Nonfiction/Biography/Poetry/Short Stories

Jacket	Title/Author	Annotation	Grade Level*
	Barefoot Heart: Stories of a Migrant Child by Elva Trevino Hart	The rhythm of family life may be interrupted when they must relocate often, following crops to be harvested, but the solid circle of love and sensible guidance remains tight in this memoir of hopeful children and resolute adults.	10-12
	The Color of Absence: 12 Stories about Loss and Hope edited by James Howe	Stories by such young adult authors as Annette Curtis Klause, Naomi Shihab Nye, and Walter Dean Myers focus on different aspects of loss, but reveal growth and hope as teens confront their experiences.	9-12
	Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher's First Year by Esme Codell	Enthusiastic, out-spoken, and determined to reach her students, talented young Esme rises to meet the challenges of her first year of teaching in an inner-city school.	10-12
	Elegy on the Death of Cesar Chavez by Rudolfo Anaya	Photography and watercolor collage frame his poem, a hymn to a hero in the struggles for social justice.	9-12
	The Encyclopedia of Sharks by Steve and Jane Parker	Shark! The popular image of the menacing, cold-blooded killer of the deep is balanced with the reality of the life and biology of these misunderstood creatures, incorporating exceptional underwater photography and especially commissioned charts, graphs, and illustrations.	9-12
	Enrique's Journey by Sonia Nazario	Enrique, a Honduran boy, braves unimaginable hardship and peril to reach his mother in the United States.	10-12
	Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Dream by Eric Schlosser	Do you want fries with that order? Beginning with the golden arches, the impact of fast food on the life, health, economic, social and humanitarian aspects of life in America is examined.	9-12
	Firecrackers: The Art and History by Warren Dotz, Jack Mingo, & George Moyer	Covering the history, development, production, and mythology of fireworks, with a profusion of color illustrations, including advertisements, posters, labels, and packaging, this is a fascinating look at a colorful art and American icon.	9-12
	Flags of our Fathers: Heroes of Iwo Jima by James Bradley	Six American Marines raise a flag on a tiny island in World War II and become national heroes. Three die within days and the others have to live with that commemorated event for the rest of their lives, coping in varying ways with their fame and the guilt of being survivors. What does it really mean to be a hero?	9-12
	Frank O. Gehry: Outside In by Jan & Jordan Greenberg	The text and color photographs which illustrate his beautiful and creative book capture the joyful, innovative spirit of architect Frank O. Gehry.	9-12
	Game Face: What Does a Female Athlete Look Like? edited by Jane Gottesman	Inspiring and captivating black and white photographs take readers on a journey through the world of women in sports, including ordinary as well as famous athletes, and depicting the joys and sorrows of winning, losing, and playing the games they love.	9-12
	Good Brother, Bad Brother: The Story of Edwin Booth & John Wilkes by James Cross Giblin	History has recorded John Wilkes Booth as the most notorious of assassins. This book takes a look at his brother, famed actor Edwin Booth, and how Lincoln's assassination affected his career and the lives of the Booth family.	9-12
	The Greatest: Muhammad Ali by Walter Dean Myers	Ali's childhood, the segregated '50s, the Olympic triumph of the '60s, the world of professional boxing, his discipline and charisma are vividly chronicled. The most popular black man in America takes on the world and triumphs because he "has always done what he believed to be the right thing."	9-12
	Heart to Heart: New Poems Inspired by Twentieth Century American Art edited by Jan & John Greenberg	Art appreciation reaches new heights as well-known poets are inspired by impeccably reproduced 20th century American art, with each writer creating an original poetic response.	9-12
	Hidden Evidence: 40 True Crimes and How Forensic Science Helped Solve Them by David Owen	The development of forensic science is presented in lively fashion, including the use of fingerprints, dental records, bloodstains, fiber analysis, and advanced technologies, with riveting, sometimes graphic, photographs and illustrations.	9-12
	In My Hands: Memories of a Holocause Rescuer by Irene Gut Opdyke	Although separated from her own family, Polish teenager Irene defied the Nazis and helped Jewish people survive the Holocaust.	9-12
	Jessie De La Cruz: A Profile of a United Farm Worker by Gary Soto	As the first female organizer in the organization, De La Cruz had the courage to put her intelligence and energy into joining with Cesar Chavez and others to create legal and social justice for farm workers in the twentieth century.	9-12
	Learning to Swim: A Memoir by Ann Turner	Annie, using swimming metaphors with each one-page, free verse poem, recalls the summer she was six which was filled not just with routine activities, but also with sexual abuse.	9-12
	Living in Space: From Science Fiction to the International Space Station by Giovanni Caprara	From early space pioneers to present day space stations, with lively text and incredible photographs and other illustrations, readers are taken to life in space, incorporating fact, as well as a sprinkling of science fiction and bits from popular films.	9-12
	Love & Sex: Ten Stories of Truth edited by Michael Cart	Contributions by popular authors such as Chris Lynch, Joan Bauer, and Shelley Stoehr deal honestly with relationships, love and heartbreak.	10-12
	Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog by John Grogan	The author presents the tender story of his family's love for Marley, their golden retriever, and recalls how he grew from a mischievous puppy into a nearly impossible adult that no amount of obedience-school training could correct.	9-12
	The Nature of Penguins by Jonathan Chester	Polar adventure and photographer, Chester provides a beautiful and amazingly insightful journey through the Artic world of the comic and adorable penguin.	9-12
	Strong at the Heart: How it Feels to Heal from Sexual Abuse by Carolyn Lehman	Survivors of sexual abuse describe their abuse, their emotions, and their healing process.	9-12
	Vatos by Jose Galvez	Photographer and poet collaborate with realistic black and white images and the lines from a powerful poem to reveal the rich complexity of the lives of Latino men.	9-12
	What Are You Afraid Of?: Stories About Phobias edited by Don Gallo	Ten short stories by well-known young adult authors feature teenagers with phobias, including fear of clowns, fear of cats, and fear of gaining weight.	9-12
	You Hear Me?: Poems and Writings by Teenage Boys edited by Betsy Franco	Teens speak realistically of family, loneliness, conformity, drugs and sex in voices born of real experience.	9-12
*Grade level suggestions are based on professional review sources. Some books contain mature themes. Please discuss reading selections as a family.

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