Nonfiction November, Week 3: Dig Into Food Nonfiction (Be The Expert)

November 12, 2018 |

Let’s dig into some nonfiction focused all around the topic of food.

Week 3: (Nov. 12 to 16) – Be The Expert/Ask the Expert/Become the Expert (Julie @ JulzReads): Three ways to join in this week! You can either share three or more books on a single topic that you have read and can recommend (be the expert), you can put the call out for good nonfiction on a specific topic that you have been dying to read (ask the expert), or you can create your own list of books on a topic that you’d like to read (become the expert).

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I spent a long time toying with what I wanted to be the expert on for this week’s prompt. I had an idea for writing about YA nonfiction about women athletes because there are some great titles out there (hello to books like Proud by Ibtihaj Muhammad, Forward by Abby Wambach, and Taking Flight by Michaela DePrince), and I also toyed with rounding up some of the productivity/happy living books that have left an impact on me in some way (though unfortunately, this tends to be really white in terms of authorship).

Finally, as I scrolled through my list of nonfiction reads, I realized there were a ton of great books — many of which are older, deep backlist titles — about food. These books are about the eating and consumption of food, the history of food, as well as the culinary world. They include memoirs and histories and books that blend a little bit of both.

I’ve read each of these titles, though some are more recent in memory than others. I’ve consumed them in both print and in audio, which has only made the experiences more delicious.

Sumptuous Food Nonfiction

The Cooking Gene by Michael W. Twitty

Part memoir, part history, about American southern food and cooking. Twitty is a black, gay, and Jewish man whose passion for food and its origins is palpable.

Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer

If you’ve ever considered going meat-free in your diet, this book will speak to you. Even for carnivores, Foer’s book is appealing. It’s about how and why one chooses to eat the way they do, and more, it’s about becoming aware of where your food comes from, regardless of your dietary choices.

Fortune Cookie Chronicles by Jennifer 8 Lee

Did you know there are more Chinese restaurants in America than McDonalds, Burger King, and Wendys establishments combined? This history of the growth of the Chinese restaurant in America is absorbing, well-written, and really makes clear that what we eat in a Chinese restaurant here in the west isn’t really Chinese food (and that the Chinese fortune cookie was really invested in Japan!).

Hungry Planet by Peter Menzel and Faith D’Aluisio

A photographic study of families around the world and what it is they eat. Super fascinating, and my only complaint is that there hasn’t been an update since this was published in 2005. I’d be fascinated to see how things have changed in the nearly 15 years since the original project, as we’ve become a more global food world.

Love, Loss, and What We Ate by Padma Lakshmi

Lakshmi is, of course, known for her role in food television, but this memoir goes much deeper than that experience. It’s about growing up in more than one continent and how that shaped her palate and interest in the culinary world. Raw, honest, and tender.

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain

I only wish that Anthony were around still and could give us yet another update to this book because I have a feeling he’d change his views on some aspects of the industry. It’s an unfiltered, often crude, look at the culinary underbelly and his own experiences in the restaurant business in New York City. There’s clear passion and dedication for food. On audio, Bourdain’s voice and tone are stand out.

Relish: My Life In The Kitchen by Lucy Knisley

A lovely, immersive graphic memoir about Knisley’s love for all things food. Lucy shares stories of growing up in a family that relishes in cooking and eating good food. But it’s not an upturned-nose sort of foodie memoir. It’s about the joy of and celebration of the role food plays in a social way and in a very personal way. It doesn’t matter if that food is direct from the chicken coop in your yard or from the fast food joint miles away.

Salt, Sugar, Fat by Michael Moss

This book pairs really nicely with Foer’s, in that it’s a dive into the greater industry of food. An in-depth and compelling look at the three ingredients that have allowed the processed food industry to flourish and take hold of the American diet. Moss is not objective here, and he has no reason to be. He comes at this with the question of why and explores how the choices made for the bottom line utterly harm the humans who are sucked into such addicting foods. He doesn’t shame people for enjoying them, but rather, explores why they become what they are to the American diet: three ingredients that promote more eating of the same three ingredients.

Nonfiction November, Week 2: 10 Fiction-Nonfiction Pairings To Try

November 5, 2018 |

As part of Nonfiction November, I’m trying my hand at some fiction-nonfiction pairings from my reading life.

Week 2: (Nov. 5 to 9) – Fiction / Nonfiction Book Pairing (Sarah’s Book Shelves): This week, pair up a nonfiction book with a fiction title. It can be a “If you loved this book, read this!” or just two titles that you think would go well together. Maybe it’s a historical novel and you’d like to get the real history by reading a nonfiction version of the story.

Talk about a hard prompt but a really fun one. I dug through my nonfiction reads and paired them up with a fiction title that shared some similar themes or feelings to them. I hope this might inspire some new reading ideas. I think in reading pairs a lot, in part because of how my librarian-trained mind works when it comes to books. But I don’t think about reading pairs in nonfiction-fiction quite enough, and this was a great reminder that that’s a thing worth considering as well.

The titles below are adult and young adult, both on the fiction and the nonfiction side. This is what I read, and I feel the audiences on all of these is perfectly crossover.

If You Like This, Try…

All You Can Ever Know by Nicole Chung and See No Color by Shannon Gibney

Chung’s memoir explores growing up the Korean child of white adoptive parents and the complicated space she occupied as the only Korean girl in her community. Gibney’s novel is about a transracially adopted teen girl who works to find her own place within her adoptive family. Both are moving and heartfelt, and both give powerful voice to not just to those who’ve been adopted, but those who are from an different race and background from the families adopting them.

Columbine by David Cullen and That’s Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger

Cullen’s work is an investigative of what did — and did not — happen at Columbine the day of the mass shooting. It digs into the rumors and works to distinguish truth from the mythology. Keplinger’s novel is told from the perspective of the teens who survived the mass shooting at their high school when they’re nearing graduation. The novel focuses on what the truths were, and it digs into who gets to control the narrative of a disaster.

