Non-fiction novels are supposed to be true. In the age of Internet, "supposed to be true" has taken on a strange new meaning. Many writings that purport to be true are in fact shaded truth, incomplete truth, exaggerated truth, or plain untruth. Technically, any of these would be disqualified as "non-fiction". The best example of this was the novel "A Million Little Pieces", the supposed autobiography of a drug addict that Oprah Winfrey lauded on national television. When the novel was revealed to be a fabrication, Oprah cried (on national TV), and then dragged the author across a bed of hot coals.
To my knowledge, the novels below are all completely true and non-fictional. If not, then you can help me shove the author toward Oprah's bed of hot coals.
These are the Best of the Best teen non-fiction novels.
Ball Four by Jim Bouton - Bouton's personal account of one year in the the Major Leagues was so revealing of baseball's seedy side that he was black-balled from the game by his peers. However, he so accurately captures the personalities around him and so deftly describes the life of baseball that this book is still widely considered the best sports book ever written. A must-read for sports fans.
The Basketball Diaries by Jim Carroll - Many books have been written about teen drug use, but Carroll's does perhaps the best job of describing the entire arc of the decline. Humorous at first, the story grows ever more dismal as the protagonist journeys from his first sniff of glue to his complete destruction under the influence of heavy narcotics. Carroll's mastery of emotional narrative will leave you profoundly affected by the character's fall from innocence.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath - Poet Sylvia Plath committed suicide in 1963, but left behind this largely autobiographical novel about her battle with depression that carries her to the edge of insanity. No author has yet matched Ms. Path's description of coping with depression. This novel provides confirmation for those who battle depression, and deep insight into depression for those who don't. Sad, honest, and unforgettable.
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown - The story of the conquest of the American West as told through the eyes of the American Indians who fell before the wave of settlers. Published in 1970, this novel changed the way Americans viewed Indians - not as savages but as reasoned, eloquent people who fell victim to broken promises, illness, and greed. Heart-wrenching.
A Child Called "It" by David Pelzer - Horrifying memoir of young David, a boy systematically and sadistically abused by his alcoholic mother while his father turned a blind eye. The various torments he endures are often difficult to read, let alone forget. Only an alert schoolteacher stands between David and the hell of his life. Not the best writing, but the true story is incredible.
Diary of Ann Frank by Anne Frank - Actual diary of a Jewish teenager hiding from the Nazis in occupied France during World War II. The mix of mundane situation and heart-pounding fear leaves the reader breathless. Incredible coming of age narrative written by a teen. Found after the war (and after Anne's death at the hands of the Nazis), this has become the standard by which other teenage memoirs are measured. Long live Anne Frank!
Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing - The incredible true story of Shackleton's 1914 trip to the South Pole. When the ship is trapped by pack ice and eventually crushed, Shackleton and his men come to a bitter conclusion: no help is coming, and they must rescue themselves or die. Dragging life boats at first, and later floating north on a floe, the expedition finds rescue after two years on the ice, and without losing a single man. You can't make this stuff up.
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin - Watershed 1963 essay where the African-American author calls for an end to the "racial nightmare" in America. He explores his claim that America will fall as long as it remains a multi-racial society, and will only move forward when the majority embrace the minorities as extensions of themselves. Although written a half-century ago, his words ring truer than ever. For all of America's progress, Baldwin's essay shows that some things have not changed.
The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer - The author recounts the horror of WWII on the Eastern Front, experienced as a teenage foot soldier in the German Army. At first the adventure of a lifetime, Mr. Sajer's service slowly devolves into a desperate battle of survival against starvation, crushing cold, and relentless Russian artillery. His matter of fact narrative as stumbles through one major battle after another will pull you along with a leaden heart. Maybe the best book about WWII, and always haunting.
Getting Away With Murder: the True Story of the Emmett Till Case by Chris Crowe - The true story of the event that helped spawn the American civil rights movement in the 1950s. Emmett Till was an African-American teenager murdered by two white men. Tried and acquitted, the men gave an interview to media where they confessed to the crime. This event helped galvanize most Americans against the injustice of racial segregation. Crowe takes a detailed view of the murder, the case, and the national reaction to a crime that should never be forgotten.
