This book accomplishes what it sets out to do--it urges everyone not to forget one of the most horrifying events in world history.  As the introduction states, by ignoring history, we are doomed to repeat it.    Photos and personal histories of twenty people who were adolescents during the Holocaust make the book especially appealing.  (VK)

Bell, Ruth.  Changing Bodies Changing Lives.  New York:  Random House, 1996. 411p.

“Sometimes you just get to the point where you say, I hate myself.  How could I have done that?  How stupid!  Or you say, I’ll never be able to do anything right.”  Being a teen is tough.  This resource is packed with illustrations, check-lists and answers you really need.  Includes chapters on substance abuse, eating disorders, emotional healthcare, and living with violence.  It is full of accurate information on sex, love, friendship, and how your body works.  Read what other teens have to say about important teen issues! (LR)

Bitton-Jackon, Livia.  My Bridges of Hope: Searching for Life and Love After Auschwitz.  New York: Simon & Schuster, 1999.

After surviving the Nazi death camps, Elli, her mother and brother return to Czechoslovakia.  Their old life is destroyed, and they must live in the poorest of conditions.  They apply for immigration papers to America; years pass without word.  Readers will want this sequel to the award-winning I Have Lived a Thousand Years—to see for themselves that Elli lives. (MK)

Bolden, Tonya. And Not Afraid To Dare, The Stories of Ten African-American Women. New York: Scholastic, 1998. 

Ellen Craft escaped slavery by dressing as a man and traveling with her husband as her servant from Georgia to Pennsylvania.  Her story is one of the ten included in this book of women who lived ordinary lives before daring to do unusual things. Other women included are Toni Morrison, Mae C. Jemison, Leontyne Price, and Jackie Joyner-Kersee. (KG) 

Bond, Peter.  Zero G Life and Survival in Space.  London: Cassell, 1999.  144p.

How do humans adapt to life in space?  Zero G, or the absence of gravity, is one of the challenges faced by explorers in space.  Four decades of human travel are covered in this must read for space enthusiasts.  How is it possible to spend months inside a tiny metal capsule?  How do astronauts eat and sleep where fresh food is unobtainable and nights last for 45 minutes?  Over 400 experienced astronauts and cosmonauts provide the answers for these questions and  more.  (LR)

Codell, Esme Raji.  Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher’s First Year.  Chapel Hill,  NC: Algonquin Books, 1999.  204 p.
 
The diary of a first year, innovative teacher in an inner city school in Chicago, Illinois.  Esme teaches fifth grade to a class of angry children from disadvantaged families.  Esme tries to rouse her student’s interest and enthusiasm by filling her classroom with imaginative ideas such as: shadow-puppet shows,  light up quiz games, and a masquerade party. (LR)

Cook, Peter and Manning, Scott.  Why Doesn't My Floppy Disk Flop? New York: John Wiley &  Sons, Inc., 1999. 90p. 

Cyber-activities, cool websites, and answers to most of your questions this informative guide combines answers, advice and humor in an easy to read format for kids and adults, too. (JM)

Curlee, Lynn. Into the Ice. The Story of Arctic Exploration. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998.

Many have tried to conquer the wilderness, the loneliness, and the mystery of the North Pole. Men searched for adventure, fame, and wealth. Some met with success, others found death, and some just disappeared. This book reveals the many expeditions into this frozen north. (HR)

Duncan, Lois and William Roll, Ph.D.  Psychic Connections: A Journey in the Mystery World of the Psi.  New York: Bantam Doubleday, 1995. 

Young adults will enjoy this comprehensive book on psychic phenomena.  It has information about ESP, hauntings, mediums, apparitions, out-of-body experiences, psychic detectives, and psychokinesis. (BS)

Built between 1759-1763, The Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island is the oldest Jewish home of worship in the United States.  In 1758, Jews arrived in Newport, seeking religious freedom. President George Washington wrote to the community, reassuring them that “The citizens of the United States of America…all possess alike liberty or conscience and immunities of citizenship.” (LK)

  Fleischman, Sid. The Abracadabra Kid: A Writer’s Life.  New York: Greenwillow, 1996.

From magic to Hollywood, Sid Fleischman tells the story of his life.  His early life is anything but ordinary as he follows his dream to be vaudeville magician.  After he writes a magic book, he begins to change his dream.  One day when he decides to write something to make his own kids laugh, it is the start of a new career. (KG) 

  Freedman, Russell. Children of the Wild West. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1983. 

What did children of pioneer families' experience as they traveled west in a wagon train?  What was their life like once they settled in the west?  These haunting photographs document the story of the American young people of another place and time. (BD) 

Freedman, Russell. Indian Winter. Paintings and drawings by Karl Bodmer. New York: Holiday House, 1992.

