Thursday, April 3, 2014

Some non-fiction books you might have missed

Break These Rules is a series of 35 essays by popular young adult authors who talk about staying true to yourself. Carl Deuker writes sports fiction for teens, and he advises you to ignore the old adage in Don't Quit. On the surface it's about high school sports, but can be translated into many real life situations. There ARE times you should quit; you just have to be able to identify when those times are. Most of the essays are very short, 3 or 4 pages, so it's that kind of book that you can whip out in study hall and read 1 or 2 entries, skipping all around to find ones that sound interesting. The titles are the rules that the authors are advising you to break if you need to. It's Better To Be Safe Than Sorry by Matthew Quick advises on how and when to take chances in life. Boys Don't Cry by Chris Lynch gives everyone permission to cry. It's good for you!  So pick this book up and learn how to break some rules!!

Bad Girls by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple takes a fresh look at some historical women commonly considered to be "bad".  From the book description: "Society has long looked at tough, smart, ambitious women and written them off as bad". The two authors enter into debates over women like Cleopatra, Bonnie Parker, Bloody Mary and others and whether they were truly bad, not-so-bad, or somewhere in between.  An entertaining look at history.  Again, most chapters are quite short.

Rapture Practice by Aaron Hartzler is the true story of a boy who grew up in home being taught that the "Rapture" was imminent, and that Jesus may come down at any moment to take him to heaven. That's pretty exciting when you are little, but upon becoming a teenager, Aaron begins to rebel and discovers that not all truths are in the Bible.  This is a coming-of-age memoir, sensitively and humorously written.

The Goddess in Every Girl by M. J. Abadie encourages girls to thrive in this world despite the patriarchal nature that all too often still exists. It is a book of empowerment teaching all girls how to unleash that goddess within.  It is also a meditation on discovering what's underneath the surface when you look into the mirror.  It includes many activities and challenges that will help you grow into a strong confident woman. Some may find the content irreverent as many bible stories are interpreted in a feminist fashion.

How Not To Be a Dick: An Everyday Etiquette Guide by Meghan Doherty is a practical guide teaching teens how to respect others, be considerate, treat everyone as an individual, empathize, etc in many different situations, from how to end a conversation gracefully when it isn't going well, to how to address a sensitive topic on social media.  This book has some great advice on how to not be a jerk to other people, so pick it up for yourself, or loan it to someone who needs it!

So, you see, not all non-fiction books are textbooks. As a matter of fact, most non-fiction ISN'T textbooks. Come check out the YA non-fiction collection for some really fun and interesting reads.