Brainstorm 317: Crazy True Art History Reads

For today’s Brainstorm I have 5 art history books that tell stories just a touch crazy, but 100% true. Click on the titles to see my full review of each book and any content notes/trigger warnings.

The 500 Million Dollar Heist: Isabella Stewart Gardner and Thirteen Missing Masterpieces by Tom Sullivan

An informational graphic novel about the Gardner Museum Heist of 1990, and the theories about where the art could be now.

A crazy unsolved art heist.

Target Readers: Graphic Novel Fans, True Crime Fans, Art History Fans, Nonfiction Fans, Unsolved Mystery Fans, Middle Grade Readers

 

Fragile Cargo: The World War II Race to Save the Treasures of China's Forbidden City by Adam Brookes

A look at the art, literature, and other cultural treasures that were found within the Forbidden City when the empire became a republic. A brief history of how those treasures came to be there and why they were valuable. The book then moves on to introduce the men who cataloged and curated those treasures, and the monumental effort they put in to save them over the years of conflict between China and Japan in the 1930s and 1940s.

This was a fascinating history of a rather small group of museum curators who had a seemingly impossible task of keeping rare pieces safe in a time of war when bombs, thieves, weather, and just the hazards of travel (they had to be moved several times to avoid battle zones) could easily obliterate them.

Target Readers: Chinese History Fans, Art History Fans, WWII Story Fans, Nonfiction Fans, Adult Readers (though approachable for some YA readers)

 

The Genius under the Table: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Eugene Yelchin

Eugene Yelchin shares about growing up in the USSR and how in a land where only exceptional talent got you a private apartment, his parents were always on the search for something that would make him stand out...in a good way. Their Jewish heritage most certainly didn't count, and neither did the holes in the photos where his mother's father used to be. His father fawns over Eugene's older brother who is an amazing figure skater, good enough he gets to travel internationally to represent their glorious country. He wishes Yevgeny (a more Russian spelling of Eugene's name) could be good at some sport, any sport. His mother weeps over the ballet dancer Baryshnikov and wishes Yevgeny could dance as beautifully as dear Mishka. Meanwhile, Yevgeny is recording the antics of their daily life in his own unique art style on the underside of the table where he sleeps every night.

The artwork in this quirky and humorous memoir recreates Yelchin’s actual artwork from the underside of the table.

Target Readers: Memoir Fans, Life in the USSR Story Fans, Humor Fans, Artist’s Biography Fans, Nonfiction Fans, Award Winner Readers, Middle Grade/YA Readers

 

The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity by Nicholas Day, ill. by Brett Helquist

A history of the theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911, the investigation into the crime (and development of forensic science in France at the time), the story of Leonardo da Vinci and how he came to paint the famous portrait, the woman behind the painting, and how the 1911 theft led to the painting's current fame (and upgraded security at the Louvre).

A crazy true story told in a crazy amazing way. Seriously, some of the best nonfiction writing for teens I’ve ever seen.

Target Readers: Art History Fans, True Crime Fans, Wannabe Writers, Engaging Nonfiction Fans, History Fans, Award Winner Readers, Middle Grade/Young Adult Readers 

 

Monument Maker: Daniel Chester French and the Lincoln Memorial by Linda Booth Sweeney, ill. by Shawn Fields

An extensive picture book biography of Daniel Chester French, a self-taught sculptor who eventually got more and more training, and was commissioned to make many statues, including the statue of Lincoln for the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C..

Daniel Chester French’s path to becoming a sculptor is kind of a crazy story. The story of how the author came to study Daniel Chester French is also a bit of a crazy story (make sure you read the author’s note). 

Target Readers: Picture Book Biography Fans, Sculptor Biography Fans, Art History Fans, Perseverance Story Fans, Nonfiction Fans, Art Lovers, Reluctant Nonfiction Readers, Middle Grade Readers (approachable to some LG readers)

Brainstorm 316: Some Chilly Reads for Hot Season

 Hot season has come with a full force steam sauna this year. One of the joys of reading is the ability to slip away from reality for a bit into another place, and right now, a bit of a colder place sounds vastly appealing. So today I bring you stories both real and imagined from the polar regions. Maybe a bit of time reading about ice, snow, and bitter cold will help. Click on the titles to see my full review of each book including any content notes/trigger warnings. Enjoy, and keep cool!