Dead Girls by Alice Bolin and Sadie by Courtney Summers

Bolin’s collection of essays examines what it is culturally that makes us fascinated with stories about dead white girls. It’s about how we consume them, how we profit from them, and what that says about whose story is really told. Summers’s novel is told from two perspectives: a true crime podcast and Sadie’s, both unraveling in parallel timeframes. The podcast is the consumption of the story of Sadie and her quest to seek revenge for the murder of her sister. Sadie’s perspective is that: her perspective.

A Dream Called Home by Reyna Grande and I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L.Sánchez

What does it mean to be Mexican American? Both Grande’s memoir and Sánchez’s novel take that question to heart, exploring the space of being a first-generation American. Grande’s story is also a story of what happens after she’s successfully crossed the border, which is laid out in her first memoir, but this second memoir is her young adulthood and staking claims of her own. Both dig into complicated family relationships and what it means to come of age, knowing you want to hold on to your heritage and also build your own legacy.

Factory Girls by Leslie T. Chang and Girls on the Line by Jennie Liu

What does life look like in modern China for girls? Chung’s book explores that in her nonfiction title from a few years back, and Liu explores this same question in her fiction title. Both are about young girls and factory life.

Fly Girls by P. O’Connell Pearson and Mare’s War by Tanita S. Davis

Both Pearson and Davis explore the stories of women pilots in World War II. Pearson’s is a YA nonfiction title and Davis’s story takes the fictional approach. An additional title that would fit well with this pairing is Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith.

The Ghost With Trembling Wings by Scott Weidensaul and Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

Weidensaul’s book is among my favorites of all time. It’s a book about animals that are extinct or rare (as in rarest of the rare) that people believe are still around or that they’ll be able to see and share stories about. It’s about extinction. There’s a section about the ivory-billed woodpecker in here, and when I read Whaley’s book, immediately, the two books connected in my mind. Whaley’s book is told in two different voices, and one of them is a man on a quest to find the legendary ivory-billed woodpecker. These two books are in a fascinating conversation with one another.

It’s Getting Hot In Here by Bridget Heos and Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Heos gives the science of climate change while the Shusterman duo give the human side of it. As our world continues to get hotter, human needs like water will become more scarce. Both of these books are a wakeup call for changing the way we engage with the Earth and a rally cry to demand action at a higher level.

Juveniles in Justice by Richard Ross and We’ll Fly Away by Bryan Bliss

Ross’s self-published book earned a host of accolades the year it released and for good reason: it’s an unbelievably insightful look at young people in the justice system. It gives them time to have a voice and share their stories. Bliss’s novel, long listed for the National Book Award, is about two best friends and how it came that one of them ended up on death row as a teenager.

Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube by Blair Braverman and Up To This Pointe by Jennifer Longo

How about two books about young women learning how to be young women in worlds of extreme temperature? Braverman’s memoir is set in Alaska, while Longo’s novel is set in Antarctica. Both are cold, both are insightful, and both are about navigating extreme elements of nature to better find out who they truly are.

Nonfiction November, Week 1: My Year In Nonfiction

November 1, 2018 |

I haven’t done a community-building series in a while, and given how much nonfiction means to me on a professional and a personal level, it feels like taking part in Nonfiction November would be more than worthwhile.

Week 1: (Oct. 29 to Nov. 2) – Your Year in Nonfiction (Kim @ Sophisticated Dorkiness):Take a look back at your year of nonfiction and reflect on the following questions – What was your favorite nonfiction read of the year? Do you have a particular topic you’ve been attracted to more this year? What nonfiction book have you recommended the most? What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November?

My Favorite Nonfiction Read Of The Year?

If I could only pick one, it’d be the one I keep thinking about again and again: Creative Quest by Questlove. I listened to this one on audiobook and it was easily the best-performed audiobook I’ve ever listened to.

The book is about the creative process, without ever being a how-to or really about the process at all. It’s a smart book about how and where creativity can happen and it offers up an array of examples for how some of the most brilliant creatives find their stride. Questlove is enthusiastic and dynamic and insightful and encouraging. My biggest take away was the power in trying, in making mistakes, and in inviting play into everything, even if it doesn’t necessarily feel like it has a purpose. It does.

Is There A Particular Topic I’ve Been Attracted To More This Year?

A topic I’ve always loved and have found myself seeking out this year, especially on audio, are memoirs by women of color. I’ve found I’m reading far more nonfiction this year than normal, in no small part due to the fact I listen to so many of them. I keep most of my print reading to YA or adult fiction, and my audiobook consumption is all adult nonfiction.

I’m currently listening to Reyna Grande’s A Dream Called Home, which is her second memoir. This one focuses on her young adult years, being the first college graduate in her family, and how she came to become a writer.

I barreled through Sara Saedi’s Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card earlier this year and keep thinking about it. It’s full of humor and heart and gives real voice and perspective about being an immigrant in American “without papers.” Nicole Chung’s All You Can Ever Know was a moving read about growing up adopted as a Korean child to white parents in a mostly white community.

I’ve also really loved two books by Jennifer Wright, Get Well Soon: History’s Worst Plagues and The Heroes Who Fought Them and It Ended Badly: 13 of the Worst Breakups in History. Both are books about specific incidents in history, but they’re told with this fantastic dark humor that really makes them sing for me.

What Nonfiction Book Have I Recommended The Most?

Without question, the book I recommend over and over again — and one that’s absolutely changed my habits — is Jessica Bruder’s Nomadland. Technically, I read this at the end of 2017, rather than 2018, but I’ve recommended it more this year than any other. This was a brutal and powerful read about the ways in which older Americans are “making due” while having little money to live off in their older years. Bruder follows a series of folks who are working seasonal, low-paying jobs that thrive from the work of these older workers, with a really in-depth look at CamperForce, Amazon’s seasonal employees. I have always known Amazon to be a problem with their workers, of course, but this was something else all together. Imagine your grandmother or grandfather walking 15-17 miles a day, getting repetitive injuries, and doing it for 10+ hours a day for a meager $7.25. I can’t.

