Most Popular Books by Kirsten Anderson

The inspiring story of Vice President Kamala Harris told in the new Who HQ Now format for trending topics. On November 7, 2020, Kamala Harris, a senator from California, became the first woman and the first African-American and South Asian-American person to be elected to the vice presidency. While her nomination for this position was not unexpected, her rise to national prominence was one filled with unexpected turns and obstacles. After failing her first bar exam to become a lawyer, she tried again and passed. From there, she quickly rose through the legal ranks, serving as district attorney of San Francisco, then California''s attorney general, and soon, senator. As a politician, Kamala Harris has been a vocal champion of progressive reforms and women''s rights. This exciting story details the defining moments of what led to her nomination and all the monumental ones since that have shaped her career and the future of America.

How did a New York printer become one of the most influential poets of all time? Find out in this addition to the Who HQ library! Walt Whitman was a printer, journalist, editor, and schoolteacher. But today, he''s recognized as one of America''s founding poets, a man who changed American literature forever. Throughout his life, Walt journeyed everywhere, from New York to New Orleans, Washington D.C. to Denver, taking in all that America had to offer. With the Civil War approaching, he saw a nation deeply divided, but he also understood the power of words to inspire unity. So in 1855, Walt published a short collection of poems, Leaves of Grass, a book about the America he saw and believed in. Though hated and misunderstood by many at the time, Walt''s writing introduced an entirely new writing style: one that broke forms, and celebrated the common man, human body, and the diversity of America. Generations later, readers can still find themselves in Whitman''s words, and recognize the America he depicts. Who Was Walt Whitman? follows his remarkable journey from a young New York printer to one of America''s most beloved literary figures.

“A must-read to help men and women break the cycle and change the narrative.” — Blaise Hunter, Award-Winning Author of Heroine: Embrace Your Flaws and Own Your Awesome | Human Rights Consultant After years of employment in a verbally abusive environment at the Iowa Statehouse, Kirsten Anderson lost her identity as an assertive, career-minded, confident, and empowered woman. Her relationship with her toxic employer ended when she was fired just hours after issuing a formal complaint. A legal and personal journey ensued. Anderson won her case. Since then, she has made it her mission to educate others about the complexities of sexual harassment, bullying, and retaliation in the workplace. In More Than Words: Turn #MeToo into #ISaidSomething, Anderson shares her remarkable journey from the debilitating despair of harassment to hope. In each chapter, readers learn more about Anderson’s personal journey as well as exercises, questions, and actionable takeaways to confront harassment. The book encompasses Anderson’s journey and is filled with: Real-world scenarios outlining the complexities of harassment Practical application exercises for a modern world Thought-provoking questions aimed at fostering dialogue Actionable takeaways to confront harassment in an environment By sharing the realities targets of harassment face, Anderson intends to educate readers, help targets move forward and initiate change in toxic work environments to eliminate harassment once and for all. “Read it, and let it inspire you to help change our culture for the better." — Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand, Author of The Winning Ticket: Uncovering America''s Biggest Lottery Scam

The inspiring story of the youngest woman ever elected to Congress, told in the new Who HQ Now format for trending topics. On June 26, 2018, twenty-eight-year-old Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a bartender from New York City, became the youngest woman ever elected to serve on Congress. Her win shocked the political world and she became a celebrity overnight. Soon, everyone knew her by her initials: AOC. As soon as she was sworn into office, AOC became a vocal champion for healthcare for all and the fight against climate change. This exciting story details the defining moments of what led to her victory and all the monumental ones since that have shaped her into a smart politician willing to fight for others, the environment, and the future of America.

Meet the man behind the board games: Milton Bradley. Born in Maine in 1836, Milton Bradley moved with his family to the working-class city of Lowell, Massachusetts, at age 11. His early life consisted of several highs and lows, from graduating high school and attending Harvard to getting laid off and losing his first wife. These experiences gave Bradley the idea for his first board game: The Checkered Game of Life. He produced and sold Life across the country and it quickly became a national sensation. Working with his company, the Milton Bradley Company, he continued to produce board games, crayons, and kid-friendly school supplies for the rest of his life. He is often credited as the father of board games, and the Milton Bradley Company has created Battleship, Jenga, Yahtzee, Trouble, and many more classic games.