Ember and the Ice Dragons by Heather Fawcett

Ember is the last of the fire dragons. Or so she thinks. Her adopted Stormancer father found her as a baby and though fire dragons have a fierce personality, he couldn't bear to kill her. Instead he put a spell on her so she appears as a normal human child (with invisible wings that didn't fully cooperate with the spell). Though she can easily fool most people that she's a normal human, she doesn't like to get too close just in case. Also, she has a tendency to burst into flame, especially during the summer. And this summer, she is having a horrible time controlling her flames. Worried that she's going to burn her father to a crisp by accident, Ember gets her scientist Aunt Myra in Antarctica to invite her to stay for the summer. Ember arrives in Antarctica along with a whole crowd of dragon hunters eager to join Prince Gideon's hunt for ice dragons. Ember can't stand the idea of dragons being killed, so she and two other kids from the research station come up with a plan to join the hunt and sabotage it in as many little ways they can think of that won't get them caught. But can three kids really stop greedy adults from their prey?

A very fun Antarctic fantasy adventure with dragons, lightning-shooting penguins, and snarky talking cats.

Target Readers: Fantasy Fans, Mythical Creature Fans, Humor Fans, Adventure Fans, Antarctic Setting Fans, Middle Grade Readers

 

Frozen in Time: an Epic Story of Survival, and a Modern Quest for Lost Heroes of World War II by Mitchell Zuckoff

During WWII there were several bases on Greenland because the Allies were worried about the Nazis using it as a station for attacking North America. So the Allies patrolled a very inhospitable land and used it as a way station for transport to Europe. Greenland being the cold, nasty, death trap that it is, inevitably, some planes did not make it across on their missions. One such plane crash led to a whole string of other crashes, some miraculous stories of survival and heroism, but also more disasters. This is that story, but it is also the story of a modern team of people trying to find the wreckage of one of the planes buried in the ice and bring home the remains of the servicemen still stuck there.

Not always an easy read, but a well-written and riveting read.

Target Readers: WWII History Fans, Nonfiction Fans, Greenland Setting Fans, Rescue/Survival Story Fans, Adult Readers (though approachable for YA)

 

The Girl from Shadow Springs by Ellie Cypher

Jorie has lived all her life in Shadow Springs. Through her life, winter has taken more and more time and now it seems to be here permanently. Since her Pa's death, she's eked out a living for herself and her sister Bren by dragging lost souls off of the ice and selling anything worth reselling they happened to have on them. The latest man Jorie has found dead on the ice brings a heap more trouble with him than Jorie imagined. A Rover shows up and thinks Jorie has taken something he wants very badly off of the dead man. He doesn't believe she knows nothing, so he kidnaps Bren and takes her off as his hostage until Jorie can hand over what he wants. Jorie has no clue what the man wants, but Cody, the dead man's nephew may have an idea. Jorie thinks taking a soft Southerner with her into the wilds on her rescue mission is suicide for both of them, but he may be her only hope of getting Bren back. They set off into the ice and snow with a dog sled team and the supplies Jorie was able to hastily throw together.

This was a very unique blend of a hard ol' Western story (think True Grit) mixed with crazy polar expedition/survival story and dashes of The Snow Queen fairy tale (not the Disney version, the much creepier original fairy tale version). It is hard to tell from the description, but there are fantasy elements to the story.

Target Readers: Western Fans, Winter Survival Story Fans, Fairy Tale Rewrite Fans, Quest Story Fans, Fantasy Fans, Young Adult Readers

Journey to the Arctic photography by Florian Schulz, text by Florian Schulz and Emil Herrera-Schulz, preface by Greg MacGillivray

A collection of incredible photographs of Arctic wildlife accompanied by text by the photographer and his wife, explaining their travels and interactions with the animals in the photos.

Target Readers: Photography Fans, Animal Lovers, Adult Readers (but approachable for all ages)

Not if I Save You First by Ally Carter

Maddie is the daughter of a secret service agent assigned to the President of the United States. Maddie doesn't mind, as Logan, the President's son, is her best friend. At least they were best friends until one night when Russians invaded the White House and a number of things went wrong. Now, 6 years later, Maddie and her dad live in Alaska, and Maddie is over missing Logan. At least, that's what she's told herself. It is harder to convince herself of that when he shows up to stay with them for a while. Logan has given his secret service guys the slip one too many times, given the President and First Lady one too many headaches, and is paying for it by being shipped off to a place with no parties, no internet, and no trouble for him to get into. Maddie lets Logan follow her off into the woods to help with morning chores while her father flies off to help with some kind of emergency a plane flight away. A storm is moving in and Maddie knows they need to collect wood and get other chores done before it hits. But she has no idea that something worse than a storm has moved in to the area. The Russians are back, and they are after Logan. But they didn't bargain with Alaskan-hardened, secret service agent-trained Maddie being around.