This is one worth reading in print. The audiobook wasn’t especially great, but the book itself was so absorbing I kept going. It made me change my relationship with Amazon. I’m far less likely to quickly buy something there without thinking, knowing what the cost of my cheap, easy purchase really is on other people.

What I Am Hoping To Get Out Of Participating in Nonfiction November

It’s been so long since I’ve discovered new-to-me blogs. This is an opportunity to do that and it’s also an opportunity to write and read about a category of books I like to read because they aren’t the focus of my day-to-day work. I love writing and talking about books, but knowing that my focus is YA and not adult nonfiction….well, I enjoy knowing there’s a space I really get to enjoy books for me on my own accord.

I’m also selfish in liking to know what people are reading and talking about because as a writer and editor of nonfiction, it helps me think about how to be a better writer and better editor.

Plus, I can’t wait to add more nonfiction audiobooks on my to-listen list. Not that I’ll ever run out, but, just in case.

Mid-Year YA Nonfiction Books To Know

July 2, 2018 |

It’s hard to wrap my head around the fact that 2018 is at the half-way point. But it is! And with that, it feels appropriate to do a round-up of YA nonfiction hitting shelves in the second half of this year. Like in the guide to early 2018 YA nonfiction, this isn’t a comprehensive look. Finding every nonfiction title marketed to YA readers is challenging — with many more small publishers and educational publishers putting these books out, in addition to those bigger publishers, it’s impossible to know everything. So go in knowing this is incomplete but also, if you’re aware of additional YA nonfiction hitting shelves between July and December, I really do want to hear about them in the comments. I will likely do a final round-up of YA nonfiction for this year sometime in September or October to hit those and others which pop up over the next few months, especially as this list lacks in titles published after September.

I’ve focused again on the vague description of “nonfiction for young readers,” as it can be tough to distinguish between middle school nonfiction and high school nonfiction. Many books fall into the 10-14 age range, if they’re not specifically geared for 14 and up, meaning that these nonfiction titles are good for either group of readers. Likewise, I’ve kept this roundup to books which are general nonfiction, as opposed to those titles published as part of a series or collection focused on being used for research (i.e., the 200-page books teen readers pick up for their reports); there’s nothing wrong with those, but the goal here is to highlight those more popular-reading nonfiction titles.

All descriptions come from Goodreads. An interesting observation: three YA sex books! And we’re getting a second YA nonfiction title about DietrichBonhoeffer — you may recall Patricia McCormick’s from a couple of years ago.

July YA Nonfiction

Doing It by Hannah Witton (July 3)

Figuring out how to build and maintain healthy relationships – with your family, friends, romantically and with yourself – is a crucial part of being a teen. It’s not easy though, particularly in a digital age where information and advice are so forthcoming it can be hard to know who or what to believe or trust. Porn is everywhere, sexting is the norm and messages about body image are highly mixed. Hannah combats this by tackling subjects ranging from masturbation and puberty to slut shaming and consent in an accessible, relatable and extremely honest way. She is unembarrassed about bringing little-discussed topics into the open, and as such empowers teens to have the confidence to conduct relationships on their terms, and in a way that they feel comfortable with.

My Family Divided (Young Reader Edition) by Diane Guerrero, Erica Moroz (July 17)

Before landing a spot on the megahit Netflix show Orange is the New Black; before wowing audiences as Lina on Jane the Virgin; and before her incredible activism and work on immigration reform, Diane Guerrero was a young girl living in Boston. One day, while Guerrero was at school, her undocumented immigrant parents were taken from their home, detained, and deported. Guerrero’s life, which had been full of the support of a loving family, was turned upside down.

Suffragettes and the Fight for the Vote by Sarah Ridley (July 17)

This book tells the story of the campaign to get women the vote in Britain. Beginning by looking at the role of women in the 19th Century and ending with the continuing struggle for equal rights for women in all parts of society, this is an essential read for young people aged 10 plus to understand the history of the women’s movement on suffrage. It includes the suffragists’ campaign. The book includes photos of key people in the campaign such as Millicent Garrett Fawcett, Emmeline Pankhurst and Emily Wilding Davison and ephemera such as force-feeding equipment, banners and medallions.

The book is published ahead of 2018 – a landmark year that marks the centenary of the Representation of the People Act. This finally gave the vote to some women for the first time (women over 30, who owned property) and also gave the vote to all men (up until then, only about two-thirds of men had the vote). The Houses of Parliament are celebrating this centenary with their ‘Vote 100’ project. 2018 will also be the 90th anniversary of women gaining full voting equality with men in 1928.

Proud: Living My American Dream by Ibtihaj Muhammad (July 24)

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Ibtihaj Muhammad smashed barriers as the first American to compete wearing hijab, and made history as the first Muslim-American woman to medal. But it wasn’t an easy road–in a sport most popular among wealthy white people, Ibtihaj often felt out of place. Ibtihaj was fast, hardworking, and devoted to her faith, but rivals and teammates (as well as coaches and officials) pointed out her differences, insisting she would never succeed. Yet Ibtihaj powered on. Her inspiring journey from a young outsider to an Olympic hero is a relatable, memorable, and uniquely American tale of hard work, determination, and self-reliance.

August YA Nonfiction

Bonnie and Clyde: The Making of a Legend by Karen Blumenthal (August 1)

Bonnie and Clyde: we’ve been on a first name basis with them for almost a hundred years. Immortalized in movies, songs, and pop culture references, they are remembered mostly for their storied romance and tragic deaths. But what was life really like for Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker in the early 1930s? How did two dirt-poor teens from west Texas morph from vicious outlaws to legendary couple? And why?

Google It: A History of Google by Anna Crowley Redding (August 14)

Larry Page and Sergey Brin started out as two Stanford college students with a wild idea: They were going to organize the world’s information. From that one deceptively simple goal, they created one of the most influential and innovative companies in the world. The word “google” has even entered our vocabulary as a verb. Now, find out the true history of Google—from its humble beginnings as a thesis project made out of “borrowed” hardware and discount toys through its revolution of the world’s relationship with technology to a brief glimpse of where they might take us next.

