After dedicating the first book round-up post on nonfiction picture books, I thought that this second post would be a great time to write about nonfiction YAL. I have long enjoyed nonfiction (in fact, I often prefer nonfiction to fiction), and I especially love the nonfiction YAL that is available. Besides being engagingly written, these books offer some great opportunities for interdisciplinary connections and readings in various subject areas.
A few notes regarding these book round-ups, if you have any suggestions for books I should feature, please let me know! Also, I plan on posting these semi-regularly. I initially planned on doing them on a weekly basis, but given other responsibilities, I've decided to do them a minimum of once a month.
The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century by Sarah Miller gives readers a thoughtful look at the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden in their Fall River, Massachusetts home and the media storm that ensued. While many people look at the Borden murders and the Lizzie Borden trial and wonder how the jury could have found Lizzie innocent, Miller does an excellent job portraying all sides of the case and debunking some of the misconceptions regarding the case. The book also allows for discussion and exploration of topics such as the justice system and the role that the media can and should play when it comes to sensational topics. There is a teacher's guide available
here.
Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War by Steve Sheinkin has won numerous awards, including the 50th
Globe-Horn Book award, and for good reason. Sheinkin has crafted a fast-paced, engaging, and suspenseful look at Daniel Ellsberg's transformation from Pentagon insider to government whistleblower during the Vietnam War. Sheinkin's tense, electrifying prose and careful research tell Ellsberg's story and his ultimate decision to make the Pentagon Papers public. Additionally, it prompts questions regarding what it means to be a true patriot. The epilogue makes connections to our current-day society and Edward Snowden. This would be an excellent book for a social studies class and would allow for some excellent connections to journalism as well.
Like Lizzie Borden, Typhoid Mary has long been the subject of scorn and ridicule. In her book
Terrible Typhoid Mary: A True Story of the Deadliest Cook in America, Susan Campbell Bartoletti encourages readers to take another look at Mary Mallon, better known as Typhoid Mary, and to consider the situation from her perspective. While history tends to cast her as someone who callously and recklessly endangered the health of others, Bartoletti presents a different picture, where Mallon is a gifted and well-known cook who happened to be a passive carrier for typhoid. Additionally, Bartoletti shows just how unfairly Mallon was treated by the authorities, some of whom were using her case for the purposes of self-advancement and fame. The end result is an insightful and well-written look at an infamous and feared figure.
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