9 YA Nonfiction Books That Adult Readers Should Pick Up
Young adult fiction has never been more mainstream for readers of all ages. In fantasy especially, not reading YA means missing out on some of the most exciting, popular, and genre-expanding stories out there. In fact, it’s even become more common for adult readers to incorporate middle grade fiction into their TBRs. There are so many incredible authors writing in all age categories, after all. Plus, YA or middle grade often scratches a different itch than adult; I find nothing more comforting than a middle grade fantasy graphic novel.
At the same time, there are some categories that haven’t caught up with this trend. For example, I strongly believe more adults should read picture books with or without kids, but that’s much more rare than reading YA as an adult. Another example is children’s and YA nonfiction. Even readers who pick up more YA fiction than adult fiction often won’t consider the possibility of picking up a YA nonfiction title over an adult nonfiction book.
Why read YA nonfiction? One reason is the same as why you should read middle grade and YA fiction: because if not, you’re missing out on some excellent books by any standards. Another appeal of YA (and children’s) nonfiction is that it can be an accessible entry point to an intimidating subject. That’s why task #15 of the 2024 Read Harder Challenge is Read a YA nonfiction book.
YA nonfiction can be split into two categories: original titles and adaptations of adult nonfiction. I’ve included a mix of both in this list. I’ve also included a few different titles that will check off multiple Read Harder tasks at the same time!
The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee (Young Readers Adaptation): Life In Native America by David Treuer, adapted by Sheila Keenan
Indigenous peoples are often discussed in the past tense, but this book shows how Native American cultures are thriving. It includes both historical background and first-person stories about what it’s like to be Indigenous in the U.S.A. today. This is adapted from The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee, taking it from 528 pages to a more manageable 228 pages. Since this discusses history, you can also count it towards task #4: Read a history book by a BIPOC author.
(Don’t) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start the Conversation About Mental Health edited by Kelly Jensen
Book Riot Editor Kelly Jensen is the editor of several YA nonfiction anthologies, including Body Talk: 37 Voices Explore Our Radical Anatomy and Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World. In this one, 33 writers discuss their experiences with mental health and mental illness in the form of essays, comics, lists, and more.
Exclusive content for All Access subscribers continues below.
Shift Happens: The History of Labor in the United States by J. Albert Mann
Speaking of Kelly, she recently recommended this book as one of her favorite reads of the year so far. This is a timely history of labor, unions, and workers’ actions at a time when child labor protection is backsliding — making it extremely relevant to young readers today. Did I mention that Kelly is not only a YA nonfiction author but also a co-host of Book Riot’s YA podcast Hey YA and the writer of the YA newsletter What’s Up In YA? Oh, and also a former teen librarian. You really can’t get a better source for a YA nonfiction recommendation.
Disability Visibility (Adapted for Young Adults): 17 First-Person Stories for Today edited by Alice Wong
This collection includes 17 first-person stories by disabled writers talking about their experiences. Depictions of disabled people in popular media are so often written and acted by people who aren’t disabled, which is why it’s crucial to seek out first-person stories about disability. Alice Wong is the Founder and Director of the Disability Visibility Project, including the Disability Visibility podcast. This YA adaptation of Disability Visibility is only 160 pages.
Let’s Talk about It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human (A Graphic Novel) by Matthew Nolan and Erika Moen
A staple of YA nonfiction is books about sex and puberty. You might not want to take a trip down memory lane back to your most awkward and hormonal self, but this one covers the topic in comic form! Let’s Talk About It guides teens through questions about relationships, consent, safer sex, sexting, and more. This is perfect for parents trying to wrap their heads around how to start these conversations, but it also checks off task #13: Read a comic that has been banned. It was one of the ten most-challenged books of 2023.
Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon
Task #4 is a great one to double up with YA nonfiction, because there are so many great YA history books by BIPOC authors. This one is a history of the Black Panther Party — and how it was violently suppressed by the U.S. government. Revolution in Our Time got a lot of critical attention, as you can see from the many stickers decorating the cover. Another great option that completes these two tasks is Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre by Brandy Colbert.
All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir–Manifesto by George M. Johnson
Another subgenre within YA nonfiction worth checking out is YA memoirs, like this one or Bless the Blood: A Cancer Memoir by Walela Nehanda. All Boys Arne’t Blue shares what it was like to grow up Black, queer, and being seen as a boy. Johnson offers advice to teens facing similar situations, including bullying, issues of consent, expectations around masculinity, anti-Black racism, and more. They have a new YA nonfiction book coming out in September: Flamboyants: The Queer Harlem Renaissance I Wish I’d Known.
Queer Ducks (and Other Animals) The Natural World of Animal Sexuality by Eliot Schrefer, illustrated by Jules Zuckerberg
If you’re looking for a quick, fun read for this task, try Queer Ducks! This is about sexual behavior in the animal world (spoiler alert: same-sex sexual behavior is pretty common). Alongside the facts are cartoons and humor that make this a much easier read than you might expect from a science book.
What the Fact?: Finding the Truth in All the Noise by Dr. Seema Yasmin
According to your halfway check-in answers, task #17, Read a book about media literacy, is one of the hardest of the 2024 challenge. Here’s a book that feeds two birds with one scone. This is a YA guide to media literacy written by an award-winning journalist and physician that teaches readers how to spot misinformation, disinformation, clickbait, misleading headlines, and more — a crucial skill that most adults could stand to practice more.
For even more YA nonfiction to choose from, check out Kelly Jensen’s guide to essential YA nonfiction.
What are you reading for this task? Let’s chat in the comments!
If you’re reading this newsletter online and would like Read Harder recommendations in your inbox, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter here.
The comments section is moderated according to our community guidelines. Please check them out so we can maintain a safe and supportive community of readers.
The comments section is moderated according to our community guidelines. Please check them out so we can maintain a safe and supportive community of readers!
Leave a comment
Join All Access to add comments.