Ghost Soldiers: the Epic Account of World War II's Greatest Rescue Mission by Hampton Sides - The true story of a group of Army Rangers and Filipino guerrillas who undertake a daring mission to rescue the brutally mistreated soldiers captured by the Japanese during the first days of WWII. Penetrating far behind enemy lines, the determined force liberates hundreds of prisoners and shepherds them to safety with the Japanese army in hot pursuit. The account of the escape will leave you breathless, and remind you that truth is often stranger than fiction.
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote - Capote practically invents the "true crime" genre where the reporter goes so far inside the story that the events are recounted through his eyes as if he were there. The story follows a pair of Kansas criminals through a heist that goes horribly wrong, ending in a murder spree. Although his style has been imitated by countless "true crime" authors, none have done it better than Capote, largely due to his painstaking attention to detail.
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara - In this accurate account of the Battle of Gettysburg, Shaara tells the events of the pivotal battle through the eyes of commanders on each side of the conflict, including Col. Chamberlain, whose heroic 20th Maine regiment turned the tide of the battle. Tremendous characterizations, accurate detail, and an unparalleled description of men persevering through the fog of war make this one of the best non-fiction books available. The author brings history alive like no other.
Marley and Me by John Grogan - Its an old story: man meets dog, dog wreaks havoc on man's life, but capture man's heart in the process. This true account of a newspaper columnist and his wife raising a very free-spirited Labrador retriever, Grogan, in the midst of a growing family rocks with humorous, tearful, and triumphant moments. Dog lovers will find great recognition in Grogan, while non-dog lovers will consider what they may be missing.
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl - While enduring 5 years in Nazi concentration camps, Mr. Frankl wrestled daily with the question of "why go on living?" As a result, he pioneered a new psycho-therapeutic method in the years following his rescue. While earlier psychotherapists argued that man was driven by urges, Frankl believed that man is driven by a search for meaning and purpose. The result is a masterpiece blending psychotherapy with western theology, told against the backdrop of the Holocaust.
My Dog Skip by Willie Morris - Everyone thinks their dog is special, and the author is no exception. However, his dog clearly is. He recounts the tale of growing up with a fox-terrier named Skip who could seemingly do anything, including playing football and driving cars. Much like a Venus fly trap, this book lulls you with pleasant snapshots of the relationship between boy and dog until, suddenly, you are ensnared in the story. I dare you not to shed a tear when Skip dies of old age.
Night by Elie Wiesel - A scholarly, pious teenager is wracked with guilt at having survived the horror of the Holocaust that consumed his family. His memories of the nightmare world of the death camps present him with an intolerable question: how can the God he once so fervently believed in have allowed these monstrous events to occur? There are no easy answers in this harrowing book, which probes life's essential riddles with the lucid anguish only great literature achieves.
A Night to Remember by Walter Lord - Forget the James Cameron film - this 1955 book tells the real story of the most famous shipwreck in modern times. Lord interviewed scores of survivors to assemble a you-are-there account of the disaster. He expertly renders scene after scene that pound the reader like a relentless hammer, interspersed with moments of hope, wonder, and humor. The author's ruthless exposure of the role of class prejudice in the survival rate is first class, unlike most of the dead.
Rocket Boys (October Sky) by Homer Hickam - Inspired by the American mission to place a man on the moon, 14-year old Homer decides to build rockets. Encouraged by his mother and a female science teacher, who saw in Homer the ability to use his mind to escape his dead-end coal mining town, the boy follows his vision all the way to a gold medal in the 1960 National Science Fair. As much as the story is about a boy's dream and triumph, it shines through its sentimental portrayal of life in a tight-knit community.
