Non-fiction (Middle Grade and YA)

Tell it like it is. Teens love true stories. Kids love true stories.

Whether it's history, how-to, science, or some other informative topic, nonfiction attracts readers of all ages. Sometimes they browse the vivid photographs and end up reading the text because they're so drawn in. Other times the informative topic draws you to the book and you learn a lot from it.

Help us choose the best in Middle Grade and Young Adult Nonfiction from 2006 by nominating your favorite. We are looking for well-written and well-researched informational books for kids and teens.

--Mindy Rhiger, Propernoun.net

Leave nomination for this category in the comments below. Nominations close Nov. 20.

Comments

[Kelly]

Not quite sure which category this belongs in, but definitely "The American Story," by Jennifer Armstrong.

[Kelly Fineman]

Marvelous Mattie: How Margaret E. Knight Became an Inventor by Emily Arnold McCully

[Susan]

Thanks for the nomination, Kelly! "Marvelous Mattie" should go to the "Non-fiction (Picture Books)" category.

[Tracy Chrenka]

Isaac Newton, by Kathleen Krull

[ellie DuBois]

I'd like to nominate Into the Woods by Lyn Gardner. I don't know if its eligible as it has only been published in England so far by David Fickling books. It is for 8-12 years olds and it has got everything you would want in a book including scary wolves, rats, a terrifying villian, a child guzzling ogre and a really strong and fearless heroine called Storm Eden. It is also written by my mum, but I don't think that makes me biased because all the children who have read this book love it too. It looks beautiful too as it has fantastic illustraions by Mini Grey.

[ellie dubois]

oops I think I should have put this in middle grade fiction.

[lisa]

I would like to nominate One Kingdom by Deborah Noyes. This was written for the YA market but I love it as much as my children. I appreciate how she has mixed history, lore and facts together and presented it in a readable format. The photos are amazing. Was impressed that the author was also the photographer. I am awed.

[Judy Freeman]

Escape: The Story of the Great Houdini by Sid Fleischman

[Jonathan Hunt]

FREEDOM WALKERS by Russell Freedman

[Mary]

WAND IN THE WORD: CONVERSATIONS WITH WRITERS OF FANTASY by Leonard S. Marcus, ed.

The Wicked History of the World. Best. book. ever.

[Holly]

Er, the above post was mine.

[Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"]

I would like to nominate 101 THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU'RE OLD AND BORING by Richard Horne & Helen Szirtes

[Candie Moonshower]

I would like to nominate:
Something Out of Nothing: Marie Curie and Radium
by Carla Killough McClafferty

This book is wonderful! Well-written and informative.

[Sherry Early]

Fairy Tale Feasts by Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple

[Loree Burns]

TALES OF THE CRYPTIDS: MYSTERIOUS CREATURES THAT MAY OR MAY NOT EXIST, by Kelly Milner Halls, Rick Spears and Roxyanne Young

[lauri berkenkamp]

Amazing Leonardo da Vinci Inventions You Can Build Yourself

[Erin]

WRITING MAGIC by Gail Carson Levine

I'd like to nominate _Great Colonial America Projects You Can Build Yourself_ by Kris Bordessa. It has many hands-on activities that are based on colonial history. Much fun while learning the nation's history!

[Mindy YA/MG Nonfiction Admin]

All nominations must have a name/email with them to be valid.

Thanks! Keep 'em coming!

[Heather Doss]

Escape: The story fo the Great Houdini by Sid Fleischman

[Mindy]

All Made Up by Audrey Brashich

[Kaitlin]

Robert Cormier: Daring to Disturb the Universe by Patty Campbell

[sandi]

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life, Wendy Mass

[Mindy YA/MG Nonfiction Admin]

Hi Sandi,
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life is fiction and has already been nominated in the Middle Grade Fiction category. Feel free to nominate another book for this category.

Thanks!

[Alkelda the Gleeful]

Team Moon: how 400,000 people landed Apollo 11 on the Moon, by Catherine Thimmesh.

Oh my goodness. I can't believe I'm only 3 years younger than the first moon landing.

[Janie]

Peril and Peace (Volume I: Chronicles of the Ancient Church),
Mindy and Brandon Withrow

This first book of three (so far) covers figures in church history is wonderfully written and engaging.

[Elizabeth]

Little People and a Lost World by Linda Goldenberg

[Kristianne]

Rescues! by Sandra Markle

[Ana]

I would like to nominate my book :
"Edward Jenner, Conqueror of Smallpox".

[Tony]

I would like to nominate "Teddy's Travels - America's National Parks" by Tedrick de Bear and Trefoni Michael Rizzi from TdB Press. It's a guidebook to America's National Parks with photos, graphics, scrapbook and journal pages. Very interactive and told through the voice and eyes of a Teddy Bear!

[Marcia Kochel]

I would like to nominate Immersed in Verse by Allen Wolf.

[Jennifer A. Torres]

I would like to nominate the book, Edward Jenner: Conqueror of Smallpox by author, Ana Maria Rodriguez

[P]

Hiding Edith by Kathy Kacer. It's an amazing story about a young Jewish girl who has to leave her family during WWII and hide in a home for children in a small French town. The entire town knows that the home is a refuge for Jewish children, but work together to keep them safe from the Nazis.

[Lesley]

Good Fortune: My Journey to Gold Mountain by Li Keng Wong

[Olivia]

With a Little Luck: Surprising Stories of Amazing Discoveries by Dennis B. Fradin

[Camille]

Into the West: From Reconstruction to the Final Days of the American Frontier

[Camille]

by James McPherson (Into the West)

[Heather Chase]

I nominate "My Childhood Under Fire: A Sarajevo Diary" by Nadja Halilbegovich. It is a powerful first-hand account of war through the eyes of a young adult.

[Rachel Dickinson]

I'd like to nominate my book, Tools of the Ancient Romans: A Kid's guide to the history and science of life in Ancient Rome by Rachel Dickinson (Nomad Press, 2006)

[Emily]

I nominate JANE ADDAMS: CHAMPION OF DEMOCRACY by Judith and Dennis Fradin. It's gotten such good reviews, it seems a shame not to have it on our longlist, at least.

[Rachel]

Chew on This: Everything You Don't Want to Know about Fast Food by Eric Schlosser and Charles Wilson. Recipient of a starred review in Booklist, Chew on This discusses how the fast food industry impacts young people in particular.

[Jennifer, Snapshot]

This is on the younger end, an easy chapter book, but by 3rd grader loved it, and it doesn't fit in the Picture Book category, so I nominate I'm Still Scared by Tomie Depaola

[Chris Barton]

Tsunami: The True Story of an April Fools' Day Disaster

[Maria Bennett]

Trapped In Ice
by Martin W. Sandler

[Anne (Web mistress)]

This one came in via email:

Steroids by Jacqueline Adams.

Thanks.

[Mindy]

Thanks, Anne. We'll add it to the list.