Summer Reading for NCCS Middle School Students 2023: Nonfiction

As the daughter of immigrants who came to America for a better life, Annie Inoue was raised to dream big. And at the start of seventh grade, she’s channeling that irrepressible hope into becoming the lead in her school play.

So when Annie lands an impressive role in the production of The King and I, she’s thrilled . . . until she starts to hear grumbles from her mostly white classmates that she only got the part because it’s an Asian play with Asian characters. Is this all people see when they see her? Is this the only kind of success they’ll let her have—one that they can tear down or use race to belittle?

Disheartened but determined, Annie channels her hurt into a new dream: showing everyone what she’s made of. Grade 4-7

In 1980s Brooklyn, new student JJ Pankowski, an autistic, punk-rock-lover, befriends Pie Velez, an Afro-Latinx math geek and graffiti artist. Grade 5-8

Jerry Pinkney, Caldecott Medal winner and illustrator of over one hundred books, tells the story of his childhood and how he developed his artistic talent. Grades 3-7

Jeanne Villepreux-Power was never expected to be a scientist. Born in 1794 in a French village more than 100 miles from the ocean, she pursued an improbable path that brought her to the island of Sicily. There, she took up natural history and solved the two-thousand-year-old mystery of how of the argonaut octopus gets its shell. In an era when most research focused on dead specimens, Jeanne was determined to experiment on living animals. And to keep sea creatures alive for her studies, she had to invent a contraption to hold them―the aquarium. Grade 5-8 (Lexile: 1220)

he third book in the ThinkCities series explores the urgent need for sustainable transportation in and around our cities. Grade 3-6

A visually stunning story of environmental harm and eventual restoration, offering hope for the future. Grade 3-6

Outlines the science behind global heating and its root causes, provides ways to take action and honors the efforts of the millions of people from around the world working tirelessly to help the planet. Grade 6-9 (Lexile 1260)

In this moving tale, join war veteran James Howard Williams as he encounters Bandoola, a working Asian elephant, and his keeper, Po Toke for the first time. Working together on a teak plantation, Williams and Bandoola develop a rare friendship, which even today set standards around elephant care and conservation. Grade 3-6 (Lexile: 1000)

Tells the story of French-born Catherine Leroy, one of the Vietnam War's few woman photographers, who documented some of the fiercest fighting in the 20-year conflict. Despite being told that women didn't belong in a "man's world," she was cool under fire, gravitated toward the thickest battles, went along on the soldiers' slogs through the heat and mud of the jungle, crawled through rice paddies, and became the only official photojournalist to parachute into combat with American soldiers. Later, Leroy was gravely wounded from shrapnel, but that didn't keep her down more than a month. When captured by the North Vietnamese in 1968, she talked herself free after photographing her captors, scoring a cover story in Life magazine. Grade 6-9

Jeanne Villepreux-Power was never expected to be a scientist. Born in 1794 in a French village more than 100 miles from the ocean, she pursued an improbable path that brought her to the island of Sicily. There, she took up natural history and solved the two-thousand-year-old mystery of how of the argonaut octopus gets its shell. In an era when most research focused on dead specimens, Jeanne was determined to experiment on living animals. And to keep sea creatures alive for her studies, she had to invent a contraption to hold them―the aquarium. Grade 5-8 (Lexile: 1220)

From an award-winning author comes a vivid depiction of an act of war from opposing sides of the conflict in World War II--and a rare reconciliation and wish for peace that evolved years later. Grade 5-8

An up close account of the ill-fated Franklin expedition.In 1845, Sir John Franklin set sail from England with two ships in search of the Northwest Passage. Not only did they not succeed, the ships and their crew members vanished, their fate an unsolved mystery for decades. In 10 suspenseful episodes, the captivating story of that doomed polar mission is revealed from the viewpoints of the commander, those back home and the search parties. It's a riveting tale, that in bone-chilling detail answers the question: What really happened in Terror Bay?At last, a story long hidden in the icy Arctic, finally gets to be told. Grade 5-8

