Adam Thielen: From Small Town to Football Star

The Inspiring Biography of a Minnesota Football Star

Adam Thielen grew up in rural Minnesota, cheering on the state's beloved purple-and-gold football team. He dreamed of one day playing in the pros, but no one could imagine the path that awaited him. Adam experienced rejection and disappointment, but the young wide receiver never gave up. This is a story of determination and perseverance. It is proof that anything is possible with hard work and a winning attitude.

Adam's cousin Lindsay VonRuden and award-winning author Ryan Jacobson chronicle Adam's rise from an unrecruited, undrafted small-town football player to one of the best wide receivers in professional sports. Complete with full-color photographs from throughout Adam's life, this true story will inspire readers of all ages. With memories and stories from Adam's family and friends and with sports accounts from high school (Detroit Lakes, Minnesota), college (Minnesota State University, Mankato), and the pros (Minnesota Vikings), Adam Thielen is a must-read for every sports fan in Minnesota and beyond. The book was named one of the 24 Best Sports Biography Books of All Time by BookAuthority.

Lindsay VonRuden grew up in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. She loved writing stories and pretending to teach as a young girl. Fittingly enough, she is now an elementary teacher and a budding author. When Lindsay isn’t teaching, she prefers to spend her time outdoors with family, friends, and her beloved dog, Remy. She believes that the best way to live life is as a never-ending adventure. She has created a life list of accomplishments she’d like to complete. So far, Lindsay has checked off some exhilarating challenges, such as shark cage diving, bungee jumping, zorbing, glowworm cave rafting, and, now, writing a book!

Ryan Jacobson is an author and presenter. He prides himself on writing high-interest books for children of all ages, so he can talk picture books in kindergarten, ghost stories in high school, and other fun stuff in between. He lives in rural Minnesota and has been a lifelong Minnesota sports fan.