Books based on true stories

[Maddymory]

I’m looking for the best award winning books that are about someone’s life, it can be in first or third person. I particularly love when you can learn a lot from the book e.g Wild Swans and leaning about China in the 40’s.

Some examples of what I’ve loved in the past are : wild swans , the help, educated.

[mary-annef]

Hi @Maddymory, one of my all-time favorites is Extra Virgin by Annie Hawes. It's the true story of how two British sisters on a working holiday discover they can buy a little farm in Liguria, Italy for the price of a second-hand car back home. Annie eventually moves there permanently and her stories are funny and charming. It's a view onto a changing country - young people aren't interested in taking over their parents' farms and life for the old people is easier in the village.

[Eclecticmama]

I just got done with The Nazi Officer's Wife by Edith Hahn Beer. It follows Edith as she and her family go through the german invasion, and she talks about how the Jewish people lived and were treated during the holocaust. Its a truly eye opening read, and I highly recommend it

[Empan16]

There is a book called Ragdolls that a holocaust survivor wrote. It is a short read but very impactful and educational. I highly recommend it.

[Empan16]

The Hot Zone by Richard Preston is a nonfiction book about the Ebola virus. We read it for my biology class and it was very good.

[khaulah]

I would recommend Nothing To Envy by Barbara Demick, and Escape from Camp 14. As you said you like wild swans, I'm sure you'll love these books. They are true accounts of people who defected North Korea. How life was like in North korea, the whys and hows of defection.

I don't think the books have won any awards, but they certainly won my heart. Also, you get to learn about the famine in North Korea in 1990's in great detail.

[Thea Frederick]

The Hiding Place is an incredible story about a woman who hides Jews during the Holocaust. It’s a beautiful story, I would absolutely recommend it!

[Eriny Youssef]

The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer
The Lonliest man in the world by Eugene K. Bird
Most of Paulo Coelho's books

[Amna Khalid]

The Central Park Five by Sarah Burns.