The story of one man's remarkable life, and in doing so, explores the trials of the brave Black freedom fighters who defended the world against racism and bigotry, both on the front lines and at home. Grade 5-7 (Lexile: 1090)

The Greek word democracy comes from demos (people) and kratos (rule)--meaning 'the people hold power.' In this ... graphic novel, ... author-illustrator Don Brown explores the history of democracy--from civilization's beginnings as hunter-gatherers to the birth of monarchies and vast empires, and from the earliest republics to our present-day government. Narrated by Abigail Adams, We the People! explores how Athenian and Greek assemblies inspired our legislative and judiciary branches; how Enlightenment ideals of reason, toleration, and human progress shaped our founding fathers' thinking; how Mali's Manden Charter and England's Magna Carta influenced our Bill of Rights; and how the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy directly shaped the US Constitution. Grader 4-7

Poet Naomi Shihab Nye shines a spotlight on the things we cast away, from plastic water bottles to refugees. Grade 3-6

A feminist-forward new collection of poetry celebrating the little-known women poets of the Harlem Renaissance--paired with full-color, original art from today's most talented female African-American illustrators. Grade 5-8

n a rich embroidery of visions, musical cadence, and deep emotion, Andrea and Brian Pinkney convey the final months of Martin Luther King's life -- and of his assassination -- through metaphor, spirituality, and multi-layers of meaning.

Andrea's stunning poetic requiem, illustrated with Brian's lyrical and colorful artwork -- brings a fresh perspective to Martin Luther King, the Gandhi-like, peace-loving activist whose dream of equality -- and whose courage to make it happen -- changed the course of American history. And even in his death, he continues to transform and inspire all of us who share his dream. Grade 4+ (Lexile: 730)

What can you find in a poem about a robin's nest? Irene Latham ... discovers 'nestlings, ' or smaller poems about [a] ... variety of subjects--emotions, wild animals, natural landmarks on all seven continents, even planets and constellations. Each poem is a ... spark of wonder that will prompt readers to look at the world afresh. Grade 3-8

Originally performed for ESPN's The Undefeated, this poem by the Newbery Award-winning author of The Crossover and artwork from a two-time Caldecott Honoree is a love letter to black life in the United States, highlighting the unspeakable trauma of slavery; the faith and fire of the Civil Rights Movement; and the grit, passion and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes. Grade 3-6

A remarkable true WWII account of the maritime attack on the RMS Laconia off the West African coast. Grade 4-6

In 1939, Gustav Kleinmann, a Jewish upholsterer in Vienna, was seized by the Nazis. Along with his teenage son Fritz, he was sent to Buchenwald in Germany. There began an unimaginable ordeal that saw the pair beaten, starved, and forced to build the very concentration camp they were held in. When Gustav was set to be transferred to Auschwitz--a certain death sentence--Fritz refused to leave his side. Throughout the horrors they witnessed and the suffering they endured, there was one constant that kept them alive: the love between father and son. Grade 6-8

American schoolchildren have long been taught that their country was 'discovered' by Christopher Columbus in 1492. But the history of Native Americans in the United States goes back tens of tens of thousands of years prior to Columbus's and other colonizers' arrivals. So, what's the true history. Grade 6-8 (Lexile: 1250)

The struggle for equal rights continues. This account of the Little Rock Nine shows how the United States has come a mighty long way...but still has a long way to go Grade 5-10 (Lexile: 980)

Revealing little-known facts about the fight to teach evolution in schools, this riveting account of the dramatic 1925 Scopes Trial (aka “the Monkey Trial”) speaks directly to today’s fights over what students learn, the tension between science and religion, the influence of the media on public debate, and the power of one individual to change history. Grade 4-7

Legendary photographers Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake, and Ansel Adams all photographed the Japanese American incarceration, but with different approaches-and different results. This nonfiction picture book for middle grade readers examines the Japanese-American incarceration-and the complexity of documenting it-through the work of these three photographers. Grade 6-9 (Lexile: 990)