An easily devourable mix of secret service thriller, estranged friends working things out, and Alaskan winter survival story.

Target Reader: Winter Survival Story Fans, Friendship Story Fans, Alaskan Setting Fans, Contemporary Fiction Fans, Thriller Fans, Young Adult Readers

Race to the Bottom of the Earth by Rebecca E.F. Barone

A look at the 2018 efforts of Colin O'Brady and Lou Rudd to cross the Antarctica landmass unassisted. Every other chapter, the book also looks at the Roald Amundsen and Captain Robert Scott expeditions to be the first to the South Pole in 1910. The juxtaposition of the two challenges, over a century apart, reveals timeless challenges of surviving in Antarctica and getting anywhere in the cold, inhospitable climate.

Target Readers: Extreme Sports/Survival Story Fans, Antarctica Setting Fans, History Fans, Nonfiction Fans, Young Adult Readers

The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish by Chloe Savage

Dr Morley sets out with a crew to find the elusive and possibly mythical giant Arctic jellyfish. Is it real? Can they find it?

Though a fictional, slightly fantastic picture book this gives readers a decent picture of what a scientific expedition can be like. And pay close attention to the absolutely stunning illustrations. Who is studying who?

Target Readers: Little Scientists, Art Lovers, Arctic Setting Fans, Sea Voyage Story Fans, Animal Lovers, Hide-n-Seek Fans, Picture Book Readers

The White Darkness by David Grann

A biography of former SAS officer Henry Worsley who idolized Ernest Shackleton and set out to follow in his footsteps in Antarctica three times. Twice Worsley went with teams and did treks to the pole. In his third time on the continent Worsley set out to cross Antarctica solo.

At just 146 pages including photographs, this is a quick dive into Antarctic trekking.

Target Readers: Biography Fans, Extreme Sports/Survival Story Fans, Nonfiction Fans, Quick Read Fans, Adult Readers (though approachable to YA)

Brainstorm 315: Ocean & Underwater Adventure Reads

Songkran Break is less than a week away for my school which means many students and teachers are headed to an ocean getaway soon. Seems like the perfect time to highlight oceanic and underwater adventure stories in this week's Braisntorm. Since I just highlighted Jules Verne rewrites not too long ago, I'm not including any of those underwater adventures here. You can check out Brainstorm 297 for those. Since I've missed a few weeks due to busyness in March, and since we'll be on break for the next couple Fridays, this Brainstorm is a little longer to make up for some of the ones missed. Click on the titles to see my full reviews of each book including any content notes/trigger warnings.

Atlantia by Ally Condie

Atlantia was a safe haven created below the ocean when things went catastrophically wrong Above. Now the world Above appears to be improving and Atlantia is starting to show its age. Rio had dreamed of going Above for ages, but only one family member is allowed Above, so her twin sister Bay's sudden choice seals Rio to Atlantia, the world Below. Bay made her promise to stay Below with her and then all of a sudden Bay ups and chooses to leave? The secrets in Atlantia seem to only multiply after Bay's departure. Rio is determined to make it Above some other way, even though everyone tells her it is impossible. As she seeks a way out and some sort of answer to Bay's choice, Rio just stumbles on more and more secrets: from the sister she thought she knew, to her mother's mysterious and sudden death, her aloof and odd aunt, the history of the sirens, the current Minister's plans, the origin of Atlantia and the gods, and even the truth about the Above, nothing is as clear as she thought it was. With the help of True, a young man also devastated by the choice of someone to go Above, Rio builds her plans to escape Atlantia and to find some much-needed truths.

This is a very hard book to summarize well, with a lot of layers and complexity, though well-resolved in just one volume.

Target Readers: Dystopia Fans, Stand Alone Fiction Fans, Mystery Fans, Young Adult Readers

 

Beneath the Waves by Lily Murray, ill. by Helen Ahpornsiri

Learn about creatures that live along the coast, in tide pools, near the shore, and in the deep ocean. 