In 1833-34, Alexander Philipp Maximilian, a German prince, and Karl Bodmer, a Swiss artist, spent the winter with the Mandan Indians in what is today North Dakota.  Maximilian kept a detailed journal.  Bodmer painted scenes of everyday life.  They viewed Native American life and culture through the eyes of European strangers, yet they were sympathetic observers who left a vivid word-and-picture account.  This story is the only record of the Mandan tribe.  Three years after their visit, the tribe was devastated by small pox. (BD) 

Freedman, Russell. Kids at Work: Lewis Hine and the Crusade Against Child Labor. Photographs by Lewis Hine. New York: Clarion, 1994. 

Lewis Hine was a schoolteacher who quit his job to become an investigative photographer for the National Child Labor Committee.  He felt that pictures of children laboring in mines or factories would do more to change the child labor laws than all the speeches in the world. (BD) 

Freedman, Russell. Life and Death of Crazy Horse. New York: Holiday House, 1996. 

Born on the Great Plains during the middle 1800's, Crazy Horse was a shy, sensitive youth who became the greatest of the Teton Sioux warriors. He wore no war paint, took no scalps and refused to boast of his brave deeds.  This is a moving account of the courage of an uncompromising warrior who fought and died for his beliefs. (BD) 

Fry, Virginia Lynn.  Part of Me Died, Too.  New York: Dutton, 1995. 218p.

Stories of children and teenagers who have experienced the death of someone close are chronicled in this book.  Each entry describes the loss, emotions and experiences of the mourner as well as the strategies he or she used to help in the grieving process. (JM)

Giblin, James Cross.  The Truth About Unicorns.  New York: HarperCollins, 1991. 

Giblin presents the truth about unicorns in an interesting way.   He never talks down to the reader or simplifies the subject matter.  The text is complemented by fascinating pictures and illustrations, including a reproduction of the Unicorn Tapestries.  Giblin doesn’t skimp on information--he delivers a complete history, discussing myths, beliefs, and traditions surrounding the unicorn in different parts of the world.   (VK) 

Glenn, Mel. Class Dismissed II : More High School Poems.  New York: Clarion, 1996.  96 p.

The sequel to Class Dismissed!  Mel Glenn writes seventy short poems based on the lives of high school students he has taught.  These poems are written  in the voice of the students and cover familiar feelings and struggles teens face everyday.  (LR)

Glenn, Mel.  Foreign Exchange: A Mystery in Poems.  New York: Morrow, 1999.  159 p.

Who killed Kristen Clarke?  When students from Hudson Landing extend an invitation to Tower High School’s urban students, not all the residents are  pleased.  Then, their worst fears materialize when young Kristen is found murdered the morning after a dance.  Kwame Richards is the prime suspect for all  the wrong reasons.  Can this small town break through it’s stereotypes and prejudice to discover the truth?  (LR)

Gold, Alison Leslie.  Memories of Anne Frank, Reflections of a Childhood Friend.  New York: Scholastic Press, 1997. 

Hannah Goslar was Anne Frank’s best friend before the Frank family began hiding in the attic.  In this heart-wrenching biography, Hannah tells about funny and bright Anne Frank who always wanted to be famous.  After believing that the Franks had escaped to Switzerland, Hannah is sent to Bergen-Belsen where she is shocked to find Anne in the same camp just days before her death. (KG) 

  Hamilton, Virginia. In the Beginning: Creation Stories from Around the World.  San Diego:  HBJ, 1988. 

Twenty-five illustrated creation myths from different cultures, including the tale of spider Ananse from West Africa, the Frost Giant tale from Iceland, and bits of Greek mythology.  (VK) 

Hart, Elva Trevino.  Barefoot Heart.  Tempe, Arizona: Bilingual Press, 1999.  236 p.

Elva Trevino Hart was born in south Texas in the 1950’s to Mexican immigrants.  Her childhood was spent moving back and forth from a small segregated south Texas town to summers in the Minnesota fields.  In this deeply moving autobiography ,Elva speaks of her personal journey from poverty to professional success, and the pride of her Mexican roots shines through.  (LR)

Hickman Jr., Homer H. Rocket Boys. New York: Delacorte Press, 1998. 368 p. ISBN 0-385-33320-X

Retired NASA engineer Homer “Sonny” Hickman, Jr. recounts his life growing up in Coalwood, West Virginia. Son of the mine superintendent and brother to the high school football star, Sonny and his group of misfits turn their attention to building rockets after watching the Soviet satellite Sputnik Streak across the Appalachian sky. (MV)

Higa, Tomiko.  The Girl With the White Flag.  Tokyo:  Kodansha International, 1991. 

This true story tells of a little girl named Tomiko and how she grows up on the island of Okinawa during World War II.  In the opening pages, her mother dies, and soon after, her father becomes missing.  When the American enemy advances, Tomiko and her other brother and sisters escape, but Tomiko becomes separated from them all.  (SN) 

Katz, Jon.  How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet out of Idaho.  New York: Villard, 2000.

