A good story has the power to inspire us, bring us to tears, laugh out loud, and ignite a spark inside our hearts.

Some of the most moving styles of narrative writing are memoirs, biographies, and autobiographies. This unique brand of storytelling is based on the real-life challenges, triumphs, and comebacks of individuals who do or have done extraordinary things against all odds and managed to change the world in the process.

For children, these stories can open them up to new possibilities and inspire them to take action, or enable them to see others from a new perspective. Memoirs, biographies, and autobiographies also have the ability to shine a light on a dream that the reader may not have thought was possible for them.

Here are 24 inspirational stories of incredible people who had a fire inside their hearts to do something remarkable and, while making a difference in their own lives, managed to positively impact the lives of those around them.

UNBROKEN BY LAURA HILLENBRAND

In Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, the author details the story of Louis Zamperini, a wild child turned track and field star destined for greatness at the Berlin Olympics turned lieutenant in the Army Air Force during World War II. In a biography that could be described as so unbelievable that if you didn't know it was a true story, you'd swear it was made up, Hillenbrand takes readers on a life-long journey that spans decades and touches on some of the most significant historical events in world history.

Readers follow Louis Zamperini through his childhood, his discovery of track and field, his road the Olympics and the US boycott to his time in as a soldier in WWII. After surviving crashing his plane during a bomb run and drifting through shark infested waters on a raft, he is captured and tortured by the Japanese in a Japanese prisoner of war (POW) camp. Once home, Louis continues to suffer with what today would be deemed PTSD as he fights to overcome the trauma he endured during the war.

THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND BY WILLIAM KAMKWAMBA & BRYAN MEALER

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, is the story of William Kamkwamba a boy born in Malawi who dreamed of going to school. However, the punishing droughts, deadly famine, and extreme poverty in his homeland forced him to drop out of school to help his family survive. Yet, throughout it all, William remained curious and continued to teach himself. He was determined to create a machine that could harness the power of wind energy to create electricity for his family.

Despite being mocked by others in his village who called him crazy, William foraged for spare metal, bicycle and tractor parts, and discarded pieces of junk in search of anything that he could use to build a makeshift windmill. After reading and learning all that he could on his own and through trail and error, William successfully built his crude windmill proving to his neighbors, his family, and himself that the harsh Malawian conditions were no match for hard work, ingenuity, and a boy with a dream for a better life for his family.

UGLY BY ROBERT HOGE

In Ugly by Robert Hoge, the author describes his own real-life account of what it was like to be a child with disabilities. Robert was born with a tumor the size of a tennis ball in his face that caused his eyes to be pushed to the outside of his face and two deformed legs. His nose was actually absorbed by his tumor in utero causing his own mother and father to question whether or not to even bring him home from the hospital or send him straight to a home for disabled children.

This witty and painfully honest memoir details Robert's journey on the road to acceptance. With the unconditional love and support of his family, his resiliency enduring over two dozen surgeries, his courage to withstand horrified stares and invasive questions from adults and children alike, and his strength to deal with school bullies to become an acclaimed author, show readers of all ages what means to, not only survive, but thrive in spite of incredible challenges.

REACHING FOR THE MOON: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A NASA MATHEMATICIAN BY KATHERINE JOHNSON

Katherine Johnson was a mathematical genius who grew up in one of the most racially bias and gender discriminating times in American history. In Reaching for the Moon: The Autobiography of a NASA Mathematician, Johnson shares the story of her life and her challenges as both an African-American and a woman in a white man's world and her belief that she was just as smart and as capable as anyone else.

That confidence and resilience paid off in the the early 1950's when she was invited to work at the organization that would become National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1958. In this autobiography, Katherine tells her own story and recounts her experiences growing up as a gifted African-American girl in the South to becoming one of the most respected female 'computers' at NASA responsible for some of the most groundbreaking mathematical calculations in the history of the United States space organization.