For as long as there have been secrets to keep, there have been spies, the world over, trying to uncover this classified information. Spying goes on all the time, and everywhere, but some of the most astonishing exploits occur during wartime. The stories in this beautiful collection unpick some of the most astonishing missions undertaken during World War Two, actions that helped to save many lives. Amazingly, many of these tales had to remain a deadly secret at the time and are little known even to this day. Discover twenty-seven of the most courageous and daring, including: Giliana Gerson, Britain's first female spy, Harry Ree, teacher turned saboteur, Margery Booth, the spy who sang for Hitler, Roald Dahl, the spy who became a bestselling author, Noor Inayat Khan, the first woman wireless operator, Scotch Lass, Britain's smallest ever agent, 'Major Martin' the man who never was and many more! Grade 4-6

Annotation:
Through Thomas H. Begay's singular story, this richly illustrated biography for young readers describes aspects of Navajo history and culture and shows how a select group of Navajo soldiers used their native Diné language to invent and operate a secret communications system that was crucial to a US victory in the Pacific during World War II.Grade 5-8

Meet twenty-one women through history who wore men's clothing, pretended to be men, or broke the rules in order to do something they wanted-or needed-to do. Grade 4-7 (Lexile: 990)

An intriguing and fact-filled look at how the mail has been delivered in the United States since before the Constitution was even signed. In the United States, the spread of the postal service went hand in hand with the spread of democracy and transportation. As settlement spread west, communication became even more important to let distant residents feel that they were American; no part of the country was too far away, no village or farm too small to have access to the post. Moreover, the Post Office has always been a public service—it was not originally designed to make a profit or act like a business, but to deliver letters, medical supplies, packages ordered online, and all the things that Americans need at a reasonable cost. Over the centuries, it has also been one of the largest employers in the United States, particularly as a means for African Americans and women to secure stable, middle-class jobs. Grade 5-8

Sloths spend most of their lives in trees, and until recently scientists didn’t know very much about them. But Dr. Rebecca Cliffe was determined to discover their secrets. To find out more, she fitted sloths with special backpacks containing a device to track their activity. She learned how to climb trees in the Costa Rican jungle so she could take sloth hair samples and test their DNA. And she’s helped create sloth crossings and plant trees to ensure the sloths aren’t trapped in shrinking territories. Along the way, she earned the nickname Dr. Sloth.

Discover the story of how an animal-loving kid in England grew up to become one of the world’s leading sloth scientists, and learn how Dr. Sloth is using her discoveries to help keep sloths safe. Grad 3-6 (Lexile: 1040)

Legendary photographers Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake, and Ansel Adams all photographed the Japanese American incarceration, but with different approaches-and different results. This nonfiction picture book for middle grade readers examines the Japanese-American incarceration-and the complexity of documenting it-through the work of these three photographers. Grade 6-9 (Lexile: 990)

In the early 2000s, thirteen-year-old Katie Van Heidrich has moved more times that she can count, for as long as she can remember. There were the slow moves where you see the whole thing coming. There were the fast ones where you grab what you can in seconds. When Katie and her family come back from an out-of-town funeral, they discover their landlord has unceremoniously evicted them, forcing them to pack lightly and move quickly. They make their way to an Extended Stay America Motel, with Katie's mother promising it's temporary. Within the four walls of their new home, Katie and her siblings, Josh and Haley, try to live a normal life--all while wondering if things would be easier living with their father. Lyrical and forthcoming, Katie navigates the complexities that come with living in-between: in between homes, parents, and childhood and young adulthood, all while remaining hopeful for the future. Grade 5-8

Sloths spend most of their lives in trees, and until recently scientists didn’t know very much about them. But Dr. Rebecca Cliffe was determined to discover their secrets. To find out more, she fitted sloths with special backpacks containing a device to track their activity. She learned how to climb trees in the Costa Rican jungle so she could take sloth hair samples and test their DNA. And she’s helped create sloth crossings and plant trees to ensure the sloths aren’t trapped in shrinking territories. Along the way, she earned the nickname Dr. Sloth.

