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Quick answer: If you read Know My Name, continue with Missoula, She Said, Unbelievable and Not That Bad. All look at sexual violence, how courts and communities respond, and how survivors find their voices.
Chanel Miller's memoir tells the story of her assault, the trial and her recovery in her own words. The books below include other survivor accounts, investigative reporting and essays. Many contain difficult material and are for adults. All are real, in-print books. If you need support, a counselor or helpline can help.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula | Jon Krakauer | Adult | how institutions respond |
| She Said | Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey | Adult | investigative journalism |
| Unbelievable | T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong | Adult | investigation and justice |
| Not That Bad | Roxane Gay (editor) | Adult | many voices |
| Hunger | Roxane Gay | Adult | body and trauma |
| Speak | Laurie Halse Anderson | Teen | YA readers |
| Lucky | Alice Sebold | Adult | early memoirs |
| Brave | Rose McGowan | Adult | speaking out |
| I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings | Maya Angelou | Teen and adult | literary memoirs |
| Educated | Tara Westover | Adult | resilience |
| What My Bones Know | Stephanie Foo | Adult | healing journeys |
| The Body Keeps the Score | Bessel van der Kolk | Adult | trauma science |
| Heavy | Kiese Laymon | Adult | raw honesty |
| Crying in H Mart | Michelle Zauner | Adult | grief and memory |
| Becoming | Michelle Obama | Adult | uplifting memoirs |
1. Missoula by Jon Krakauer
A journalist follows several cases of campus rape in a Montana college town. Detailed and sobering.
Best for: how institutions respond.
2. She Said by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey
Two New York Times reporters describe how they broke the Harvey Weinstein story. Gripping and well reported.
Best for: investigative journalism.
3. Unbelievable by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong
The true story of a teenager who was disbelieved and a serial rapist caught by detectives. Careful and powerful.
Best for: investigation and justice.
4. Not That Bad by Roxane Gay (editor)
Essays by many writers on rape culture. Honest and wide-ranging.
Best for: many voices.
5. Hunger by Roxane Gay
A memoir of a body and the trauma behind it. Honest and unsparing.
Best for: body and trauma.
6. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
After being assaulted, Melinda stops talking at school. A short, honest novel.
Best for: YA readers.
7. Lucky by Alice Sebold
A memoir of the author's rape as a college student and the trial. Direct and raw.
Best for: early memoirs.
8. Brave by Rose McGowan
An actor describes her experience in Hollywood. Angry and personal.
Best for: speaking out.
9. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
The first volume of Angelou's autobiography, including trauma in childhood. Lyrical and strong.
Best for: literary memoirs.
10. Educated by Tara Westover
A woman raised in a survivalist family teaches herself and goes to university. Gripping.
Best for: resilience.
11. What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo
A memoir of complex PTSD and the road to recovery. Honest and informative.
Best for: healing journeys.
12. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
A psychiatrist explains how trauma affects the body and mind. The key text on trauma.
Best for: trauma science.
13. Heavy by Kiese Laymon
A Black writer addresses his mother in a memoir about weight, abuse and love. Raw and poetic.
Best for: raw honesty.
14. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
A musician writes about grief, food and her Korean mother. Beautiful and personal.
Best for: grief and memory.
15. Becoming by Michelle Obama
A memoir of growing up in Chicago and becoming First Lady. Warm, wise and widely read.
Best for: uplifting memoirs.
How to Choose
For reporting on how the system works, read Missoula, She Said or Unbelievable. For personal stories, Hunger, Lucky and Heavy. For recovery, The Body Keeps the Score. For a YA entry, Speak. These books are hard to read, so take care of yourself and ask for help if you need it. If you read multiple books on the same subject, give yourself time between them. Talk with trusted friends, a counselor or a support group if the topics affect you. In the United States, the RAINN hotline offers support, and libraries often keep lists of local services.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Know My Name about?
Chanel Miller was identified as Emily Doe in a high-profile case, and she tells her story under her own name.
Why is the book important?
It gives a first-person view of a trial that drew national attention, and shows how survivors are treated.
Is it very graphic?
It discusses assault but focuses on the aftermath and recovery.
Is Chanel Miller an artist?
Yes. She is a writer and illustrator who also draws.
What should I read next?
She Said or Missoula for reporting, or Hunger for memoir.
Did Chanel Miller write the victim impact statement?
Yes. Her statement was read in court and shared widely online before the book appeared.
Is the book hopeful?
It ends with recovery, strength and creative work.
Is Know My Name an audiobook?
Yes. Miller narrates it herself.
Is the book suitable for teens?
It is written for adults and may be too intense for younger readers.
Did the case lead to changes?
The case led to public debate on sentencing and to a recall of the judge in California in 2018.
What is a victim impact statement?
It is a statement read in court by a victim to describe how a crime affected their life, and Miller's was widely praised for its clarity and force.