THROUGH MY EYES BY RUBY BRIDGES

Through My Eyes is the autobiographical account of Ruby Bridges, the six-year-old trailblazer at the forefront of school desegregation who bravely walked into school on her first day flanked by federal marshals while segregationist parents protested in the hallways and removed their children from school refusing to allow them to be in class with a black child.

Bridges describes the events as seen through the eyes of a child and includes her own thoughts on courage, bravery, and, ultimately, forgiveness. It will inspire meaningful conversations with your students around discrimination, equality, freedom, and the difference that one person can make.

NOTORIOUS RBG: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF RUTH BADER GINSBURG BY IRIN CARMEN & SHANA KNIZHNIK

Written by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik, admirers of Ruth Bader Ginsburg's work, Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg chronicles the life and work of this pioneer of gender equality, civil rights, and the disadvantaged. As only 1 out of 9 female students at Harvard Law School, Ginsburg endured her own discrimination on the basis of her sex before transferring and graduating first in her class from Columbia Law School.

RBG notoriously spent her life championing for equal rights, teaching law school classes, and working at the ACLU before being appointed to the Supreme Court in 1993. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is an inspiring example of a woman breaking through gender barriers in pursuit of justice and the idea that opportunities should based on ability rather than on sex and the understanding that it is our duty as citizens to fight for equal opportunities for everyone.

MY THIRTEENTH WINTER BY SAMANTHA ABEEL

My Thirteenth Winter is the award-winning memoir by Samantha Abeel who, at the age of thirteen, was diagnosed with dyscalculia, a learning disorder that affects one's ability to successfully execute basic math. Abeel describes her journey from feeling hopeless, depressed, and having panic attacks at the thought of going to school to courageously facing her diagnosis, getting the help she needed, and finding the determination and strength necessary to overcome her disability.

This is a story that gives the reader an inside look at what young people go through as they struggle to overcome and achieve in spite of a disability. For teachers, it offers insight into the challenges that students with disabilities face everyday at school and, for children, it highlights the importance of perseverance and strength while validating the often debilitating emotions that go hand-in-hand with working to overcome learning disabilities.

NORMAL: ONE KID'S EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEY BY MAGDALENA & NATHANIEL NEWMAN

Normal: One Kid's Extraordinary Journey is the story of a mother, Magdalena, and a son, Nathaniel, navigating the world of Treacher Collins syndrome, or TCS, a rare genetic disorder that affects the development of facial bones and tissues causing facial deformities, breathing difficulties, hearing loss, blindness, and cleft palate.

In this touching memoir, the mother and son duo share their journey through sixty-seven surgeries, countless hardships, and personal struggles. This book will challenge your students to redefine their own definitions of what it means to be "normal" and spark meaningful conversations around attitudes towards those with disabilities, the importance of family, and what it means to have true grit.

MARCH FORWARD, GIRL BY MELBA PATTILLO BEALS

March Forward, Girl is the searing account of Melba Pattillo Beals' childhood growing up in the Jim Crow South as she struggled to understand segregation, racial discrimination, and an almost constant fear for her personal safety all because of the color of her skin. Beals endured witnessing a lynching at her church when she was just five-years old and at the age of eleven was kidnapped and almost raped.

Yet, despite the danger, Beals found the courage to be one of the first students to integrate Central High School as "the Little Rock Nine" in Arkansas after the Supreme Court ruled that segregation in schools was unconstitutional in the landmark case of Brown v. the Board of Education. In the years since, she has become one of the most influential and important figures of the civil rights movement and is also the author of Warriors Don't Cry that gives readers a glimpse into her experiences at Central High School.

LION: A LONG WAY HOME BY SAROO BRIERLEY

Lion: A Long Way Home is the story of an Indian boy, Saroo Brierley, who at the age of five years old is separated from his mother, brother, and sister when he mistakenly boards a train that takes him 1500km from his home. The memoir details his life living in extreme poverty and quite literally begging, borrowing, and stealing food in order to survive with his family when he is five to his time living on the streets of Calcutta before being adopted and finding his birth family.

