5 Astonishing—and Totally True—Stories for Young Readers

I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up For Education and Changed the World, by Malala Yousafzai
This inspirational young reader’s edition of Malala Yousafzai’s bestselling memoir tells the captivating story of a child who was taught to stand up for her beliefs. She nearly lost her life while fighting for the right to be educated when she was shot by the Taliban while riding the bus on her way home from school. Now Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner, serves as an international symbol of courage. This powerful story, written by a girl who believes “one child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world,” teaches us all a lesson in courage, perseverance, and gratitude.

The Boys in the Boat: The True Story of an American Team’s Epic Journey to Win Gold at the 1936 Olympics, by Daniel James Brown
Designed for readers aged 10 and up, this is the exhilarating tale of nine working-class boys who shocked the world with their grit and determination during the 1936 Olympics. This special edition of the New York Times bestseller simplifies some details from the original book, but retains the emotional heart of the story; a tale of young people who set goals and surpass them, overcoming numerous obstacles in the process. This exciting adaptation also features a new introduction and exclusive, never-before-seen photographs.

Unbroken (The Young Adult Adaptation): An Olympian’s Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive, by Laura Hillenbrand
Author Laura Hillenbrand spent one year adapting her New York Times bestseller, Unbroken, into this young adult version, a riveting volume that includes illustrations, photos, and exclusive content, including an in-depth interview with the book’s subject, Louie Zamperini. Some of the traumatic torture scenes have been removed in this slightly sanitized saga, but the book maintains the core of Zamperini’s extraordinary story, that of a talented athlete who competed in the Berlin Olympics, an airman who survived a plane crash in the Pacific Ocean, and a captive who was driven to the limits inside a prisoner of war camp. Ultimately, this is a story of resilience that demonstrates the power of forgiveness to triumph over trials.

Thomas Jefferson: President and Philosopher, by Jon Meacham
A significantly slimmed-down take on the New York Times bestseller, Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power (which clocks in at 759 pages), this illustrated edition focuses on the politics and life of America’s third president. An extensive timeline, a family tree, and illustrations and quotations will engage young readers while offering an informative, in-depth look at a founding father, inventor, scientist and ambassador. This book also doesn’t shy away from tough issues, like slavery, presenting Jefferson as a flawed man in a complex, changing society.

Frozen in Time: Clarence Birdseye’s Outrageous Idea About Frozen Food, by Mark Kurlansky
Young entrepreneurs, science enthusiasts, and even frozen food connoisseurs (that is a thing, right?) will be riveted by the true story behind Clarence Birdseye, a fascinating pioneer in the field of food preservation, who started the frozen foods company that bears his name today. Birdseye was also an inventor, whose contributions include the electric sunlamp, and a harpoon gun for tagging whales. Adapted for young readers from Kurlansky’s adult work Birdseye: The Adventures of a Curious Man, Birdseye’s story is a fascinating rags-to-riches tale of innovation and adventure.
What are your favorite young reader adaptations of adult books?