Adult non-fiction for younger readers?

[Sabriel]

My second-grade daughter likes non-fiction, but she also reads at a college level, so she's bored with the library's children's section. She's read The Double Helix, Cosmos, Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea and a couple of others, but I'm looking for more.

Anyone have any ideas for non-fiction on any topic that doesn't have lots of sexual or violent content?

Thanks, and my daughter thanks you, too.

[Ava]

1. this book - i read it when i was in the 5th grade and have loved it ever since!

America's Women: Four Hundred Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines

http://www.amazon.com/Americas-Women-Hundred-Helpmates-Heroines/dp/0060185104

[Bjornsdotter]

7. An Excellent Choice

This book is fascinating and I have recommended it to many people.

You can't go wrong with this one, I second this selection.

Cheers

[Sabriel]

10. Never seen it!

It sounds like something I should read, too.

Thanks.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I read Huxley's "Brave New World" in grade school at a teacher's recommendation

and I thought it was totally cool.

[babylonsister]

3. At her age, in my youth, I loved biographies. Louisa May Alcott,

Booker T. Washington, Clara Barton, etc., and they were available for younger readers' reading level.

[file83]

4. If she's ready for it, giver her "In Code" by Sarah Flannery

She can skip over the tough parts, but it might me very inspirational for her.

Check it out: http://www.amazon.com/Code-Mathematical-Journey-Sarah-Flannery/dp/0761123849

Also, another safe one is: "The Cuckoos Egg" - a true story and told from a physics staffer in the late 1980's. Very cool stuff.
Link: http://www.amazon.com/Cuckoos-Egg-Tracking-Computer-Espionage/dp/1416507787/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-3600260-7274847?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1180832452&sr=1-1

[Sabriel]

11. That's odd... my library system doesn't have it. n/t

[WinkyDink]

5. I always loved British history, biographies, stories of discovery, etc.

Anything by Thor Heyerdahl, Thomas Costain, Antonia Fraser, e.g.

[Speck Tater]

6. At her age was into adult level books on ancient civilizations.

Ancient Egypt, the Roman Empire, Ancient Greeks, etc.

[Bluzmann57]

8. Does she like history and/or baseball?

Ok ok, I know she's a girl and she isn't "supposed to like sports", but a book called "The Glory of Their Times", by Lawrence Ritter is a great book. It is many interviews with turn of the (20th) century baseball players. I always found it fascinating to read about how life was back in those days and compare it to how it is now. The book was printed in 1965 or so, but is still fascinating, imo. So if your daughter likes non fiction and history, she may enjoy this book. Just a suggestion. I am not a huge intellectual type though. Just a guy who has raised children.

[elfin]

9. My gifted son came home from the intro to the Dewey Decimal System

in the first or second grade and announced " Why would ANYONE read Fiction?" - much to my dismay.

We embarked on books on whales, tornadoes, sports etc. with many charts etc. until he momentarily succumbed to E.B. White ala Charlotte's Web.

I subscribed to Junior Sports Illustrated and Ranger Rick etc,, but It was not until COLLEGE that he started reading "real books".

He inhaled newspapers - but refused to go to "books."

Now he always has a book in progress and loves current events.

Talk to the librarian -- he/she will be a great help- and go with whatever non-fiction interests her at the moment.

For fiction - The Phantom Toll Booth is great at her age- lots of puns and imagination stretching passages.

For non-fiction - try a Jared Diamond book to see if that is her limit .

It looks like science is an interest --- go to the max with "The Weather Makers" by Tim Flannery.

If she gobbles it up -- you are in for a real trip raising her.

Have fun.

[MountainLaurel]

12. Barbara Kingsolver's new nonfic book

About her family's attempt to produce all their own food for a year: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

[Richardo]

13. Seabstian Junger , Erik Larsen and David McCullough

'The Perfect Storm' (Junger)
'Isaac's Storm' (Larsen about the 1900 Galveston Hurricane)
'The Devil in the White City (Larsen about the Chicago World's Fair and a contemporaneuous serial murderer)

Also, David McCullough if she likes history. '1776' is excellent, and I want to read 'The Bridge Between the Seas (re: building the Panama Canal).

[Sequoia]

14. Lisa Simpson is your daughter!?

Wow.

"Mayflower" and "Manhunt" were really good and are now in paperback.

[Sabriel]

15. I wish she were

Lisa is musical...my daughter dislikes most music. She has problems with noises and lots of sounds at once.

[Captain Hilts]

16. The Chelsea House series of biographies for young adults. EXCELLENT.

Their biographies of Eleanor Roosevelt and Katharine Hepburn are just about the best books I've read about those two.

No kiddin'. And I'm a biography buff.