The Astronaut Who Painted the Moon: The True Story of Alan BeanDean RobbinsAfter walking on the moon, astronaut Alan Bean devoted his later career to capturing that experience on canvas. Distinct illustration styles portray the events alongside archival photographs.Kindergarten to Second GradeLexile AD590LATOS 3.4View book detailsNCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People 2020
Social studies books selected each year by NCSS and the Children's Book Council.
2020 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young PeopleSee the original list
Selections128
Published byNational Council for the Social Studies
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Kindergarten to Second Grade
48 selections
The Astronaut Who Painted the Moon: The True Story of Alan BeanDean RobbinsAfter walking on the moon, astronaut Alan Bean devoted his later career to capturing that experience on canvas. Distinct illustration styles portray the events alongside archival photographs.Kindergarten to Second GradeLexile AD590LATOS 3.4View book details
At the Mountain’s BaseTraci SorellAt the Mountain's Base is a children's book written by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Weshoyot Alvitre, and published September 17, 2019 by Kokila.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Back to SchoolMaya Ajmera, John D. IvankoBACK TO SCHOOL invites young minds to sit in the front row and share the exciting experience of learning with kids just like themselves all over the world.Kindergarten to Second GradeWord count 699View book details
Bilal Cooks DaalAisha SaeedA young boy helps his father cook a traditional meal for dinner.Kindergarten to Second GradeLexile AD520LATOS 2.4View book details
BirdsongJulie Flett. Greystone Kids, illustrated by Julie Flett. Greystone KidsA girl finds friendship and challenges in a new town as her elderly neighbor's health declines.Kindergarten to Second GradeLexile 560LATOS 2.9View book details
The Boy Who Grew A Forest: The True Story of Jadev PayengSophia Gholz, illustrated by Kayla HarrenFlorida Book Award Gold Winner Recipient of the 2019 Eureka! Honors AwardWinner -Best of 2019 Kids Books - Most Inspiring Category As a boy, Jadav Payeng was distressed by the destruction deforestation and erosion was causing on his island home in India's Brahmaputra River.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Brave Ballerina: The Story of Janet CollinsMichelle MeadowsA lyrical picture book biography of Janet Collins, the first African American principal dancer at the Metropolitan Opera House. Janet Collins wanted to be a ballerina in the 1930s and 40s, a time when racial segregation was widespread in the United States.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Clothesline Clues to the First Day of SchoolKathryn Heling, Deborah Hembrook, illustrated by Andy Robert DaviesDiscover who makes school fun through playful clues and rhymes.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
The Cool BeanJory John, illustrated by Pete OswaldA young bean navigates the challenges of growing up and finding their place in the world, with the help of some unexpected friends.Kindergarten to Second GradeLexile AD530LATOS 2.5View book details
Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President LincolnMargarita EngleIf she felt sad, music cheered her up, and when she was happy, the piano helped her share that joy. Soon she was writing her own songs and performing in grand cathedrals.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Follow Chester!: A College Football Team Fights Racism and Makes HistoryGloria Respress-Churchwell, illustrated by Laura FreemanA little known civil rights hero and college football MVP finally gets a voice in this fictional account detailing Chester Pierce's game-changing play as he became the first black college football player to compete south of the Mason-Dixon Line.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Freedom SoupTami CharlesA family cooks New Year's soup, uncovering the story of Haitian independence.Kindergarten to Second GradeLexile 491LATOS 3.3View book details
Fry Bread: A Native American Family StoryKevin Noble MaillardWinner of the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book MedalAn American Indian Youth Literature Picture Book Honor Winner“A wonderful and sweet book . . .Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
A Green Place to BeAshley Benham Yazdani, illustrated by Ashley Benham YazdaniHow did Central Park become a vibrant gem in the heart of New York City? Follow the visionaries behind the plan as it springs to green life.In 1858, New York City was growing so fast that new roads and tall buildings threatened to swallow up the remaining open space.Kindergarten to Second GradeLexile 781LATOS 5View book details
Home in the WoodsEliza Wheeler, illustrated by Eliza WheelerA family moves to a new home in the woods after the father's death.Kindergarten to Second GradeLexile 690LATOS 3.5View book details
