Four YA nonfiction titles that will educate and inform young readers this fall:
1789: Twelve Authors Explore a Year of Rebellion, Revolution, and Change edited by Marc Aronson and Susan Campbell Bartoletti (Candlewick, Sept. 1) is a valuable corrective to the narrow way that history is often taught. This absorbing volume conveys the interconnectedness of people, places, and ideas—and the critical relevance of past events to the present day. The diverse emphases and viewpoints presented will intrigue readers interested in math, the arts, social justice, and more.
The graphic book Redbone: The True Story of a Native American Rock Band by Christian Staebler and Sonia Paoloni, illustrated by Thibault Balahy (IDW Publishing, Sept. 22), tells the story of influential musicians and activists who left their marks on the 1960s and ’70s music scene as well as on the struggle against the erasure and oppression of Indigenous peoples. The dynamic illustrations and conversational tone make this information-packed offering a page-turner.
The effectiveness of poetry in conveying complex emotion is well highlighted in Concrete Kids by Amyra León (Penguin Workshop, Oct. 13), a short collection of verse drawn from the life of a young Black woman who has been aware from an early age of the obstacles facing her growing up in foster care in New York City. She wrestles here with questions of self, family (chosen and birth), belonging, and hope.
The updated edition of Surviving the Angel of Death: The True Story of a Mengele Twin in Auschwitz by Eva Mozes Kor and Lisa Rojany Buccieri (Tanglewood Publishing, Oct. 15) stands out thanks to the power of Kor’s remarkable personality. This account of surviving the Holocaust is a chilling cautionary tale, as a cosseted childhood gave way to the worst kind of nightmare. Kor’s later life in the U.S., including her ceaseless efforts to educate younger generations, is memorably recounted.
Laura Simeon is a young readers’ editor.