There are lots of books on ocean life out there. This distinguishes itself because of Thai British illustrator’s Helen Ahpornsiri's amazing, beautiful, unforgettable artwork. She uses all natural materials (like seaweed and coastal flowers) to make collages that become the ocean life featured. 

Target Readers: Nonfiction Fans, Random Fact Sponges, Marine Life Studiers, Art Lovers, Middle Grade Readers (though the art can be enjoyed by any age) 

 

The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World's Coral Reefs : the Story of Ken Nedimyer and the Coral Restoration Foundation by Kate Messner, ill. by Matthew Forsythe

A picture book biography of Ken Nedimyer. A man who grew up in Florida fascinated with the ocean and coral reefs. When he was older he started figuring out ways to grow and plant coral to replenish reefs.

An excellent break down of how coral reefs can be planted with stunning illustrations.

Target Readers: Picture Book Biography Fans, Coral Reef Studiers, Ocean Health Studiers, Art Lovers, Unique Occupation Studiers, Lower Grade Readers

Chirri & Chirra under the Sea (Chirri & Chirra) by Kaya Doi, translated by David Boyd

Chirri and Chirra take their bikes under the sea. They dine at a fancy restaurant, take in a concert, and find treasure.

An enchanting underwater adventure.

Target Readers: Underwater Adventure Fans, Imaginative Readers, Fantasy Fans, Fans of Japanese Books in Translation, Bicycle Adventure Fans, Picture Book Readers

 

Dark Life (Dark Life, #1) by Kat Falls

Thanks to an earthquake relocating most of the East Coast into the depths of the Atlantic, the oceans have risen drastically and now the most precious thing on Earth is space. What little dry land is left is built up to the max, and people are crammed in together. Of necessity, scientists quickly developed ways to farm and pioneer the ocean floor. But relocating to the Benthic Territories is still considered strange and risky. Rumors fly around about people who live under the water developing strange abilities, Dark Gifts. It doesn't help that those who have been down there for several years, like Ty and his family, have skin that shimmers and almost seems to glow in the dark thanks to a diet with plenty of phosphorescent sea life. It also doesn't help when outlaws are rampaging the Benthic Territories and making pioneers feel unsafe. The Seablite Gang is definitely a blight on the prospects of ever making the underwater territories self-sufficient. And now the Commonwealth is saying that the pioneers have to form a posse and help round up the gang before any more supplies can be brought down. Ty is determined to help bring in the Seablite Gang and make sure his parents can stay on their claim. He has his own eye on several acres he wants to claim as soon as he turns 18, so he'll do anything he can to make sure they don't have to relocate Topside. Gemma is a teen Topsider just come down to the Benthic Territories to find her older brother so she can finally be free of the Commonwealth's children's services. She runs into Ty, and he takes her home to his family's claim because she would obviously just turn into shark bait on her own. Between helping Gemma find her brother, keeping her alive in the underwater world, and trying to prove to his parents he can help save the homestead, Ty has his hands full. 

This duology feels like an adventurous post-apocalyptic Western set under the sea.

Target Readers: Scifi Fans, Dystopia Fans, Western Fans, Adventure Fans, Middle Grade Readers

 

Eels (Superpower Field Guide) by Rachel Poliquin, ill. by Nicholas John Firth

A look at eels, their attributes and habitats. And how scientists uncovered some of the mysteries of fresh water eels while also challenging future scientists with mysteries that still elude us.

I know eels are freshwater and this is a Brainstorm on oceans, but it relates. I promise. And I’m not explaining why. It’s better if you read the book and find out that way. I will say, it’s a great weird but true fact.

Target Readers: Animal Lovers, Eel Studiers, Random Fact Sponges, Science Mysteries Uncovered Story Fans, Middle Grade Readers

 

Field Trip to the Ocean Deep (Field Trip Adventures) by John Hare

A class is taking a field trip to the ocean depths. They are all in their special pressurized suits, but when one child gets separated from the rest he falls into an ocean trench. When his class leaves without him, he finds some unexpected new friends who help him out.

A wordless, imaginative, fun-filled underwater misadventure that ends happily.

