Here’s a list of some of the best new nonfiction titles available at CA Library that feature starred reviews:

Attucks! Oscar Robertson and the Basketball Team That Awakened a City by Phillip Hoose — “In 1950s Indiana, the success of a black high school’s basketball team drove integration despite overwhelming odds. Excessively readable, this should appeal to sports fans and those looking for a good book about the civil rights era” (Booklist).

Blacklisted! Hollywood, the Cold War, and the First Amendment by Larry Dane Brimner — “A tightly focused, meticulously detailed account of the 1947 House Un-American Activities Committee hearings that led to the Hollywood blacklist. More broadly, Brimner offers a cautionary tale about the damage done to individuals and society when constitutional rights are denied by officials sworn to uphold them” (Booklist).

Bonnie and Clyde: The Making of a Legend by Karen Blumenthal — “This exquisitely researched biography examines the romantic image that made Bonnie and Clyde folk heroes despite the violence they spread. An extraordinarily successful resource about a painful time in history and a complicated, infamous pair” (Booklist).

Boots on the Ground: America’s War in Vietnam by Elizabeth Partridge — “This conscientious look at the Vietnam War focuses on the author’s interviews with eight people–soldiers, refugees, medics, Vietnam natives, and more. With an impressive amount of well-chosen photographs, this is a necessary look at a factious time in American and world history” (Booklist).

Buried Lives: The Enslaved People of George Washington’s Mount Vernon by Carla Killough McClafferty — “This handsome, well-documented book explores slavery at Mount Vernon in George Washington’s day and introduces six enslaved people who worked there. With meticulous back matter linking quotes to many primary sources as well as more recent works, this is an enlightening presentation on slavery in the late 1700s” (Booklist).

Crash: The Great Depression and the Fall and Rise of America by Marc Favreau — “With lucid writing and well-chosen archive photos, Favreau explains the 1929 stock market crash, subsequent depression, and how the resulting poverty affected the U.S. An enlightening and very readable book on a complex historical period” (Booklist).

The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler by John Hendrix — “Dynamic artwork and stirring text combine in this biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, which also offers eloquent historical context. A poignant, compellingly presented, and timely account of a brave individual who lived his life with true conviction” (Booklist).

Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka — “A moving, artful memoir of the comic artist’s complicated upbringing, his mothers heroin addition, and his ever-growing love of art. There have been a slew of graphic memoirs published for youth in the past couple of years, but the raw, confessional quality and unguarded honesty of Krosoczka’s contribution sets it apart from the crowd” (Booklist).

Just Mercy (Adapted for Young Adults): A True Story of the Fight for Justice by Bryan Stevenson — “Lawyer and social-justice advocate Stevenson brings the topic of mass incarceration to a teen audience, urging the compassionate treatment of prisoners. Classrooms and book groups will find plenty to discuss and debate. Compassionate and compelling, Stevenson’s narrative is also unforgettable” (Booklist).

Spooked! How a Radio Broadcast and The War of the Worlds Sparked the 1938 Invasion of America by Gail Jarrow — “Jarrow dives deep into Orson Welles’ notorious radio broadcast, the panic it sparked, and its parallels with modern media hoaxes. An enriching bridge that connects history with current events” (Booklist).