A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold - As a young ranger, Leopold shot a wolf, and came upon her "in time to watch a fierce green fire dying in her eyes." This proved a cathartic moment for Leopold, who came to embrace his "land ethic", which posits that nothing that disturbs the balance of nature is right, and that it is mankind's duty to preserve what he can. The quiet elegance of his writing mesmerizes the reader, and touches the soul.
Seabiscuit by Lauren Hillenbrand - The pleasant true story of one of America's greatest racehorses, Seabiscuit, who captured the imagination of the nation by winning despite his small stature. More compelling than the horse are the trio of broken men who own, train, and ride him. From a humble beginning and through great challenges, Seabiscuit and his team rise above all to face the greatest thoroughbred in the world, War Admiral, in a winner-take-all race. I dare you not to cheer.
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien - A series of stories, some memoir and some fiction, about the Vietnam experiences of the author and other veterans make up this masterpiece that transcends the war genre. Most of the vignettes stand alone as tremendous short stories, so the novel can be ingested in bite-sized chunks. Powerful, funny, surreal, and moving, this book may profoundly affect the reader's view of the cost of waging war, and the affect on those who are called to wage it.
Washington's Crossing by David Hackett Fischer - In one of the best historical books about the American Revolution, Fischer describes the events surrounding the pivotal battle of Trenton. This battle was a turning point for the rebels, proving that they could apply a uniquely American style of warfare to defeat a vastly superior opponent. Fischer expertly analyzes the character of each army, with especially insightful views of the British troops, who fought for ideals just as lofty as those of the rebels.
Winterdance: the Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod by Gary Paulsen - The true tale of well-known young adult author Gary Paulsen's entry in the 1200 mile Iditarod sled dog race between Anchorage and Nome. Ill prepared but incredibly determined, Paulsen battles his way for seventeen days through the elements and his own doubts to complete the course. This compelling book is an honest, straightforward, and insightful telling of that journey.
The Best of the Rest:
1776 by David McCullough
An American Plague: the True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy
Angela’s Ashes: a Memoir by Frank McCourt
Behind the Mask: the Life Queen Elizabeth I by Jane Resh Thomas
Beyond the Myth: The Story of Joan of Arc by Polly S. Brooks
Boy: Tales of Childhood by Roald Dahl
Bringing Down the House: the Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions by Ben Mezrich
The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child by Francisco Jimenez
Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson
A Distant Mirror: the Calamitous 14th Century by Barbara W. Tuchman
Fast Food Nation: the Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser
Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ‘72 by Hunter S. Thompson
Founding Brothers: the Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis
Funny in Farsi: a Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America by Firoozeh Dumas
Good Brother, Bad Brother: the Story of Edwin Booth and John Wilkes Booth by James Cross Giblin
Growing Up by Russell Baker
Guns, Germs, and Steel: the Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond
Hitler Youth by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Hole in My Life by Jack Gantos
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
John Lennon: All I Want Is the Truth by Elizabeth Partridge
King of the Mild Frontier: An Ill-Advised Autobiography by Chris Crutcher
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
Left for Dead: a Young Man’s Search for Justice for the USS Indianapolis by Pete Nelson
The Life and Death of Adolph Hitler by James Cross Giblin
A Long Way: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier Gone by Ishmael Beah
Lucky: a Memoir by Alice Sebold
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
The Middle Passage: White Ships/Black Cargo by Tom Feelings
Mosque by David MacAulay
Never Cry Wolf: the Amazing True Story of Life Among Arctic Wolves by Farley Mowat
No Pretty Pictures: a Child of War by Anita Lobel
Old School by Tobias Wolff
The Perilous Journey of the Donner Party by Marian Calabro
Phineas Gage: a Gruesome But True Story about Brain Science by John Fleischman
Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World by Jennifer Armstrong
Sickened: the True Story of a Lost Childhood by Julie Gregory
Standing Like a Stone Wall by James I. Robertson, Jr.
Stiff: the Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
Stop-Time: a Memoir by Frank Conroy
This Boy’s Life: a Memoir by Tobias Wolff
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West by Stephen E. Ambrose
Under the Black Flag: the Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates by David Cordingly
The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights by Russell Freedman