Home is a WindowStephanie Parsley LedyardKorean edition of [Home Is a Window] by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard. A family learns what home really means, as they leave one beloved residence and make a new home in another.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
The Important Thing About Margaret Wise BrownMac BarnettDiscover the life of a children's book legend in a groundbreaking biography.Kindergarten to Second GradeLexile 620LATOS 4.2View book details
Instructions Not Included: How a Team of Women Coded the FutureTami Lewis Brown, Debbie Loren Dunn, illustrated by Chelsea Beck Disney-HyperionBuzz.Not so long ago, math problems had to be solved with pencil and paper, mail delivered by postman, and files were stored in paper folders and metal cabinets.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
It Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the WayKyo MaclearIt Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way is a children's picture book about the life and works of American illustrator…Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Jacob’s Room to ChooseSarah, Ian Hoffman, illustrated by Chris Case. Magination PressTwo kids challenge school norms on gender expression after facing bathroom discrimination.Kindergarten to Second GradeLexile 500LATOS 3.3View book details
Little Libraries, Big HeroesMiranda PaulBut in school, Todd doesn’t feel heroic. Reading is hard for him, and he gets scolded for asking too many questions.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Look Up with Me: Neil deGrasse Tyson: A Life Among the StarsJennifer Berne, illustrated by Lorraine Nam, introduction by Neil deGrasse Tyson Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint ofA 2020 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12! With an introduction from Neil DeGrasse Tyson about the importance of kid-like curiosity, this lyrical picture book biography on the beloved astrophysicist and host of Cosmos is the perfect gift for young astronomers and fans of all ages.Neil deGrasse Tyson was born curious.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Love and the Rocking ChairLeo, Diane DillonTwo-time Caldecott Medalists Leo and Diane Dillon celebrate the love we feel for our children in this touching, multi-generational story about the lasting power of family.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Mary Wears What She WantsKeith NegleyAnd only boys wore pants.Until one day, a young girl named Mary had an idea: She would wear whatever she wanted. And she wanted to wear pants!Kindergarten to Second GradeLexile 329LATOS 2.4View book details
Meet Miss FancyIrene LathamA boy defies segregation to meet an elephant, but chaos ensues when she escapes.Kindergarten to Second GradeLexile 570LATOS 3.4View book details
Mommy SayangRosana Sullivan. Disney Book Group / Disney Press, illustrated by Rosana Sullivan. Disney Book Group / Disney PressIn a Malaysian kampung, or village, lives little Aleeya and her dear Mommy sayang. Aleeya and Mommy do everything together, and in Aleeya's dreams, they dance among enormous hibiscus flowers.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Nya’s Long WalkLinda Sue ParkIn this picture book companion to the beloved bestseller A Long Walk to Water, a young South Sudanese girl goes on a journey that requires determination, persistence, and compassion.Young Nya takes little sister Akeer along on the two-hour walk to fetch water for the family.Kindergarten to Second GradeLexile AD530LATOS 2.9View book details
Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and ArtistJulie LeungWinner of the American Library Association's 2021 Asian/Pacific American Award for Best Picture Book! An inspiring picture-book biography of animator Tyrus Wong, the Chinese American immigrant responsible for bringing Disney's Bambi to life.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota’s GardenHeather Smith★ “Smith spins a quietly moving narrative...Wada’s large-scale woodblock style illustrations are a perfect complement to the story’s restrained text...The graceful way in which this book handles a sensitive and serious subject makes it a first purchase."—School Library Journal When the tsunami destroyed Makio's village, Makio lost his father . . .…Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura BelpréAnika AldamuyWhen she came to America in 1921, Pura Belpré carried the cuentos folklóricos of her Puerto Rican homeland. Finding a new home at the New York Public Library as a bilingual assistant, she turned her popular retellings into libros and spread story seeds across the land.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Pride ColorsRobin Stevenson★ “Awash in messages of love and the celebration of individuality... The profound message of this delightful board book is you are free to be whoever you choose to be; you'll always be loved.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Raise Your HandAlice Paul Tapper, illustrated by Marta KissiA young girl inspires others to speak up and challenge the status quo.Kindergarten to Second GradeLexile 570LATOS 3.3View book details