Target Readers: Underwater Adventure Fans, Imaginative Readers, Ocean Myth/Legend Fans, Friendship Story Fans, Humor Fans, Fantasy Fans, Wordless Book Fans, Picture Book Readers

 

Manfish: a Story of Jacques Cousteau by Jennifer Berne, ill. by Éric Puybaret

A picture book biography of underwater explorer, conservationist, filmographer, and inventor Jacques Cousteau.

The illustrations in this are beautiful!

Target Readers: Picture Book Biography Fans, Inventor Story Fans, Conservationist Story Fans, Explorer Story Fans, STEM Story Fans, Art Lovers, Fish Lovers, Ocean Goers, Lower Grade Readers

 

Neighborhood Sharks: Hunting with the Great Whites of California's Farallon Islands by Katherine Roy

Meet the sharks that hunt the seals of the Farallon Islands. Study their anatomy, learn about their annual treks, and find out why they are important to the local ecosystem.

Target Readers: Shark Lovers, Shark Studiers, Ecosystem Studiers, Award Winner Readers, Art Lovers, Nonfiction Fans, Lower Grade/Middle Grade Readers

 

Ocean Anatomy: the Curious Parts and Pieces of the World under the Sea (Anatomy Graphic Novels) by Julia Rothman with John Niekrasz

A reference guide to all sorts of things related to the ocean, from various critters that live there, to ocean landforms, to environmental issues. Every page is illustrated and includes bite-sized bits of informative text.

Target Readers: Curious Readers, Random Fact Sponges, Ocean Studiers, Ocean Goers, Nonfiction Fans, Graphic Novel Fans, Illustrated Atlas/Almanac/Encyclopedia Fans, Middle Grade through Adult Readers

 

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea (Narwhal & Jelly, #1) by Ben Clanton

Jelly has never heard of a Narwhal and thinks he's imagining the new friend he just met. Narwhal has never heard of a jellyfish and thinks the same of Jelly. Together the two become fast friends, form their own pod, and discover the best book ever.

Narwhal and Jelly are like a graphic novel marine version of Elephant and Piggie for lower grades.

Target Readers: Graphic Novel Fans, Animal Lovers, Friendship Story Fans, Narwhal Lovers, Jellyfish Lovers, Humor Fans, Lower Grade Readers

 

Over and Under the Waves (Over and Under) by Kate Messner, ill. by Christopher Silas Neal

Messner and Neal take readers over and under the ocean this time with a family of three kayaking, exploring the organisms that live over and under the waves in the Monterey Bay area of California.

A wonderful exploration of this marine biome with further information in the back of the book about each organism mentioned.

Target Readers: Curious Readers, Biome Studiers, Animal Lovers, Ecosystem Studiers, Monterey Bay Setting Fans, Kayaking Adventure Fans, Nonfiction Fans, Picture Book Readers

 

Shipwrecked!: Diving for Hidden Time Capsules on the Ocean Floor by Martin W. Sandler

A look at the history and development of marine archaeology through the lens of key shipwreck discoveries and research into them. Sandler shares what discoveries at some of these sites have taught us about past cultures, technological development, and history.

An intriguing and engaging read with an abundance of photographs.

Target Readers: Archaeology Fans, Nonfiction Fans, Underwater Exploration Fans, Curious Readers, Award Winner Readers, Young Adult Readers

 

Solving the Puzzle under the Sea: Marie Tharp Maps the Ocean Floor by Robert Burleigh, ill. by Raúl Colón

A picture book biography of Marie Tharp, a scientist who was the first to map the ocean floor.

A fascinating look at a little-known, but highly influential woman.

Target Readers: Picture Book Biography Fans, Geography Fans, Science Story Fans, Influential Women Bio Fans, Curious Readers, Lower Grade Readers

Brainstorm 314: Pie Stories for Pi Day

 Yesterday was Pi Day (well, right now it is still Pi day in certain parts of the world) which seems like a perfect time to share some books heavily featuring pie. Click on the title to see my full review of each book including any content notes/trigger warnings. And warning, you may need to find yourself a slice of pie before diving into any of these stories as they are all likely to make you hungry for some. (I wish I could say I totally planned for Brainstorm 314 to be the Pi Day Brainstorm, but it was just a happy accident.)

Cindy and Panda by Benson Shum

Cindy and her new friend Panda are baking a rhubarb pie. But what happens when the sous chef eats some of the ingredients? Is the pie ruined? How about their friendship?

