Staff Picks
New Teen Nonfiction of 2021
- Thomas M.
- Friday, December 03, 2021
Collection
Teens will run the world someday, and there will be plenty for them to build, change, and maintain as they come of age. Teen nonfiction throughout 2021 instructed readers on representation and social change, including room for teen impact.
You Don't Have to Be Everything
Poems for Girls Becoming Themselves
Published in 2021
"A contemporary poetry anthology that offers girls and young women wisdom and compassion for a vital, formative time in their lives."-- Publisher's description.
Girlhood
Teens Around the World in Their Own Voices
Published in 2021
"Journalist Masuma Ahuja introduces us to 31 teenage girls from 29 countries. Through diary entries and photographs, they share their own stories of growing up and show what ordinary girlhood is like all over the world"-- Provided by publisher.
The Power of Style
How Fashion and Beauty Are Being Used to Reclaim Cultures
Published in 2021
"Style is not just the clothes on our backs--it is self-expression, representation, and transformation. As a fashion-obsessed Ojibwe teen, Christian Allaire rarely saw anyone that looked like him in the magazines or movies he looked to for inspiration. Now the Fashion and Style Writer for Vogue, he is working to change that--because clothes are never just clothes. Men's heels are a statement of pride in the face of LGTBQ+ discrimination, while ribbon shirts honor Indigenous ancestors and keep culture alive. Allaire takes the reader through boldly designed chapters to discuss additional topics like cosplay, make up, hijabs, and hair, probing the connections between fashion and history, culture, politics, and social justice."-- Provided by publisher.
Destination Anywhere
Published in 2021
"Peyton King has always wanted to belong. She seizes the opportunity to start over at a new school and finally finds real connections with the friends she's always dreamed of and even an actual boyfriend! But after flying high in her newfound happiness, Peyton comes crashing down when reality sets in and the ones she cares about let her down. Peyton's friends can't fix her and she can't help them if they won't let her. If she wants to find real, lasting happiness, Peyton will have to search somewhere else. With nothing but her sketchpad and a backpack, she buys a one-way ticket and gets on a plane. How far will she go to change her story?"--Amazon.com.
Finding Her Voice
How Black Girls in White Spaces Can Speak Up and Live Their Truth
Published in 2021
"Black girls living in predominantly White environments face unique challenges on the road to adulthood. In Finding Her Voice, three racial justice experts and advocates offer Black teen girls important self-empowerment skills, and provide activities andexercises to help teen readers challenge dominant culture, cultivate self-compassion, and build resilience in a world filled with microaggressions and discrimination"-- Provided by publisher.
Mindfulness & Self-compassion for Teen ADHD
Build Executive Functioning Skills, Increase Motivation, & Improve Self-confidence
Published in 2021
"Attention deficit/hyperactivity (ADHD) and self-compassion experts Mark Bertin and Karen Bluth bring teens powerful skills for overcoming self-criticism and building the executive functioning skills they need to become more confident, resilient, and independent. The book includes mindfulness tools to help teens accept the limitations of ADHD, and self-compassion strategies to help them stop beating themselves up and comparing themselves to their peers"-- Provided by publisher.
#MeToo and You
Everything You Need to Know About Consent, Boundaries, and More
Published in 2021
"Author Halley Bondy explores the nuances of emotions, comfort, and discomfort in sexually charged and emotionally abusive situations. Tween readers will learn about consent, harassment, abuse, and healthy boundaries in all types of relationships"-- Provided by publisher.
Allies
Real Talk About Showing Up, Screwing Up, and Trying Again
Published in 2021
"Allyship is a journey, but it's not always easy to know where to start. See things from a different perspective with heartfelt real-life stories by writers from diverse backgrounds, abilities, and circumstances. Wherever you are in your allyship journey,these stories about what it means to be an ally can empower you to help make the world a better place for everyone"-- Provided by publisher.