Riding a Donkey Backwards: Wise and Foolish Tales of Mulla NasruddinSean Taylor, the Khayaal Theatre Company, illustrated by Shirin AdlTimeless wisdom is found in absurdity in these tales of an iconic Muslim character known as the sagest man in the village — and also its biggest fool.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
A Royal Ride: Catherine the Great’s Great InventionKristen Fulton, illustrated by Lucy FlemingJoin Catherine the Great on a fun-filled ride as she schemes to invent the roller coaster in this inventive, STEM-based nonfiction picture book!Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Sing a Song: How “Lift Every Voice and Sing” Inspired GenerationsKelly Starling LyonsLyons delivers the history of a song that has inspired generations of African-Americans to persist and resist in the face of racism and systemic oppression. . . .Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Sisters: Venus & Serena WilliamsJeanette Winter, illustrated by Jeanette WinterCelebrated picture book biographer Jeanette Winter shares the story of champion tennis players—and sisters—Venus and Serena Williams. Before they were famous tennis stars, Venus and Serena Williams were sisters with big dreams growing up in Compton, California.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
A Sky Without LinesKrystia Basil, illustrated by Laura Borràs. mineditionA moving and timely story of a young boy separated from his beloved brother and father by a border. Arturo loves to look at maps and the lines where different countries meet––as if greeting each other with a big hug.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A RevolutionRob SandersCelebrate Pride every day with the very first picture book to tell of its historic and inspiring role in the gay civil rights movement, from the author of the acclaimed Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
SulweLupita Nyong’oSulwe is a children's New York Times bestselling picture book by actress Lupita Nyong'o.Kindergarten to Second GradeLexile AD580LATOS 3.8View book details
Titan and the Wild Boars: The True Cave Rescue of the Thai Soccer TeamSusan Hood, Pathana Sornhiran, illustrated by Dow PhumirukAN RICBA CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD 2021 NOMINEE! A NATIONAL SCIENCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION AND CHILDREN'S BOOK COUNCIL BEST STEM BOOK OF 2019! A CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOK OF 2019!Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
The UndefeatedKwame AlexanderA poem celebrating Black life in the United States, remembering the trauma of slavery and segregation while honoring the courage, creativity, and perseverance of…Kindergarten to Second GradeLexile 361LATOS 2.6View book details
The VoyageStéphane ServantA swashbuckling tale of leaving home, and the joy of adventure.Drawn to the horizon since she was small, the heroine of this story longs to discover what lies beyond it.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
What is a Refugee?Elise GravelDiscover what it means to be a refugee through simple, bold illustrations.Kindergarten to Second GradeLexile 680LATOS 4.4View book details
When Sue Found Sue: Sue Hendrickson Discovers Her T. RexToni BuzzeoFrom a very young age, Sue Hendrickson was meant to find things: lost coins, perfume bottles, even hidden treasure. Her endless curiosity eventually led to her career in diving and paleontology, where she would continue to find things big and small.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Wild Horse Annie: Friend of the MustangsTracey Fern, illustrated by Steven SalernoWild Horse Annie was the nickname of Velma Bronn Johnston (1912–77), loved mustangs all her life. When she saw mustangs being rounded up and killed to make room for ranchers’ livestock, she knew she had to speak up.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
Wilma’s Way Home: The Life of Wilma MankillerDoreen Rappaport"A picturebook biography of Wilma Mankiller, the first female chief of the Cherokee Nation." --Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
You Are Home: An Ode to the National ParksEvan TurkIn simple, soaring language and breathtaking art, acclaimed author-illustrator Evan Turk has created a stirring ode to nature and nation.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book details
The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola CrayonsNatascha BiebowCelebrating the inventor of the Crayola crayon! This gloriously illustrated picture book biography tells the inspiring story of Edwin Binney, the inventor of one of the world's most beloved toys.Kindergarten to Second GradeView book detailsThird to Fifth Grade