Even after being adopted by an Australian family, Saroo never stopped thinking and worrying about his family back home; his mother, older brother, and baby sister. Relying on only his hazy childhood memories, Saroo uses Google Earth to pinpoint landmarks in order to find his way home and back to his long-lost family.

LIFE IN MOTION: AN UNLIKELY BALLERINA BY MISTY COPELAND

Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina is the autobiography of Misty Copeland, the American Ballet Theaters's first African-American principal dancer. Copeland was born in Missouri and moved to California with her mother and siblings. The family was extremely poor, often living is motel rooms. However, a ballet class at a local community center when she was thirteen years old changed the course of her life.

This story is the tale of a talented young girl who overcame poverty to become one of the most highly recognized and admired ballerinas. She endured discrimination as she one of the only ballerinas of color and had every excuse to quit, yet she persevered. Hers is an inspiring story of what it takes to make a dream come true against all odds.

BROWN GIRL DREAMING BY JACQUELINE WOODSON

In Brown Girl Dreaming, Jacqueline Woodson recalls her own experiences growing up in the midst of the civil rights movement. Traveling between New York and South Carolina, as a child Woodson never felt like she fit in traversing different geographic and social locations but it was the love of her family that provided comfort and stability during her formative years. She took comfort in her grandmother's cooking while her grandfather explained that the best way to combat hate was with quiet insistence.

Jacqueline Woodson was a girl who dreamed of becoming a writer someday and changing the world with her words. This beautifully written memoir is written in free verse. It is a uniquely crafted tale that uses poetry to describe her childhood and what is was life to grow up in a difficult time in American history. This book has a style all its own and is a wonderful example for students of how to marry poetry and memoir.

CHILD OF THE DREAM BY SHARON ROBINSON

Sharon Robinson is the daughter of famed baseball player and civil rights activist, Jackie Robinson. In Child of a Dream, she chronicles an important year in her life. It was 1963 and Sharon was a thirteen-year-old concerned with the same adolescent issues that occupy most teenage girls' minds - school, boys, and her horse, Diamond. However, Sharon soon becomes aware of the political climate, racism, and the civil rights movement. Readers watch as Sharon observes her father's activism first-hand and as the family travels to Washington to March on Washington with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

This story takes important issues such as segregation, discrimination, racism, and activism and frames them through the eyes of a young girl that readers can relate to. There are also wonderful references to the art, music, and dance of the era and photographs that gives the story a richness that makes the story come alive.

HEY, KIDDO: HOW I LOST MY MOTHER, FOUND MY FATHER AND DEALT WITH FAMILY ADDICTION BY JARRETT J. KROSOCZKA

Hey, Kiddo: How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealth with Family Addiction is a graphic novel/memoir by Jarrett Krosoczka. In it, Krosoczka shares the story of his complicated childhood and teenage years living with his grandparents, Joe and Shirley, of not knowing his father while struggling to connect with his "here today, gone tomorrow" mother who was in and out of rehab facilities for heroin addiction. In order to cope and make sense of his situation, Jarrett turns to art as his means of escape and a way to understand the harsh realities of his life.

This story is a gritty, personal narrative that highlights one important universal truth about addiction: addiction does not make someone a bad person nor does it cancel out the love that they feel for you or that you feel for them. People are human. They are flawed and there are all sorts of families but at the end of the day, what remains, and what was true for Jarrett, is that unconditional love and support has the ability to heal wounds and set you free.

COURAGE TO SOAR: A BODY IN MOTION, A LIFE IN BALANCE BY SIMONE BILES

Simone Biles is widely considered one the greatest gymnasts of her generation. With over thirty Olympic and World Championship medals to her credit, Simone is tied with Shannon Miller (another American gymnast) for most decorated gymnast of all time. Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance is the story of Simone's childhood, including her time in the foster care system before being adopted by her grandparents and finding gymnastics.

In this autobiography, Biles also takes the reader with her as she details the sacrifices both she and her family made as she rose to the top and earned her way onto the most coveted team there is: the United States Olympic team. Her story is an inspiration to athletes and non-athlete alike and her positivity makes the reader an instant fan. Simone is proof that anything is possible if are willing to work hard enough to achieve it.