Forgiving isn't easy, but Cindy and Panda model moving past hurts well. And I like how they problem solved a way to save the baking session.

Target Readers:

Friendship Story Fans, Rhubarb Pie Lovers, Baking Story Fans, Conflict Resolution Story Fans, Asian Character Fans, Panda Lovers, Picture Book Readers

Honestly Elliott by Gillian McDunn

Elliott is trying to survive life in middle school. 6th grade is tough enough without ADHD. His mom and therapist get his ADHD, but his dad and friends don't always understand. Elliott himself is trying to better understand his tendencies and employ the therapist's coping strategies. He really needs to kick it into gear so he doesn't fail the 2nd half of 6th grade like he did the first. There's a big project coming up and his friends don't want him in his group so he somehow ends up in a group with Maribel who also got rejected by her friends. Maribel is super organized and on top of things. Elliott loves being in the kitchen, but he isn't sure about baking. His idol chef says baking is for muffinheads. And Maribel insists they make gluten free pies. Elliott is super motivated for their project to be a financial success, though, since he really wants to go to cooking camp but his Dad also is demanding he pay for a window and he doesn't have money for both. On top of trying to not bomb the project or 6th grade, Elliott is trying to wrap his head around his Dad and stepmom expecting a baby and what that means for him.

This book does a wonderful job of helping readers understand what it can be like to have ADHD or Celiac’s disease.

Target Readers:

Contemporary Fiction Fans, Characters with ADHD Fans, Characters with Celiac’s Disease Fans, Friendship Story Fans, Middle School Story Fans, Family Story Fans, Baking Story Fans, Award Winner Readers, Middle Grade Readers

When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie (The Great Peach Experiment, #1) by Erin Soderberg Downing

The Peach family has made it through a year of grieving the loss of their wife/mother. One of her inventions just hit a big payday, and instead of using the money for a vacation, Dad decided to buy a used food truck and has declared they are going to travel around the Midwest selling pies with the goal of winning a food truck competition in Delaware, Ohio at the end of the summer. Lucy is very wary of her Dad's plans. She's spent the year single-handedly holding the family together by handling all of the details, like packed lunches and schedules. Dad may be a brilliant scientist, but he is not a details person. So Lucy is afraid this is going to fall apart and she's going to be stuck trying to keep everything together. Besides, she wanted spend her summer relaxing and reading the entire summer optional reading list. Freddy also wanted to chill, but he thinks traveling might not be bad if they can stop and see all the weird road side attractions along the way. Little Herb is up for anything, but on the one condition that he can swim every single day. Dad promises the kids they will all get to fulfill their wishes, but what happens when he loses sight of the purpose of the summer and the food truck in the first place?

A heartwarming, slightly zany summer road trip story that tackles tough topics in a tactful, hopeful, and entertaining way.

Target Readers:

Road Trip Story Fans, Family Story Fans, Food Truck Fans, Baking Story Fans, Personal Growth Story Fans, Contemporary Fiction Fans, Middle Grade Readers

Yummy: a History of Desserts by Victoria Grace Elliott

3 food sprites introduce readers to the real history of cakes, ice cream, pie, brownies, gummies, cookies, and macarons. Each chapter looks back to the earliest evidence of these kinds of goodies, how and where they developed, different cultures' adaptations, legends about how specific ones developed, and biographies of developers known for sure.

Pie lovers can skip to the pie section, or just devour the whole book. This is a delicious way to learn about food history. 

Target Readers:

Graphic Novel Fans, Random Fact Sponges, Food History Studiers, Dessert Lovers, Reluctant Nonfiction Readers, Young Adult Readers (though of interest to Adults and approachable to Middle Grade)

Brainstorm 313: Fiction/Nonfiction Books to Read Together Vol. 3

 For this week’s Brainstorm I have some fiction/nonfiction pairs that complement each other and make the reading experience of both books better. Some of these nonfiction books reveal the backstory of the fiction title, or they backup the science or folklore or other things included. If you'd like to check out other fiction/nonfiction pairings you can see my first volume here, and second one here. Click on each title below to see my full review and any content notes/trigger warnings for that book.

Disaster Days by Rebecca Behrens & The Big One: the Cascadia Earthquakes and the Science of Saving Lives (Scientists in the Field) by Elizabeth Rusch

Two books on earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest. The nonfiction one talks about how this area gets less frequent but more severe earthquakes and why. The fiction book imagines what might happen if another earthquake hit the region.

