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Notable NonFiction

Notable NonFiction

Blue banner with "Notable Non-Fiction" at the top. Below, a wood texture background with the text "See What We've Discovered!!" next to a smiling cartoon character with a light bulb.

 

Need some help finding a Non-Fiction book you might actually enjoy reading? Well, you've come to the right place!
And here's a little hint to help you start. We read fiction to escape. Try reading non-fiction with the mind-set of learning something new! 'Cuz these things actually happened!!
If a book trailer is available for these, when you click on the cover you will be automatically linked!

  • Cover of "The Nazi Hunters" by Neal Bascomb. A dagger overlays a swastika, with shadowy figures in uniform in the background. Bold and intense tone.
    The Nazi Hunters Hitler may have ordered the Death Camps; Adolf Eichmann was the one who carried them out. And he did a good job. When the war was over, he simply disappeared. Yeas later, he was found. This is the story of his capture.
  • Cover of "I Am Malala," featuring a young girl in a colorful scarf, smiling gently. Text highlights her advocacy for education. Calm and inspiring tone.
    I Am Malala. She was a young girl who loved school growing up in Pakistan. Then 9/11 happened. Then the Taliban began invading her country. Then it became "illegal" for girls to go to school. When it seemed safe to venture back out, she did. She was shot
  • Cover of "My Story" shows a woman with long blonde hair in a peach sweater, smiling softly. Her hands are clasped; the background is bright and airy.
    My Story. She was pulled from bed at knife-point. Her family's lives threatened if she called out for help. For nine-months she was held captive. For nine-months she was raped every day. For nine-months, she held on to hope. Finally, she was rescued.
  • Book cover of "Fields of Grace" by Hannah Luce, featuring a woman in a white dress gazing right, against a beige background with cursive text.
    Fields of Grace. The daughter of Acquire the Fire Superstar Ron Luce, Hannah wasn't sure what she believed. She had always been a good little solider, winning souls for the Kingdom. Then came that fateful day. On her way to an Acquire the Fire event, her
  • Cover of "Mistaken Identity" featuring two smiling women above a blue background with white crosses. Text highlights hope and survival.
    Mistaken Identity. The true story of to Taylor University students whose bodies were mistakenly identified after a horrific accident. They thought Lauren survived and Whitney died. They had it wrong! How could such a tragic mistake be made?
  • Alt text: "Book cover titled 'When Will the Heaven Begin?' by Ally Breedlove. Features a smiling young man holding a sign, set against a sky with clouds."
    When Will the Heaven Begin? 3 times he died! 3 times he saw Heaven!
  • Cover of "Lincoln's Grave Robbers" by Steve Sheinkin features a distressed American flag, Lincoln statue, monument, and partial face, evoking mystery.
    Lincoln's Grave Robbers. Did you know that President Lincoln's body was almost stolen from it's final resting place? Would you believe that it was a group of counterfeiters behind the plot? Read Lincoln's Grave Robbers and learn for yourself!!
  • Cover of "The Boy on the Wooden Box" showing a blurred young boy seated by a window, with a gold emblem, conveying a reflective and somber tone.
    The Boy on the Wooden Box. He survived the Nazis and avoided the concentration camps because of one man, Oskar Schindler. Learn what it was like to be a child growing up in Nazi Poland and just how close the margin of survival was. Read The Boy on the Woo
  • Cover of "Babylon's Ark" shows a soldier near a caged animal and a resting lion. Text highlights the wartime rescue of the Baghdad Zoo.
    Babylon's Ark. Fascinating true story of one man's drive to save the animals in the Baghdad Zoo, as American bombs were raining down! Once the premiere zoo in the Middle East, Lawrence Anthony could not stand to see more animals suffer because of human co
  • Book cover of "One Step at a Time" shows a smiling man in a sports jersey with prosthetic legs holding a football, conveying resilience and hope.
    One Step at a Time When 9/11 happened, Josh wanted to do something, so he joined the Army Reserves. He never dreamed that would lead to a combat stint in Iraq and the loss of both of his legs. Born and raised in Indiana, now working for the Indianapolis C
  • Cover of "October Mourning" by Lesléa Newman shows a vast sky with fluffy clouds over a brown field and fence. A Stonewall Honor Book sticker is on the right.
    October Mourning. He was simply a boy living his life, looking for a friend. Yes, he was homosexual, but he was not pushing his beliefs on anyone. Experience the true story of Matthew Shepard, who was killed because of who he was. Experience the story thr
  • Hands holding a mango against a rural backdrop with huts and smoke. Text reads "The Bite of the Mango" by Mariatu Kamara and Susan McClelland.
    Bite of the Mango. She was a little girl in rural Sierra Leone. One day she went to a neighboring village to see family. That's when the rebels struck. That's when she lost both of her hands. That's when she decided to live and flourish anyway. Read her r
  • Cover of "Bugged: How Insects Changed History" by Sarah Albee. George Washington is humorously depicted with a bug on his nose, set against a bright background.
