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Jennifer Huston Schaeffer (White Dog Books)
Jennifer Huston Schaeffer's memoir, Mommy's Boy, is a unique story of a bond between a woman and her canine son, a story of the transformative decade she spent with Benny, a rescued Westie-Maltese mix who became her “doggie soulmate.” Following heartbreaks and realizing traditional motherhood might not be her future, Jennifer adopts Benny in 2014, finding unconditional love that heals her loneliness. The narrative follows their journey from Chicago to Indianapolis, where Benny helps Jennifer pursue a romance with Brad. Together, they face Benny...
Cheng Wang (Open Books)
Cheng Wang's memoir, From Tea to Coffee: The Journey of an “Educated Youth,” chronicles a remarkable journey across half a century and two continents. Beginning in Mao-era China, Wang is sent as an “Educated Youth” to a remote Inner Mongolian village for re-education during the Cultural Revolution. Following Mao's death and the reopening of universities, he passes the rigorous GaoKao exam, attends college in Dalian, and works in Beijing's electronics industry. In 1984, seeking broader horizons, he emigrates to the United States with only $200....
David Tuch (https://thedesaifoundation.org/)
David Tuch's The Wireless Operator: The Untold Story of the British Sailor Who Invented the Modern Drug Trade chronicles the extraordinary life of Harold Derber, born Hyman Tuchverderber in 1926, Manchester. From his childhood evacuation during the Blitz to his training as a wireless operator in the British Merchant Navy, Derber’s journey spans continents and decades. After fighting in Israel's War of Independence and various smuggling ventures, he arrives in 1960s Miami, where he launches the Freedom Ferry to transport Cuban refugees, a humani...
Michal Mendelsohn (Atmosphere Press)
Rabbi, Your Cleavage Is Showing chronicles Michal Mendelsohn’s extraordinary journey from a lonely childhood in Manhattan to becoming one of the first women ordained as a rabbi by Hebrew Union College in 1975. She details her struggles as a child raised in hotel apartments by parents who were emotionally detached. The memoir narrates her strained relationship with her father after the death of her mother and her unexpected belonging experience in Israel during the Six-Day War, where she lived on a kibbutz, served in the IDF entertainment corps,...
D. L. Norris (Spring River Press)
Field of Memories: A Tapestry of Heartwarming Short Stories by D. L. Norris is a tender autobiographical collection that unfolds as a mosaic of the author's life, spanning childhood innocence to mature reflections. D. L. Norris structures her memoir not as a linear chronicle but as vignettes—each a self-contained memory that captures formative moments, family rituals, and encounters with historical currents that shape her worldview. From early recollections of kitchen-table conversations to coming-of-age milestones punctuated by loss, the narra...
George Critchlow & Michael Anderson (Cascade Books)
Michael Anderson is a broken man; a man broken by his felonies and a justice system that is equally flawed, but will he accept staying broken or undertake the journey to healing and redemption? This is the question cleverly answered in The Lifer and the Lawyer by George Critchlow and Michael Anderson, which chronicles Anderson’s harrowing childhood on Chicago’s South Side, his violent crimes, and his remarkable spiritual transformation over nearly four decades in Washington state prisons. The book explores the evolving friendship between Anders...
Rasheed Abou-Elsamh (Story Bridge Agency)
Exile of the Heart by Rasheed Abou-Elsamh is a deeply personal memoir that chronicles his life across three continents—Europe, South America, and the Middle East—highlighting the complex intersections of identity, culture, and belonging. The story begins with Rasheed’s childhood in Geneva, Cairo, and Brasilia, where he steers through a multicultural upbringing, and continues through his academic pursuits in the U.S. and his career in journalism in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the Philippines. The narrative depicts his struggles with loneliness, t...
Rev. Michael H. Lavery (Readersmagnet LLC)
Mama’s Boy: A Young Boy’s Memory of Childhood by Rev. Michael H. Lavery is a heartwarming autobiographical reflection that chronicles his early life, exploring the profound influence of his mother, grandmother, sister, and community. The book opens with Lavery’s emotional account of losing his father at a young age, shaping his understanding of love, loss, and inner strength. It then explores various themes, including faith, family, sacrifice, and moral lessons learned through everyday experiences, from childhood innocence to spiritual awakenin...
Kathryn Henry (Advantage Books)
Kathryn Henry’s A Dime to Say I Love You is an intriguing odyssey through love, grief, and spiritual awakening. The book follows her profound relationship with her wife, Lisa, chronicling their decade-long battle with cancer, culminating in Lisa’s passing, and Kathryn’s subsequent journey of healing and self-discovery. Through raw honesty and vivid storytelling, Kathryn reveals how love can deepen in times of struggle and heartache, exploring the inner strength that is nurtured by acceptance, forgiveness, and love. Her reflections on attachment...
Mekdela (BookBaby)
Mekdela's Plus-Size: A Memoir of Pop Culture, Fatphobia, and Social Change delivers a candid and powerful exploration of the multifaceted experiences of plus-size individuals, particularly women of color, navigating American society’s entrenched beauty standards and systemic discrimination. The narrative intertwines personal anecdotes with cultural critique, illustrating how media representations, fashion industries, and social attitudes marginalize larger bodies. Mekdela reflects on her journey to embracing her body, resisting pressures to con...
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