A Peacemaker for Warring Nations
The Founding of the Iroquois League
Published in 2021
"The League of the Iroquois was a true representational democracy-so much so that the United States Constitution is said to have been modeled on some of its tenets. But how, perhaps a thousand years before the time of Columbus, did the Five Iroquois Nations (the Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, and Seneca) come to end the bitter eye-for-eye warfare among them? What brought them together in an alliance based on the Great Law of Peace? And how was it that a system of Clan Mothers was instituted in which women are seen as the center of the nation and still today choose the 50 royaners, or peace chiefs, who speak for their respective communities in meetings of the League? In A Peacemaker for Warring Nations, renowned Native author Joseph Bruchac draws from the teachings of both contemporary and past Iroquois tradition bearers in telling the inspiring story of how "the Peacemaker," a divine messenger sent by the Creator, helped to bring reconciliation to warring nations. The book is beautifully and accuratelyillustrated by David Kanietakeron Fadden, a respected Mohawk artist whose work honors his deep indigenous roots"-- Provided by publisher.
In the Shadow of the Moon
America, Russia, and the Hidden History of the Space Race
Published in 2021
The award-winning author of Eye of the Storm chronicles the lesser-known rivalry between former Nazi-turned-U.S. Cold War scientist Wernher von Braun and Russian rocket designer Sergei Korolev, explaining how their controversial scientific achievements shaped human history.
Native Women Changing Their Worlds
Published in 2021
"Twelve biographies of Indigenous women who, as modern-day warriors, have infused their communities with strength and leadership. The women overcame unimaginable hardships--racial and gender discrimination, abuse, and extreme poverty--only to rise to great heights in the fields of politics, science, education, and community activism"--Provided by publisher.
Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed
15 Voices from the Latinx Diaspora
Published in 2021
"A Most Anticipated Book (Refinery29, HipLatina, Publishers Weekly, Latino Book Review, and more)! Edited by The Bronx Is Reading founder Saraciea J. Fennell and featuring an all-star cast of Latinx contributors, Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed is a ground-breaking anthology that will spark dialogue and inspire hope. In Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed, bestselling and award-winning authors as well as up-and-coming voices interrogate the different myths and stereotypes about the Latinx diaspora. These fifteen original pieces delve into everything from ghost stories and superheroes, to memories in the kitchen and travels around the world, to addiction and grief, to identity and anti-Blackness, to finding love and speaking your truth. Full of both sorrow and joy, Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed is an essential celebration of this rich and diverse community. The bestselling and award-winning contributors include Elizabeth Acevedo, Cristina Arreola, Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Naima Coster, Natasha Diaz, Saraciea J. Fennell,Kahlil Haywood, Zakiya Jamal, Janel Martinez, Jasminne Mendez, Meg Medina, Mark Oshiro, Julian Randall, Lilliam Rivera, and Ibi Zoboi"-- Provided by publisher.
Rise Up!
How You Can Join the Fight Against Racism
Published in 2021
"An overview of the roots and legacies of racial bias and white supremacy in the United States."-- Provided by publisher.
The Teen Girl's Anxiety Survival Guide
10 Ways to Conquer Anxiety & Feel Your Best
Published in 2021
"Teen girls are facing more pressure than ever before, putting them at greater risk for developing full-blown anxiety disorders. In this timely book, Lucie Hemmen-best-selling author of the Teen Girl's Survival Guide and an expert in adolescent girl psychology-offers ten powerful skills specifically designed to help teen girls cope with anxious thoughts and feelings in healthy ways"-- Provided by publisher.
A Face for Picasso
Coming of Age with Crouzon Syndrome
Published in 2021
"A YA nonfiction story about Ariel and her twin sister's experience living with Crouzon Syndrome"-- Provided by publisher.
When Can We Go Back to America?
Voices of Japanese American Incarceration During World War II
Published in 2021
"An oral history about Japanese internment during World War II, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, from the perspective of children and young people affected"-- Provided by publisher.