28 selections
Akissi: More Tales of MischiefMarguerite Abouet, illustrated by Mathieu SapinThe plucky, troublemaking Akissi is back with her mischief on The Ivory Coast!Third to Fifth GradeView book details
AnotherChristian RobinsonWhat if you discovered another world and met another you?Third to Fifth GradeLexile NP0LATOS 0.1View book details
Away With Words: The Daring Story of Isabella BirdLori Mortensen, illustrated by Kristy Caldwell. Peachtree Publishing Company IncThis dashing picture book biography takes us around the world with a daring Victorian female explorer and author. Exploring was easier said than done for a young woman in nineteenth-century England.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the BorderMitali PerkinsA timely debut picture book about love overcoming the border fences between Mexico and the United States.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
The Bluest of Blues: Anna Atkins and the First Book of PhotographsFiona RobinsonAuthor/illustrator Fiona Robinson’s Bluest of Blues is a gorgeous picture book biography of botanist and photographer Anna Atkins—the first person to ever publish a book of photography.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
The Book Rescuer: How a Mensch from Massachusetts Saved Yiddish Literature for Generations to ComeSue MacyHe did all of this in pursuit of a particular kind of treasure, and he’s found plenty. Lansky’s treasure was any book written Yiddish, the language of generations of European Jews.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Brave with Beauty: A Story of AfghanistanMaxine Rose Schur, illustrated by Patricia Grush, Robin Dewitt, Golsa Yaghoobi. Yali BooksThis is the extraordinary story of Queen Goharshad, a 15th-century monarch, who many historians now believe was the one of the most powerful women in world history.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Carter Reads the NewspaperDeborah HopkinsonHe changed it." As the father of Black History Month, he spent his life introducing others to the history of his people.Carter G. Woodson was born to two formerly enslaved people ten years after the end of the Civil War.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Child of St KildaBeth Waters. Child’s Play, illustrated by Beth Waters. Child’s PlayNorman John Gillies was one of the last children ever born on St Kilda, five years before the whole population was evacuated forever to the British mainland.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Going Down Home With DaddyKelly Starling LyonsGoing Down Home with Daddy is a 2019 picture book written by Kelly Starling Lyons and illustrated by Daniel Minter.Third to Fifth GradeLexile 660LATOS 3.5View book details
Groundbreaking Guys: 40 Men Who Became Great by Doing GoodStephanie True Peters, illustrated by Shamel WashingtonThroughout history, there is no shortage of men who changed the world. But did they change the world with kindness, by raising their voices for those in need, by celebrating creativity, or by breaking down barriers for those who would come after them?Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Ida B. Wells: Discovering History’s HeroesDiane BaileyIda B. Wells was an African-American journalist and activist who led an anti-lynching crusade in the United States in the 1890s. On one fateful train ride from Memphis to Nashville, in May 1884, Wells reached a personal turning point.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Just Like Rube Goldberg: The Incredible True Story of the Man Behind the MachinesSarah Aronson, illustrated by Robert NeubeckerFollow your dreams, just like Rube Goldberg! From a young age, Rube Goldberg had a talent for art. But his father, a German immigrant, wanted Rube to have a secure job.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Let ‘Er Buck!: George Fletcher, the People’s ChampionVaunda Micheaux Nelson"Nelson plaits her narrative with Western lingo and homespun similes. . . . James' painterly oils swirl with energy, visible daubs creating the dusty, monumental landscape and equally monumental horses and humans. . . .Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Monument Maker: Daniel Chester French and the Lincoln MemorialLinda Booth SweeneyNamed to the Bank Street College Best Children's Books of the Year for 202020th Annual Massachusetts Book Awards “Must Reads”: A Must-Read Picture BookCYBILS Award short listWhen Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, fifteen-year-old Dan French had no way to know that one day his tribute to the great president would transform…Third to Fifth GradeView book details
My Fate According to the ButterflyGail D. Villanueva* "Villanueva's debut is a beautiful #ownvoices middle-grade novel. Tough topics are addressed, but warmth and humor... bring lightness to Sab's story.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
