This might seem off topic, but a lot of quilters are also readers. I am looking for good autobiography, biography or memoir books that might be enjoyed by teenagers. My English classes are doing book groups for this genre starting about the first of February and I am collecting up possible ideas.
Here are a few that have made the cut so far:
1. Little Britches by Ralph Moody
2. Education of a Wandering Man by Louis L’Amour
3. The Prizewinner of Defiance, Ohio by Terry Ryan
Thanks! It is always good to have new items on my reading list.
ps–I am doing some sewing. Hopefully something to share in a few days.
Wedding Dress Blue 
Little Britches is on my list of Best Books Ever. I have read the entire series several times. It’s the male version of the Little House series, but with more edge and humor.
I have not read the other two books. Thanks to your post, They’ve been added to my list to read!
Good luck. Love reading your blog!
Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power is just out and on my Kindle, though I haven’t read it yet. It’s supposed to be very readable, but I would expect you would need to have some excellent readers in the group to help those who aren’t.
depending on how old your teens are , there are some books by heavy metal musicians that my son raves about. \he has found great inspiration from these people and has recommended them to many teens, adults and teachers. Slash by Slash and Anthony Bozza, The Long Hard Road out of Hell by Marilyn Manson and The Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx . i had a hard time letting my son read these at first. he was in grade 11 at the time. These three musicians had hit rock bottom, had all overdosed at least once and were definitely headed toward a far too early death. They each sought help and were able to clean their lives of drugs and destructive practices. Nikki Sixx now helps youth through a photography program he started. i have read the Slash book, and found it helpful and enlightening.
My granddaughter, a sophomore in high school had to read “The Other Wes Moore”, an autobiography. ‘Two men with the same name, living in the same area, one goes “bad”, the other does not. This is one of the Wes Moore’s story. She does not enjoy reading, but did manage to finish the book and was impressed by it, which was required reading over the summer, and received an “A” on her book report. She also went to an event sponsored by a local college at which Mr. Moore appeared.
You can check him out at : http://theotherwesmoore.com/
Lincoln’s Last Days Written for ages 10 and up, “Adapted from Bill O’Reilly’s bestselling historical thriller, Killing Lincoln, this book will have young readers—and grown-ups too—hooked on history.”
The best autobiography I ever read was a 2-volume set of Isaac Asimov, In Memory Yet Green and In Joy Still Felt. Too long for your project. Asimov wrote another one, though, I, Asimov, and then another It’s Been a Good Life, The last is about 300 pages. His writing, like his fiction, pulls one in, and is very readable. Okay, that’s it, I’m done like a turkey. =)
Gary Paulsen wrote a book entitled GUTS about how he got the ideas from real people to write about in his books. A lot of autobiographical info is in it, too. It might be more appropriate for older teens.
For your long distance runners: Eat & Run by Scott Jurek. Also, A Child Called “It” by Dave Pelzer.
The Water Is Wide by Pat Conroy. It was my go-to gift one Christmas. 🙂