The Other Talk
Reckoning with Our White Privilege
Published in 2021
"Most kids of color grow up talking about racism. They have "The Talk" with their families--the honest talk about survival in a racist world. But white kids don't. They're barely spoken to about race at all--and that needs to change. Because not talking about racism doesn't make it go away. Not talking about white privilege doesn't mean it doesn't exist. The Other Talk begins this much-needed conversation for white kids. In an instantly readable and deeply honest account of his own life, Brendan Kiely offers young readers a way to understand one's own white privilege and why allyship is so vital, so that we can all start doing our part--today"-- Provided by publisher.
Revolution in Our Time
The Black Panther Party's Promise to the People
Published in 2021
"In this comprehensive, inspiring, and all-too-relevant history of the Black Panther Party, Kekla Magoon introduces readers to the Panthers' community activism, grounded in the concept of self-defense, which taught Black Americans how to protect and support themselves in a country that treated them like second-class citizens."-- Provided by publisher.
Continuum
Published in 2021
Offers advice and insight into cultivating self-acceptance and supporting inclusivity through the experiences of Chella Man, a deaf, transgender, and Jewish artist, activist, and actor.
On Top of Glass
Stories of a Queer Girl in Figure Skating
Published in 2021
"A memoir of Karina Manta, the first female member of USA Figure Skating to come out as queer"-- Provided by publisher.
A Time of Fear
America in the Era of Red Scares and Cold War
Published in 2021
Featuring black-and-white historical photographs, a timely examination of the Cold War and the relevance of Communism in today's world includes coverage of the McCarthy hearings, the Hollywood Ten, and the cases of the Rosenbergs and the Scottsboro Boys.
Thrill Seekers
15 Remarkable Women in Extreme Sports
Published in 2021
"What is the allure of the extreme? Who are the women who seek out and excel at sports outside the conventional, such as cave diving, wingsuit flying, or Formula 1 racing? This collection of female adventure dynamos is as fascinating as it is empowering. Thrill Seekers introduces readers to a diverse and fascinating selection of women whose determination, grit, and courage have propelled each of them into a life far from the sidelines. Each chapter introduces readers to modern role models and leaders, change-makers who opt into a life of risk--but one of astonishing rewards. Their stories inspire young people to approach life with the same bold resolve." -- Amazon.com.
Engineering for Teens
A Beginner's Book for Aspiring Engineers
Published in 2021
Explore engineering as a career with this introduction for ages 12 to 16 The job of an engineer is to solve all sorts of complex challenges facing the world while improving our lives through creative, innovative ideas. This engineering book for teens gives you a look into what engineers do and how they drive society forward through math and science. From designing tablets and smartphones to reimagining the way we collect and store renewable energy, this engineering book for teens introduces you to the major engineering disciplines and their distinct specialties, famous engineers throughout history, and more.
Violet and Daisy
The Story of Vaudeville's Famous Conjoined Twins
Published in 2021
"From the author of The Miracle & Tragedy of the Dionne Quintuplets and The Borden Murders comes the absorbing and compulsively readable story of Violet and Daisy Hilton, conjoined twins who were the sensation of the US sideshow circuits in the 1920s and 1930s. In a story loaded with questions about identity and exploitation, Sarah Miller delivers a completely compelling, empathetic portrait of two sisters whose bonds were so sacred that nothing--not even death--would compel Violet and Daisy to break them"-- Provided by publisher.
Together
An Inspiring Response to the "separate-but-equal" Supreme Court Decision That Divided America
Published in 2021
Evelyn Hooker and the Fairy Project
Published in 2021
"This biography tells the story of Evelyn Hooker, the woman behind the research, advocacy, and allyship that led to the removal of the "homosexuality" diagnosis from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders"-- Provided by publisher.
Whole Girl
Live Vibrantly, Love Your Entire Self, and Make Friends with Food
Published in 2021
"This book focuses on the author's three pillars for well-being for teenage girls: living a positive and empowered lifestyle, practicing mindful movement, and enjoying delicious, nutritious treats. Includes insights from wellness experts, suggestions for mindful movements, and 60 grain- and gluten-free, low-sugar recipes to fit particular moods"-- Provided by publisher.