Discover the story of how an animal-loving kid in England grew up to become one of the world’s leading sloth scientists, and learn how Dr. Sloth is using her discoveries to help keep sloths safe. Grad 3-6 (Lexile: 1040)

Virginia Hall was deemed "the most dangerous of all allied spies" by the Gestapo. Armed with her wits and her prosthetic leg, she was deployed behind enemy lines to inspire resistance in France, providing crucial support to fighting the Nazi occupation. In this largely untold story, Sonia Purnell uncovers the truth behind a Baltimore socialite who was essential to allied victory. Grade 5-9

Everything seemed set against Chaunte Lowe. Growing up with a single mother in Paso Robles, California, where she experienced food insecurity, homelessness, and domestic abuse, Chaunte couldn't imagine a future that offered a different sort of life. But then, one day, she turned on the TV and there was Flo Jo, competing in the Olympics and shattering records in track and field. Almost immediately, Chaunte knew what she wanted to do. She started running. With the help of a small community of friends, family, and coaches, Chaunte worked as hard as she could - both in the classroom and out on the sports field - and through her own fierce determination and grit, she overcame every imaginable obstacle, eventually propelling herself to the place she always dreamed about: the Olympic medal podium. Boundless is a story that will move anyone who's ever had a big dream, ever dared to hope for a better future, and ever believed that nothing was impossible. Grade 4-7 (Lexile; 950)

In 1939, Gustav Kleinmann, a Jewish upholsterer in Vienna, was seized by the Nazis. Along with his teenage son Fritz, he was sent to Buchenwald in Germany. There began an unimaginable ordeal that saw the pair beaten, starved, and forced to build the very concentration camp they were held in. When Gustav was set to be transferred to Auschwitz--a certain death sentence--Fritz refused to leave his side. Throughout the horrors they witnessed and the suffering they endured, there was one constant that kept them alive: the love between father and son. Grade 6-8

Meet fourteen scientists working to combat climate change-in fourteen different ways. This book informs young readers and gives them the tools they need to make a difference. Grade 4-7

Young crime reporter Hilde Lysiak shares, for the first time, how she started her own newspaper, the Orange Street News, and how she was able to not only survive the ups and downs of her youth but emerge from it all with a renewed sense of purpose and confidence. Grade 4-8 (Lexile: 890)

The struggle for equal rights continues. This account of the Little Rock Nine shows how the United States has come a mighty long way...but still has a long way to go Grade 5-10 (Lexile: 980)

A biography about one of America's most historically resonant images, the circumstances surrounding its creation, and the larger story it tells about Abraham Lincoln's life. Grade 4-7

Annotation:
Through Thomas H. Begay's singular story, this richly illustrated biography for young readers describes aspects of Navajo history and culture and shows how a select group of Navajo soldiers used their native Diné language to invent and operate a secret communications system that was crucial to a US victory in the Pacific during World War II.Grade 5-8

Meet twenty-one women through history who wore men's clothing, pretended to be men, or broke the rules in order to do something they wanted-or needed-to do. Grade 4-7 (Lexile: 990)

The story of one man's remarkable life, and in doing so, explores the trials of the brave Black freedom fighters who defended the world against racism and bigotry, both on the front lines and at home. Grade 5-7 (Lexile: 1090)

As a female Jewish physicist in Berlin during the early 20th century, Lise Meitner had to fight for an education, a job, and equal treatment in her field, like having her name listed on her own research papers. Meitner made groundbreaking strides in the study of radiation, but when Hitler came to power in Germany, she suddenly had to face not only sexism, but also life-threatening anti-Semitism as well. Nevertheless, she persevered and one day made a discovery that rocked the world: the splitting of the atom. While her male lab partner was awarded a Nobel Prize for the achievement, the committee refused to give her any credit. Grade 5-9

Sloths spend most of their lives in trees, and until recently scientists didn’t know very much about them. But Dr. Rebecca Cliffe was determined to discover their secrets. To find out more, she fitted sloths with special backpacks containing a device to track their activity. She learned how to climb trees in the Costa Rican jungle so she could take sloth hair samples and test their DNA. And she’s helped create sloth crossings and plant trees to ensure the sloths aren’t trapped in shrinking territories. Along the way, she earned the nickname Dr. Sloth.