O Captain, My Captain: Walt Whitman, Abraham Lincoln, and the Civil WarRobert BurleighDramatic, lyrical, and beautifully illustrated, author Robert Burleigh and artist Sterling Hundley’s picture book O Captain, My Captain tells the story of one of America’s greatest poets and how he was inspired by one of America’s greatest presidents.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
A Place to Land: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Speech That Inspired a NationBarry Wittenstein andAs a new generation of activists demands an end to racism, A Place to Land reflects on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech and the movement that it galvanized.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Prairie Boy: Frank Lloyd Wright Turns the Heartland into a HomeBarb Rosenstock, illustrated by Christopher Silas NealIn this book about Frank Lloyd Wright for kids, young readers will learn all about America's first world-famous architect. Frank Lloyd Wright loved the Wisconsin prairie where he was born.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
The Sad Little FactJonah Winter, illustrated by Pete OswaldA fact is imprisoned, but truth's light must return.Third to Fifth GradeLexile AD620LATOS 3.1View book details
Smile: How Young Charlie Chaplin Taught the World to Laugh (and Cry)Gary GolioIconic silent film star Charlie Chaplin learned early in life that you can’t have the good without the bad. As his character, the "Little Tramp", he showed it’s all worthwhile if you just smile.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Soldier for Equality: José de la Luz Sáenz and the Great WarDuncan TonatiuhJosé de la Luz Sáenz (Luz) was born in the United States, and often faced prejudice because of his Mexican heritage. When World War I broke out, Luz joined the army, however, he found that prejudice followed him even to war.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Sweet Dreams, Sarah: From Slavery to InventorVivian Kirkfield, illustrated by Chris EwaldSarah E. Goode was one of the first African-American women to get a US patent. Working in her furniture store, she recognized a need for a multi-use bed and through hard work, ingenuity, and determination, invented her unique cupboard bed.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
ThurgoodJonah WinterDiscover the journey of a trailblazing lawyer who reshaped history and justice.Third to Fifth GradeLexile 950LATOS 5.6View book details
Two Brothers, Four Hands: The Artists Alberto and Diego GiacomettiJan Greenberg, Sandra JordanThe inspiring true story of the Giacometti brothers, one an artist, the other a daredevil, both devoted to their craft . . . but even more devoted to each other.A Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young PeopleA Capitol Choices Noteworthy TitleEveryone who knew them agreed.Third to Fifth GradeView book details
Who Did It First?: 50 Scientists, Artists, and Mathematicians Who Revolutionized the WorldJulie Leung, illustrated by Caitlin KuhwaldDiscover trailblazers who revolutionized science, arts, and mathematics, paving the way for future generations.Third to Fifth GradeLexile 1120LATOS 8View book details
A Good Kind of TroubleLisa Moore RaméeA rule-following girl faces a choice: stay silent or stand up for justice.Third to Fifth GradeLexile 720LATOS 4.5View book details
Orange for the SunsetsTina AthaideTwo friends face a regime's ultimatum, testing their bond and redefining home.Third to Fifth GradeLexile 600LATOS 4.1View book detailsSixth to Eighth Grade
27 selections
AlliesAlan GratzAllied forces face betrayal and danger on D-Day.Sixth to Eighth GradeLexile 870LATOS 5.6View book details
Anthem (The Sixties Trilogy #3)Deborah WilesFrom two-time National Book Award finalist Deborah Wiles, the remarkable story of two cousins who must take a road trip across American in 1969 in order to let a teen know he's been drafted to fight in Vietnam.Sixth to Eighth GradeView book details
Bringing Down a President: The Watergate ScandalAndrea Balis, Elizabeth LevyA fly on the wall provides background information as Richard Nixon, White House staff, Congress, lawyers, reporters, and burglars speak. Line drawings and extensive back matter.Sixth to Eighth GradeView book details
Child of the Dream (A Memoir of 1963)Sharon RobinsonAn incredible memoir from Sharon Robinson about the pivotal year of the civil rights movement -- and her unique role in it alongside her father, baseball legend and activist Jackie Robinson.In January 1963, Sharon Robinson turns thirteen the night before George Wallace declares on national television "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever"…Sixth to Eighth GradeView book details
