Non fiction for Young Readers

This will be something a bit different from me; a review on non fiction books for young readers. Normally, I am not a non fiction person. But over the years, once in a while, I have stumbled across some non fiction that absolutely captivated me. I thought I'd put together a short list of some of my top recommendations. These books also have an adult version that was published first as well, so you can choose either depending on age (or reading preferences!). Personally, I'm still a big kid at heart, and I tend to choose the young readers version anyway! They also tend to be a bit more concise and faster paced, which suits my reading taste.

First up, the story that both captivated me and terrified me: The Radium Girls. It is not for the squeamish, because it deals with real medical illness with photos. As I said, very rarely do I read non-fiction, especially adult non-fiction (former children's librarian here), but this book was worth the time to read. I became interested in the story of The Radium Girls after reading Glow (a young adult fiction novel which won an award in South Carolina). Glow is a fictionalized account of the Radium Girls, and I had to know more of the true story. So I checked out The Radium Girls. And oh boy, I was not fully ready for their story!

image courtesy of goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31409135-the-radium-girls

This book follows the story of girls who worked in a factory with radium before anyone really knew what it would do. They painted dials on watches with paint that had radium in it, which would cause the numbers to glow in the dark. It was such a phenomenon for the time that everyone wanted to work at the factory. But only the popular, pretty girls worked there. It was an honor to be chosen. (Or so they thought) They were told to lick the paint brushes between painting, and they discovered it made their teeth glow. It was super cool for the time, and girls would paint their teeth on purpose. What they didn't realize at the time was that it would cost them their health, and ultimately, their lives.

We see the aftermath what the radium did to them, and how the company tried to cover it up. The company responsible was sweeping it under the rug - paying off medical examiners and more to lie about cause of death, claiming they never told them to lick the paintbrushes, firing anyone who started showing symptoms (after working there 9 years no less), and more. I was furious at the injustice of their stories, and cried multiple times. These women were strong beyond belief, mentally and physically, sometimes their sheer will power the only thing keeping them alive.

I remember reading about the radium girls a few years back, and that was only because I stumbled across a book about radiation in my library. The book was not totally dedicated to them, as this book was. Now, after reading their story in depth, I am shocked there is not a national day set in their honor/memory. Their story in not taught in typical history classes (at least, I never heard about them in a classroom), and they have one statue for people to remember them by. They deserve more! I was so moved by this book and their story, I remember we made a display for them at the library at the time. I think that's why I want to share this review and their story. They suffered so much and it is as if no one remembers who they were. It's a shame for them to be forgotten. It is an emotional read, but a good one.

Next, another historical read: Unbroken. This story was also turned into a movie, but I don't think a film can really do the full story justice. Unbroken tells the story of Louie Zamperini and his fight for survival as a prisoner of war during WWII.

image courtesy of goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/157405383-unbroken-the-young-adult-adaptation?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_14

Before Louie's plane crashed and left him and his fellow airmen stranded in a raft, he was an Olympian. He was one of the best runners of his time, and yet, he finds himself about to die of sunburn and starvation. He makes a promise to God before he leaves the raft that is drifting in the ocean. He promises that if God will save him, he will serve Him. Louie forgets that promise when he leaves that raft to be captured by the Japanese and turned into a POW.

Louie is tortured relentlessly. There is one specific guard who singles him out, making it his mission to break him and probably kill him. But Louie never gives up. He fights with everything he has got. He survives, and makes it back home after the war. But that's where the real battle begins.

When he gets home he gets married and starts a family, trying to live a normal life. Unfortunately, he is suffering from the past. Louie has nightmares, drinks a lot, and becomes a danger to his wife and daughter. Louie's wife gives him an ultimatum, letting him know that she is leaving him. But then she goes to a Billy Graham revival. And she comes back home changed. She tells Louie she won't be leaving him, but he will be going to revival with her. Of course Louie resists, but he does give in and attends. Just as he is walking out of the tent, no intention to go pray at the altar, he hears the voice of the minister call out, "are you keeping all of your promises?" Louie has to stop right where he stands. And suddenly, that distant promise comes back to him. What decision will Louie make?

This book is powerful. Louie's survival is powerful but the story when he comes home and learns to forgive is even more so. I am not ashamed to say I boo-hooed and still get emotional when I think about it. This is one of those stories that impacted me strongly, and I will never forget it. It is also an encouragement to others. I tell you, when you put this book down, it will ultimately lift you up, not bring you down.

The last non fiction title I'll talk about in this post is very different. This is one I "stumbled" across in my digital library. If you're in South Carolina, you should be able to find it as well on Jasmine Digital like I did, or maybe Libby. I read the young readers edition, and I recommend it for all ages. This one is fascinating. I still talk about it to everyone who will listen! It is The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan.

image courtesy of goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25310666-the-omnivore-s-dilemma

The Omnivore's Dilemma teaches us a lot about the food we eat: where it comes from, how it is grown and processed, what's going on with fast food and organic food too. I was amazed at some of the things I learned. I will warn you, if this book sends you down a rabbit hole of researching food, you'll be afraid to eat anything. So don't let it to do that to you; you should go into it just ready to be informed. It will make you stay away from fast food though, but that's probably a good thing.

The author did some pretty cool things that he wrote about extensively. Like learning what it takes to raise and slaughter your own chickens. He stayed with a family on a farm and they taught him everything and let him work with them. It gave him an appreciation for the meat we eat and where it comes from.

He also revealed some of things allowed to be used to preserve food, specifically McDonald's chicken nuggets. You won't ever eat them again if you read the book! Again though, that's not a bad thing. He does talk a lot about corn (hence the cover art) and how corn has made it's way into everything we eat, but I promise it isn't boring! And he's right by the way, corn is in everything. It's crazy.

I hope you give these non fiction reads a chance! They are definitely worth checking out. Happy reading!