Alex Haley

The accomplishments of this contemporary African American author are explored in this easy-to-read biography. Gonzales covers her subject's childhood love of reading and his grandparent's stories of family history; his first writing experience in the 1950s as chief journalist for the Coast Guard; and, after 20 years of active duty, his desire to become a writer. The author discusses his research for Roots, explaining that it lasted 12 years, many of which were spent in despair and poverty, and mentions the controversy that surrounded its authenticity.