Fiction: Hannah lives in an idyllic remote community on Pelling island near Seattle. After school she heads over to one of her two neighbor's houses to babysit the Matlock kids while their mom goes to an art show in the city. Hannah is a little nervous as it is only her 2nd time babysitting ever. Just a little while after Ms. Matlock leaves, and Hannah is in the middle of a texting argument with her supposed best friend, a major earthquake hits. The Cascades never get earthquakes, or so Hannah thought. But they are definitely in the middle of one and its aftershocks now. Can Hannah and the two elementary-age Matlock kids survive on their own in their isolated community till help comes?

Nonfiction: Though it lies along a major fault line in the Earth's crust the Pacific Northwest has a much lower frequency of earthquakes than other areas lying along the Ring of Fire. Scientists were curious as to why, and so they started doing some research. Rusch takes readers to meet some of the scientists and learn what they've uncovered. The research has led them to the conclusion that because of the type of fault line, the region experiences massive earthquakes every couple hundred years instead of yearly littler ones. Which begs the question of when the next one will hit. Learn about what the science has uncovered, how, and how to prepare for future quakes.

Target Readers:

Earthquake Studiers, Disaster Story Fans, Survival Story Fans, Middle Grade Readers

 

The Field by Baptiste Paul, ill. by Jacqueline Alcántara & G is for Golazo: the Ultimate Soccer Alphabet by James Littlejohn, ill. by Matthew Shipley 

2 books for young soccer fans/players.

Fiction: Some children meet in the field to play some futbol. They shoo off the cows and don't mind a little rain, and play until all their moms call the game. The words are simple, mixing a little Creole and English.

Nonfiction: An alphabet book of soccer terms, slang, player nicknames, and famous moves. Each page highlights a different famous player or players from around the world.

Target Readers:

Soccer Fans, Soccer Players, Sports Fans, Picture Book Readers

 

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey & Mr McCloskey's Marvellous Mallards: the Making of Make Way for Ducklings by Emma Bland Smith, ill. by Becca Stadtlander

A classic picture book and a nonfiction picture book biography that gives some background on the making of that book.

Fiction: The classic picture book about a family of ducks in Boston.

Nonfiction: Emma Bland Smith shares the lengths Robert McCloskey went to to make sure the ducks in Make Way for Ducklings were just right. (P.S. The notes in the back of the book from McCloskey's daughter and the author are super interesting reads.)

Target Readers:

Duck Lovers, Baby Animal Story Fans, Art Lovers, Modern Classics Fans, Award Winner Readers, Creative Process Story Fans, Behind the Scenes Story Fans, Picture Book Readers

 

Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone (The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival, #1) by Dene Low, ill. by Jen Corace & The Dictionary of Difficult Words by Jane Solomon, ill. by Louise Lockhart

A humorous British mystery with a vocabulary to impress any English teacher and an entertaining illustrated dictionary to help you understand those words you may have never ever seen before.

Fiction: A delightfully witty romp through early 1900s England with spunky Petronella, her hilarious Uncle, and her faithful friends who help her solve the mystery that comes to her door.

Nonfiction: An illustrated dictionary of words that you are likely to come across in books and poems from 100+ years ago that are still popular, as well as in science books, mythology, history, the SAT, and other very random places. This is a fantastic resource not only for the curious kid or adult, but also for those reading classic literature, high schoolers studying for the SAT, those aiming to build their vocabulary, and general word lovers.

Target Readers:

Vocabulary Builders, Mystery Fans, Historical Fiction Fans, Linguistics Fans, Quirky Book Fans, Middle Grade/YA Readers

 

To Kill a Mockingbird the graphic novel by Harper Lee, adapted by Fred Fordham & Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee by Casey Cep

Read Harper Lee’s classic (or the excellent graphic novel adaptation) and then find out about the story behind Harper Lee’s writing and why she published so few books during her lifetime (and the curious history of Go Set a Watchman). 

Fiction: A graphic novel adaptation of Harper Lee's classic story about a brother and sister growing up in the South, coming to understand social class and racial prejudice, how people jump to conclusions, the expectations and pressures of a community, and the injustices that even a fine upstanding lawyer like their father can only put a dent in.