In Google It, award-winning investigative reporter Anna Crowley Redding shares an inspiring story of innovation, personal and intellectual bravery, and most importantly, of shooting for the moon in order to change the world.

Our Stories, Our Voices: 21 YA Authors Get Real About Injustice, Empowerment, and Growing Up Female in America edited by Amy Reed (August 14)

This collection of twenty-one essays from major YA authors—including award-winning and bestselling writers—touches on a powerful range of topics related to growing up female in today’s America, and the intersection with race, religion, and ethnicity. Sure to inspire hope and solidarity to anyone who reads it, Our Stories, Our Voices belongs on every young woman’s shelf.

This anthology features essays from Martha Brockenbrough, Jaye Robin Brown, Sona Charaipotra, Brandy Colbert, Somaiya Daud, Christine Day, Alexandra Duncan, Ilene Wong (I.W.) Gregorio, Maurene Goo. Ellen Hopkins, Stephanie Kuehnert, Nina LaCour, Anna-Marie McLemore, Sandhya Menon, Hannah Moskowitz, Julie Murphy, Aisha Saeed, Jenny Torres Sanchez, Amber Smith, and Tracy Walker.

Putting Peace First: 7 Commitments to Change the World by Eric Dawson (August 28)

When he was just eighteen, Eric David Dawson co-founded the non-profit Peace First based on the idea that young people can change the world for the better–not someday, but right now. Twenty-five years later, Peace First has reached millions worldwide, teaching young people how to become peacemakers and create real change. Now, Dawson has written PUTTING PEACE FIRST, the handbook every aspiring peacemaker needs.

Using the inspiring stories of real life peacemakers, each chapter highlights a different aspect of peacemaking, from Opening Your Heart to Taking a Stand. With clear, step-by-step explanations of how each peacemaker achieved their goals, this book is a guide for anyone who wants to make a difference.

Spooked!: How a Radio Broadcast and The War of the Worlds Sparked the 1938 Invasion of America by Gail Jarrow (August 7)

On the night of October 30, 1938, thousands of Americans panicked when they believed that Martians had invaded Earth. What appeared to be breaking news about an alien invasion was in fact a radio drama based on H. G. Wells’s War of the Worlds, performed by Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre players. Some listeners became angry once they realized they had been tricked, and the reaction to the broadcast sparked a national discussion about fake news, propaganda, and the role of radio. In this compelling nonfiction chapter book, Gail Jarrow explores the production of the broadcast, the aftermath, and the concept of fake news in the media.

The Ultimate Survival Guide to Being a Girl: On Love, Body Image, School, and Making It Through Life by Christina De Witte (August 7)

With friends, love, social media, body image, and more–navigating young adulthood can seem impossible. The Ultimate Survival Guide to Being a Girl provides humorous and highly relatable guidelines for all of the struggles young girls face, presented in author Christina De Witte’s signature comic style and told from the point of view of her lovable Instagram and Internet character, Chrostin. A Hyperbole and a Half for the young adult audience, the book includes comics and hands-on advice about serious issues like mental health and self-care, and also deals with questions on every young girl’s mind, like “Can you survive on pizza alone?”

Quirky, hilarious, and sincere, The Ultimate Survival Guide to Being a Girl empowers young women to challenge society’s unrealistic standards of beauty and embrace their individuality. This is sure to be a favorite for teen girls. Table of Contents Chapter One: Mental Stuff Chapter Two: The Beauty of the Human Booty Chapter Three: On Food Comas and Food Babies Chapter Four: Fashion No-No or Fashion Guru? Chapter Five: Friends and Family Business Chapter Six: Love Is Beautiful/Sucks Chapter Seven: School and Work, Work, Work, Work, Work Chapter Eight: The Internet of Things Chapter Nine: Society vs. Me Chapter Ten: United in Diversity.

Unpunished Murder: Massacre at Colfax and the Quest for Justice by Lawrence Goldstone (August 28)

On Easter Sunday of 1873, just eight years after the Civil War ended, a band of white supremacists marched into Grant Parish, Louisiana, and massacred over one hundred unarmed African Americans. The court case that followed reached the highest court in the land. Yet, following one of the most ghastly incidents of mass murder in American history, not one person was convicted.

The opinion issued by the Supreme Court in US v. Cruikshank set in motion a process that would help create a society in which black Americans were oppressed and denied basic human rights — legally, according to the courts. These injustices paved the way for Jim Crow and would last for the next hundred years. Many continue to exist to this day.

In this compelling and thoroughly researched volume for young readers, Lawrence Goldstone traces the evolution of the law and the fascinating characters involved in the story of how the Supreme Court helped institutionalize racism in the American justice system.

September YA Nonfiction

The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayor by Sonia Sotomayor (September 4)

Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic and third woman appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States, was a young girl when she dared to dream big. Her dream? To become a lawyer and a judge.

As Justice Sotomayor explains, “When I was a child my family was poor and we knew no lawyers or judges and none lived in our neighborhood. I knew nothing about the Supreme Court and how much its work in reinterpreting the Constitution and the laws of the United States affected peoples’ lives. You cannot dream of becoming something you don’t even know about. That has been the most important lesson of my life. You have to learn to dream big dreams.”

Sonia did not let the hardships of her background–which included growing up in the rough housing projects of New York City’s South Bronx, dealing with juvenile diabetes, coping with parents who argued and fought personal demons, and worrying about money–stand in her way. Always, she believed in herself. Her determination, along with guidance from generous mentors and the unwavering love of her extended Puerto Rican family, propelled her ever forward.