Discover the story of how an animal-loving kid in England grew up to become one of the world’s leading sloth scientists, and learn how Dr. Sloth is using her discoveries to help keep sloths safe. Grad 3-6 (Lexile: 1040)

Guides young readers through some of the trickiest topics of our time: food and water waste, our dependency on fossil fuels, and our love of money and stuff. What our planet needs, he argues, is for us to embrace sustainable living. Be the Change is Greenfield's guide to doing just that. He describes his own awareness-raising campaigns (dumpster diving to call attention to food waste, for example, or biking across the United States to highlight fossil-fuel dependency), and then explores how readers can make impactful changes in their own lives. Grade 4-6

Everything seemed set against Chaunte Lowe. Growing up with a single mother in Paso Robles, California, where she experienced food insecurity, homelessness, and domestic abuse, Chaunte couldn't imagine a future that offered a different sort of life. But then, one day, she turned on the TV and there was Flo Jo, competing in the Olympics and shattering records in track and field. Almost immediately, Chaunte knew what she wanted to do. She started running. With the help of a small community of friends, family, and coaches, Chaunte worked as hard as she could - both in the classroom and out on the sports field - and through her own fierce determination and grit, she overcame every imaginable obstacle, eventually propelling herself to the place she always dreamed about: the Olympic medal podium. Boundless is a story that will move anyone who's ever had a big dream, ever dared to hope for a better future, and ever believed that nothing was impossible. Grade 4-7 (Lexile; 950)

nterviews with 25 climate leaders under age 25 present a hopeful picture of the future of environmentalism. These fearless girls and young women from all over the world have led hundreds of thousands of people in climate strikes, founded nonprofits, given TED talks, and sued their governments. They are standing up to demand change when no one else is, Grade 5-8

In a collection of personal stories and essays, award-winning and bestselling artists from Matt de la Peña and Veera Hiranandani to Max Brallier and R.L. Stine write about how hope always wins, even in the darkest of times. Where does hope live? In your family? In your community? In your school? In your heart? From a family restaurant to a hot-dog shaped car, from an empty road on a moonlight night to a classroom holiday celebration, this anthology of personal stories from award-winning and bestselling authors, shows that hope can live everywhere, even—or especially—during the darkest of times. No matter what happens: Hope wins. Grade 4-7

A remarkable true WWII account of the maritime attack on the RMS Laconia off the West African coast. Grade 4-6

In 1947, during the early years of the Cold War, a field in Roswell, New Mexico was disturbed by a strange crash and smattering of debris. Some say the bodies of extraterrestrial beings were strewn across the ground, that a UFO had crashed there, and that the government was covering up the evidence in a massive conspiracy. But what really happened at Roswell? The infamous 'crash from outer space' has become a fixture in our culture, inspiring a surge of UFO sightings and conspiracy theories. But at its heart is the story of military scientists, a city on the brink of the Cold War, and a debris field scattered with mystery. What was it that actually crashed at Roswell? Were alien bodies found? Was it Russian spies? Secret military technology? And did the government try to hide what they found? Grade 4-8

Discover everything about vampires in this laugh-out-loud nonfiction handbook packed with spooky legends, fascinating history, and weird facts. Grade 4-7

We all travel sometimes--by car, by public transport, or by plane. But there are some means of transport that we will never be able to use. Let's open this book and learn how come we don't travel in flying cars, why trains don't ride on a single rail, or why there are no life-size remote control cars.

You're about to be flooded with infamous ideas, prototypes, and crazy attempts at coming up with something new over the course of the last century. The means of transport presented in this book may have not led to a technological revolution but did help us progress. After all, people learn from their mistakes. Grade 5-8

An action-packed look at past extinction and current threats to humanity's survival -- with the ultimately reassuring message that humans probably have a few more millennia in us. Grade 5-8

An up close account of the ill-fated Franklin expedition.In 1845, Sir John Franklin set sail from England with two ships in search of the Northwest Passage. Not only did they not succeed, the ships and their crew members vanished, their fate an unsolved mystery for decades. In 10 suspenseful episodes, the captivating story of that doomed polar mission is revealed from the viewpoints of the commander, those back home and the search parties. It's a riveting tale, that in bone-chilling detail answers the question: What really happened in Terror Bay?At last, a story long hidden in the icy Arctic, finally gets to be told. Grade 5-8