Nonfiction: In a small town in Alabama, relatives of Rev. Willie Maxwell started dying at a rather alarming rate. The police knew he was collecting insurance money on all of them, but they were struggling to find evidence. Eventually a relative of one of the deceased shot Willie Maxwell in front of hundreds of witnesses. Cep relates biographies of both of those men, the string of deaths leading up to Maxwell's own demise, and a bio of the lawyer who defended both Maxwell and his shooter in court at different times. The book then turns to look at Harper Lee, her writing and work with childhood friend Truman Capote on In Cold Blood as his research assistant, and then how she did serious research on the Maxwell story and trial, and what happened to Lee and that book she obviously spent years working on.

Target Readers:

Harper Lee Fans, American South History Studiers, Historical Fiction Fans, True Crime Fans, Behind the Scenes Story Fans, Graphic Novel Adaptation Fans, Modern Classic Fans, YA/Adult Readers

 

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky (Tristan Strong, #1) by Kwame Mbalia & Ain’t Nothin’ But a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry by Scott Reynolds Nelson with Marc Aronson

Read a fiction book that includes tall tale hero John Henry as well as other tall tale, American South folklore characters, and African mythology and a nonfiction book about the research to find the real historical man who inspired the John Henry tall tale.

Fiction: Tristan Strong was just trying to keep the strange living doll thing from stealing the only thing he has left from his best friend when he accidentally lets loose a haint and tears a whole between realms. He finds himself in Alke where stories are powerful, John Henry and Brer Fox are gods, and the land is being overwhelmed with dark forces stealing people away. Even though he didn't purposefully come to Alke, the hole is somewhat his fault and he needs to help fix it. Whether he wants to or not. But he'll have to confront things about himself, mobilize various forces who are reluctant to cooperate, and find the bravery to stand up to the darkness. This series tackles some heavier topics, like slavery and oppression and grief, but in creative and thought-provoking ways.

Nonfiction: Nelson shares how he was researching the men who worked on the railroad, and that led him to start looking for the real John Henry. There were enough details consistent throughout the various version of the song that suggested people were singing about a real man. He shares about his research process and what he eventually uncovered about a man who worked the railroad named John Henry. A fascinating read that is just as much about the process of historical research and how to dig for information from the past as it is about John Henry.

Target Readers:

Tall Tale Fans, Mythological Fiction Fans, Black Folklore/Legend Fans, Black History Studiers/Fans, Origin Story Fans, Thought-Provoking Story Fans, Research Method Studiers, Middle Grade/YA Readers

 

Sisters of Shadow and Light (Sisters of Shadow and Light, #1) by Sara B. Larson & The Griffin and the Dinosaur: How Adrienne Mayor Discovered a Fascinating Link Between Myth and Science by Marc Aronson with Adrienne Mayor, ill. by Chris Muller

My last pair involves griffins in fantasy and a book about chasing down where griffin legends originated. 

Fiction: Zuhra and Inara have grown up their whole lives in the citadel of the Paladins with only their mother and faithful helper Sami. Zuhra barely remembers their Paladin father, who disappeared from the citadel the night Inara was born. His departure has turned their mother into a hard, cold woman. She has forbidden the girls to explore the citadel or learn anything about Paladin ways. Inara has the eyes of a Paladin, but most of them time they lose her to what she calls "the roar." It makes her unable to communicate and hardly able to function. The only time she can talk and act like a normal person comes if Zuhra can coax her to heal one of her plants. And the reason it is just the 4 of them in the citadel is the enormous hedge that surrounds the citadel, keeping them in and everyone else out. Until the day it lets through a wandering Paladin scholar, a young man, setting off a chain of events that will change all of their lives forever. (And bring griffins!)

Nonfiction: Adrienne Mayor grew up in a family of storytellers. Often those stories were inspired by artifacts or things found in nature. When she eventually went to spend some time studying ancient art in Greece, Adrienne realized that the stories of griffins weren't like fantasy stories, they were more like something inspired by a real object, like the stories her family used to tell. So she started to do more extensive research into griffins in art and what things ancients might have seen that would inspire stories about such creatures. Her research led her to fossils, and tracing down the griffin lore to match with a fossil that matched the first griffin mythology quite well.

Target Readers:

Griffin Fans, Mythological Creature Story Fans, Fantasy Fans, Research Method Studiers, Origin Story Fans, YA Readers