Middle Grade and Young Adult Nonfiction covers a wide swath of territory: from history, biography and science to sports, astronomy and dinosaurs. Homeschooling parents are using single-subject nonfiction books to supplement or replace textbooks. Teachers and librarians are recommending nonfiction titles to expand upon classroom subjects and to pique the interest of kids passionate about particular topics. And kids of all ages are seeking out books that unwrap the mysteries of the world around them. The MG/YA nonfiction committee is seeking the very best titles in this wonderful and diverse arena.
--Jen Robinson, organizer
Please leave a nomination -- including author and title -- for this category in the comments below.
Tracking Trash by Loree Griffin Burns
Posted by: Kelly Fineman | October 01, 2007 at 05:55 AM
Blind Side Michael Lewis
Posted by: Mary Ann | October 01, 2007 at 08:28 AM
Dinosaur Eggs Discovered!: Unscrambling the Clues by Lowell Dingus, Rodolfo Coria, and Luis M. Chiappe, with illustrations by Stephanie Abramowicz
Posted by: Elizabeth | October 01, 2007 at 08:50 AM
Mary Ann, I'm afraid that Blind Side was initially published in October of 2006, and is therefore not eligible for this year's Cybils. You are welcome to nominate a different title. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Posted by: Jen Robinson | October 01, 2007 at 10:06 AM
Tasting the Sky: a Palestinian Childhood
by Ibtisam Barakat
Posted by: Brooke | October 01, 2007 at 12:49 PM
I DON'T WANT TO BE CRAZY by Samantha Schutz
Posted by: Deena | October 01, 2007 at 05:51 PM
Would I be right in assuming that memoir counts as non-fiction? If so, I nominate GRIEF GIRL by Erin Vincent.
Posted by: Jen Barnes | October 02, 2007 at 04:22 PM
ACROSS THE WIDE OCEAN, by Karen Romano Young (Greenwillow)
Posted by: Rebecca | October 02, 2007 at 06:36 PM
I'd like to nominate:
WE ARE ONE: The Story of Bayard Rustin by Larry Dane Brimner
Posted by: Julie | October 02, 2007 at 10:00 PM
ANOTHER BOOK ABOUT DESIGN: COMPLICATED DOESN'T MAKE IT BAD by Mark Gonyea.
Posted by: EM | October 03, 2007 at 06:18 AM
The Secret of Priest's Grotto: A Holocaust Survival Story, written and photographed by Peter Lane Taylor and Christos Nicola
Posted by: Lindsay | October 03, 2007 at 08:02 AM
I'd like to nominate
MORRIS AND BUDDY by Becky Hall.
Posted by: Kim Norman | October 03, 2007 at 12:28 PM
I would like to nominate the young adult memoir - GRIEF GIRL: MY TRUE STORY by Erin Vincent.
Posted by: Kat | October 03, 2007 at 12:54 PM
Yes, Jen, memoirs count as nonfiction. Thanks for asking, and for nominating. Grief Girl is on our list. And Kat, since Jen had already nominated it, there's no need to nominate it again. If you'd like to nominate a different title, feel free.
Posted by: Jen Robinson | October 03, 2007 at 03:53 PM
Also, Deena, I DON'T WANT TO BE CRAZY by Samantha Schutz was published in 2006, and isn't eligible for this year's Cybils. You're welcome to nominate something else.
Posted by: Jen Robinson | October 03, 2007 at 04:36 PM
The Ultimate Interactive Atlas of the World - Schloastic Pub
Posted by: Gina | October 03, 2007 at 04:48 PM
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! voices from a medieval village by Laura Amy Schlitz - or should this go in poetry?
Posted by: GraceAnne | October 04, 2007 at 08:33 AM
GraceAnne, we're working behind the scenes to decide the best category for Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!, but it will definitely be included. Thanks!
Posted by: Jen Robinson | October 04, 2007 at 12:47 PM
My Feet Aren't Ugly
by Debra Beck
Posted by: nyla tresser | October 04, 2007 at 05:54 PM
Would like to nominate the following book:
"From Slave to Superstar of the Wild West- The Awesome Story of Jim Beckworth"
by, Tom DeMund
This is a historical nonfiction book
Posted by: Jennie Atkins | October 04, 2007 at 07:00 PM
Since this is October, I nominate
THE HALLOWEEN BOOK OF FACTS AND FUN. (Albert Whitman) Several school librarians have commented that they like the fact that the illustrations are not scary.
Posted by: C Bowie | October 04, 2007 at 07:02 PM
Grief Girl: My True Story by Erin Vincent
Posted by: Rae | October 04, 2007 at 08:45 PM
Grief Girl: My True Story by Erin Vincent
Posted by: Rae | October 04, 2007 at 08:47 PM
My Feet Arent Ugly,A Girls Guide to Loving Herself fron The Inside by Debra Beck
Posted by: britton | October 04, 2007 at 09:32 PM
DEBRA BECK'S BOOK.....MY FEET ARENT UGLY
Posted by: britton | October 04, 2007 at 09:34 PM
"my feet arent ugly" by debra beck
Posted by: amber | October 04, 2007 at 10:34 PM
Lifetime of secrets, by Frank Warren.
Posted by: Brock Martin | October 05, 2007 at 07:56 AM
I would like to nominate the wonderful 'My Feet Aren't Ugly' by Debra Beck!!
Posted by: Hava | October 05, 2007 at 01:29 PM
"Cherry Blossoms in Twilight: Memories of a Japanese Girl," by Yaeko Sugama Weldon if that qualifies (it's a second edition).
