Juvenile Non-fiction
Selected by Joan Weiskotten, Reference & Youth Services Librarian.
Scheduled to be published in the Times Union on 1/2004.
| Title: Tapestry of Hope: Holocaust Writing for Young People Publisher: Tundra Books 2003 Editors: Lillian Boraks-Nemetz & Irene N. Watts. This is a collection of first-hand accounts of the Holocaust as experienced by children, in the form of poetry, plays and first-person accounts. They are stories of sorrow, hope and survival. This book brings that period of time to a personal level for students whose knowledge of the subject might have been limited to textbook passages. |
| Title: An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the
Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 Author: Murphy, Jim Publisher: Clarion Books 2003 Jim Murphy has written numerous award-winning non-fiction books for children, and this one is outstanding. He goes into great detail about the epidemic as it spread through the city of Philadelphia just after the colonies won their independence from Britain. Politics, undeveloped medical practices and sanitary conditions of cities at that time are detailed for the reader, giving insight to the combination of reasons for the spread of the disease. It concludes with a discussion of today's medical research and treatment of such outbreaks, and the potential for new epidemics. |
| Title: Inside the Alamo Author: Murphy, Jim Publisher: Delacort Press 2003 The story of the Battle of the Alamo has been the basis for many books, songs and movies, becoming more legend than historical fact. Jim Murphy has produced a thoroughly researched book that separates the fact from the fiction, using maps, diaries, letters and interviews from people who were there. He includes biographical information on the key figures as well as historical background leading up to the events which eventually led to Texas statehood. |
| Title: The Daring Nellie Bly: America's Star Reporter Author: Christensen, Bunnie Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf 2003 In the second half of the 1800's, Nellie Bly became a newspaper reporter who went to extremes to get her story. This picture book, with beautiful pen-and-ink illustrations, tells of Nellie's rise in the world of newspaper stunt reporting as well as her attempt to travel around the world in less than eighty days. |
| Title: Peace Corps Author: Peters, Celeste Publisher: Weigl Publishers 2003 Although not much is heard these days about the Peace Corps, it is certainly still a major force in promoting world peace and helping people become self-sufficient. The founding of the Corps and its activities are laid out in easy to read chapters. It includes many color photos, a map and a timeline.There are also projects for students as well as information for contacting the Peace Corps. |