How did a teenage actress become a Grammy-winning pop star? Find out in this Who HQ Now biography about Ariana Grande and her exciting career that spans the Broadway stage, television, and music to blockbuster movies! Ever since she was a child, Ariana Grande has been performing. When she was just fifteen years old, she made her Broadway debut in the musical 13. Shortly after, she appeared in the Nickelodeon TV show Victorious as the character Cat Valentine. During her time as a young actress, Ariana began her career in pop music. She released her first album when she was twenty years old and has gone on to release five more albums since. Ariana won her first Grammy Award in 2019 and her second in 2021. She has also won two Billboard Music Awards and three American Music Awards. Worldwide, Ariana has sold over 90 million records and earned over 98 billion streams. In 2024, she will star as Glinda in the blockbuster movie musical Wicked.

Best known for his screen prints of soup cans and movie stars, this shy young boy from Pittsburgh shot to fame with his radical ideas of what “art” could be. Working in the aptly named “Factory,” Warhol’s paintings, movies, and eccentric lifestyle blurred the lines between pop culture and art, ushering in the Pop Art movement and, with it, a national obsession. Who Was Andy Warhol? tells the story of an enigmatic man who grew into a cultural icon.

Your favorite characters are now part of the Who HQ library! Say hello to the premier title in the What Is the Story Of? series. Hello Kitty! This cute cartoon character who''s shaped like a bobtail cat and wears a bow in her hair has become an icon of our times. Hello Kitty, as she is known, is a piano-playing, cookie-baking darling from London with a heart of gold. Readers will learn all about Kitty, who was first created in Japan, but has since gone on to capture the imagination of people all around the world. Super fans of the super-fashionable Kitty will be thrilled to see her debut in the Who HQ brand.

Enter a world of shrunken heads, mystic holy men, shriveled aliens, and bizarre relics in the delightfully odd tale of Robert Ripley. Born in California, Ripley began his career as a sports cartoonist. He went on to chronicle global records and oddities in his weekly column, Believe It Or Not! After publishing mogul William Randolph Hearst took an interest in the column, it became a syndicated global success. Ripley spent his life traveling to more than 200 countries in search of strange objects and interesting facts. His penchant for the peculiar launched an entertainment empire, and his collection of artifacts can be seen worldwide at his famous Odditoriums. Believe It Or Not!

Ladies and Gentlemen, children of all ages, step right up for Who HQ''s entertaining biography of P. T. Barnum: politician, businessman, and The Greatest Showman on Earth! After moving from Connecticut to New York City in 1834, twenty-four-year-old Phineas Taylor Barnum launched his now-legendary career as a showman. Even though spectators debated whether his exhibitions were authentic wonders, hoaxes, or a little bit of both, they were always astounded by what they saw. And readers are sure to be amazed by the story of how Barnum went from owning a museum filled with rare and unusual items to transforming the American circus into a popular and thrilling phenomenon.

Part of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, this Who HQ Now book tells the amazing story of an unknown trivia buff who became the all-time greatest contestant on Jeopardy! Ken Jennings is considered the greatest of all-time contestants on Jeopardy! and became a household name after his impressive 74-game winning streak. After the passing of longtime host Alex Trebek, Jennings became the first guest to host Jeopardy! Read more about Ken Jennings and his curious life in this Who HQ Now biography.

Learn all about the lives and extended space adventure of astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore in this exciting biography. In March 2025, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore splashed into the Gulf of Mexico. A pod of dolphins greeted them, and their friends and family celebrated their return to Earth. Where had they been? The International Space Station! When Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore left for a short eight-day mission to the International Space Station in June 2024, they never dreamed they would be spending the next nine months in space! What was their original mission aboard the Boeing Starliner capsule? What technical issues stranded them? This is the story of Suni and Butch''s exciting adventure, from their initial partnership at NASA to their life on the ISS and eventual splashdown off the coast of Florida in a Space X Dragon capsule.

Travel to Renaissance Italy and learn about the young apprentice who went on become a true master, and one of the most beloved sculptors and painters of all time in this addition to the #1 New York Times Best-Selling Who Was? series! Michelangelo created some of the world''s most recognizable art, from the statue of David to the intricate ceiling fresco of the Sistine Chapel. Beyond his well-known painting and sculpting, he was a gifted poet and architect. Young readers can learn about the entirety of Michelangelo''s life, from his time as a young apprentice, his relationships with several Catholic popes and the Medici family, to his unwillingness to stop working into his late eighties. A perfect read for art lovers and fans of the Renaissance.