Cyrus Field’s Big Dream: The Daring Effort to Lay the First Transatlantic Telegraph Cable by Mary Morton Cowan (September 11)

Cyrus Field had a big dream to connect North America and the United Kingdom with a telegraph line, which would enable instant communication. In the mid-1800s, no one knew if it was possible. That didn’t dissuade Cyrus, who set out to learn about undersea cables and built a network of influential people to raise money and create interest in his project. Cyrus experienced numerous setbacks: many years of delays and failed attempts, millions of dollars lost, suspected sabotage, technological problems, and more. But Cyrus did not give up and forged ahead, ultimately realizing his dream in the summer of 1866. Mary Morton Cowan brilliantly captures Cyrus’s life and his steadfast determination to achieve his dream.

The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler by John Hendrix (September 18)

Interweaving handwritten text and art, John Hendrix tells the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his fight against the oppression of the German people during World War II. Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor and theologian who was shocked to watch the German church embrace Hitler’s agenda of hatred. He spoke out against the Nazi party and led a breakaway church that rebelled against racist and nationalist beliefs of the Third Reich. Struggling with how his faith interacted with his ethics, Bonhoeffer eventually became convinced that Hitler and the Nazi Party needed to be stopped–and he was willing to sacrifice anything and everything to do so.

The Grand Escape: The Greatest Prison Breakout of the 20th Century by Neal Boscomb (September 25)

At the height of World War I, as Allied and German forces battled in the trenches and in the air, any captured soldiers and pilots were sent to a web of German prisons. The most dangerous POWs, the ones most talented at escape, were sent to the camp of Holzminden–better known as “Hellminden.” Protected by every barrier imaginable, its rules enforced with cruel precision, the prison was the pride of a ruthless commandant named Karl Niemeyer.

This is the story of a group of ingenious and defiant Allied pilots and soldiers who dared to escape from Holzminden, right under Niemeyer’s nose. Leading a team that tunneled underneath the prison and far beyond its walls, these breakout artists forged documents, smuggled in supplies, and bribed guards. Twice the tunnel was almost exposed, and the whole plan foiled. But in the end, a group of ten POWs escaped and made it out of enemy territory in the biggest breakout of WWI, which inspired their countrymen in the darkest hours of the war.

How to Feel Awesome Every Day by Elly Awesome (September 4)

Turn daily challenges into awesome experiences that will cure your boredom and brighten your day. Jam-packed with journal pages, advice, DIYs, recipes, and all sorts of rad activities — How To Feel Awesome Every Day is your one-stop guide to good times.

We are all awesome in our own ways but sometimes we need a little pep talk and some inspiration. This book is the perfect nudge for readers of all ages! It’s a boredom buster, a stress reliever, a gift for your best friend, family member, or anyone who’s feeling a bit down–yourself included. Whoever the reader, How to Feel Awesome Every Day is guaranteed to put a smile on their face.

Just Mercy (Young Reader Edition) by Bryan A. Stevenson (September 18)

In this very personal work–proceeds of which will go to charity–Bryan Stevenson recounts many and varied stories of his work as a lawyer in the U.S. criminal justice system on behalf of those in society who have experienced some type of discrimination and/or have been wrongly accused of a crime and who deserve a powerful advocate and due justice under the law.

Through the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), an organization Stevenson founded as a young lawyer and for which he currently serves as Executive Director, this important work continues. EJI strives to end mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, working to protect basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.

Mary Shelley: The Strange True Tale of Frankenstein’s Creator by Catherine Reef (September 18)

The story of Frankenstein’s creator is a strange, romantic, and tragic one, as deeply compelling as the novel itself. Mary ran away to Lake Geneva with the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley when she was just sixteen. It was there, during a cold and wet summer, that she first imagined her story about a mad scientist who brought a corpse back to life. Success soon followed for Mary, but also great tragedy and misfortune.

Catherine Reef brings this passionate woman, brilliant writer, and forgotten feminist into crisp focus, detailing a life that was remarkable both before and after the publication of her iconic masterpiece. Includes index.

Nevertheless, We Persisted: 48 Voices of Defiance, Strength, and Courage (September 4)

“Aren’t you a terrorist?” “There are no roles for people who look like you.” “That’s a sin.” “No girls allowed.” They’ve heard it all. Actress Alia Shawkat reflects on all the parts she was told she was too “ethnic” to play. Former NFL player Wade Davis recalls his bullying of gay classmates in an attempt to hide his own sexuality. Teen Gavin Grimm shares the story that led to the infamous “bathroom bill,” and how he’s fighting it. Holocaust survivor Fanny Starr tells of her harrowing time in Auschwitz, where she watched her family disappear, one by one.

What made them rise up through the hate? What made them overcome the obstacles of their childhood to achieve extraordinary success? How did they break out of society’s limited view of who they are and find their way to the beautiful and hard-won lives they live today? With a foreword by Minnesota senator and up-and-coming Democratic party leader Amy Klobuchar, these essays share deeply personal stories of resilience, faith, love, and, yes, persistence.

Ready For It by Chusita Fashion Fever (September 18)

YouTube sensation Chusita Fashion Fever gives no nonsense advice on everything from relationships, sexual identity, your first time and the difference between on-screen sex versus #IRL. And this is about real life; Chusita addresses actual questions and concerns posed by her teenage fans.

The bold package features body-positive comic illustrations and “fun facts” health sections, while Chusita’s signature voice is authentic and non-judgmental; straight and LGBTI readers are welcome. Myths are debunked and taboos explored–allowing readers to learn not only about the logistics of sex, but about consent, respect, self care, and the intuition needed to make mature sexual decisions with confidence.

Sex Plus: Learning, Loving, and Enjoying Your Body by Laci Green (September 25)

Let’s be honest: we think about sex A LOT, and we plenty of unanswered questions. What’s the best way to talk to my partner about what I want? How do I figure out my sexuality? How do I have sex safely? What does an orgasm actually feel like?

Laci Green—a sex educator and YouTuber who’s been hailed by TIME magazine as the millennial Dr. Ruth—has built a platform of millions of followers by answering sex-related questions frankly, nonjudgmentally, and hilariously.

Now Laci brings her signature style and voice to a comprehensive book about the multitude of issues and concerns that go along with sexuality: anatomy, consent, LGBTQ issues, STI and pregnancy prevention, sexual empowerment, healthy relationships, myth-busting, and more.