I AM MALALA: HOW ONE GIRL STOOD UP EDUCATION AND CHANGED THE WORLD BY MALALA YOUSAFZAI

Who hasn't heard of Malala Yousafzai? Malala was just a fifteen years old Pakistani girl , she was shot at point-blank range in the face by the Taliban for her outspoken belief that girls should have the same rights to education as boys. Although she was not expected to live, Malala recovered and became even more dedicated to her mission to bring education to girls.

I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World is Malala's story written in her own words and told from her perspective. It is a moving tribute to the power of one person's ability to fight for educational equality which is a luxury that, unfortunately, some children from more affluent countries take for granted. It will spark meaningful conversations among its readers and shines a light on this magnificent and brave young woman.

HIDDEN FIGURES: THE UNTOLD STORY OF FOUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN WHO HELPED LAUNCH OUR NATION INTO SPACE BY MARGOT LEE SHETTERLY

Before there were computers like the ones we use today, there were 'Human Computers'. Hidden Figures: The Untold, True Story of Four African-American Women Who Helped Launch Our Nation Into Space is the story of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden; the 'colored computers' of the West Computing group at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory. This collection of brilliant, talented African-American woman calculated the mathematics for some of the United States' most important space missions armed with nothing more than a pencil, adding machine, slide ruler, and a piece of paper.

Their story is told by Margot Lee Shetterly and is set in Virginia at a time when Jim Crow laws dictated that whites and blacks be segregated. These four incredible women endured discrimination not only based on race but based on their gender as well. Vaughan, Jackson, Johnson, and Darden blazed the trail for women everywhere and proved that mathematics and engineering wasn't just for white boys and men. It was, and continues to be, for everyone.

BOY: TALES OF CHILDHOOD BY ROALD DAHL

In this funny, charming memoir, Roald Dahl, one of the most beloved children's author of all time, shares the stories of his childhood growing up in England in the 1920's and 30's. Even though Dahl himself states that Boy: Tales of Childhood is not an autobiography, it details the real-life accounts of his time at home with his family, his adventures at boarding school, enduring the cruel punishments from teachers, faking appendicitis in order be sent home, tricking the local candy store owner by hiding a dead mouse in a candy jar, and even working for a chocolate company testing candy bars. (Sound familiar?!)

This tale is a wonderful chance to get to know the person behind some of the most world's most memorable stories, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The Witches, James and the Giant Peach, The BFG, and so many more. Students will LOVE learning about Roald Dahl's childhood and discovering the parts of his life that sparked the ideas for some of his most iconic characters, settings, and plots.

BECOMING KAREEM: GROWING UP ON AND OFF THE COURT BY KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR & RAYMOND OBSTFELD

Lew Alcindor, AKA Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, was like every other African-American kid living in Harlem in New York City in the 1950's and 1960's. In Becoming Kareem:Growing Up On and Off the Court, Abdul-Jabbar shares his journey from shy, awkward kid to basketball superstar, as well as the "coaches" who influenced him along the way. Readers will also learn about Kareem's passion for advocacy and his mission to influence social change in an effort to combat racism and discrimination.

In this autobiography, Abdul-Jabbar shares stories of his childhood, his time in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as well as his own personal account growing up during the civil rights movement. Students will love this inspiring story that will turn even non-basketball lovers into a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar fan.

ANNE FRANK: DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL BY ANNE FRANK

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl is the diary of thirteen-year-old Jewish girl, Annelies Marie "Anne" Frank, who is forced into hiding with her family and another family during World War II in Nazi-occupied Holland in 1942. Her diary, a gift for her thirteenth birthday named Kitty, is her sole source of comfort and houses her first-hand account of the two years she spent hiding in a Secret Annex behind a bookcase in the office where her father worked in Amsterdam. Anne would die two years later in 1945, at the age of fifteen of typhus in Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp.