Find out what really happened when a strange man hijacked an airplane in 1971 and then parachuted out of it, never to be seen again. What is the truth behind the mystery of the man who came to be known as D. B. Cooper? On November 24, 1971, an unidentified man hijacked an airplane that was flying from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington. He demanded $200,000 and told a flight attendant that he had weapons. After stopping in Seattle, the hijacker was given the money and he released the attendants. But he demanded that the pilots stay on-board, refuel, and fly him to Mexico City. Just thirty minutes after the plane took off, the man jumped out of the aircraft and parachuted away...never to be seen or heard from again. Did he escape with the money? Did he even survive the jump? Over fifty years later, the FBI still does not know what happened to the man they call "D. B. Cooper." Find out what we do know about one of America''s most famous, unsolved mysteries in this book for young readers.

Grab your Js and hit the court with this Who Was? biography about NBA superstar Michael Jordan. Meet the man who changed the game forever. Michael Jordan has always been competitive--even as a young boy, he fought for attention. His need to be the best made him a star player on his college basketball team and helped him become an NBA legend, both for his skills and his endorsements. His Nike contract for Air Jordan basketball shoes set an unmatched precedent for professional athletes. Author Kirsten Anderson takes readers through each exciting moment, detailing the iconic reverse lay-ups and jump shots of Michael Jordan''s storied career. Look for more Who HQ titles: Who Is LeBron James? Who Was Kobe Bryant? Who Is Shaquille O''Neal? Who Is the Man in the Air?: Michael Jordan

Learn all about the life of Gen Z actress Jenna Ortega and discover how she went from starring roles on Disney Channel to Wednesday, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and more in this biography for young readers! Jenna Ortega’s role as Wednesday Addams in Netflix’s series Wednesday made her an international star. Since then, the actress has worked at full speed, taking on starring roles in horror films such as X, Scream IV, and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Jenna has become a role model for young Latina girls across the world and has used her voice to advocate for anti-bullying programs, AIDS healthcare support, LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, and gun control laws. Jenna knew she wanted to become an actress early in life, and by time she was nine, she was signed to an acting agency! She and her mother made the trip from the Coachella Valley to Los Angeles up to five days a week, securing roles in commercials and guest star appearances. Eventually, she landed her first lead role in Disney Channel’s 2016 series Stuck in the Middle. After working with Disney, Jenna wanted to find more mature roles, and found herself as a supporting actress in Netflix’s You. The experience sparked her interest in working in horror movies, and her career took off. Learn all about the life of rising star, goth style expert, and inspirational actress Jenna Ortega in this book for young readers!

Learn how a young girl who lived on a Christmas tree farm grew up to become one of the most celebrated musical artists of the twenty-first century in this addition to the #1 New York Times bestselling series. Taylor Swift always knew she wanted to be a country music artist, so at age thirteen, she convinced her parents to move their family out of Pennsylvania to Nashville. As a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, Taylor wrote songs about teenage heartbreak and fitting in with her peers, and she performed these and other tunes at open mic nights and karaoke events. Breaking into the music industry took longer than she expected because record executives thought there was no place in country music for her songs. But Taylor was fearless and proved them wrong. Since the release of her self-titled debut album in 2006, Taylor Swift has dominated the music charts, reinvented her sound, won numerous awards, shaken off public criticism, and spoken up for herself and others. Whether you''re a lifelong Swiftie or someone who just loves learning about musicians, this enchanting book will teach you all about the experiences that helped Taylor Swift become the successful superstar many kids and adults looks up to.

This gorgeous deluxe edition hardcover biography features lavender-sprayed edges, printed endpapers, purple interior illustrations, and a foil-effect cover, sure to please Taylor fans everywhere. Learn how a young girl who once lived on a Christmas tree farm grew up to become one of the most celebrated musical artists of the twenty-first century in this deluxe addition to the #1 New York Times bestselling series. Taylor Swift always knew she wanted to be a country music artist, so at age thirteen, she convinced her parents to move their family from Pennsylvania to Nashville. Since the release of her self-titled debut album in 2006, Taylor Swift has dominated the music charts, reinvented her sound, won numerous awards, shaken off public criticism, and spoken up for herself and others. Whether you''re a lifelong Swiftie or someone who just loves learning about musicians, this enchanting book will teach you all about the experiences that helped Taylor Swift become the successful superstar many kids and adults looks up to.

How does a little boy from the London suburbs named Reginald Kenneth Dwight grow up to become one of the biggest pop stars of all time? A lot of talent and a lot of personality! Elton John, as he would later call himself, started playing piano at the age of three. Although he was trained to play classical music, Elton''s real love was rock and roll. He cut his first album in 1969 and has dominated the airwaves ever since with songs like "Your Song," "Crocodile Rock" and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight." Known for his outlandish stage costumes and giant glasses, Elton John continues to write songs for Broadway musicals, Hollywood soundtracks, and Top-40 hits.