Reality rules II : a guide to teen nonfiction reading interests

A must-have resource for librarians, teachers, and parents on the popular and growing area of teen nonfiction--a genre now mandated by the Common Core Standards.

Reality Rules II: A Guide to Teen Nonfiction Reading Interests presents approximately 450 fresh nonfiction titles annotated and organized into genre areas to address the reading interests of today's teens, covering everything from adventure to history, sports, life stories, and how-to.



Authored by a member of the first committee for the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults, this essential guide will help librarians, teachers, and parents find appealing materials for readers interested in nonfiction. The book offers expert guidance on reading levels and provides a list of fiction readalikes at the end of each chapter. It also identifies award-winning books and spotlights titles that appeal to specific groups, such as adult books that teens will enjoy, and books that are ideal for reluctant readers.

• Acknowledgments p. xi
• Introduction p. xiii
• Part 1 Nonfiction Genres
• Chapter 1 True Adventure p. 3
• Definition p. 3
• Appeal p. 3
• Chapter Organization p. 3
• Survival and Disaster Stories p. 4
• Sports Adventures p. 5
• War Stories p. 7
• Explorations, Travel, and Historical Adventures p. 10
• Consider Starting with p. 12
• Fiction Read-Alikes p. 13
• Reference p. 14
• Chapter 2 True Crime p. 15
• Definition p. 15
• Appeal p. 15
• Chapter Organization p. 15
• Cons and Crimes: Solved and Unsolved p. 15
• Crime Science p. 20
• Intrigue and Espionage p. 22
• Consider Starting with p. 25
• Fiction Read-Alikes p. 25
• Part 2 Life Stories
• Chapter 3 Memoirs and Autobiographies p. 29
• Definition p. 29
• Appeal p. 29
• Chapter Organization p. 29
• Coming-of-Age p. 30
• Overcoming Adversity p. 31
• Working Life Memoirs p. 33
• Humorous Memoirs p. 34
• Consider Starting with p. 36
• Fiction Read-Alikes p. 36
• Reference p. 38
• Chapter 4 Biography p. 39
• Definition p. 39
• Appeal p. 39
• Chapter Organization p. 40
• American Presidents and Other Political Leaders p. 40
• Outstanding in Their Fields: Professional Biographies p. 42
• Change-Makers and Activists p. 45
• Historical Biography p. 46
• Partner and Group Biographies p. 50
• The Creative Life: Entertainers p. 51
• Biography Collections p. 52
• Consider Starting with p. 56
• Fiction Read-Alikes p. 56
• Reference p. 57
• Part 3 Nonfiction Subject Interests
• Chapter 5 History p. 61
• Definition p. 61
• Appeal p. 61
• Chapter Organization p. 62
• Defining Times p. 62
• History's Darkest Hours p. 64
• Human Cruelties p. 64
• Natural Disasters and Disease Epidemics p. 67
• Micro-histories p. 70
• Historical Biography: Ordinary People in Extraordinary Times p. 74
• Ideas of History p. 78
• New Perspectives p. 80
• Consider Starting with p. 81
• Fiction Read-Alikes p. 82
• Chapter 6 Science, Math, and the Environment p. 85
• Definition p. 85
• Appeal p. 85
• Chapter Organization p. 86
• Science Adventures p. 86
• History of Science p. 90
• Digging into the Past p. 91
• Archaeology p. 91
• Paleontology p. 93
• How Things Work p. 94
• General p. 94
• Transportation p. 98
• Micro-science p. 100
• Environmental Writing p. 103
• Ecology and Conservation p. 103
• Animals p. 104
• Consider Starting with p. 107
• Fiction Read-Alikes p. 108
• Chapter 7 Sports p. 109
• Definition p. 109
• Appeal p. 109
• Chapter Organization p. 109
• Sports Biographies p. 110
• Rules and Tips p. 112
• The Greatest Games p. 114
• Sports in Action p. 116
• Consider Starting with p. 117
• Fiction Read-Alikes p. 117
• Chapter 8 A11 About You p. 119
• Definition p. 119
• Appeal p. 119
• Chapter Organization p. 120
• Personal Growth p. 120
• Health p. 122
• Sexuality p. 123
• Relationships p. 125
• Tough Stuff p. 127
• Career Directions p. 132
• Fun Stuff p. 135
• Consider Starting with p. 137
• Fiction Read-Alikes p. 137
• References p. 138
• Chapter 9 How To p. 139
• Definition p. 139
• Appeal p. 139
• Chapter Organization p. 140
• General Crafts p. 140
• Beauty and Style p. 142
• Beauty p. 142
• Style p. 144
• Clothing and Accessories p. 146
• Drawing p. 148
• Techniques p. 148
• Manga p. 149
• Comics and Graphic Novels p. 150
• Cooking p. 152
• Technology p. 156
• Games p. 157
• Survival Skills p. 157
• Consider Starting with p. 161
• Fiction Read-Alikes p. 162
• References p. 163
• Chapter 10 The Arts p. 165
• Definition p. 165
• Appeal p. 165
• Chapter Organization p. 165
• Visual Arts p. 166
• Art and Artists p. 166
• All about Music p. 168
• Music p. 168
• Musicians l70
• Film p. 172
• Literature and Language p. 173
• Grammar and Writing p. 173
• Books and Authors p. 175
• Poetry p. 178
• About Poetry and Poets p. 178
• Poetry Collections and Anthologies p. 179
• Verse Biographies p. 180
• Folklore, Myths, and Legends p. 182
• Consider Starting with p. 185
• Fiction Read-Alikes p. 186
• Chapter 11 Understanding and Changing the World p. 189
• Definition p. 189
• Appeal p. 189
• Chapter Organization p. 189
• Popular Media and Culture p. 190
• Social Concerns and Issues p. 192
• Religion p. 195
• Consider Starting with p. 197
• Fiction Read-Alikes p. 197
• Appendix A Nonfiction Readers' Advisory Resources for YA Librarians p. 199
• Appendix B Bibliography p. 205
• Author/Title Index p. 207
• Subject Index p. 221