2011 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award Nominations

91´«Ã½

In addition to the
finalists and award winner, YALSA publishes the official nominations for the Nonfiction Award. Seals for nonfiction nominees are available in the 91´«Ã½ Store and may be purchased in bulk. Click
YALSA's Award Seals webpage for more information.

2011 Nominations

Adler, David.
Frederick Douglass: A Noble Life. Holiday House, 2010. $18.95. 978-0823420568.

The appended timeline, extensive notes, illustration information, bibliography and index all add appreciably to this exemplary presentation of Douglass' life and legacy. The juxtaposition of print and documentary material makes this an appealingly information rich biography while still being accessible to the average reader.

Bolden, Tonya.
FDR's Alphabet Soup: New Deal America, 1932–1939. Random House Children’s Books/Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2010. $19.99. 978-0375852145

Explanation of the circumstances that led up to FDR's election and the creation of programs to help put people back to work and save the economy.

Dau, John Bul.
Lost Boy, Lost Girl: Escaping Civil War in the Sudan. National Geographic, 2010. $15.95. 978-1426307089

Enter the world of civil war in Sudan through the eyes of John and Martha, two children living in separate villages when the fighting broke out. This memoir details their daily struggles from childhood through adulthood to survive against hunger, disease and violence. A poignant tale of two orphans to overcome the odds.

Dyer, Hadley.
Watch This Space: Designing, Defending and Sharing Public Spaces. Kids Can Press. $18.95. 978-1554532933

With excellent color visuals, readers gain an understanding of the role urban planning can play in creating a sense of community and are assisted in thinking deeply about the world around them.

Fleischmann, Sid. Sir
Charlie: Chaplin, The Funniest Man in the World. HarperCollins/Greenwillow Books, 2010. $19.99. 978-0061896408. TL 8-Sep

The funniest man in the world did not lead a very humorous life. Fleischmann ably chronicles the life and time of Charlie Chaplin.

Giblin, James.
The
Rise and Fall of Senator Joe McCarthy. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Clarion Books, 2010. $22. 978-0618610587.

Here is the life of Joseph McCarthy, from his humble beginnings on a small Wisconsin farm to his ascendancy to the United States Senate. Giblin's focus is McCarthy's ruthless campaign to root out suspected Communists in government and show how his unscrupulous tactics led to his ultimate downfall. The book is amply illustrated with black/white photographs from the period.

Hasler, Nikol.
Sex: A Book for Teens: An Uncensored Guide to Your Body, Sex, and Safety. Orange Avenue/ Zest,, 2010. $16.95. 978-0981973326

All aspects of sex for teens, from the basics to beyond, done with a sense of humor and without condescension.

Jacobs, Tom.
Teen Cyberbulling Investigated: Where Do Your Rights End and Consequences Begin? Free Spirit, 2010. $15.99. 978-1575423395

Using real life cases, Judge Jacobs examines what is cyberbulling and how it is sometimes defined by the courts. Qustions and additional facts focus on the issue of protecting individual rights versus preventing individuals from violating the rights of others. The most recent news about teen defendants , related cases and additional resources are also included.

Kallen, Stuart.
We Are Not Beasts of Burden: Cesar Chavez and the Delano Grape Strike. Lerner/ Twenty First Century, 2010. $38.60. 978-0761346082

Traces the history of California farmworkers fighting for better working and living conditions. Includes the history of Chinese, Japanese, Filipino and Latino workers and their importance in shaping California's culture and history.

Rockliff, Mara.
Get Real: What Kind of World Are You Buying? Running Press, 2010. $10.95.978-0762437450


Highly illustrated and conversational, the short personal stories interspersed with down-to-earth information about workers' conditions and environmental impact urge teens, who have become one of the fastest growing and largest percentages of the purchasing market, to make choices on using their purchasing power wisely to become ethical, green consumers.

Selzer, Adam.
The Smart Aleck's Guide to American History. Random House Children’s Publishing/ Delacorte, 2010. $12.99 978-0385736503

This title makes history come alive by adding a little silliness and a lot of sarcasm and humor. Often witty and clever, the brief chapter and many jokes that cover early exploration to the Obama administration touch on the many important points of American history as well as the many plainly ridiculous and enjoyably obscure.

Stone, Tanya Lee.
The Good, the Bad and the Barbie: A Doll's History and Her Impact on Us. Penguin/ Viking, 2010. $19.99. 978-0670011872

Stone provides a thoughtful, readable history of Barbie, from her introduction in 1959 up to the present. The book presents a balanced view of Barbie, incorporating the voices of girls and (now grown) women who played with and/or were influenced by the doll.

Walker, Sally.
Frozen Secrets: Antarctica Revealed. Lerner/ Carolrhoda, 2010. $10.95. 978-1580736075.

In a book that captures the heart of the fascination with Antarctica, Frozen Secrets reveals the fascination, past and present, scientists have had for the continent of Antarctica. Breathtaking illustrations and page-turning text make this a favorite of science geeks and survival fans.

Wooldridge, Connie .
The Brave Escape of Edith Wharton: A Biography. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/ Clarion, 2010. $20. 978-0547236308.

A look into the extravagant life and times of the famous writer, Edith Wharton. From her troubled marriage, her many male acquaintances, her charity work and writing, Wooldridge pens the story of an extraordinary life.

Wright, Simeon with Herb Boyd.
Simeon's Story: An Eyewitness Account of the Kidnapping of Emmett Till. Chicago Review/ Lawrence Hill Books, 2010. $19.95. 978-1556527838

With a fresh perspective and never before been told details, Simeon Wright, the cousin of Emmett Till, offers a first hand account of the famous kidnapping and murder found in every American history textbook. This riveting memoir reveals details not discussed in the well-known documentaries produced on this topic adn show a public murder as a tragic family event with national importance.