The Resilient Teen
10 Key Skills to Bounce Back from Setbacks and Turn Stress into Success
Published in 2021
"More than ever, teens need tools to manage stress and increase resilience. Based on the latest research in psychology and neuroscience, The Resilient Teen offers ten key skills to help readers bounce back from difficult situations, deal with difficult emotions, and cultivate a sense of joy, even in the face of modern-day stressors"-- Provided by publisher.
Stamped
El Racismo, El Antirracismo Y Tú
Published in 2021
"El concepto de raza siempre se ha utilizado para ganar y mantener el poder, para crear dinámicas que separan y silencian. Esta notable adaptación del libro Stamped from the Beginning, del Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, ganador del National Book Award, revela la historia de las ideas racistas en Estados Unidos y nos inspira a construir un futuro antirracista. A través de un recorrido histórico que va del pasado al presente, este libro nos muestra la raíz de nuestras ideas respecto a los grupos raciales y por qué persiste el veneno del racismo. Además, demuestra que, si bien las ideas racistas siempre han sido fáciles de fabricar y distribuir, también pueden desacreditarse. Con la prosa apasionante y enérgica que lo caracteriza, el multipremiado autor Jason Reynolds nos aclara en esta adaptación muchas de las distintas formas en que se presentan las ideas racistas y nos ofrece herramientas que nos permiten identificarlas y eliminarlas en nuestra vida diaria."-Amazon
Native Actors and Filmmakers
Visual Storytellers
Published in 2021
"Twelve biographies follow the career paths of Native people who work in the complex entertainment industry, either in front of or behind the camera. Included are descriptions of what each member of a production team does, as well as advice on what it takes to get started in the entertainment industry"-- Provided by publisher.
Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians but Were Afraid to Ask
Young Readers Edition
Published in 2021
A "book of questions and answers for Native and non-Native young readers alike. Ranging from 'Why is there such a fuss about nonnative people wearing Indian costumes for Halloween?' to 'Why is it called a traditional Indian fry bread taco?' to 'What's it like for Natives who don't look Native?' to 'Why are Indians so often imagined rather than understood?' and beyond, [this book] does exactly what its title says for young readers"--Publisher marketing.
Architecture for Teens
A Beginner's Book for Aspiring Architects
Published in 2021
Explore an overview of architectural movements and designers from prehistory to modern-day, and check out inspiring interviews with working professionals. With tons of practical advice for pursuing a career, you'll find out how you can become an architect and help build an environmentally responsible world from the ground up!
Disability Visibility
17 First-person Stories for Today
Published in 2021
"A young adult adaptation of Alice Wong's Disability Visibility: First Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century"-- Provided by publisher.
From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry
The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial That Galvanized the Asian American Movement
Published in 2021
"A groundbreaking portrait of Vincent Chin and the murder case that took America's Asian American community to the streets in protest of injustice. America in 1982. Japanese car companies are on the rise and believed to be putting American autoworkers out of their jobs. Anti-Asian American sentiments simmer, especially in Detroit. A bar fight turns fatal, leaving Vincent Chin-a Chinese American man-beaten to death at the hands of two white men, autoworker Ronald Ebens and his stepson Michael Nitz. From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry is a searing examination of the killing and the trial and verdicts that followed. When Ebens and Nitz pled guilty to manslaughter and received only a $3,000 fine and three years' probation, the lenient sentence sparked outrage in the Asian American community. This outrage galvanized the Asian American movement and paved the way for a new federal civil rights trial of the case. Extensively researched from court transcripts and interviews with key case witnesses-many speaking for the first time-Yoo has crafted a suspenseful, nuanced, and authoritative portrait of a pivotal moment in civil rights history, and a man who became a symbol against hatred and racism"-- Provided by publisher.