Follow the journey
Alexander, C. The Bounty
Describes the true story of the 1789 mutiny on the Bounty.
Armstrong, J. Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World
Describes the events of the 1914 Shackleton Antarctic expedition when, after being trapped in a frozen
sea for nine months, their ship, Endurance.
Bradley, J. Flyboys : a true story of courage
The true story of young American airmen who were shot down over Chichi Jima
Bryson, B. A Walk in the Woods.
Ever wanted to take a grueling, yet humorous hike along the world's longest continuous footpath-
The Appalachian Trail?
Calabro, M. Perilous Journey of the Donner Party
The Donner Party faces an almost hopeless struggle for survival that would push some toward the final
taboo of cannibalism.
Carson, R. Silent Spring.
A revolutionary book describing the environmental and human dangers of indiscriminate use of pesticides.
De Graaf, J. Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic.
An examination of the origins, evolution, and symptoms of the affluenza epidemic.
Diamond, J. Guns, Germs and Steel
A convincing explanation of the way the modern world came to be and stunningly dismantles racially
based theories of human history.
Fleischman, J. Phineas Gage
The true story of Phineas Cage, a man who lived through a horrible accident that left him with a hole
in his brain in 1848.
Frank, A. Diary of a Young Girl
An extraordinary and deeply moving account by a 13 year-old Anne Frank documenting her families
lives hiding out in tiny secret rooms a the back of an Amsterdam warehouse during the Nazi
occupation of Holland.
Gantos, J. Hole In My Life
The author relates how, as a young adult, he became a drug user and smuggler, was arrested, did time
in prison, and eventually got out and went to college, all the while hoping to become a writer.
Graham, R. Dove
In 1965, 16-year-old Robin Lee Graham began a solo around-the-world voyage from San Pedro, California,
in a 24-foot sloop. Five years and 33,000 miles later, he returned to home port with a wife and daughter
and enough extraordinary experiences to fill this bestselling book, Dove.
Heyerdahl, T. Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific by Raft.
A book documenting the successful voyage of Thor Heyerdahl his crewmates aboard a prehistoric
South American balsa wood vessel Kon-tiki.
Hickman, H. Rocket Boys
Looking back after a distinguished NASA career, Hickam shares the story of his youth in a coal
mining town.
Hillenbrand, L. Seabiscuit: an american legend
the spellbinding story of the racehorse Seabiscuit in a riveting tale of grit, grace, luck, and an
underdog's stubborn determination.
Jenkins, P. A Walk Across America.
With his own feelings echoing the disillusionment of his whole generation, Peter Jenkins set
out with his dog Cooper to walk across America and find out what his country was really about.
Junger, S. The Perfect Storm.
October 1991. It was "the perfect storm"-a tempest that may happen only once in a century-a
nor'easter created by so rare a combination of factors that it could not possibly have been worse.
Katz, J. Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode The Internet
The story of how Jesse and Eric used technology to try and change their lives and alter their destiny.
Kaysen, S. Girl Interrupted.
Kaysen's memoir encompasses horror and razor-edged perception of her stay at McLeans
Hospital while providing vivid portraits of her fellow patients and their keepers.
Kolata, G. Flu.
Addresses the prospects for a great epidemic's recurrence and considers what can be done to prevent it.
Krakauer, J. Into the Wild.
24-year-old Chris McCandless to leave civilization behind and head into the remote Alaskan
wilderness. Four months later, McCandless's emaciated corpse was found at his campsite by a hunter.
Krakauer, J. Into Thin Air
epic account of the May 1996 disaster atop Mt. Everest.
Kurlansky, M. Cod.
You will never again look at fish and chips in quite the same way.
Lansing, A. Endurance.
Account of British polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton's epic adventure to the South Atlantic
and the first crossing of the Antarctic continent. Half a continent away from its intended base,
the ship Endurance was crushed in the ice. For five months, Shackleton and his men were
castaways in one of the most savage regions of the world.
Mah, Adeline Yen. Chinese Cinderella
Adeline Yen Mah returns to her roots to tell the story of her painful childhood and her ultimate
triumph and courage in the face of despair.
Mowatt, F. Never Cry Wolf
A brilliant narrative on the myth and magical world of wild wolves and man's true place among
the creatures of nature.
Narayan, S, Monsoon Diary
Narayan's journey from her infancy, proceeds through childhood and teenage years, and ultimately ends with the author
leading a married life in Connecticut. Tasty recipes too.
Nemat, M. Prisoner of Tehran
Complaining about curriculum changes in her school in the years immediately following Iran's
Islamic Revolution, 16-year-old Marina Nemat found herself arrested and imprisoned in Tehran's
Evin Prison, notorious for its political prisoners' wing from before the revolution and since.
Nelson, P. Left for Dead
Recalls the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis at the end of World War II, the navy cover-up and
unfair court martial of the ship's captain, and how a young boy helped the survivors set the
record straight 55 years later.
Pfetzer, M. Within Reach: My Everest Story
The author describes how he spent his teenage years climbing mountains in the United States,
South America, Africa, and Asia, with an emphasis on his two expeditions up Mount Everest.
Philbrick, N. Revenge of the Whale
Recounts the 1820 sinking of the whaleship "Essex" by an enraged sperm whale and how the
crew of young men survived against impossible odds.
Read, P. Alive.
True story about how a group of people who survived an airplane crash in the Andes had to resort
to cannibalism in order to stay alive.
Sobel, D. Longitude.
The true story of a lone genius who solved the greatest scientific problem of his time.
Tarbox, K. Katie.Com: My Story
In a time when a new generation is growing up online, Tarbox's memoir offers a rare and candid
look at what it's like to be a girl in the Internet Age.
Watson, J. The Double Helix
A personal account of the discovery of the structure of DNA.
Winchester, S. The Map that Changed the World
The story of William Smith, a blacksmith' s son who developed the first true geographical map
following fossils and rock patterns, earning him a place in history as the father of modern geology.
Updated January 2008
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