History and Science books - young people editions

[deerforest]

I'm looking for young people versions of contemporary science and history books that were originally written for adults. DH, DD, and I have a family book club, and we've found that these books work really well for our discussions. DD's reading level could handle the adult versions (and in the case of Bryson she probably would have preferred it), but I think that it just made it more approachable to use the young people versions.

 

For example, we have read:

- Magic of Reality (Dawkins)

- Omnivore's Dilemma Young Reader's Edition (Pollan)

- The Third Chimpanzee for Young People: On the Evolution and Future of the Human Animal

- A Young People's History of the United States (Zinn)

- A Really Short History of Nearly Everything (Bryson)

 

We are about to start:

- We Are the Weather Makers (Flannery)

 

I'm sure my list makes it obvious that we are liberal, secular folks, and I am not interested in wandering from that line of thinking right now. 

 

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

ETA: I should clarify that most of these editions are targeting grades 7-9 and up. I am not interested in versions that are any lower than that age range.

 

Edited December 6, 2015 by deerforest

[Farrar]

There's a young reader's edition of Unbroken and one of Malala's autobiography.

 

ETA: And one for Three Cups of Tea and one for The Boy Who Harnassed the Wind.

Edited December 6, 2015 by Farrar

[Farrar]

I would add, though you probably already know, that there is really a budding genre of good pop YA nonfiction growing in its own right. For example, books by Steve Sheinkin.

[Hilltopmom]

In addition to the ones already mentioned, I've also seen one for The Boys in the Boat and also for Left for dead: a young mans search for the USS Indianapolis.

 

Oh, & Flags of our Fathers.

And Chew on This (Fast food nation)

Edited December 6, 2015 by Hilltopmom

[deerforest]

I would add, though you probably already know, that there is really a budding genre of good pop YA nonfiction growing in its own right. For example, books by Steve Sheinkin.

Yes--those have been much easier to find and I have a great list. We have just had some great luck with these young people editions, and I haven't found them as easily!