This heartbreaking tale chronicles the final two years this remarkable young girl's life before being captured by the Nazis. Anne Frank's diary provides readers and historians alike with a true account of what it was like for Jews in hiding, fearing for their lives on a daily basis during World War II. It also humanizes one the most devastating atrocities afflicted on humanity and will inspire meaningful conversations around empathy, tolerance, compassion, and the power of one girl's story to change the world.

VINCENT AND THEO: THE VAN GOGH BROTHERS BY DEBORAH HEILIGMAN

Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers details the life-long loving and supportive friendship between two brothers as told by Vincent Van Gogh himself over the course of the 658 letters that he wrote to Theo during his troubled lifetime as he struggled with mental illness and doubts about his talent as an artisit.

The author, Deborah Heiligman, chronicles the life of famous Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh and his younger brother, art dealer, Theo Van Gogh who supported his artist brother emotionally and financially throughout his life. The two men were best friends, even dying within months of each other. The book also contains their story as well as pictures of Vincent's most famous painting and drawings for readers to enjoy.

A GIRL FROM YAMHILL: A MEMOIR BY BEVERLY CLEARY

A Girl From Yamhill is a memoir from beloved children's author, Beverly Cleary. In it, Cleary shares stories from her own upbringing in Oregon during the Great Depression. Readers will love this insider look as Beverly swaps her trademark fiction for her own autobiographical accounts of the stories and experiences from elementary to high school that influenced stories such as Dear Mr. Henshaw, Henry Huggins, Ramona Quimby, Age 8, Beezus and Ramona, Ralph S. Mouse, The Mouse and the Motorcycle, and even Leave It to Beaver which became a popular sitcom in the late 1950's and early 1960's, and more. Cleary also includes stories of her own mischief that rivals one of her most famous characters, Ramona Quimby, as well as her own struggles with learning to read.

ALMOST AMERICAN GIRL BY ROBIN HA

Almost American Girl is the immigration story of Robin Ha, a fourteen-year-old Korean girl who travels to Alabama in the 1990's with her mother for vacation only to discover that she won't be going home. Her mother is getting married and they are moving to Huntsville permanently. Needless to say, Robin is distraught and very angry with her mother, whom she is extremely close with, leaving her feeling isolated and alone in a strange new country where she doesn't even speak the language. It isn't until her mom enrolls her into a comic drawing class that things begins to improve for Robin, and she begins to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

In this graphic novel-style memoir, students will enjoy Ha's illustrations and relate to her story of being plucked from the only home she has ever known and forced to adjust to a new school, new surroundings, a new step-family, and the discrimination that she endures at the hands of her peers. Too Korean for America and too American for Korea, Robin Ha proves that it is possible to find your own way as well as your purpose in a way you never imagined.

A LONG WALK TO WATER BY LINDA SUE PARK

A Long Walk to Water is the true story of a two, eleven-year-old Sudanese children struggling to survive. Salva is a Lost Boy" forced from his village when it is attacked during the second Sudanese Civil War. He flees to the bush and travels miles through hostile territory in search of safety. He overcomes starvation, disease, and animal attacks before coming to live on the streets in 1985. Nya is a girl living in 2008 who must walk for two hours, twice a day to bring water to her family since access to clean water is hard to come by. Readers follow these two real-life heroes as Salva and Nya's storylines converge in an unexpected and meaningful way.

This story highlights the endless struggle and challenges that the Sudanese people endure on a daily basis to survive, including access to clean water and the threat of starvation. This story also illustrates the advantages that young readers may take for granted while inspiring them learn more about the country, its history, people and tribes, culture, and how they might take action.

The stories listed above will challenge your students' way of thinking, show them what true strength, perseverance, and resiliency is, force them to questions societal norms, inspire them to become a force for justice, equality and humanity, as well as show them that dreams are worth following. In short, they will show students that one person really can make a difference as well as provide amazing exemplars when it comes time to share their own stories.

This selection of memoirs, biographies, and autobiographies will also show students that storytelling can be done in various forms: in a linear pattern from beginning to end, as free verse poetry, as a graphic novel, a series of diary entries, and more.

Happy Reading (& Writing),