Nonfiction November Weekly Update, Oct. 29-Nov. 5th

I had a good week reading nonfiction books, most as part of my Cybils Award judging assignment.

Books read:

• Votes for Women: American Suffragists and the Battle for the Ballot by Winifred Conkling...an excellent book that shows the whole history of the Suffragists movement in the USA. I learned a lot and enjoyed it. Well done. Watch for my review tomorrow. Cybils.
• 1968: Today's Authors Explore a Year of Rebellion, Revolution, and Change edited by Marc Aronson and Susan Campbell Bartoletti...I was young in 1968 but I remember the year for all its upheaval. This is a great book by the way it is put together by various authors who experienced different things in their lives in 1968. Very well done. Review hyperlinked. Cybils
• Resist: 35 Profiles of Ordinary People Who Rose Up Against Tyranny and Injustice by Veronica Chambers. Inspiring look at people who made a difference in their country or for other people. Review hyperlinked. Cybils.
• The Soul for America: The Battle for Our Better Angels by Jon Meacham. I wish I could get my book review up before the election tomorrow but I am sorry that will not happen. I loved this book about Presidents and the presidency. It felt important and healing at the same time. Audio.
• Whale Quest: Working Together to Save Endangered Species by Karen Romano Young...interesting but not narrative nonfiction which I think disqualifies it for the Cybils.
• The Space Race by Matthew Brenden Wood---an interesting book which could easily be used by a teacher working with middle grade students to teach about all aspects of the Cold War, especially the space program. I like the book a lot but don't consider it narrative nonfiction. Disqualified for the Cybils? We'll see.
• Putting Peace First: Seven Commitments to Change the World by Eric Dawson---I think this book would world well as a guide to use in a middle school or high school leadership class to help the students work through steps to make the school a safer, healthier place for everyone. Production quality was pretty low and I'm not sure it would qualify as narrative nonfiction. Cybils.

Currently on my reading pile:

• The Strange True Tale of Frankenstein's Creator Mary Shelley by Catherine Reef [2nd week; Cybils]

• Blacklisted: Hollywood, the Cold War, and the First Amendment by Larry Dane Brimner [2nd week; Cybils]

• Nevertheless, We Persisted: 48 Voices of Defiance, Strength, and Courage [2nd week; Cybils]
• (Don't) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start the Conversation About Mental Health edited by Kelly Jensen [2nd week; Cybils]
• Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka [Graphic memoir; Mock Printz]
• We Say #Never Again reporting by Parkland Student Journalists [1st week, Cybils]
• Google It: A History of Google: How Two Students' Mission to Organize the Internet Changed the World by Anna Crowley Redding.[First week, Cybils]
• Just Mercy by Bryan Stephenson---a young reader's edition of the much lauded adult book by the same title. [First week, Cybils]

I was out of town for the weekend so I am amazed I was almost able to read my goal of a Cybils book a day. It feels impossible to digest seven a week. Maybe I will just shoot for 5 Cybils book a week and pat myself on the back for that accomplishment.