Sex Plus is the first book of its kind: empowering, sex-positive, and cool. Comprehensive, honest, and vetted by a range of medical experts, this book will help you take control of your sex life.

Ski Soldier by Louise Borden (September 11)

Ski Soldier is a true-life adventure story for readers ages 10 to 14 by noted nonfiction writer Louise Borden. It tells the story of Pete Seibert, a ski soldier severely wounded in World War II who went on to found the Vail Ski Resort in Colorado.

Ever since he first strapped on his mother’s wooden skis when he was seven, Pete Seibert always loved to ski. At 18, Pete enlisted in the U.S. Army and joined the 10th Mountain Division, soldiers who fought on skis in World War II. In the mountains of Italy, Pete encountered the mental and physical horrors of war. When he was severely wounded and sent home to recover, Pete worried that he might never ski again. But with perseverance and the help of other 10th Mountain ski soldiers, he took to the slopes again and fulfilled his boyhood dream–founding the famous ski resort in Vail, Colorado.

Someone Like Me: How An Undocumented Girl Fought For Her American Dream by Julissa Arce (September 4)

Born in the picturesque town of Taxco, Mexico, Julissa Arce was left behind for months at a time with her two sisters, a nanny, and her grandma while her parents worked tirelessly in America in hopes of building a home and providing a better life for their children. That is, until her parents brought Julissa to Texas to live with them. From then on, Julissa secretly lived as an undocumented immigrant, went on to become a scholarship winner and an honors college graduate, and climbed the ladder to become a vice president at Goldman Sachs.

This moving, at times heartbreaking, but always inspiring story will show young readers that anything is possible. Julissa’s story provides a deep look into the little-understood world of a new generation of undocumented immigrants in the United States today-kids who live next door, sit next to you in class, or may even be one of your best friends.

#Squadgoals: The Friendship Book by Ella Kasperowicz (September 4)

Everbody has their own squad, a group of friends who you can rely on. The sassy one, the brainiac, the hot mess, the dizzy one, the party animal, the compulsive messager, the surrogate mom. Squad Goals celebrates all the facets of friendship, with burning issues for you to debate such as: ‘Which cockatil would you be?” and “Who is the most likely to live to 100 or spend a night in jail?”.

Illustrated throughout by talented artist Ella Kasperowicz, this book will make perfect gift for birthdays, bachelorette parties and graduation.

Steal This Country: A Handbook for Resistence, Persistence, and Fixing Almost Everything by Alexandra Styron (September 4)

Inspired by Abbie Hoffman’s radical classic, Steal This Book, author Alexandra Styron’s stirring call for resistance and citizen activism will be clearly heard by young people who don’t accept “it is what it is,” who want to make sure everybody gets an equal piece of the American pie, and who know that the future of the planet is now.

Styron’s irreverent and informative primer on how to make a difference is organized into three sections: The Why, The What, and The How. The book opens with a personal essay and a historic look at civil disobedience and teenage activism in America. That’s followed by a deep dive into several key issues: climate change, racial justice, women’s rights, LGBTQIA rights, immigration, religious understanding, and intersectionality. Each chapter is introduced by an original full page comic and includes a summary of key questions, interviews with movers and shakers–from celebrities to youth activists–and spotlights on progressive organizations. The book’s final section is packed with how-to advice on ways to engage, from group activities such as organizing, marching, rallying, and petitioning to individual actions like voting with your wallet, volunteering, talking with relatives with different viewpoints, and using social activism to get out a progressive message.

This is a perfect book for older middle-schoolers and teens who care about the planet, the people with whom they share it, and the future for us all.

The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees by Don Brown (September 18)

Starting in 2011, refugees flood out of war-torn Syria in Exodus-like proportions. The surprising flood of victims overwhelms neighboring countries, and chaos follows. Resentment in host nations heightens as disruption and the cost of aid grows. By 2017, many want to turn their backs on the victims. The refugees are the unwanted.

Don Brown depicts moments of both heartbreaking horror and hope in the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis. Shining a light on the stories of the survivors, The Unwanted is a testament to the courage and resilience of the refugees and a call to action for all those who read.

We Are Not Yet Equal: Understanding Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson, Tonya Bolden (September 11)

Carol Anderson’s White Rage took the world by storm, landing on the New York Times bestseller list and best book of the year lists from New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, and Chicago Review of Books. It launched her as an in-demand commentator on contemporary race issues for national print and television media and garnered her an invitation to speak to the Democratic Congressional Caucus. This compelling young adult adaptation brings her ideas to a new audience.

When America achieves milestones of progress toward full and equal black participation in democracy, the systemic response is a consistent racist backlash that rolls back those wins. We Are Not Yet Equal examines five of these moments: The end of the Civil War and Reconstruction was greeted with Jim Crow laws; the promise of new opportunities in the North during the Great Migration was limited when blacks were physically blocked from moving away from the South; the Supreme Court’s landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision was met with the shutting down of public schools throughout the South; the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965 led to laws that disenfranchised millions of African American voters and a War on Drugs that disproportionally targeted blacks; and the election of President Obama led to an outburst of violence including the death of black teen Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri as well as the election of Donald Trump.

This YA adaptation will be written in an approachable narrative style that provides teen readers with additional context to these historic moments, photographs and archival images, and additional backmatter and resources for teens.

October YA Nonfiction

(Don’t) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start The Conversation About Mental Health edited by Kelly Jensen (October 2)

Who’s Crazy?

What does it mean to be crazy? Is using the word crazyoffensive? What happens when such a label gets attached to your everyday experiences?

In order to understand mental health, we need to talk openly about it. Because there’s no single definition of crazy, there’s no single experience that embodies it, and the word itself means different things—wild? extreme? disturbed? passionate?—to different people.