Explores how and why people have had fun over the course of human history. Grade 4-7

Guides young readers through some of the trickiest topics of our time: food and water waste, our dependency on fossil fuels, and our love of money and stuff. What our planet needs, he argues, is for us to embrace sustainable living. Be the Change is Greenfield's guide to doing just that. He describes his own awareness-raising campaigns (dumpster diving to call attention to food waste, for example, or biking across the United States to highlight fossil-fuel dependency), and then explores how readers can make impactful changes in their own lives. Grade 4-6

Insects play a critical role on our planet, from sustenance to pollination to medicines and more. Brenna Maloney tackles both the wacky and weird, as well as threats to insects and their habitats, their possible extinction, and ways that everyday people, like you, can prevent their decline. Find out what all the buzz is about! Grade 5-8 (Lexile: 930).

Examines the past, present and future of cities around the world. Grades 4-7

An exploration of seaweed's role in marine ecosystems and climate change solutions. Grade 3-6

American schoolchildren have long been taught that their country was 'discovered' by Christopher Columbus in 1492. But the history of Native Americans in the United States goes back tens of tens of thousands of years prior to Columbus's and other colonizers' arrivals. So, what's the true history. Grade 6-8 (Lexile: 1250)

We all travel sometimes--by car, by public transport, or by plane. But there are some means of transport that we will never be able to use. Let's open this book and learn how come we don't travel in flying cars, why trains don't ride on a single rail, or why there are no life-size remote control cars.

You're about to be flooded with infamous ideas, prototypes, and crazy attempts at coming up with something new over the course of the last century. The means of transport presented in this book may have not led to a technological revolution but did help us progress. After all, people learn from their mistakes. Grade 5-8

An action-packed look at past extinction and current threats to humanity's survival -- with the ultimately reassuring message that humans probably have a few more millennia in us. Grade 5-8

How do knowledge systems get passed down over generations? Through the knowledge inherited from their Elders and ancestors, Indigenous Peoples throughout North America have observed, practiced, experimented, and interacted with plants, animals, the sky, and the waters over millennia. Knowledge keepers have shared their wisdom with younger people through oral history, stories, ceremonies, and records that took many forms. In Sky Wolf's Call learn how Indigenous knowledge comes from centuries of practices, experiences, and ideas gathered by people who have a long history with the natural world. Indigenous knowledge is explored through the use of fire and water, the acquisition of food, the study of astronomy, and healing practices. Grade 6-8

This narrative middle-grade nonfiction from Rebecca Donnelly dives into the scientific and cultural history of the waste humans produce, examining why we make so much trash, why we're so bad at handling it, and how we can stop it (that is, us) from ruining the planet. Grade 5-8

An intriguing and fact-filled look at how the mail has been delivered in the United States since before the Constitution was even signed. In the United States, the spread of the postal service went hand in hand with the spread of democracy and transportation. As settlement spread west, communication became even more important to let distant residents feel that they were American; no part of the country was too far away, no village or farm too small to have access to the post. Moreover, the Post Office has always been a public service—it was not originally designed to make a profit or act like a business, but to deliver letters, medical supplies, packages ordered online, and all the things that Americans need at a reasonable cost. Over the centuries, it has also been one of the largest employers in the United States, particularly as a means for African Americans and women to secure stable, middle-class jobs. Grade 5-8

A former NASA astronaut inspires the next generation of space travelers with answers to all kids' questions on how people become astronauts, how they prepare for space travel, and what it's like to live and work in space. Grade 4-7

Guides young readers through some of the trickiest topics of our time: food and water waste, our dependency on fossil fuels, and our love of money and stuff. What our planet needs, he argues, is for us to embrace sustainable living. Be the Change is Greenfield's guide to doing just that. He describes his own awareness-raising campaigns (dumpster diving to call attention to food waste, for example, or biking across the United States to highlight fossil-fuel dependency), and then explores how readers can make impactful changes in their own lives. Grade 4-6

Insects play a critical role on our planet, from sustenance to pollination to medicines and more. Brenna Maloney tackles both the wacky and weird, as well as threats to insects and their habitats, their possible extinction, and ways that everyday people, like you, can prevent their decline. Find out what all the buzz is about! Grade 5-8 (Lexile: 930).