Dear America: Young Readers’ Edition: The Story of an Undocumented CitizenJose Antonio VargasIn this young readers’ adaptation of his adult memoir Dear America , Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and undocumented immigrant Jose Antonio Vargas tells his story, in light of the 12 million undocumented immigrants currently in the United States.Sixth to Eighth GradeView book details
Dreams from Many Rivers: A Hispanic History of the United States Told in PoemsMargarita Engle, illustrated by Beatriz Gutiérrez HernándezFrom Juana Briones and Juan Ponce de León, to eighteenth century slaves and modern-day sixth graders, the many and varied people depicted in this moving narrative speak to the experiences and contributions of Latinos throughout the history of the United States, from the earliest known stories up to present day.Sixth to Eighth GradeView book details
Fighter in Velvet Gloves: Alaska Civil Rights Hero Elizabeth PeratrovichAnnie Boochever, with Roy Peratrovich, Jr“No Natives or Dogs Allowed,” blared the storefront sign at Elizabeth Peratrovich, then a young Alaska Native Tlingit. The sting of those words would stay with her all her life.Sixth to Eighth GradeView book details
Fighting for the Forest: How FDR’s Civilian Conservation Corps Helped Save AmericaP. O’Connell PearsonIn an inspiring middle grade nonfiction work, P. O’Connell Pearson tells the story of the Civilian Conservation Corps—one of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal projects that helped save a generation of Americans.When Franklin D. Roosevelt took office in March 1933, the United States was on the brink of economic collapse and environmental…Sixth to Eighth GradeView book details
Games of Deception: The True Story of the First U.S. Olympic Basketball Team at the 1936 Olympics in Hitler’s GermanyAndrew MaranissThis brief history of how basketball became an Olympic sport looks at the ethical issues surrounding the U.S. team’s decision to participate in the 1936 OlympicsSixth to Eighth GradeView book details
Genesis Begins AgainAlicia D. WilliamsGenesis Begins Again is a 2019 children's book by Alicia D.Sixth to Eighth GradeLexile 670LView book details
Girl Under a Red Moon: Growing Up During China’s Cultural RevolutionDa ChenNew York Times bestselling author Da Chen weaves a deeply moving account of his resolute older sister and their childhood growing up together during…Sixth to Eighth GradeLexile 1120LView book details
The Good Son: A Story from the First World War, Told in MiniaturePierre-Jacques OberA young WWI soldier's unauthorized visit home has dire consequences in a haunting story reimagined in miniature tableaux. It is Christmastime, 1914, and World War I rages.Sixth to Eighth GradeView book details
Her Own Two Feet: A Rwandan Girl’s Brave Fight to WalkMeredith Davis, Rebeka UwitonzeThrough her eyes, the moving story of a young Rwandan girl born with clubfeet and the risk she takes for the chance to walk on the bottoms of her feet for the first time.Rebeka Uwitonze was born in Rwanda with curled and twisted feet, which meant she had to crawl or be…Sixth to Eighth GradeView book details
An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young PeopleRoxanne Dunbar-OrtizGoing beyond the story of America as a country “discovered” by a few brave men in the “New World,” Indigenous human rights advocate Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz reveals the roles that settler colonialism and policies of American Indian genocide played in forming our national identity.Sixth to Eighth GradeView book details
Infinite Hope: A Black Artist’s Journey from World War II to PeaceAshley BryanFor the next three years, he would face the horrors of war as a black soldier in a segregated army. He endured the terrible lies white officers told about the black soldiers to isolate them from anyone who showed kindness—including each other.Sixth to Eighth GradeView book details
Leading the Way: Women In PowerJanet Howell, Theresa Howell, illustrated by Kylie Akia, Alexandra ByeIn this engaging and highly accessible compendium for young readers and aspiring power brokers, Virginia Senator Janet Howell and her daughter-in-law Theresa Howell spotlight the careers of fifty American women in politics -- and inspire readers to make a difference.Sixth to Eighth GradeView book details
Maybe He Just Likes YouBarbara DeeA girl faces unwanted attention at school and learns to stand up for herself.Sixth to Eighth GradeLexile 630LATOS 4.1View book details
Never Caught, the Story of Ona Judge: George and Martha Washington’s Courageous Slave Who Dared to Run Away; Young Readers EditionErica Armstrong Dunbar, Kathleen Van CleveIn this incredible narrative, Erica Armstrong Dunbar reveals a fascinating and heartbreaking behind-the-scenes look at the Washingtons when they were the First Family—and an in-depth look at their slave, Ona Judge, who dared to escape from one of the nation’s Founding Fathers.Sixth to Eighth GradeView book details