    Bugged: How Insects Changed History. Did you know that mosquitoes almost doomed the Panama Canal? Was it really Waterloo that stopped Napoleon or bugs? Humans and insects have co-existed for centuries, but they have also shaped each other's history. Prepa
  • Book cover of "The Port Chicago 50" by Steve Sheinkin. Features a colorful illustration of a sailor, with others in the background, set against a red sky. National Book Award finalist. Tone: Historical, dramatic.
    Port Chicago 50. Did you know that during WW2 African Americans in the Navy were restricted to 2 jobs, serving in mess halls or loading munitions? And those that loaded munitions received no safety training? So is is any surprise that when 2 ships and a t
  • Cover of "A Stolen Life" memoir by Jaycee Dugard. Features a smiling woman with long blonde hair in a casual, outdoor setting. Simple, neutral background.
    A Stolen Life. She was one of America's first little girls to disappear. Eighteen years later she was found. Read her riveting story of survival and restoration.
  • Cover of "Hurricane Season" by Neal Thompson. It shows a football team huddled with their coach under stadium lights, symbolizing unity amid adversity.
    Hurricane Season. Hurricane Katrina wiped out New Orleans, but one school rose above the disaster, got kids back in school, gave them a place to belong, a little bit of normal, and even rocked the football field.
  • White pillow with the book title "Dreamland: Adventures in the Strange Science of Sleep" by David K. Randall, set against a light blue sky with clouds.
    Dreamland. Ever thought about what happens as you sleep? Ever wonder what could happen if you continuously didn't get enough sleep? Are you really guilty if you kill someone in your sleep? If you've ever wondered about the world of sleep, this is the book
  • Cover of "Bombs Over Bikini" shows a nuclear explosion over the ocean, with ships visible. A "Ground Zero" barrel stands in the foreground on a sandy beach.
    Bombs Over Bikini. The atomic bombs that rained down on Hiroshima and Nagasaki shocked the world. The United States decided they needed to understand the effects of such bombs before they ever dropped another one. So they made the Bikini Islands their tes
  • Smiling young person with reddish-brown hair on a book cover. Title: "This Star Won't Go Out." Bright, hopeful tones.
    this star won't go out. He already had the idea for a story like hers, but Esther Earl was the true life catalyst for John Green's The Fault In Our Stars. Follow Esther's story of being diagnosed with cancer at twelve-years-old. See her sketches, writings
  • Alt text: "Book cover of 'Death on the River of Doubt.' The image features a man in early 20th-century explorer attire, set against a lush jungle and river backdrop."
    Death on the River of Doubt. I simply could not put this book down! It has cowboys and diseases, presidents and museums in closets! Theodore Roosevelt was quite a diverse gentleman. Get a very brief introduction to his life before you join him on a life-a
  • Alt text: Book cover of "Dead Mountain" by Donnie Eichar. It shows hikers silhouetted against a snowy, misty mountain backdrop, conveying mystery and tension.
    Dead Mountain. Ruthie Wilksinson was right! This a fabulous read! Why would an experienced group of hikers/mountain climbers leave their tent in the middle of the night, in the winter, without shoes and coats? Was it a nuclear attack, Soviet spies, UFOS,
  • Alt text: "Cover of 'Trapped' by Marc Aronson shows a rescue drill on the surface above a spiral tunnel, indicating the rescue of 33 miners from 2,000 feet below the Chilean desert. The background features sandy hills, conveying a sense of isolation and h
    Trapped. They were 2000 feet below ground when the rocks started falling. Would they find the shelter in the utter darkness? How long would the food last? How would those above ground reach them? Told from both Above and Below, Aronson does a masterful jo
  • Cover of "Pure Grit" showing a nurse in uniform against a red cross. Above are planes in a blue sky. Text details survival stories of WWII nurses.
    Pure Grit. Very aptly titled! This was an amazing World War 2 story that I had never heard before! Women were an integral part of those who served, and this amazing group survived being Japanese POW's!
  • Cover of "Gunpowder Girls" by Tanya Anderson features swirling red and gray smoke. Text below reads, "The True Stories of Three Civil War Tragedies."
    The Nazi Hunters. Hitler may have ordered the Death Camps; Adolf Eichmann was the one who carried them out. And he did a good job. When the war was over, he simply disappeared. Yeas later, he was found. This is the story of his capture. I Am Malala She
  • Cover of "The Red Bandanna" by Tom Rinaldi. Blue background with city skyline silhouette and stars. Title in bold white and red letters, conveying heroism.
    The Nazi Hunters Hitler may have ordered the Death Camps; Adolf Eichmann was the one who carried them out. And he did a good job. When the war was over, he simply disappeared. Yeas later, he was found. This is the story of his capture. I Am Malala She
  • Alt text: "Cover of 'The Grand Escape' by Neal Bascomb, featuring a silhouette of a soldier next to barbed wire, with bold white and red text on a black background. The top section is red, enhancing the dramatic tone of the greatest prison breakout story