Meet fourteen scientists working to combat climate change-in fourteen different ways. This book informs young readers and gives them the tools they need to make a difference. Grade 4-7

Humans live longer now than they ever have in their more than three hundred thousand years of existence on earth. And most (if not all) of the advances that have permitted the human lifespan to double have happened in living memory. Extra Life looks at vaccines, seat belts, pesticides, and more, and how each of our scientific advancements have prolonged human life. Grade 5-8

An exploration of seaweed's role in marine ecosystems and climate change solutions. Grade 3-6

This fascinating, wickedly funny account of our evolutionary journey turns science into an irresistible story. Vetted by experts at the Smithsonian's Human Origins Program, the book also features incredibly detailed portraits by celebrated paleo-artist John Gurche that bring our early ancestors to life. Grade 6-10

Jeanne Villepreux-Power was never expected to be a scientist. Born in 1794 in a French village more than 100 miles from the ocean, she pursued an improbable path that brought her to the island of Sicily. There, she took up natural history and solved the two-thousand-year-old mystery of how of the argonaut octopus gets its shell. In an era when most research focused on dead specimens, Jeanne was determined to experiment on living animals. And to keep sea creatures alive for her studies, she had to invent a contraption to hold them―the aquarium. Grade 5-8 (Lexile: 1220)

Every living thing emits sound―birds sing, whales whistle, streams burble and trees pop and fizzle. In Listen Up, young readers are introduced to all the sounds of the natural world, from the first Big Bang to the complex soundscapes of the rainforests. Also discover how the invasion of human sounds, from airplanes, traffic and machines, is threatening the survival of species that have adapted to their habitats over thousands of years. Conserving the sounds of nature is an important part of addressing the biggest challenges facing humanity today―protecting the planet's biodiversity and the future of our natural world. Grade 4-7

We all travel sometimes--by car, by public transport, or by plane. But there are some means of transport that we will never be able to use. Let's open this book and learn how come we don't travel in flying cars, why trains don't ride on a single rail, or why there are no life-size remote control cars.

You're about to be flooded with infamous ideas, prototypes, and crazy attempts at coming up with something new over the course of the last century. The means of transport presented in this book may have not led to a technological revolution but did help us progress. After all, people learn from their mistakes. Grade 5-8

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A collection of inspiring conservation stories for kids looking at rewilding--the process of returning animals and plants to habitats where they once thrived. Grade 4-6

An action-packed look at past extinction and current threats to humanity's survival -- with the ultimately reassuring message that humans probably have a few more millennia in us. Grade 5-8

Introduces middle-grade readers to the effects of light pollution. Illustrated with photos throughout, it examines why darkness is important for plants, animals and people, and the practical things we can do to protect the night sky for all ecosystems on the planet. Grade 4-7 (Lexile: 1090)

Discover the extraordinary world of viruses, from their creation and transmission to what we can do to stop them. Grade 4-7 (Lexile: 920)

Space junk is any human-made object in orbit around Earth that no longer has a use--and it's a huge problem. This debris includes anything from large satellites and rocket parts to tiny screws and paint chips. Space junk can damage a spacecraft--and also cause issues for humans on Earth. Grade 4-7

This narrative middle-grade nonfiction from Rebecca Donnelly dives into the scientific and cultural history of the waste humans produce, examining why we make so much trash, why we're so bad at handling it, and how we can stop it (that is, us) from ruining the planet. Grade 5-8

A definitive guide to vaccines told in an approachable, compelling narrative style. Fascinating stories, combined with fresh design elements, will help kids make connections to current events and get them thinking about where human ingenuity will take us next.Grade 4-6 (Lexile: 1170)