Our Castle by the SeaLucy StrangeIn this haunting and compelling follow-up to the instant classic The Secret of Nightingale Wood. Lucy Strange takes a seafaring myth and grounds it inSixth to Eighth GradeView book details
Playlist: The Rebels and Revolutionaries of SoundJames Rhodes, illustrated by Martin O’Neill. Candlewick StudioIn a stunning and innovative performance, piano maestro James Rhodes introduces today's readers to seven of the greatest composers of all time.Sixth to Eighth GradeView book details
The Poison Eaters: Fighting Danger and Fraud in Our Food and DrugsGail JarrowFrom formaldehyde in your milk to borax in your beans comes this fun, informative exploration of the FDA and how it works to keep our food safeSixth to Eighth GradeView book details
Secret SoldiersKeely HuttonA young miner joins a secret mission beneath the battlefield to find his brother.Sixth to Eighth GradeLexile 910LATOS 5.8View book details
Stand on the SkyErin BowA girl defies tradition to train an eagle and save her brother's life.Sixth to Eighth GradeLexile HL670LATOS 4.8View book details
Survivors of the Holocaust: True Stories of Six Extraordinary ChildrenKath ShackletonA compelling collection of six little-known, true stories of child Holocaust survivors, told in graphic novel formatSixth to Eighth GradeView book details
This Promise of Change: One Girl’s Story in the Fight for School EqualityJo Ann Allen Boyce, Debbie Levy"In 1956, one year before federal troops escorted the Little Rock 9 into Central High School, fourteen year old Jo Ann Allen was one of twelve African-American students who broke the color barrier and integrated Clinton High School in Tennessee.Sixth to Eighth GradeView book details
Under the Broken SkyMariko NagaiA girl fights to reunite with her sister after war tears their family apart.Sixth to Eighth GradeLexile 870LATOS 5.5View book details
The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USABrenda WoodsA boy's friendship with a WWII veteran reveals harsh truths in the Jim Crow South.Sixth to Eighth GradeLexile 780LATOS 5View book detailsNinth to Twelfth Grade
25 selections
Accused!: The Trials of the Scottsboro Boys: Lies, Prejudice, and the Fourteenth AmendmentLarry Dane BrimnerThis chilling and harrowing account tells the story of the Scottsboro Boys, nine African-American teenagers who, when riding the rails during the Great Depression, found their lives destroyed after two white women falsely accused them of rape.Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details
Among the FallenVirginia Frances SchwartzOrpha doesn't speak about what got her into prison. No one would believe her.Haunted by nightmarish flashbacks and withering in the miserable conditions of Tothill prison, 16-year-old Orpha perseveres, doing what she can to befriend and protect the other girls imprisoned alongside her.Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details
Becoming BeatrizTami Charles"A compelling read about the quest for fame!"����� —Debbie Allen, star of Fame "Redemption is a heartbeat away."����� —Guadalupe Garcia McCall, author of the Pura Belpre Award winner Under the Mesquite Beatriz dreams of a life spent dancing--until tragedy on the day of her quincea�era changes everything.Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details
Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in AmericaIbi ZoboiEdited by National Book Award finalist Ibi Zoboi, and featuring some of the most acclaimed bestselling Black authors writing for teens today-Black Enough is an essential collection of captivating stories about what it's like to be young and Black in America.Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details
The Downstairs GirlStacey LeeBut by night, Jo moonlights as the pseudonymous author of a newspaper advice column for the genteel Southern lady, "Dear Miss Sweetie." When her column becomes wildly popular, she uses the power of the pen to address some of society's ills, but she's not prepared for the backlash that follows when her…Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details
The Far Away Brothers (Adapted for Young Adults): Two Teenage Immigrants Making a Life in AmericaLauren MarkhamErnesto and Raúl Flores are identical twins, used to being mistaken for each other. As seventeen-year-olds living in rural El Salvador, they are used to thinking that the United States is just a far-off dream.Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details
Fault Lines in the Constitution: The Framers, Their Fights, and the Flaws that Affect Us Today (Revised Edition)Cynthia Levinson, Sanford Levinson, illustrated by Adela Pons. Peachtree Publishing Company IncA noted children's nonfiction author and one of the nation's foremost constitutional scholars team up to create an essential book on the United States Constitution for everyone grappling with today's most urgent political issues.Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details
