Here’s a look at some of the latest nonfiction we’ve received at CA Library recently. Most of them fall into the category of narrative nonfiction, a genre explained here by author Melissa Miller:

“Narrative nonfiction appeals strongly to fiction lovers because it includes real characters and settings, narrative scenes, and, ideally, a narrative arc with rising tension, a climax, and a resolution.

The scenes, which give readers an intimate look at the world and people being described, are linked by expository bridges that provide necessary background while speeding through parts of the true story that don’t require close inspection.”

Melissa Miller, School Library Journal, August 2020

Look for them in the New Books section!

Dear America: The Story of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas — Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas was only twelve years old when he was brought to the United States from the Philippines to live with his grandparents. He didn’t know it, but he was sent to the U.S. illegally. When he applied for a learner’s permit, he learned the truth, and he spent the next almost twenty years keeping his immigration status a secret. In this young readers’ adaptation of his adult memoir, Vargas tells his story, in light of the 12 million undocumented immigrants currently in the United States.

Hidden Figures: The Untold True Story Of Four African-American Women Who Helped Launch Our Nation Into Space by Margot Lee Shetterly — This edition of Shetterly’s acclaimed book is perfect for young readers! It’s the powerful story of four African-American female mathematicians at NASA who helped achieve some of the greatest moments in our space program. “Shetterly’s outstanding young readers’ edition of her similarly titled adult book highlights the intersecting worlds of educated, middle-class southern African Americans and Cold War space program scientists” (Horn Book Guide).

How To Think Like Bill Gates by Daniel Smith — Explores Bill Gates’ approach to business and the ideas and influences that helped shape him along the way. Studying how Gates honed his business acumen, faced down all competitors, overcame adversity and stood strong in the face of overwhelming odds, you too can learn to think like Bill Gates!

How We’re F***ing Up Our Planet by Tony Juniper — Environmentalist Juniper charts the dramatic explosion of human population and consumption, and explains how global patterns are connected, looking into the future to explore the consequences of what we are doing. Importantly, he also looks at how we can reverse the current trends — for example, by adopting clean, low-carbon technologies — and live more sustainably into the future. “A thoroughly researched, visually appealing, and eye-opening book” (Booklist).

Mighty Justice: The Untold Story of Civil Rights Trailblazer Dovey Johnson Roundtree by Jabari Asim — A young reader’s adaptation of the memoir of activist and trailblazer Dovey Johnson Roundtree, by Katie McCabe. Raised in North Carolina at the height of Jim Crow, Roundtree felt the sting of inequality at an early age and made a point to speak up for justice. She was one of the first Black women to break the racial and gender barriers in the US Army, a fierce attorney in the segregated courtrooms of Washington, DC, and a minister in the AME church, where women had never before been ordained as clergy. “Highly recommended for … nonfiction collections, and will especially appeal to those with a passion for social justice” (School Library Journal).

Notes From A Young Black Chef by Kwame Onwuachi — Food was Kwame Onwuachi’s first great love. He connected to cooking via his mother, in the family’s modest Bronx apartment. From that spark, he launched his own catering company with twenty thousand dollars he made selling candy on the subway and trained in the kitchens of some of the most acclaimed restaurants in the country. In this young readers’ adaptation of Onwuachi 2019 memoir, he “candidly declares how the weight of the trials he experienced impacted his story and fortified his culinary dreams, with an intensive reflection of family roots, aspirations, and expectations” (School Library Journal).

One Life by Megan Rapinoe, adapted by Sarah Durand — Olympic gold medalist, two-time Women’s World Cup champion, and trailblazing activist Megan Rapinoe writes about her fight for equality and justice in this adaptation of her memoir, One Life. “Soccer fans will appreciate the game details and photos … even the nonsporty will find much to appreciate in this inspiring and engagingly written book. A captivating sports memoir that puts social justice at the forefront” (Kirkus Reviews).

A Peacemaker For Warring Nations: The Founding Of The Iroquois League by Joseph Bruchac — The League of the Iroquois was a true representational democracy — so much so that the United States Constitution is said to have been modeled on some of its tenets. But how, perhaps a thousand years before the time of Columbus, did the Five Iroquois Nations (the Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, and Seneca) come to end the bitter eye-for-eye warfare among them? Renowned Native author Joseph Bruchac draws from the teachings of both contemporary and past Iroquois tradition bearers in telling the inspiring story of how “the Peacemaker,” a divine messenger sent by the Creator, helped to bring reconciliation to warring nations. “A timely, must-read tale about overcoming divisions as a nation” (Kirkus Reviews).

Teaching Artfully by Meghan Parker — Learn how art teacher Meghan Parker came to understand both her teaching and art-making practices through creating insightful comics, looking at daily teaching practices, visual literacy, the teacher’s experience, relationships, and engagement with life inside and outside of schools. Parker uses this unique visual form to emphasize the importance of learning to understand and communicate using images. “A manual and call to arms for creative perspectives; librarians should loan this one to every art teacher and budding artist in sight” (School Library Journal).

Wonder Women of Science: Twelve Geniuses Who Are Currently Rocking Science, Technology, and the World by Tiera Fletcher — Meet award-winning aerospace engineer Tiera Fletcher and twelve other science superstars and hear them tell in their own words not only about their fascinating work, but also about their childhoods and the paths they traveled to get where they are — paths that often involved failures and unexpected changes in direction, but also persistence, serendipity, and brilliant insights. “An invaluable and highly plausible road map from youthful ambition to future success … A fine choice for inspiring future scientists” (Kirkus Reviews).