Featuring stunning illustrations and immersive text and focusing on the individual characteristics of different regions across the country, this is the definitive nonfiction picture book about the wildlife of the United States. Grade 4-6

As a female Jewish physicist in Berlin during the early 20th century, Lise Meitner had to fight for an education, a job, and equal treatment in her field, like having her name listed on her own research papers. Meitner made groundbreaking strides in the study of radiation, but when Hitler came to power in Germany, she suddenly had to face not only sexism, but also life-threatening anti-Semitism as well. Nevertheless, she persevered and one day made a discovery that rocked the world: the splitting of the atom. While her male lab partner was awarded a Nobel Prize for the achievement, the committee refused to give her any credit. Grade 5-9

An unflinching look at ten young lives suspended outside of time--and bravely proceeding anyway. Each lyrical passage leads the reader from one story to the next, revealing the dreams, ambitions, and personalities of each displaced child. The stories are punctuated by intimate photographs, followed by the author's reflections on life in a refugee camp. Locking the global refugee crisis sharply in focus, The Waiting Place is an urgent call to change what we teach young people about the nature of home and safety. Grade 5-8

A remarkable true WWII account of the maritime attack on the RMS Laconia off the West African coast. Grade 4-6

Virginia Hall was deemed "the most dangerous of all allied spies" by the Gestapo. Armed with her wits and her prosthetic leg, she was deployed behind enemy lines to inspire resistance in France, providing crucial support to fighting the Nazi occupation. In this largely untold story, Sonia Purnell uncovers the truth behind a Baltimore socialite who was essential to allied victory. Grade 5-9

In 1939, Gustav Kleinmann, a Jewish upholsterer in Vienna, was seized by the Nazis. Along with his teenage son Fritz, he was sent to Buchenwald in Germany. There began an unimaginable ordeal that saw the pair beaten, starved, and forced to build the very concentration camp they were held in. When Gustav was set to be transferred to Auschwitz--a certain death sentence--Fritz refused to leave his side. Throughout the horrors they witnessed and the suffering they endured, there was one constant that kept them alive: the love between father and son. Grade 6-8

A thrilling account of the most daring American P.O.W. rescue mission of World War II. Grade 4-7 (Lexile: 1070)

Annotation:
Through Thomas H. Begay's singular story, this richly illustrated biography for young readers describes aspects of Navajo history and culture and shows how a select group of Navajo soldiers used their native Diné language to invent and operate a secret communications system that was crucial to a US victory in the Pacific during World War II.Grade 5-8

Unbreakable is the edge-of-your seat true story of the codebreakers, spies, and navy men who cracked the Nazis’ infamous Enigma encryption machine and turned the tide of World War II, Grade 5-8 (Lexile: 1000)

The Pacific front was an integral part of World War II. In this in-depth volume, readers will learn more about the military campaigns there and how they connected to the fronts in Europe and North Africa. Timelines show the progression of the war and how each battle and event tied in to the greater whole. Historical photographs give even greater context, while detailed text shows how each battle and attack affected the course and outcome of the greater war.. Grade 6-10

Everything seemed set against Chaunte Lowe. Growing up with a single mother in Paso Robles, California, where she experienced food insecurity, homelessness, and domestic abuse, Chaunte couldn't imagine a future that offered a different sort of life. But then, one day, she turned on the TV and there was Flo Jo, competing in the Olympics and shattering records in track and field. Almost immediately, Chaunte knew what she wanted to do. She started running. With the help of a small community of friends, family, and coaches, Chaunte worked as hard as she could - both in the classroom and out on the sports field - and through her own fierce determination and grit, she overcame every imaginable obstacle, eventually propelling herself to the place she always dreamed about: the Olympic medal podium. Boundless is a story that will move anyone who's ever had a big dream, ever dared to hope for a better future, and ever believed that nothing was impossible. Grade 4-7 (Lexile; 950)

This richly illustrated book highlights the achievements and stories of notable athletes—male, female, able-bodied and Paralympians—from the 1800s to today, including trailblazers, Olympians, and record-breakers in more than 20 sports, making it a treasure trove for all the family to share. Grade 3-6