Posted by: Linda | October 05, 2007 at 05:00 PM
I would like to nominate the wonderful book "My Feet Aren't Ugly" by Debra Beck
Posted by: Blair Vaughn-Gruler | October 08, 2007 at 09:59 AM
Black and White Airmen: Their True History by John Fleischman
Posted by: Fuse #8 | October 08, 2007 at 05:54 PM
OK, people, we have accepted My Feet Aren't Ugly as a nominated title. Additional votes do not count. A title just has to be nominated once, and then the committee will assess it. So, please stop nominating this title - it is on the list. But your enthusiasm is appreciated.
Posted by: Jen Robinson | October 08, 2007 at 07:15 PM
Brock, I'm afraid that Lifetime of secrets is not eligible for the Cybils award, because it is going to be published as an adult book. The publisher's website lists it as 18 and up, and this award is for titles published specifically for children and young adults. You're welcome to nominate something else if you like. Sorry for any inconvenience!
Posted by: Jen Robinson | October 08, 2007 at 07:32 PM
Linda, I'm afraid that "Cherry Blossoms in Twilight: Memories of a Japanese Girl" is not eligible. We go by copyright date for the book, and since it wasn't issued a new copyright when you issued the second edition, I'm afraid that it doesn't qualify (I looked at the copyright page using Amazon's Search Inside the Book feature - if I'm incorrect about this, just let me know.). You're welcome to nominate something else!
Posted by: Jen Robinson | October 08, 2007 at 07:35 PM
Jen, Amazon's Search Inside uses the old first edition. The new second edition of "Cherry Blossoms in Twilight" is an Aug 2007 with new ISBN. Just wasn't sure if 2nd eds qualified.
Posted by: Linda | October 08, 2007 at 08:03 PM
MUCKRAKERS
How Ida Tarbell, Upton Sinclair, and Lincoln Steffens Helped Expose Scandal, Inspire Reform, and Invent Investigative Journalism,
by Ann Bausum
Foreword by Daniel Schorr, NPR Senior News Analyst
Posted by: Jennifer | October 09, 2007 at 08:52 AM
Disguised by Rita la Fontaine de Clercq Zubli
Posted by: Katie | October 10, 2007 at 08:50 AM
Can I entreat anyone to nominate AMERICA DREAMING by Laban Carrick Hill, since I already used my nomination?
Posted by: EM | October 10, 2007 at 09:54 AM
As a judge in the Middle Grade/YA category last year, I know how tough it is to distinguish between that category and picture book. The book I want to nominate is Smart-Opedia from Maple Tree Press. The publisher classifies it as 8 - 12, and I would agree, but it's very picture-heavy. I'll check back for the verdict.
Posted by: Jennifer, Snapshot | October 10, 2007 at 04:10 PM
Hi Linda,
Thanks for clarifying regarding the copyright date. Here's my thought on second editions. The intent of this award is for it to honor books newly published in the current year. Our policy regarding new editions is that they have to be a significant change, in order to be eligible. If it's primarily a reissuing of the previous edition, with only minor changes, then I don't think that it would be fair to the other authors to include it. But if you made some sort of major change, such that the book is substantially different from the one that was published a couple of years ago, then it would be eligible. Does that make sense? If you'd like to discuss with me offline, my email address is [email protected]. Thanks!
Posted by: Jen Robinson | October 10, 2007 at 05:39 PM
We're going to take Smart-Opedia in this category, Jennifer. Thanks! It looks great.
Posted by: Jen Robinson | October 10, 2007 at 10:20 PM
The World Made New by Marc Aronson and John W. Glenn
Posted by: Robert Yavor | October 11, 2007 at 12:12 PM
Take a look at Jim Murphy's The Real Benedict Arnold
Posted by: Elizabeth | October 12, 2007 at 06:04 PM
Muckrakers by Ann Bausum
Posted by: Robert Yavor | October 15, 2007 at 01:14 PM
Hi Robert,
You can only nominate one title per category. But fortunately, Muckrakers was already nominated by someone else. Thanks!
Posted by: Jen Robinson | October 16, 2007 at 08:46 PM
Hey Jen - I've been holding out to see what shows up in all the categories but I have to nominate "The Periodic Table: Elements With Style!" for this one. It's listed as created by Basher and written by Adrian Dingle (published by Kingfisher). I have no idea why I'm the only one who has heard about this book (it's in my column next month). It has to be one of the coolest designs I've come across and is incredibly useful and informative - not to mention very funny. I think you guys will enjoy reading it.
Posted by: Colleen | October 23, 2007 at 01:35 AM
Ox, House, Stick: The Story of Our Alphabet
by Don Robb. It's a "picture book" for 9-12, so that makes it MG.
Posted by: Anastasia | October 23, 2007 at 04:25 PM
I'm finally in and nominating What's Eating You?: Parasites--The Inside Story by Nicola Davies.
Posted by: Tricia | October 26, 2007 at 05:52 PM
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!: The Beatles, Beatlemania, and the Music that Changed the World by Bob Spitz (Little Brown).
Posted by: Becky | October 27, 2007 at 07:26 AM
Hi Jen,
Now that Colleen has mentioned the Dingle book, I don't mind sharing the review I wrote. If you want to use it here, I'd love to share. It's at:
http://missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com/2007/06/book-review-periodic-table.html
Posted by: Tricia | October 27, 2007 at 09:03 AM