(Don’t) Call Me Crazy is a conversation starter and guide to better understanding how our mental health affects us every day. Thirty-three writers, athletes, and artists offer essays, lists, comics, and illustrations that explore their personal experiences with mental illness, how we do and do not talk about mental health, help for better understanding how every person’s brain is wired differently, and what, exactly, might make someone crazy.

If you’ve ever struggled with your mental health, or know someone who has, come on in, turn the pages, and let’s get talking.

Booklist: Influenza Pandemic of 1918

June 20, 2018 |

This year is the hundredth anniversary of the influenza pandemic of 1918, which killed an estimated 100 million people worldwide in the midst of World War I. As you might expect, a hundred years later, there’s renewed interest, and publishers have released a mini-flood of books that focus on it. But the flu has long been a popular topic for writers of nonfiction and historical fiction, as well as their readers; it’s also the seed of the idea for many, many dystopias and apocalyptic stories. Clearly, this tragedy causes fear and fires the imagination at the same time. In 2018, interest is even higher. This booklist highlights some of the more prominent books for teens on the topic, both fiction and nonfiction, and as a bonus, a few futuristic stories that posit a world during, and after, an even deadlier flu pandemic.

Nonfiction

Epidemics and Pandemics: Real Tales of Deadly Diseases by Judy Dodge Cummings

Feel a tickle in your throat? Do you still have that headache? Could you be falling victim to a deadly virus? From history’s earliest days, bacteria and viruses have stalked humans. Stowing on wagons, ships, and airplanes, these diseases traversed the globe, infecting people in city streets and isolated hamlets. Epidemics and Pandemics: Real Tales of Deadly Diseases tells the tale of five of history’s most critical contagions.

More Deadly Than War: The Hidden History of the Spanish Flu and the First World War by Kenneth C. Davis

With 2018 marking the 100th anniversary of the worst disease outbreak in modern history, the story of the Spanish flu is more relevant today than ever. This narrative, told through the stories and voices of the people caught in the deadly maelstrom, explores how this vast, global epidemic was intertwined with the horrors of World War I—and how it could happen again. Complete with photographs, period documents, modern research, and firsthand reports by medical professionals and survivors.

Pandemic: How Climate, the Environment, and Superbugs Increase the Risk by Connie Goldsmith

How close are we to having another worldwide health crisis? Pandemic epidemiologists have identified one they believe is likely to happen in the next couple decades: the flu. Learn about factors that contribute to the spread of disease by examining past pandemics and epidemics, including the Bubonic Plague, smallpox Ebola, HIV/AIDS, and Zika. Examine case studies of potential pandemic diseases, like SARS and cholera, and find out how pathogens and antibiotics work. See how human activities such as global air travel and the disruption of animal habitats contribute to the risk of a new pandemic. And discover how scientists are striving to contain and control the spread of disease, both locally and globally.

The 1918 Flu Pandemic by Katherine Krohn

In graphic novel format, follows the 1918 outbreak of a mysterious influenza virus that killed millions of people worldwide, making it the deadliest pandemic in history.

Very, Very, Very Dreadful: The Influenza Pandemic of 1918 by Albert Marrin

In spring of 1918, World War I was underway, and troops at Fort Riley, Kansas, found themselves felled by influenza. By the summer of 1918, the second wave struck as a highly contagious and lethal epidemic and within weeks exploded into a pandemic, an illness that travels rapidly from one continent to another. It would impact the course of the war, and kill many millions more soldiers than warfare itself.

Of all diseases, the 1918 flu was by far the worst that has ever afflicted humankind; not even the Black Death of the Middle Ages comes close in terms of the number of lives it took. No war, no natural disaster, no famine has claimed so many. In the space of eighteen months in 1918-1919, about 500 million people–one-third of the global population at the time–came down with influenza. The exact total of lives lost will never be known, but the best estimate is between 50 and 100 million.

In this powerful book, filled with black and white photographs, nonfiction master Albert Marrin examines the history, science, and impact of this great scourge–and the possibility for another worldwide pandemic today.

Fiction

Blessing’s Bead by Debby Dahl Edwardson

Nutaaq and her older sister, Aaluk, are on a great journey, sailing from a small island off the coast of Alaska to the annual trade fair. There, a handsome young Siberian wearing a string of cobalt blue beads watches Aaluk “the way a wolf watches a caribou, never resting.” Soon his actions—and other events more horrible than Nutaaq could ever imagine—threaten to shatter her I~nupiaq world. Seventy years later, Nutaaq’s greatgranddaughter, Blessing, is on her own journey, running from the wreckage of her life in Anchorage to live in a remote Arctic village with a grandmother she barely remembers. In her new home, unfriendly girls whisper in a language she can’t understand, and Blessing feels like an outsider among her own people. Until she finds a cobalt blue bead—Nutaaq’s bead—in her grandmother’s sewing tin. The events this discovery triggers reveal the power of family and heritage to heal, despite seemingly insurmountable odds.

One for Sorrow by Mary Downing Hahn

Against the ominous backdrop of the influenza epidemic of 1918, Annie, a new girl at school, is claimed as best friend by Elsie, a classmate who is a tattletale, a liar, and a thief. Soon Annie makes other friends and finds herself joining them in teasing and tormenting Elsie. Elsie dies from influenza, but then she returns to reclaim Annie’s friendship and punish all the girls who bullied her. Young readers who revel in spooky stories will relish this chilling tale of a girl haunted by a vengeful ghost.

The Goodbye Season by Marian Hale

Mercy Kaplan doesn’t want to be like her mother, saddled with crying kids and failing crops for the rest of her life. Mercy longs to be on her own—until her wish comes true in the worst possible way. It is 1918 and a deadly flu epidemic ravages the country, leaving her utterly alone and penniless.

Mercy soon finds a job with Mrs. Wilder. But there’s something unsettling about the woman, whose brother died under mysterious circumstances. And then there’s Daniel, who could sweep a girl off her feet if she isn’t careful.

