imaginative boy born in Ireland who loved books and poetry and grew himself to be a famous teacher and writer. But before he penned The Space Trilogy or The Chronicles of Narnia, Clive Staples Lewis found friends in other stories, including tales from Beatrix Potter, The Wind and the Willows, Phantastes by George MacDonald, and The Pilgrim’s Progress.

Rachel was a girl who loved science and the sea, books and writing, and all the creatures of the world. Rachel was quiet, a listener by nature. But when she saw problems, she could not remain silent. Some people thought girls shouldn't be scientists or writers. They thought girls shouldn't use their voices to question or challenge, even to protect all the creatures of the world. Luckily Rachel didn't listen to them.

It's the day before the big parade. Alta can think about only one thing: Wilma Rudolph, three-time Olympic gold medalist. She'll be riding on a float tomorrow. See, Alta is the quickest kid in Clarksville, Tennessee, just like Wilma once was. It doesn't matter that Alta's shoes have holes because Wilma came from hard times, too. But what happens when a new girl with shiny new shoes comes along and challenges Alta to a race? Will she still be the quickest kid?

Little Ida is a spruce tree that grows up with a family in Appleton, Wisconsin. Planted next to the house, with a bench nearby, she watches and listens to the comings and goings of Mama Ida, Papa George, and their five daughters, all of whom are unconventional for their time, from the Depression into the early 1970s. Even though Little Ida can’t talk, she certainly has many thoughts and opinions as she observes and chronicles births, deaths, and other family milestones, bringing history to life.

When Zora Neale Hurston and her best friend, Carrie Brown, discover that the town mute can speak after all, they think they’ve uncovered a big secret. But Mr. Polk’s silence is just one piece of a larger puzzle that stretches back half a century to the tragic story of an enslaved girl named Lucia. As Zora’s curiosity leads a reluctant Carrie deeper into the mystery, the story unfolds through alternating narratives.

For Carrie and her best friend, Zora, Eatonville - America’s first incorporated Black township - has been an idyllic place to live out their childhoods. But when a lynch mob crosses the town’s border to pursue a fugitive and a grave robbery resuscitates the ugly sins of the past, the safe ground beneath them seems to shift.

That’s My Sister: Growing Up With My Special Needs Twin tells the touching story of twin sisters, Adrianna and Alana, as they approach their high school graduation. While Adrianna is neurotypical, Alana is neurodivergent, and a final essay assignment prompts Adrianna to reflect on their lifelong bond. Through her eyes, listeners witness the joys, challenges, and profound love that come with growing up alongside a sibling with special needs.

"Dreams and aspirations in our lives are often the catalysts that lead to great accomplishments that benefit the world in which we live." -Walter R. Hoge, DVM, and author of McEaster Valley. This unique and earthy tale is reminiscent to William P. Young's The Shack, in that it was written to the authors' children and that it serves as a parable that there is more to life than glitter and gold and that sometimes, the places where we get lost are exactly where we need to be.

In 1847, 10-year-old Eliza Spalding is growing up with her missionary family as the first white girl to be born in the Oregon Territory. Eliza loves seeing the Nez Perce Indians come to know Jesus, and she prays the Cayuse tribe will believe as well. But, when an epidemic ravishes the Cayuse and tensions rise, Eliza finds herself witnessing the historical episode known as the Whitman Massacre. Told with rich detail and cultural appreciation for Native Americans, this adventure story will thrill young listeners and encourage them in their faith.

What if Harriet Tubman and Susan B. Anthony sat down over tea to reminisce about their extraordinary lives? What would they recall of their triumphs and struggles as they fought to achieve civil rights for African Americans and equal rights for women? And what other historical figures played parts in their stories?

You can sparkle, shimmer, shine – just like Marsha did. This vibrant and joyful audiobook celebrates the legacy of Marsha P. Johnson, a Black trans woman and activist who played an instrumental role during the Stonewall Riots that lead to PRIDE month, written by award-winning filmmaker and...

My name is Clarissa Harlowe Barton. Maybe I will have a nickname like “Clara”. When I am 3 years old, I go to school and do well in reading and spelling. In school, I have only one true friend because I am very shy and timid. Now, I am 10 years old. My brother falls off the roof of a barn. He has a bad head injury. I learn how to give medicine to my brother and how to place leeches on his skin to suck out the bad blood. The doctors say there is no hope for him. But, I keep on caring for him. He makes a full recovery. I saved his life!

A big event has Isabella ready to leave home at the crack of dawn. But that's a motion her parents aren't likely to pass. After a two-to-one vote, it's decided that some things need to happen before Isabella can leave the house - like eating breakfast and brushing her teeth! If her house is going to work like a democracy, Isabella knows what she has to do; call an assembly and campaign her way out the door!

John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim's Progress, only mentioned one of his children in his memoirs: Mary. Born blind in 17th-century England, she held a special place in her father's heart. When Mr. Bunyan was arrested for unlawful preaching, young Mary travels the streets of Bedford each day, bringing soup to the prison. She resolves to prove she is independent and not hindered by her blindness. Only when she realizes she needs help does she turn to the Lord, the source of all strength.