    The Grand Escape I tunneled underground, afraid that I would be discovered or the earth would fall in on me at any moment. I waded through swamps. Would I evade recapture? Try this true story from World War I!!
  • Cover of "The Upset: The Tyler Trent Story" featuring a smiling person wearing a Purdue beanie and gear, set against a blurred stadium crowd.
    The Nazi Hunters Hitler may have ordered the Death Camps; Adolf Eichmann was the one who carried them out. And he did a good job. When the war was over, he simply disappeared. Yeas later, he was found. This is the story of his capture. I Am Malala She
  • Cover of "Byrd & Igloo: A Polar Adventure" featuring vintage photos of a man and a dog above a map background and seaplane image, conveying exploration.
    Byrd & Igloo I'm not sure why, but I have been in a polar exploration mood! This is my 3rd polar adventure, by one of my favorite non-fiction authors, Samantha Seiple!! Igloo was a lost little dog on the streets of D.C. Byrd had a yearning that took hi
  • Man in a plaid shirt and a cap smiles while holding a tan dog. They sit by a calm river. Dog tag label reads "Young Reader's Edition," conveying warmth and companionship.
    Craig & Fred The story of a soldier and a stray dog. They found each other in Afghanistan, and against all odds, they were determined to stay together when his deployment ended! Read their impossible story! Click on the cover for a Trailer!
  • Book cover featuring "The Electric War" title in bold red letters. Portraits of two historical figures, lightning bolts, and industrial elements in the background convey innovation.
    Electric War Edison, Tesla, and Westinghouse. We do not necessarily think about it, but much of our daily lives are possible thanks to these three men. Most of us are familiar with Edison when it comes to electricity; he invented the lightbulb, the phonog
  • Cover of "Rising Water" by Marc Aronson. Features a dimly lit cave scene with boys in a line, some illuminated by flashlight, conveying urgency and hope.
    Rising Water 12 boys. 1 coach. They were in Thailand for a soccer tournament. They had time between matches. An adventure seemed like a fun idea. The rain season hadn’t started yet. They had no idea how deep the Tham Luang cave system was or how q
  • Cover of the book "A Rebel in Auschwitz" shows a man in a striped uniform walking toward barbed wire fences. The mood is somber and intense.
    A Rebel in Auschwitz Would you voluntarily allow yourself to be captured and sent to a concentration camp? Why would anyone in his or her right mind do that? Witold Pilecki did, and he did so to help spread the Polish underground, hoping to start a revolu
  • A Northern Mockingbird stands majestically on a limbless branch against a moonlit cityscape. The book cover text reads "Duet" by Phillip Hoose.
    Duet. I love birds- peafowl, herons, goldfinches, cardinals- but this was a bird that I had never considered. I don't even know if I could identify one in my yard, but what an interesting story of how people and wildlife interact. It is by Phillip Hoose
  • Black and white book cover of "Close-up on War" by Mary Cronk Farrell. Features a smiling woman in military gear with a camera, surrounded by soldiers in a forest.
    Close Up on War An interesting look at the Vietnam War. Told through the eyes of a female French journalist. I admire her strength, determination, and pluck.
  • Alt text: "Book cover of 'Crash from Outer Space' features a glowing UFO hovering over a road. The sky is starry, creating a mysterious atmosphere."
    Crash From Outer Space Have little green men really landed on Earth? Are UFO's real? Has the government hidden things in Roswell, New Mexico? Candance Fleming explores all of these questions.
  • Alt text: "Cover of 'Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science' by John Fleischman. Features a human skull on a black background."
    Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science What an interesting story! How would it change you if you were pierced through the skull with a railroad spike and lived to tell about it? Could you suvive? If you did, how long would you live
  • Book cover of "All the Beauty in the World" by Patrick Bringley features a person standing in a grand gallery, admiring a large painting. Neutral tones convey reflection.
    All the Beauty in the World After he lost his brother, Patrick just wanted the world to stop. So for him, it did. He accepted a job as a guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. All he had to do, all day, every day, was move from post to post throughou
  • Alt text: Book cover of "Impossible Escape" by Steve Sheinkin features a man and woman in profile against a moody, purple sky with a silhouette of barbed wire. A silver award medallion is visible. The tone is tense and dramatic.
    Impossible Escape Was it even possible to escape the Nazis? You could only hide for so long. You could only pretend it would soon be over for so long. Rudi knew he had to take action.
  • Cover art of "The Wonder of Small Things" featuring a white crane with spread wings. A person in a red coat gazes up, surrounded by stylized trees. Peaceful and contemplative.
    The Wonder of Small Things: Poems of Peace and Renewal Some of the most beautiful language and phrases that I have encountered for some time. I invite you to take a break from the world and lose yourself in this collection of free verse poetry.