Young Adult Nonfiction: A Readers’ Advisory and Collection Development Guide

Covering more than 500 titles, both classics and newer publications, this book describes what titles are about and why teens would want to read them.

Nonfiction has been the workhorse of many young adult library collections-filling information and curricular needs-and it is also the preferred genre for many teen readers. But not all nonfiction is created equal. This guide identifies some of the best, most engaging, and authoritative nonfiction reads for teens and organizes them according to popular reading interests. With genres ranging from adventure and sports to memoirs, how-to guides and social justice, there is something for every reader here.

Similar fiction titles are noted to help you make connections for readers, and best bets for each chapter are noted. Notations in annotations indicate award-winning titles, graphic nonfiction, and reading level. Keywords that appear in the annotations and in detailed indexes enhance access. Librarians who work with and purchase materials for teens, including YA librarians at public libraries, acquisitions and book/materials selectors at public libraries, and middle and high school librarians will find this book invaluable.

Identifies the best and most popular new nonfiction reads for teens, along with perennial classics, helping librarians with acquisitions and weeding

Allows YA librarians to more easily find books their readers will enjoy through genre organization

Helps school librarians find books that fill curricular needs through learning connections

Enables readers to transition from beloved fiction read-alikes to nonfiction titles with similar appeals

Introduces librarians who are new to nonfiction genres and readers’ advisory to important features of each genre in consider starting with sections in each chapter