"Geek: 1. a person often of an intellectual bent who is disapproved of.  2. a carnival performer often billed as a wild man whose act usually included biting the head off a live chicken or snake."  Jess and Eric are nineteen-year old computer geeks, working at dead-end jobs in Idaho.  When Jess sends an email to writer Jon Katz, the two meet up, and before you know it,  life stories take interesting turns.  (MK)

Kaysen, Susanna.  Girl Interrupted.  New York: Turtle Bay Books, 1993.  168 p.

After a routine session with a doctor she’d never seen before, eighteen-year-old Susanna Kaysen is commited to McLean Hospital’s psychiatric ward “for a rest.”  She ends up staying two years.  Kaysen writes about the staff, fellow patients, and her dark jumbled thoughts.  Includes pages from her medical record documented by hospital staff. (LR)

  Kerby, Mona. Robert E. Lee. Springfield, NJ: Enslow, 1997. 

Biography of one of the finest generals of the South during the Civil War who felt it was his duty to fight on the side of his home state despite his own personal convictions.  This biography brings out Lee's human qualities and the sadness of a great man. (BD) 

Krementz, Jill.  How It Feels to Fight for Your Life.  Boston:  Little, Brown, 1989. 

Read this book and you’ll never again complain about the trivial inconveniences in your life.  Krementz presents the stories of fourteen young people who are seriously ill.  Each account is accompanied by photographs.  Such a book could easily be a sentimental tear-jerker, or a collection of complaints, but this one isn’t.  Instead, these stories are testimonies to the hope and determination that people find within themselves during trying times.  (VK) 

Leon, Vicki. Outrageous Women of Ancient Times. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1998.

Extraordinary women have existed since the beginning of time. Some are remembered for good deeds; others for bad. These remarkable women changed history! (HR)

Levine, Ellen. A Fence Away From Freedom: Japanese Americans and World War II.  New York: Putnam, 1995. 

In February 1942, President Roosevelt signed an order that  began forced evacuation of Japanese American citizens from their homes. In this extraordinary book, Japanese Americans who were children or young adults at that time tell stories of what it was like in the internment camps.  Some stories are painful but humorous. Others describe hurtful discrimination or unexpected acts of kindness. (KG)

Lobel, Anita.  No Pretty Pictures: A Child of War.  New York: Greenwillow, 1998.

Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator tells her story of surviving the Nazi death camps of World War II.  Great book.  (MK)

Want to meet the man behind the legendary characters Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn?  Meltzer’s vivid prose will take the reader through Mark Twain’s years as printer, steamboat pilot, miner, reporter, inventor, and finally author.  The account is thorough and includes pictures, sketches, and excerpts from Twain’s works, as well as a chronology and a bibliography.  (VK) 

Murphy, Jim.  The Great Fire.   New York: Scholastic, 1995. 

Murphy chronicles the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.  He intertwines several personal histories that convey the emotional effects of the disaster. Illustrations and photos are attention-grabbers, and maps chart the fire’s movement over the course of the weekend.  (VK) 

Paulsen, Gary.  Puppies, Dogs, and Blue Northers:  Reflections on Being Raised by a Pack of Sled Dogs. New York: Delacorte, 1998. 

The true life tale of Gary Paulsen and his dogs.  How they bonded.  How they became a family and how they lived and worked together in a hostile environment of ice and cold. (MR) 

Paulsen, Gary.  Woodsong.  New York: Dell, 1995. 

This is an autobiography of Paulsen and his dogs.   It is an account of his first Iditarod race and how the animals, nature, and the smell of the ice call to a sorry soul. (MR)

What are the risks involved in body piercing and tattooing?  You’ll find everything you need to know from the history of tattooing to how to care for a new body piercing.  (LR)

Snedden, Robert.  Yuck!  New York: Simon &  Schuster Books, 1996.

Step into the microscopic world- if you dare!  You may see things in this book you never saw before.  Dust mites, fungi and other unexpected organisms will be revealed.  Caution- after reading this book, you may never want to use your toothbrush again!  (LR)

St. George, Judith.  In the Line of Fire: Presidents' Lives at Stake.  New York:  Holiday House, 1999.

Get him to the hospital—he’s been shot!  Find out fascinating facts about the attempts to murder the most powerful men in the world.  What motivates a person to aim a gun at the President of the United States, and why does the President put his life at risk? (JRM)

Taylor, Clark.  The House that Crack Built.  Illustrated by Jan Thompson Dicks.  San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1992.

In a familiar patterned text, readers discover the creation and distribution of crack cocaine and the devastation to the human body when used.  Powerful text is meant for a more mature reader on the upper middle level and higher.  Be prepared for a dose of reality about this terrible drug. (SR)

Zindel, Paul  The Pigman and Me.  New York: HarperCollins, 1991.

Fun autobiography!  Paul Zindel describes the year he spent in Travis, New York with his sister, their wacky mother, and how he meets his very own pigman and learns the secret of life.  (MK)