Nonfiction for High SchoolLike this list

20 items

• Race to Incarcerate

  a Graphic Retelling

  Jones, Sabrina, 1960-

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  Graphic novel nonfiction is an oft overlooked genre but has a lot to offer, providing additional context and perspective on an issue or period in history. This book is an amazing look at the prison industrial complex in america and its roots in…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Brazen

  Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World

  Bagieu, Pénélope,

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  Amazing graphic biographies of women from around the world and throughout time. An interesting perspective is to see how the graphic format changes how you are able to tell the stories of these women.

• The Family Romanov

  Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia

  Fleming, Candace

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  Candace Fleming is a popular author in the nonfic genre for teens. This book tells the fall of the Romanov family from power in Russia. It takes the perspective of those in and close to the royal family, and also weaves in stories of peasants, city…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Nazi Hunters

  How a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the World's Most Notorious Nazi

  Bascomb, Neal,

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  I believe this is an teen adaptation of a book he wrote for adults about the discovery and capture of Adolf Eichmann years after WWII ends (there was also recently a movie made about this event).

• Stiff

  the Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

  Roach, Mary

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  Mary Roach is one of my top 3 favorite nonfic authors. She writes for adults, but upper high school readers will enjoy the topics she covers (death, sex, poop). This book is all about the science of death and is absolutely fascinating! I also…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• So You've Been Publicly Shamed

  Ronson, Jon, 1967-

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  Another one of my favorite authors who writes for adults but has lots of teen appeal. I have recommended this and The Psychopath Test to many teens who have enjoyed it. Ronson has a very approachable writing style and picks interesting topics for…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Parasite Rex

  Inside the Bizarre World of Nature's Most Dangerous Creatures

  Zimmer, Carl, 1966-

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  Probably a bit thick for high school, but when you love parasites... you LOVE parasites. So for the right high school reader, this will fly by. You will be awed and terrified by the parasites in the world around us.

• A Long Way Gone

  Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

  Beah, Ishmael, 1980-

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  I tried to stay away from too many memoirs on this list, but you just can't pass up this book that is a memoir of a child soldier in Sierra Leone. It is touching and painful and will leave you wanting more.

• The Influencing Machine

  Brooke Gladstone on the Media

  Gladstone, Brooke

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  JCCC did this as their one campus read a year or two ago and it is amazing. It is about the impact of media on the national conversation and common agreement on universal truths (like climate change). Although it was published in 2011, it is…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Boots on the Ground

  America's War in Vietnam

  Partridge, Elizabeth,

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  Elizabeth Partridge is known for her use of photojournalism in her nonfic and biographies. This book about the Vietnam war, tells the story of the war from almost a dozen different perspectives. Although I found that some perspectives were more well…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Vincent and Theo

  the Van Gogh Brothers

  Heiligman, Deborah,

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  Deborah Helligman is my queen on narrative nonfiction! This book about Vincent and his brother Theo (who basically supported him his entire life) is stunning! Also check out her book Charles and Emma (about the Darwins). I love these stories of the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The 57 Bus

  Slater, Dashka,

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  Through extensive interviews, documents, and fact gathering, Slater has found the people behind the headlines. Sasha, who fell asleep on a bus to wake up on fire. Richard, who made an impulsive decision in an attempt to be silly. The family,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• In the Shadow of Liberty

  the Hidden History of Slavery, Four Presidents, and Five Black Lives

  Davis, Kenneth C.

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  The stories of 5 slaves who worked for 4 U.S. Presidents. This amazingly researched book uncovered (for me) new stories and perspectives on some of our founding fathers.

• March. Book One

  Lewis, John, 1940-2020

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  Great series of graphic novels (3 in total) about the civil rights movement. Senator John Lewis provides much of the story, but the illustrations make it rich and immersive giving the reader perspective on the size of the marches.

• Bomb

  the Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

  Sheinkin, Steve

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  Great for our science/history fans this is all about the race to build (and steal... so spy fans will like this too) the technology to build the atomic bomb. Sheinkin writes amazing nonfic for teens, and this book is no different.

• Undefeated

  Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team

  Sheinkin, Steve,

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  For sports fans, learn about Jim Thorpe and his coach Pop Warner as they create a legendary football team at the Carlisle Indian School.

• We've Got a Job

  the 1963 Birmingham Children's March

  Levinson, Cynthia

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  The story of the 1963 children's march, told through photos, personal stories and multiple perspectives, it gives readers a window into the children and teens of the civil rights movement and how they used their unique voices to advocate for…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Sugar Changed the World

  a Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science

  Aronson, Marc

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  Love Marc Aronson, his books aren't for everyone as they generally address complex issues and he doesn't simplify anything for teen readers, but he does present unique and interesting topics. This Book, written with Marina Budhos is about the blood…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• They Called Themselves the K.K.K.

  the Birth of An American Terrorist Group

  Bartoletti, Susan Campbell

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  All students should be familiar with the K.K.K. but do they understand them as more than just a boogie man from history? Do they understand their story, how they became what they where and how they impact the world today (or as it were 10 years ago…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Some of My Best Friends Are Black

  the Strange Story of Integration in America

  Colby, Tanner

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  It is 2008 and Tanner Colby watches CNN declare Barack Obama the next President of the United States. Colby and all the friends he could squeeze into his NYC apartment celebrate the election of our first black president. But as they are still…Read moreRead more of this annotation