YA Nonfiction Roundup by Michelle Biwer

Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World by Pénélope Bagieu

Profiles of diverse, international female role models in comic strip format.

A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919 by Claire Hartfield

A narrative account of the Chicago Race Riot of 1919 told from the perspectives of the major groups involved in escalating the conflict, recommended for readers who liked The Family Romanov.

How to Resist: Activism and Hope for a New Generation edited by Maureen Johnson

Short essays, poems, and interviews about how young people can make a change in the world by a diverse list of celebrities, writers, and podcasters.

The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Rivalry, Adventure, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements (Young Readers Edition) by Sam Kean

History, science, and fun facts converge when author Sam Kean shares the surprisingly dramatic account of the creation of the Periodic Table of Elements.

Fly Girls: The Daring American Women Pilots Who Helped Win WWII by P. O’Connell Pearson

Pearson honors the forgotten 1,100 female pilots who fought to fly and assist the US war effort during World War II by sharing their story.

Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide by Isabel Quintero and illustrated by Zeke Peña

A graphic autobiography of Mexican photographer Graciela Iturbide, known for capturing indigenous Mexican and Mexican-American communities on film.

Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card by Sara Saedi

Memoir of a Iranian-American teenager and her progress towards getting a green card and surviving the typically awkward American high school experience.

Chasing King’s Killer: The Hunt for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Assassin by James L. Swanson

Teens who loved Swanson’s previous title Chasing Lincoln’s Killer will appreciate his newest narrative nonfiction work which chronicles the moments leading up to Martin Luther King’s assassination.

Deep Dark Blue: A Memoir of Survival by Polo Tate

Memoir of an Air Force Academy student who survived sexual assault and harassment at the hands of her superiors and reckons with the consequences.

Resources for finding new YA Nonfiction:

ALA YALSA Nonfiction Award

ALA Amelia Bloomer Award Nominations/Winners

Scholastic Focus Imprint

Review Journals and End of Year “Best of” Lists

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