American History: Essential Nonfiction
These nonfiction books provide well-researched analysis of important events in U.S. history, from the American Revolution to the women's suffrage movement to the civil rights movement and beyond. Master key vocabulary and concepts to ensure you get the most out of these thought-provoking reads.
Written in BoneBuried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial MarylandThis engaging nonfiction book explores the work of scientists who analyze skeletal remains to learn more about early European colonists in America.
Founding BrothersThe Revolutionary GenerationThis nonfiction account explores the lives and ideas of six "Founding Fathers" of the United States: George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and James Madison.
George Washington, SpymasterHow the Americans Outspied the British and Won the Revolutionary WarIn this engrossing nonfiction account, Thomas Allen explains how the colonists used spies, codes, and covert operations in order to win the American Revolution.
An American PlagueThe True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793Drawing on medical research, news articles, and firsthand accounts, Jim Murphy traces the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 in this gripping historical account.
Harriet TubmanConductor on the Underground RailroadHarriet Tubman was born into slavery, escaped to freedom, and worked to liberate countless other enslaved people. Learn more about Tubman's life by reviewing these words from Ann Petry's acclaimed biography.
Harriet TubmanThe Moses of Her PeopleThis biography, published in the late 19th century, recounts the life of the famous conductor on the Underground Railroad. Read the full text here.
Killing LincolnThe Shocking Assassination that Changed America ForeverThis nonfiction account explores the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and its aftermath.
Lincoln's Last DaysThe Shocking Assassination That Changed America ForeverAfter the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated while watching a play. This book explores the assassination and its aftermath from the perspectives of both the President and the conspirators against him.
Lincoln's Grave RobbersThis nonfiction account details how members of a counterfeiting ring plotted to hold Abraham Lincoln's body for ransom.
The Great FireCombining survivors' stories with historical facts about Chicago, this nonfiction text describes the causes and impacts of The Great Fire of 1871.
Terrible Typhoid MaryA True Story of the Deadliest Cook in AmericaThis biography details the life of Mary Mallon, a cook and "healthy carrier" of typhoid who inadvertently spread the disease.
1919The Year That Changed AmericaThis book by award-winning historian Martin W. Sandler focuses on a pivotal year in American history, exploring social and political issues that still resonate today.
A Few Red DropsThis book, which won the Coretta Scott King Award in 2019, traces the history of racial tension that led to the Chicago Race Riot of 1919.
Votes for Women!This book traces the long and difficult fight for women's voting rights in the United States.
Amelia LostThe Life and Disappearance of Amelia EarhartThis biography explores the life and mysterious disappearance of aviator Amelia Earhart.
The Rise and Fall of Charles LindberghThis biography of the explores the famed aviator's childhood, flying career, and eventual attraction to eugenics and Nazism.
BombThe Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous WeaponIn this engaging blend of science and history, Steve Sheinkin traces the development of the atomic bomb.
UprootedThe Japanese American Experience During World War IIIn this meticulously researched book, Albert Marrin contextualizes the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II within the broader history of racial prejudice in the United States.
The Voice That Challenged a NationMarian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal RightsFreedman's meticulously researched biography of vocalist Marian Anderson contextualizes the singer's life within the broader movement for civil rights and equality.
Because They MarchedThe People's Campaign for Voting Rights that Changed AmericaThis nonfiction account of the 1965 voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery is richly illustrated with archival photographs.
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward JusticeCourageous and determined, teenager Claudette Colvin refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus and became a plaintiff in a landmark civil rights case. This nonfiction account celebrates an often unacknowledged American heroine.
Little Rock Girl 1957How a Photograph Changed the Fight for IntegrationJournalist Shelley Tougas considers the fight to integrate Little Rock Central High School through the lens of a single photograph taken on September 4, 1957.
Twelve Days in MayFreedom Ride 1961Richly illustrated with archival photos, this book offers an account of the 1961 Freedom Ride, a protest of unconstitutional racial segregation on buses.
SpiesThe Secret Showdown Between America and RussiaIn this riveting nonfiction account, Marc Favreau explores the role of espionage in the Cold War.
Most DangerousDaniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam WarIn this suspenseful and meticulously researched book, Steve Sheinkin brings the Vietnam War era to life by focusing on Daniel Ellsberg, a military analyst who initially helped justify the Vietnam War and later released top-secret documents known as the Pentagon Papers.
Boots on the Ground: America's War in VietnamIn this acclaimed book, Elizabeth Partridge combines meticulous research, photographic records, and personal accounts into a vivid history of the Vietnam War and its aftermath.
Hidden FiguresThe American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space RaceA group of extraordinarily talented African-American women help NASA achieve some of its greatest successes, even as they face discrimination and oppression.
Lifting as We ClimbBlack Women's Battle for the Ballot BoxThis book explores the achievements of black women in the American suffrage movement.
StampedRacism, Antiracism, and YouThis bestselling book traces the history of racist ideas and racial injustice in the United States.
The New Jim CrowMass Incarceration in the Age of ColorblindnessIn this award-winning book, civil rights lawyer Michelle Alexander argues that the American criminal justice system unfairly targets and penalizes African Americans, resulting in long-term harm to black communities.
Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina & New OrleansThis acclaimed nonfiction book tells the story of Hurricane Katrina in graphic form.
Nickel and DimedOn (Not) Getting By in AmericaIn this exposé, the journalist goes undercover to learn about the struggles of low-wage workers in the United States.
Class MattersThis collection of essays offers glimpses into the lives of people across America to explore the effects of social class.
An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United StatesFor Young PeopleThis award-winning book traces the history of indigenous peoples before, during, and after the founding of the United States of America.
The Beloved World of Sonia SotomayorIn this memoir, Sonia Sotomayor recounts her childhood in the South Bronx, her education and early work as a lawyer, and her eventual appointment to the Supreme Court of the United States.
You Call This Democracy?How to Fix Our Government and Deliver Power to the PeopleThis nonfiction book examines voting in the United States and identifies ways to make government more democratic and to make voting more accessible.
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