Books like Secret daughter by June Cross
June Cross was born in 1954 to Norma Booth, a glamorous aspiring white actress, and James "Stump" Cross, a well‑known black comedian. When she could no longer pass as white at the age of four, she was sent by her mother to be raised among black friends, a decision that thrust her into a life of confusion and pain amid a racially divided family. "Secret Daughter" traces Cross’s remarkable discoveries about her mother and her relentless drive to succeed. The memoir offers an inspiring testament to the enduring love between mother and daughter, the bond with adoptive parents, and the strength of community.
First publish date: 2006
Genre: Biography & Autobiography/Autobiography
Authors: June Cross
★
★
★
★
★
5.0 (1 community ratings)
How are these books recommended?
The books recommended for Secret daughter by June Cross are shaped by reader interaction. Votes on how closely books relate, user ratings, and community comments all help refine these recommendations and highlight books readers genuinely find similar in theme, ideas, and overall reading experience.
Have you read any of these books?
Your votes, ratings, and comments help improve recommendations and make it easier
for other readers to discover books they’ll enjoy.
Books similar to Secret daughter (19 similar books)
Maya Angelou's autobiography, 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings', tells the story of her life and the challenges she faced growing up in Arkansas, including racism, abuse, and the loss of her father. The book is a powerful and moving portrayal of the African American experience during the 1930s and 1940s.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A memoir of a woman who overcomes a strict survivalist Mormon upbringing in rural Idaho to pursue higher education, ultimately earning a PhD in history at Cambridge.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Barack Obama’s memoir traces his early life, the loss of his father, and a search for identity that shaped the future president.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
When rebel Joe Donnelly seeks the truth behind the abrupt departure of his lover Imogen Palmer, he discovers a long‑hidden secret that brings him face‑to‑face with a daughter he never knew he had.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Mary Karr’s memoir chronicles her turbulent Texas upbringing, her battle with alcoholism and mental illness, her marriage to a poet, and her eventual path to sobriety and creative renewal.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
In a remote Indian village, a postpartum decision to give away a newborn daughter sets two families on a lifelong journey of grief and hope, while an American doctor’s intercountry adoption creates a bond that bridges cultures and healing.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A funny, heartbreaking memoir of Joe Queenan’s escape from a harsh 1960s Philadelphia housing project, driven by a tumultuous Irish‑Catholic family and a relentless pursuit of books, music, and mentors.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Azar Nafisi shares a deeply personal memoir that traces her life in Iran—from childhood under a complex mother, through the country’s political upheaval, to her own awakening as a writer and teacher.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A memoir exploring the tastes and textures of growing up in India, featuring recipes for delicious dishes from childhood.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Roddy Doyle’s first nonfiction work, "Rory and Ita," is a memoir in the voices of his parents, tracing their Dublin upbringing, political roots, and marriage from 1923‑1951 to the present.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
When Lizzie’s own troubles consume her attention, her best friend Nancy conceals her dyslexia, while a grandmother’s new romance adds another secret to the mix.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
At sixteen, Dora travels to London to seek Sherlock Holmes—whom she suspects is her father—in hopes he can help her cousin escape blackmail over stolen letters. When Holmes dies en route, a new detective steps in to aid her.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Richard Rodriguez’s memoir "Brown" examines the complex role of Hispanic identity in America’s history, exploring race, culture, and psychological dimensions of belonging across generations.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Eric Konigsberg’s gripping family history unfolds the lurid rise of his notorious ‘Uncle Heshy,’ the legendary Mafia enforcer who spent decades on the run.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Bill Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States, is a complex figure whose life spans the 1980s and 1990s. His rise from a scholarship student to a political powerhouse is both inspiring and flawed, reflecting the tumultuous era of American politics.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Gail Lukasik reflects on her mother's passing, the shame of her mother's choice to blend identities, and her own journey of self‑discovery and redemption as a mixed‑race daughter in America.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A candid memoir in which celebrated African‑American actress Cicely Tyson shares her journey through the world of film and stage, reflecting on her career, convictions, and the evolving landscape of American entertainment.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Jerramy Sage Fine’s true story of a small‑town girl with a lifelong dream of finding love with an English prince, and the humorous adventures that follow as she pursues that fantasy from Colorado to London.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Some Other Similar Books
The Girl with No Name: The Incredible True Story of a Child Raised by Nuns by Mary LincolnA Child Called It: One Child's Courageous Survival by Dave Pelzer
The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls
Angela's Ashes: A Memoir by Frank McCourt
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride
Hidden Girl: The True Story of a Modern-Day Child Slave by Sherri Jacquelyn
Have a similar book in mind? Let others know!
Please login to submit books!