Staff Picks Young Adult Nonfiction

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September 2024

Washed Ashore: Making Art from Ocean Plastic

by Kelly Crull

Artist Angela Haseltine Pozzi lives on the coast in Oregon. She noticed a lot of plastic washing up on the shore and decided to do something about it. She started collecting the plastic with the help of others in her town and towns nearby. Then, she decided to make giant sculptures of marine animals that are at risk because of the plastic that is found in oceans. The book (author and photographer Kelly Crull) highlights fourteen different sculptures created by the plastic they found. The sculptures are beautiful, but tragic at the same time. The reader of the book will be educated about different marine animals that are in danger because of plastic pollution. The author educates and gives tips as to what the reader can do to help. Each page has several pictures that the user can search for in the sculpture.
The author created an organization called Washed Ashore. The sculptures travel around the United States and Canada to educate people about this problem with the hopes of causing change. You will be amazed at the sculptures in this book! She emphasizes that we all can make a difference with our choices.
Recommended by: Stacie Pendleton, Youth Services Assistant

Posted in: Young Adult Nonfiction


That’s My Team! The History, Science, and Fun behind Sports Teams’ Names

by Paul Volponi

A quick and easy read about the origin of many sports teams’ names is a very fun choice for any athlete in the family! Volponi splits up the collection into easily digestible chapters focused on team names in broad categories (animals, literature, music) and further provides a concise history lesson on the team history as well as the inspiration for the team’s name choice. Packed into each briefing are little fun facts about the science of animals, the history of cities or geographical information about the world that led to the adoption of a team name. While many of the segments are entertaining glimpses into the world of sports, Volponi also challenges readers to use critical thinking skills to address concerns regarding controversial team names, designing their own team names as well as other math/science/writing challenges. A great lesson on the history of sports that gets its readers involved and wanting more!

Recommended by: Alexander Pappas, Youth Services Reference Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Nonfiction


Houses with a story : a dragon’s den, a ghostly mansion, a library of lost books, and 30 more amazing places to explore

by Seiji Yoshida

A must read for all aspiring writers and artists. This book contains a collection of wonderfully illustrated houses and buildings with descriptions of locations and characters that would belong to them. The viewpoints of each building are aerials with layout into the lives of each character which are great guide and reference for artists of any kind. While the descriptions give great ideas for writers looking for some world and character-building inspiration.

This book is available in the library and on Hoopla as an ebook.

Recommended by: Ayla Franco, Youth Services Assistant

Posted in: Young Adult Nonfiction


August 2024

Sunshine: how one camp taught me about life, death, and hope

by Jarrett Krosoczka

This is a wonderfully illustrated non-fiction graphic novel that tells the story of a group of teenagers that volunteer for the week at camp during their senior year of high school. With mixed emotions going into the week, helping children and families with cancer and illnesses is nothing but life-changing. Jarrett and his five other classmates embark on a week of camp activities and learn about the determination and perseverance of the children around them. I recommend this book for anyone that wants a feel-good story of hope and making a difference in the world. This book is included in the Read for a Lifetime 2025 program put on by the state of Illinois to target high school students. By reading this book, you can be part of the way to getting recognition from the state and receiving a certificate that looks great on college applications!

This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and e audiobook.

Recommended by: Abigail Hooks, Youth Services Assistant

Posted in: Young Adult Nonfiction


Impossible Escape: a true story of survival and heroism in Nazi Germany

by Steve Sheinkin

This non-fiction novel tells the true story of the lives of Rudi and Gerta, both Slovakian-Jewish-born teenagers trying to escape their situations during World War II. Rudi in the Auschwitz concentration camp and Gerta hiding away in Hungary. This novel reads like a narrative and tells of the hardships they both endure while trying to survive the war. This is an incredibly well-written and descriptive story that comes full circle with true historical facts that impacted the rest of the war. If you want a historical and realistic novel, this is one you won’t want to put down. This book is included in the Read for a Lifetime 2025 program put on by the state of Illinois to target high school students. By reading this book, you can be part of the way to getting recognition from the state and receiving a certificate that looks great on college applications!

