Nonfiction Books for Curious Middle Schoolers

Nonfiction Books for Curious Middle Schoolers Do you have an inquisitive middle schooler? Perhaps a budding scientist or an amateur historian? If so, here are 23 nonfiction books for middle schoolers who are more than curious. Publishers’ age recommendations are included, along with the type of nonfiction (science, history, etcetera). Nonfiction for Sixth Graders Kitchen Science Lab for Kids: 52 Family Friendly Experiments from Around the House  By Liz Lee Heinecke (science; ages 8â€"12) Science and craft experiments kids can do in their kitchen. Outdoor Science Lab for Kids: 52 Family-Friendly Experiments for the Yard, Garden, Playground, and Park  By Liz Lee Heinecke (science; ages 8â€"12) Science and craft experiments kids can do in their own  backyard. Portraits of Hispanic American Heroes  By Juan Felipe Herrera and Raul Colón (history biography; ages 8â€"12) Features short profiles of twenty Hispanic and Latino American men and women who have made contributions to the arts, politics, science, humanitarianism, and athletics. I Got This: To Gold and Beyond by Laurie Hernandez (sports memoir; ages 8â€"12) Memoir of Olympic champion Laurie Hernandez. Bones Never Lie: How Forensics Helps Solve History’s Mysteries By Elizabeth MacLeod (science; ages 9â€"12) In examining the deaths of seven historical royal figures whose demise was suspicious, kids learn how scientists use autopsy results, DNA testing, bone fragments, and even bugs to determine a cause of death. Animals in the House: A History of Pets and People  By Sheila Keenan (animals; ages 9â€"12) Explores the history of pets through the ages including the history of the animals in the wild, their domestication, and famous pets and their owners. The Great Brain Book  by H. P. Newquist, Illustrated by Keith Kasnot (science; ages 9â€"12) Explores the anatomy of the brain. Terrible But True: Awful Events in American History by Dinah Williams (history; ages 9â€"12) Discover bizarre events from America’s past, like the country’s first serial killers and vampire-like diseases. Nonfiction for Seventh Graders Leon’s Story  By Leon Walter Tillage, illustrated by Susan L. Roth (memoir; ages 8â€"14) Memoir of an African-American man who grew up during segregation, told in a series of vignettes. Portraits of Jewish-American Heroes by Malka Drucker Elizabeth Rosen (history biography; ages 10â€"13) Profiles of journalist Daniel Pearl, Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and 19 other Jewish-American women and men. Fannie Never Flinched: One Woman’s Courage in the Struggle for American Labor Union Rights by Mary Cronk Farrell (history biography; ages 10â€"14) Chronicles Fannie Sellins’ life as a garment worker, organizer, and martyr for workers’ rights at the turn of the 20th century. All Heart: My Dedication and Determination to Become One of Soccer’s Best by Carli Lloyd and Wayne Coffey (memoir; ages 10â€"14) In this young reader’s adaption of her memoir  When Nobody Was Watching, Carli Lloyd details her journey from elementary school soccer player to World Cup athlete. When the Sky Breaks: Hurricanes, Tornadoes, and the Worst Weather in the World  by Simon Winchester (science-weather; ages 10â€"14) Explains how, when, where, and why hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones, and tornadoes start, grow, and what happens when these storms hit. Alexander Hamilton: The Making of America by Teri Kanefield (history biography; ages 10â€"14) A brief biography of America’s first Secretary of Treasury. Strong Inside (Young Readers Edition): The True Story of How Perry Wallace Broke College Basketball’s Color Line by Andrew Maraniss (history biography; ages 10 and up) The story of the first African-American to play college basketball in the deeply segregated Southeastern Conference. Nonfiction for Eighth Graders Eye of the Storm: NASA, Drones, and the Race to Crack the Hurricane Code by Amy Cherrix (science-weather; ages 8â€"14) Great for budding meteorologists who want to learn about the latest meteorological research involving hurricanes. Gutsy Girls: Young Women Who Dare  by Michele Schuerger and Tina Schwager (general nonfiction; ages 11â€"18) Collection of 26 essays by young women who have overcome a variety of odds to achieve their dreams. Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team by Steve Sheinkin (history biography; ages 10â€"16) Explores the U.S. government’s persecution of Native Americans through the lens of Jim Thorpe’s journey to becoming an Olympic gold medalist and all-around sports legend. Elon Musk and the Quest for a Fantastic Future (Young Readers’ Edition)  by Ashlee Vance (science biography; ages 11â€"14) Young reader edition of the bestselling biography of entrepreneur Elon Musk. Life in Motion by Misty Copeland and Brandy Colbert (memoir; ages 11â€"16) Young reader edition of the bestselling memoir of the American Ballet Theatres first African-American principal dancer, Misty Copeland. Sonia Sotomayor: A Biography by Sylvia Mendoza (biography; ages 12â€"14) Explores the personal and cultural values that shaped Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic and third woman to serve as a justice on the Supreme Court. Death on the River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Amazon Adventure by Samantha Seiple (history biography; ages 12â€"16) Follow 55-year-old former President Theodore Roosevelt’s adventure in the Amazon jungle. Girl Code: Gaming, Going Viral, and Getting It Done by Andrea Gonzales and Sophie Houser (biography gaming; ages 12â€"17) Memoir of the teens who created the web video game “Tampon Run.” Hit the comments to share your favorite nonfiction books for middle schoolers. For more recommendations of nonfiction books for adults and children, check out True Story, Book Riot’s newsletter about the world of nonfiction books. Sign up to The Kids Are All Right to receive news and recommendations from the world of kid lit and middle grade books. Thank you for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox.