11 Nonfiction YA Books for Every Kind of Reader

If you’re interested in mental health and psychology, read Life Inside my Mind, edited by Jessica Burkhart
This anthology/celebration of neurodiversity showcases the words of thirty-one authors who experience some type of illness related to the mind. A stunning collection that includes writers like Amy Reed, Sarah Fine, Ellen Hopkins, and Cindy L. Rodriguez, Life Inside my Mind is perfect for readers who want to feel seen and readers who want to understand more about mental illness.

If you fancy sports, pick up Women in Sports, by Rachel Ignotofsky
From Serena Williams to Simone Biles, incredible, powerful women are dominating conversations about professional athletics. Women in Sports highlights both historical and contemporary women athletes with lovely illustrations and just enough information to entice you to seek out biographies on every one. You may also like Simone Biles’s own work, Courage to Soar.

If computer science is your passion, grab Girl Code, by Andrea Gonzales and Sophie Houser
Mix kickbutt computer coding, a tale of beautiful friendship, and a dash of humor, and you have Gonzales and Houser’s Girl Code. They discuss everything from how they met (at coding summer camp), the development of their video game ideas, and the surreal experience of becoming famous so young. As an extra special treat, you can also find a beginner’s guide to coding in the back.

If you want to learn more about social justice, read How I Resist, edited by Maureen Johnson
Social justice is a massive topic, encompassing history to unpack, political systems to unwind, and intersectional perspectives that have been silenced for too long. How I Resist is an anthology from twenty-nine writers, illustrators, songwriters, and more about everything from introductions to social justice theories to specific ways to take action. You’ll find beloved authors including Maureen Johnson, Jason Reynolds, Libba Bray, Jacqueline Woodson, and more, in the kind of book that’ll make you cry, laugh, be furious, and ultimately, be ready to fight for a better world.

If history class is your favorite, try the March trilogy, by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell or The Family Romanov, by Candace Fleming
I had to include two history picks, as these texts are unforgettable in entirely different ways. Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell, and Congressman John Lewis’s award-winning March trilogy covers Lewis’s life and activism during the Jim Crow era, told in an eye-catching graphic novel format. Since many history textbooks cut off around the end of World War II or only skim the next several decades, this time in history deserves as much attention as possible, especially told by someone who lived, and marched, through it. For those who want to learn more about the history of another country (and perhaps have already enjoyed a certain 20th Century Fox movie from the 90s), Candace Fleming’s The Family Romanov explores the rebellion, murder, and doomed dynasty of the Russian Romanov family. Don’t be surprised if you stay up late to read this highly accessible tale.

If art is what moves you, check out Vincent and Theo, by Deborah Heiligman
Famous artist Vincent Van Gogh isn’t the most popular subject among YA nonfiction biographies. He isn’t royalty, wasn’t a celebrity in his time, and he didn’t figure out a way to save the world. However, his story has a universe of power and heart to offer. Deborah Heiligman’s Vincent and Theo takes us back to van Gogh’s youth with his brother, Theo. The two shared an incredible bond of friendship throughout their lives. As each navigated individual struggles, joys, triumphs, and failings, they turned to each other for support time after time. Readers will be swept up in the story of the man behind the paintings, the life he led, and the brother who became his best friend.

If you can’t get enough true crime stories, see The Borden Murders, by Sarah Miller
I would trade my soul to get more YA books about true crime, a small but happily growing area of YA nonfiction. Sarah Miller’s The Borden Murders examines the infamous Lizzie Borden and asks: who was she really? And what exactly happened that night in 1892 when her family was killed? Miller does what the best true crime writers do: takes us along for the ride from the beginning and lets the reader determine for themselves whether Lizzie was guilty or not. With a few crime scene photos and detailed descriptions, this isn’t a book for the faint of heart.

If STEM subjects make you swoon, pick up Girling Up, by Mayim Bialik
Most know Mayim Bialik from The Big Bang Theory, but her role as an actress is only a fraction of the interesting life of Bialik. Like her character on TV, she also has a PhD in science and a zest to explain a variety of psychological and biological facts about the body. Part science textbook, part how-to, part humor, Girling Up highlights how to be your best self by understanding what’s going on in your body and mind.

If you want to know more about immigration and refugees, How Dare the Sun Rise, by Sandra Wiringiyimana, is for you
In Sandra Wiringiyimana’s utterly brilliant book, How Dare the Sun Rise, she shares her life’s journey so far, beginning in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She barely survives a massacre as a young child, and when her family seeks aid from a United Nations program, they must start all over in a new, unfamiliar country. How Dare the Sun Rise is not an easy read, but it’s a necessary one if you’re looking to understand more about immigration and the refugee crisis around the globe.

If you prefer an intimate look at someone’s life through memoir, try Lost Soul, Be At Peace, by Maggie Thrash
Maggie Thrash stunned readers with her first graphic novel memoir, Honor Girl, and she’s back this October with Lost Soul, Be At Peace. In this companion, Thrash struggles with teenage depression and finding her place in the world. Her parents are little help, often ignoring her, and when her cat disappears, she’s determined to find the one being that has helped her through her trials. Your soul will ache alongside hers as you read, but the ending feels like a warm, comforting hug.