Books in Blue Banner Biographies series

When he was just 3 years old, Saquon Barkley told his father that one day he would be an NFL football player. Fast forward 18 years, and Barkley is drafted by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft. He has been called one of the most promising running backs in modern football history. But Barkley is more than just football. He is a devoted father, a loving son, and a kind person. In both football as well as life, Saquon Barkley is a giant of a man.

Sam Darnold was born into a family that loves sports, and Sam began playing football when he was just six years old. He shattered records and gained recognition as a quarterback at both San Clemente High School and the University of Southern California. But Sam had always dreamed of going pro and playing for an NFL team. When the New York Jets drafted him at number 3 in the first round of the 2018 draft, Sams dream came true. Now Sam is working towards another goal: taking the Jets all the way to the Super Bowland winning!

The New York Yankees have reserved a section of the stands. Fans there wear black robes, hold gavels, and stand at the order, All Rise. They are waiting for a home run from The Judge. They usually dont have to wait long. At 6'7"" and 280 pounds, Aaron Judge is one of the biggest Major League Baseball players in history. No one hits the ball as hard. No one hits it as far. No one hit as many home runs as a rookie as Aaron. Yet he remains humble and feels blessed for the opportunity to play baseball. He tries to show it by being friendly to every fan he meets. These days he has a lot of fans.

At age fifteen, Rihanna received the break that most people only dream about: A chance meeting with a popular producer in her home country of Barbados quickly led her down the path to stardom. Within months, she auditioned for Def Jam s CEO Jay-Z. Hours later, she signed a record deal that changed her life. By age nineteen, Rihanna had become an international superstar, topping the R&B charts in the United States and worldwide. In less than three years, she had released three albums, was nominated for several Grammy Awards, and had received numerous other music awards. Rihanna s beauty and fashion sense have launched yet another piece of her young career. Magazines all over the world have featured Rihanna on their covers. CoverGirl Cosmetics named her their spokesperson in 2007. Life has really changed for this girl who used to call herself a tomboy when she was growing up in Barbados.

Growing up in Richardson, Texas, Jessica Simpson would go to concerts and think, Someday, I want to do exactly that! Well, her someday finally arrived, but it wasn t without a few bumps along the way. When she was beat out for a spot on The New Mickey Mouse Club by Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, twelve-year-old Jessica wanted to give up, but her family encouraged her to keep going. Jessica was discovered two years later. From gold albums to dream weddings to hit reality TV shows and movie roles, Jessica is living the celebrity fairy-tale life. But life hasn t always been easy. When her marriage to longtime boyfriend and singer Nick Lachey ended in divorce after only three years, Jessica had to regroup and press on. Her strong faith in God and her close-knit family have kept her grounded and focused. Jessica continues to touch lives everywhere she goes.

From a young age, Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. showed he could excel at anything if he worked hard at it. He became an excellent student and was involved in the school s drama club. But his real love, his passion, was rapping. He made all the right contacts to get himself into the music industry and become a teen star with the group the Hot Boys. It wouldn t be long until Carter, also known as Lil Wayne and Weezy, would use his Martian heritage to branch out on an amazing solo rap career. Find out how this spunky kid from New Orleans rose from gunshots to the Grammys, and why he calls himself the best rapper alive.

Jimmy Garoppolo started playing football when he was in sixth grade. At age 12 he was 62, and one of the biggest, strongest players. He played as a running back until coaches spotted his ability to throw. When Jimmy started playing quarterback, everything changed. He dominated the field in high school and college before being drafted by the New England Patriots. As Tom Bradys backup, he learned from the legendary quarterback. After being traded to the San Francisco 49ers, he became a starting quarterback. Jimmy Garoppolo wins fans by working to be a star on and off the fieldhelping others and his team to be their best.