HeroineMindy McGinnisA captivating and powerful exploration of the opioid crisis—the deadliest drug epidemic in American history—through the eyes of a college-bound softball star.Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details
I Am a Feminist: Claiming the F-Word in Turbulent TimesMonique Polak, illustrated by Meags FitzgeraldWhy does it still matter? What exactly does intersectionality mean? In order to answer these (and many other) questions, I Am a Feminist first examines the history of feminism and then addresses the issues girls and women continue to face today.Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details
Love from A to ZS. K. AliTwo teens meet on spring break, hiding secrets and seeking truth in a world of marvels and oddities.Ninth to Twelfth GradeLexile HL740LATOS 4.7View book details
On the Come UpAngie ThomasA teen rapper's viral song sparks controversy, forcing her to fight for her dreams against all odds.Ninth to Twelfth GradeLexile HL550LATOS 3.8View book details
The Other Side: Stories of Central American Teen Refugees Who Dream of Crossing the BorderJuan Pablo VillalobosA short but powerful collection illuminates the journeys of eleven young people who immigrated to the United States due to dangerous situations in their home countries.Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details
Robert E. Lee: The Man, the Soldier, the MythBrandon Marie MillerA comprehensive young adult biography of the life of one of the most mythologized men in American and Civil War history: General Lee of the Confederate States Army Robert E. Lee’s life was filled with responsibility and loyalty.Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details
SHOUTLaurie Halse AndersonA poetic memoir challenges societal silence on sexual assault.Ninth to Twelfth GradeLexile 1080LATOS 7.5View book details
SlayBrittney MorrisTeen game developer Kiera fights to protect the Black gaming community she built.Ninth to Twelfth GradeLexile 930LView book details
Soaring Earth: A Companion Memoir to Enchanted AirMargarita EngleMargarita Engle’s childhood straddled two worlds: the lush, welcoming island of Cuba and the lonely, dream-soaked reality of Los Angeles. But the revolution has transformed Cuba into a mystery of impossibility, no longer reachable in real life.Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details
This Time Will Be DifferentMisa SugiuraShe's never lived up to her mom's type A ambition, and she's perfectly happy just helping her aunt, Hannah, at their family's flower shop.She doesn't buy into Hannah's romantic ideas about flowers and their hidden meanings, but when it comes to arranging the perfect bouquet, CJ discovers a knack she never knew…Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details
Voices: The Final Hours of Joan of ArcDavid Elliott, map by Cara LlewelynAlong the way it explores timely issues such as gender, misogyny, and the peril of speaking truth to power. Before Joan of Arc became a saint, she was a girl inspired.Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details
Warhead: The True Story of One Teen Who Almost Saved the WorldJeff HenigsonAn often hilarious and always relevant memoir about one teen boy's battle with brain cancer and his Starlight Children's Foundation wish: to meet Mikhail Gorbachev in Russia and plead for nuclear disarmament and world peace.Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details
Watch Us RiseRenée Watson, Ellen HaganJasmine and Chelsea are best friends on a mission-they're sick of the way women are treated even at their progressive NYC high school, so they decide to start a Women's Rights Club.Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details
We Are Here to Stay: Voices of Undocumented Young AdultsSusan KuklinThe Stonewall Honor–winning author of Beyond Magenta shares the intimate, eye-opening stories of nine undocumented young adults living in America.Meet nine courageous young adults who have lived in the United States with a secret for much of their lives: they are not U.S. citizens.Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details
The Weight of Our SkyHanna AlkafA teen battles inner demons and chaos to reunite with her mother amid 1969 Kuala Lumpur riots.Ninth to Twelfth GradeLexile 830LATOS 5.7View book details
White RoseKip Wilson“In a searing indictment of silent complicity, White Rose shines a light on one remarkable young woman’s insistence on the power of truth, no matter the cost.Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details
The World on Either SideDiane TerranaAfter the death of her boyfriend, sixteen-year old Valentine stops going to school, quits seeing her friends and, finally, won’t leave her bed.Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details
Yes She Can: 10 Stories of Hope & Change from Young Female Staffers of the Obama White HouseCompiled by Molly Dillon"Young women can run the world.Ninth to Twelfth GradeView book details