Our teen book spotlight this week is all about featuring some more amazing YA nonfiction titles! It can be easy to think that nonfiction is boring but these titles are the complete opposite of that thought; we have everything from true crime to war history and biographies and you will not even realize you are reading nonfiction because they are that good. These books and more can be found by searching the catalog using the search tag #amazingyanonfiction as well as on Libby and Hoopla. Check back next week for a new teen book spotlight and if you have any book suggestions, please let us know!!
Murder Among Friends by Candace Fleming--This nonfiction narrative describes the horrific crime committed by eighteen-year-old college students Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb. Richard, who had a relationship with Nathan, was obsessed with being known as the perfect criminal and never getting caught while committing the perfect crime. Nathan, who's sole motivation was to keep Richard as his boyfriend, assisted him in murdering Richard's fourteen-year-old second cousin. The pair were quickly apprehended when Nathan's eyeglasses were found at the scene and they both confessed to the crime. Later, the criminals' families hired defense attorney Clarence Darrow, who took on the boys' cases and saved them from receiving the death penalty.
Crossing the Line by Kareem Rosser--Memoir of the author's experiences growing up in a violent neighborhood with a mother addicted to drugs. Discusses his chance encounter with his brothers' discovery of a nearby horse stable and his escape into the world of riding, and later, the sport of polo. Recounts how he earned a spot on a college team and led them to a national title, all while dealing with personal struggles, such as keeping his brothers out of jail and the murder of his best friend.
Stolen Justice by Lawrence Goldstone--Investigates the history of the Reconstruction era following the Civil War and the efforts to secure newly freed slaves and later generations of African Americans the right to vote. Explores the partisan fighting over the Constitution and legislature--with Constitutional Amendments, Reconstruction Acts, Civil Rights Acts, and Enforcement Acts being needed--to finally secure the vote for black Americans.
Bloody Times by James Swanson--Swanson alternates between the stories of President Lincoln and Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy. Despite his best efforts to rally the South, Davis receives news about General Lee's surrender and decides to flee Richmond. Shortly thereafter, Lincoln is assassinated. The broken nation believes that Davis is in some way linked to the murder, and a manhunt for Davis erupts. Meanwhile, Lincoln -- his corpse aboard a train -- takes one last journey through his America, from Washington, D.C. to Springfield.
Most Dangerous by Steve Sheinkin--Over a period of seven years, a nerdy analyst named Daniel Ellsberg, working for Rand Corp., became “the most dangerous man in America,” as designated by the media. He exposed the existence of some 7,000 pages of documents, which became known as the Pentagon Papers, detailing a secret history of the Vietnam War. Ellsberg showed the American people that over the course of 23 years and four presidencies, their government lied to them about its involvement and actions in Vietnam, calling into question the trust people place in their government.
The Borden Murders by Sarah Miller--Investigates the 1892 murders of wealthy Andrew Borden and his wife Abby, and the role their daughter, Lizzie, played in the deaths. Draws on period photographs, newspaper clippings, court transcripts, and an image from the crime scene to separate fact from fiction.