Books in Gateway Biography series

On March 17, 2011, social media channels buzzed with excitement. Fans of The Hunger Games had hotly debated which actors would bring their beloved characters to life in the upcoming movie. The movie's director, Gary Ross, had finally selected the lead character, Katniss. His pick: Jennifer Lawrence. Jennifer started acting professionally in 2004 at age fourteen. But she quickly proved her major talent. For the 2008 movie The Burning Plain, she earned a best new young actress award at the Venice Film Festival. And for her performance in the 2010 movie Winter's Bone, Jennifer received nominations for both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award. The Hunger Games's author, Suzanne Collins, celebrated the selection of Katniss. "I never thought we'd find somebody this amazing for the role," she said. And Jennifer―who is a huge fan of the books―was thrilled to play such a complex character. Did she pull it off? Fans will be the judge!

On December 5, 2013, former South African President Nelson Mandela passed away at the age of 95. People around the world mourned the death of this human rights activist. Thousands of South Africans waited hours to walk past his casket to pay their respects, and world leaders and celebrities attended his funeral, including Pope Francis, several US presidents, and Bono. Mandela was born in 1918 in South Africa. While in law school, he joined the African National Congress. The ANC spoke out against South Africa's apartheid laws, which allowed separate treatment of people based on skin color. He began his activism in the 1940s and was arrested many times before he received a life sentence in 1964. After spending more than 25 years in jail, Mandela was released in 1990 and soon after partnered with South African President F. W. de Klerk to help end apartheid. They won the Nobel Peace Prize together in 1993. The next year, Mandela became the first African president of South Africa. After his term as president, he continued his work as a human rights advocate until he retired in 2004. After a long illness, he died in 2013. He will be remembered for his leadership for years to come.

On June 16, 2015, Donald Trump announced his candidacy for president of the United States. The celebrity businessman and reality TV show host went on to win the presidency in 2016. Trump has led a varied career, from his many business enterprises to his role as host in the reality TV show The Apprentice. As chairman of The Trump Organization, his net worth is estimated at more than $4 billion. Trump's outspoken personality caused controversy and even protests at his presidential rallies, but he never let them slow him down. Follow Trump's journey from Trump Tower to the White House, and learn about the history of the man who promises to "Make America Great Again."