This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and e audiobook.

Recommended by: Abigail Hooks, Youth Services Assistant

Posted in: Young Adult Nonfiction


July 2024

A First Time for Everything

by Dan Santant

Middle school can be tough, but it can also be a time to learn about yourself and this is true of Dan Santat’s graphic novel A First Time for Everything.  The story chronicles his travels to Europe as a 13-year-old. Although he was hesitant to go, given the difficulties he’d been having in school , this trip proves to be a life-changing experience. He meets lifelong friends and his perspective on his personality and strengths change as the story progresses. The graphic novel format is engaging and beautifully illustrated. A wonderful story for kids who are growing to learn what they have to bring to the world.

This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and e audiobook.

Recommended by: Darnetta Bolton, Youth Services Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Nonfiction


Anne Frank’s Diary

Anne Frank’s Diary full-length diary is adapted into a graphic novel by Ari Folman with stunning illustrations by David Polonsky. The journal highlights the life of Anne Frank, a young teenage girl who is forced to go into hiding with her family when Hitler was in power. It is astonishing what she and her family went through for almost two years living in their apartment. Anne shares her intimate and personal story. She shares what is happening to them inside the apartment and reveals her biggest thoughts and dreams for the world going on outside their apartment. We learn about her feelings and her hope for the future. You as the reader will feel like you are reading the diary of a good friend and you get to know Anne through her humor and sarcasm.

Recommended by: Stacie Pendleton, Youth Services Assistant

Posted in: Young Adult Nonfiction


June 2024

Accountable: the true story of a racist social media account and the teenagers whose lives it changed

by Dashka Slater

A timely, essential read for our social media-dominated times; Dashka Slater presents a tragic story of a city torn apart over hate speech. Slater relies on multiple viewpoints to understand the diverse perspectives of those involved: perpetrators, victims, parents, students, educators and scholars. In-depth reporting allows Slater to present a story that is a challenging but deeply relevant tale. What happens when what starts as “edgy humor” hurts the people we supposedly care about? In our internet-centric culture, how do we walk the ever-blurring lines of online vs. real life? In Accountable, we see those effects on the community as intergenerational wounds and individual traumas reopen with every click, post and like.
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook.
Recommended by: Alexander Pappas, Youth Services Reference Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Nonfiction


August 2023

Victory. Stand!: Raising my fist for justice

by Tommie Smith

A fist in the air. Eighty seconds of a profound symbolic act that will not be forgotten. This engaging graphic novel co-written by Derrick Barnes and the man himself, Tommie Smith, is powerfully illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile and will move readers deeply into a moment in history with such significance that it still resonates today. This is the story of a courageous world record-breaker, from childhood to his stepping into the world stage where he risked all in the name of justice and human rights. The story behind the protesting expression of two black athletes at their triumphant moment at the Mexican Olympic games of 1965 where they decided they had to be seen because they (and many more) were not being heard. Smith’s first-ever memoir for young readers, received the 2023 YALSA Excellence in Young Adult Nonfiction Award among many other recognitions. It is also a pick for the 2023-2024 Read For A Lifetime statewide teen reading program.

Recommended by: Fanny Camargo, Youth Services Reference Librarian I

Posted in: Young Adult Nonfiction


June 2023

Mindfulness Meditations for Teens

by Bodhipaksa

It’s summertime! With great weather and some flexible time, an opportunity returns to explore and unplug. Discover the power of meditation to clear your mind, slow down, and find brief moments of peace to reconnect with yourself. Grab your earbuds or your favorite headphones and give meditation a try with this soothing playaway that you can take anywhere, indoors or outdoors, to unwind and recharge. The track list includes ten brief sessions by Buddhist practitioner, author, and teacher Bodhipaksa to help you release a calmer, positive, and creative mindset.
Recommended by: Fanny Camargo, Youth Services Reference Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Nonfiction


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