The Keening by A. LaFaye

Born into a family with artistry in their fingers, Lyza laments that her only talent is carving letters into wood. That is until her life is turned upside down when her mother succumbs to the influenza pandemic of 1918, which is devastating their small coastal town in Maine. With her mother gone, Lyza must protect her eccentric father, who runs the risk of being committed, especially now that he claims he’s waiting for the return of his dead wife. Can Lyza save her father and find her own path in the process?

A Death-Struck Year by Makiia Lucier

For Cleo Berry, the people dying of the Spanish Influenza in cities like New York and Philadelphia may as well be in another country–that’s how far away they feel from the safety of Portland, Oregon. And then cases start being reported in the Pacific Northwest. Schools, churches, and theaters shut down. The entire city is thrust into survival mode–and into a panic. Headstrong and foolish, seventeen-year-old Cleo is determined to ride out the pandemic in the comfort of her own home, rather than in her quarantined boarding school dorms. But when the Red Cross pleads for volunteers, she can’t ignore the call. As Cleo struggles to navigate the world around her, she is surprised by how much she finds herself caring about near-strangers. Strangers like Edmund, a handsome medical student and war vet. Strangers who could be gone tomorrow. And as the bodies begin to pile up, Cleo can’t help but wonder: when will her own luck run out?

In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters

In 1918, the world seems on the verge of apocalypse. Americans roam the streets in gauze masks to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza, and the government ships young men to the front lines of a brutal war, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black watches as desperate mourners flock to séances and spirit photographers for comfort, but she herself has never believed in ghosts. During her bleakest moment, however, she’s forced to rethink her entire way of looking at life and death, for her first love—a boy who died in battle—returns in spirit form. But what does he want from her?

Fever Season by Eric Zweig

When David is orphaned by the Spanish influenza outbreak in 1919 Montreal, he needs to find his long-lost uncle if he wants to avoid the orphanage, and he gets his chance when he gets a job with the Montreal Canadiens.

Bonus: Futuristic Stories about Pandemics

Nowhere Wild by Joe Beernink

Izzy is just thirteen when a flu pandemic turns the world upside down. After her sister is attacked by a roving gang of looters in what remains of their town, Izzy flees to the wilderness with a man who claims he will protect her. Sixteen-year-old Jake is stranded and alone in the unforgiving northern Manitoba backcountry. His mother and grandfather have died and his father has gone missing, the plane meant to return them from a summer camping trip having failed to arrive. Desperate to find a way home, he begins a trek over some of the most forbidding landscape in the country.

Both Jake and Izzy are forced to make decisions and take on responsibilities they could never have imagined. They must draw on every shred of resourcefulness and courage as they try to save themselves and, ultimately, each other.

Light Years by Emily Ziff Griffin

Luisa is ready for her life to start. Five minutes ago. And she could be on her way, as her extraordinary coding skills have landed her a finalist spot for a fellowship sponsored by Thomas Bell, the world’s most brilliant and mercurial tech entrepreneur. Being chosen means funding, mentorship, and most importantly, freedom from her overbearing mother. Maybe Lu will even figure out how to control the rare condition that plagues her: whenever her emotions run high, her physical senses kick into overload, with waves of colour, sound, taste, and touch flooding her body.

But Luisa’s life is thrust into chaos as a deadly virus sweeps across the globe, killing thousands and sending her father into quarantine. When Lu receives a cryptic message from someone who might hold the key to stopping the epidemic, she knows she must do something to save her family—and the world.

A Matter of Days by Amber Kizer

Their new reality begins in just a matter of days. On Day 56 of the Blustar Pandemic, sixteen-year-old Nadia’s mother dies, leaving Nadia to fend for herself and her younger brother, Rabbit. Both have been immunized against the virus, but they can’t be protected from what comes next. Their father taught them to “be the cockroach”—to adapt to and survive whatever comes their way. And that’s their mission.

Facing a lawless world of destruction and deprivation, Nadia and Rabbit drive from Seattle to their grandfather’s compound in West Virginia. The illness, fatigue, and hunger they endure along the way will all be worth it once they reach the compound. Unless no one is waiting for them . . .

This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada

Catarina Agatta is a hacker. She can cripple mainframes and crash through firewalls, but that’s not what makes her special. In Cat’s world, people are implanted with technology to recode their DNA, allowing them to change their bodies in any way they want. And Cat happens to be a gene-hacking genius. That’s no surprise, since Cat’s father is Dr. Lachlan Agatta, a legendary geneticist who may be the last hope for defeating a plague that has brought humanity to the brink of extinction. But during the outbreak, Lachlan was kidnapped by a shadowy organization called Cartaxus, leaving Cat to survive the last two years on her own.

When a Cartaxus soldier, Cole, arrives with news that her father has been killed, Cat’s instincts tell her it’s just another Cartaxus lie. But Cole also brings a message: before Lachlan died, he managed to create a vaccine, and Cole needs Cat’s help to release it and save the human race. Now Cat must decide who she can trust: The soldier with secrets of his own? The father who made her promise to hide from Cartaxus at all costs? In a world where nature itself can be rewritten, how much can she even trust herself?

Pandemic by Yvonne Ventresca

Even under the most normal circumstances, high school can be a painful and confusing time. Unfortunately, Lilianna’s circumstances are anything but normal. Only a few people know what caused her sudden change from model student to the withdrawn pessimist she has become, but her situation isn’t about to get any better. When people begin coming down with a quick-spreading illness that doctors are unable to treat, Lil’s worst fears are realized. With her parents called away on business before the contagious outbreak-her father in Delaware covering the early stages of the disease and her mother in Hong Kong and unable to get a flight back to New Jersey-Lil’s town is hit by what soon becomes a widespread illness and fatal disaster. Now, she’s more alone than she’s been since the “incident” at her school months ago.

With friends and neighbors dying all around her, Lil does everything she can just to survive. But as the disease rages on, so does an unexpected tension as Lil is torn between an old ex and a new romantic interest. Just when it all seems too much, the cause of her original trauma shows up at her door. In this thrilling debut from author Yvonne Ventresca, Lil must find a way to survive not only the outbreak and its real-life consequences, but also her own personal demons.