Jen Blair
Keeping it real with nonfiction reads. Some of the best true stories that I've encountered this year.
One moment, one bad decision is all that it takes to change the course of two lives. You may have read the newspaper accounts of a teenage boy who lights the skirt of another teen while riding the bus through Oakland, California. But you didn’t hear the full story. The 57 Bus weaves together the two stories of Sasha, the agender teen who prefers wearing skirts to school, and Richard, the African American teen who, on a dare, lights their skirt on fire, leaving Sasha with severe burns and Richard with a prison sentence. Both sides of their stories are told here, in the most even-handed narrative that you will ever read. This story will change your life.
Are your parents limiting your screen time this summer? On a camping trip off the grid? Here are some ways to stay entertained, without needing electricity or WiFi signals.
The Vietnam War was one of the most divisive wars fought in U.S. history. This book shares the perspectives of many who lived it: soldiers who volunteered, soldiers who were drafted, nurses, refugees. Together they give a full picture of the beliefs and values and struggles of those who lived through this era.
The entire story of how this musical came to be: includes the libretto, interviews, photos, memories of all involved. If you haven’t had the chance to see this musical, the book will make you feel as though you had.
This YA version of the best-selling adult nonfiction read tells the story of the periodic table of elements as they are discovered with historical background and the stories of the scientists who discovered them.
Learn how to put on your own circus, with hints on how to juggle, do acrobatics, and be a clown. Entertain yourself and your family for HOURS this summer!
Whether you are a HUGE fan who has seen this musical many times, or someone who wants to read more about how it came to be, this book is for you. Includes the show’s libretto (complete with Lin Manuel’s comments), interviews, photos, and behind the scenes stories.
An anthology of poems, interviews, stories, and art written and created by Native women. One of the best and most moving collections I have ever read.
Some are names that you have heard before, some you are hearing about for the first time, but this is a collection of stories of influential people that have changed the world, and also happen to identify as LGBTQ+.
Unbelievable stories that are all true! The 2018 version of Ripley’s annual collection of incredible facts and stories.
The mysteries surrounding some of history’s most famous body parts will both amuse you and help you understand real-life science like DNA testing, cloning, organ donation and more.
