The most recommended new nonfiction books

Who picked these books? Meet our 573 experts.

573 authors created a book list connected to new nonfiction, and here are their favorite new nonfiction books.
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Book cover of Big

Patricia Toht Author Of Dress Like a Girl

From my list on picture books to encourage young girls to dream big.

Why am I passionate about this?

In grade school, when Apollo 11 landed on the moon, I was immediately swept up in the craze for space and dreamt of being an astronaut. Until I was told by my teacher that girls werenโ€™t allowed to be astronauts. I added that to a growing list of things I was told girls couldnโ€™t do. Flash-forward to 2017, when a prominent man insisted that females should โ€œdress like a womanโ€ at work. Women from all walks of lifeโ€“athletes, astronauts, emergency workers, and scientists posted photos of themselves in gear appropriate for their jobs, not the dress-and-heels implied. I was inspired by those photos and my childhood feelings of injustice.

Patricia's book list on picture books to encourage young girls to dream big

Patricia Toht Why did Patricia love this book?

This book captured my heart from the first time I read it. As a toddler, the main character is praised for being โ€œa big girl,โ€ but as she continues to grow, she discovers that being a โ€œbig girlโ€ soon becomes a negative thing that prevents her from doing what she wishes.

The illustrations are amazing, and fold-out pages can barely contain the growing main character and the empathy youโ€™ll have for her. 

A book you will hug when youโ€™re done reading it, then immediately read it again.

By Vashti Harrison,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Big as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

Once there was a girl with a big laugh and a big heart and very big dreams.
She grew and grew and grew. And it was good... until it wasn't.

When the girl grows big, the world begins to make her feel small. She feels out of place and invisible, and soon she isn't herself at all. But with the girl's size comes huge inner strength - and this helps her look past the hurtful words to see how perfect she really is.

With beautiful illustrations and a gatefold flap, this quietly reassuring story explores the experience of being bigโ€ฆ


Book cover of A Day of Reckoning

Ian Ross Author Of Battle Song

From Ian's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Reader History-obsessed Italophile

Ian's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Ian Ross Why did Ian love this book?

The Viking and Anglo-Saxon age is very popular in historical fiction at the moment, but Matthew Harffyโ€™s new novel, his best yet, takes us away from the familiar environment of north-eastern Europe to explore the world of al-Andalusโ€”Muslim Spainโ€”instead. 

Through the eyes of Hunlaf and his crew, we get to journey through a fabulous and exotic landscape, but the momentum of the storytelling never flags. What I find most impressive is the way that Harffy uses a propulsive action-led plot as a vehicle to explore an amazingly rich and colourful historic environment and to portray a fascinating encounter between very different cultures.

By Matthew Harffy,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked A Day of Reckoning as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Hunlaf battles peril and intrigue on a dangerous voyage to Muslim Spain. AD 796. Sailing in search of an object of great power, Hunlaf and his comrades are far from home when they are caught up in a violent skirmish against pirates. After the bloody onslaught, an encounter with ships from Islamic Spain soon sees them escorted under guard to the city of Qadis, one of the jewels of the Emirate of Al-Andalus and the true destination of their voyage. Hunlaf believes the Emir's lands hold the key to his search, but there are dangerous games at play. To achieveโ€ฆ


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Book cover of The City Sings Green & Other Poems About Welcoming Wildlife

The City Sings Green & Other Poems About Welcoming Wildlife by Erica Silverman,

A unique and artful blend of poetry, science, and activism, this picture book shows how city dwellers can intervene so that nature can work her magic.

In Oslo, Norway: citizens create a honeybee highway that stretches from one side of the city to the other, offering flowerpots, resting spots, beeโ€ฆ

Book cover of You Are Brave

Debra Williams Author Of Ah-Fur, Super Sleuth: The Case of The Missing Moggies

From Debra's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Reader Book reviewer Puppet creator

Debra's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Debra Williams Why did Debra love this book?

You Are Brave is inspired by the life of Sofia Sanchez. Sophia has Down's Syndrome and is now 15 years of age, but this book focuses on her younger life.
You Are Brave shows children that itโ€™s okay not to be perfect at whatever you want to do but that everyone is good at something. The main theme inspires youngsters to not give up, to keep practising until they get a new thing right, and to show them they can be brave when they are told they cannot do something. It encourages children to be themselves.

By Sofia Sanchez, Margaret O'Hair, Sofia Cardoso (illustrator)

Why should I read it?

1 author picked You Are Brave as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 3, 4, 5, and 6.

What is this book about?

An inspiring and inclusive picture book about overcoming obstacles
- brought to us by Sofia Sanchez, a successful model,
actress, and advocate for Down Syndrome.
Being different doesn't mean you can't succeed and
share your gifts and passions with the world!

That is the timely and important message of You Are Brave,
which helps readers learn their own self-worth. It encourages
children to overcome obstacles by sticking up for themselves
and others, trying new things, and showing the world how brave
they are!

This beautiful picture book accompanies 2021's You
Are Enough and 2023's You Are Loved.


It focuses onโ€ฆ


Book cover of Guilty by Definition

MJ Porter Author Of The Last King

From MJ's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

MJ's 3 favorite reads in 2024

MJ Porter Why did MJ love this book?

Guilty by Definition rises above other celebrity mysteries by being excellent.

This story is well-plotted and well-devised, delightfully intermingled with snippets about the Clarendon Dictionary and the little foibles of the English language, and has a great storyline. It also offers a lovely conjuring of Oxford and the surrounding locationโ€”as well as some special Oxford-specific events.

Our four main characters are well-developed, and all have their secrets as they endeavour to solve the perplexing riddles and, in doing so, answer the questions surrounding Martha's sister's disappearance.

It is a complex mystery that is sure to appeal to fans of the genre and the English language.

By Susie Dent,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Guilty by Definition as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER!'KEPT ME READING EAGERLY'Philip Pullman. 'HUGE FUN AND, AS YOU'D EXPECT, ALSO BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN'Gyles Brandreth. 'QUITE SIMPLY ONE OF THE FINEST MYSTERIES I HAVE EVER READ'Rob Rinder . 'A TANTALISING MYSTERY FOR WORD SLEUTHS AND CRIME FANS ALIKE'Janice Hallett, Sunday Times bestselling author of The AppealGuilty by Definition is a love letter not only to language but to the city of Oxford, wrapped within an intriguing mystery of a missing woman and considering the emotional aftershocks of her disappearance on those left behind.. She'd known there would be ghosts in Oxford. Martha wasn't afraid of anyโ€ฆ


Book cover of Cosima Unfortunate Steals A Star

Kate Foster Author Of All the Small Wonderful Things

From my list on middle grade about neurodivergent kids.

Why am I passionate about this?

Iโ€™m an autistic person and mother of an autistic child and a huge part of my book-loving life is finding characters like us. Up until the last few years thatโ€™s not been easy, but this lack of fair representation has driven me to seek out books that shine a spotlight on neurodivergent children, smashing stereotypes and harmful notions that continue to be promoted and adored via mainstream media. Recommending books that portray neurodivergent characters in a way that does more harm than good and reinforces the stigma and treatment of neurodivergent people in real life, so I use my platform to talk about the right books telling the right stories. 

Kate's book list on middle grade about neurodivergent kids

Kate Foster Why did Kate love this book?

Cosima Unfortunate is a remarkable historical mystery packed full of adventure that centers a group of girls, disabled or different in some way, who are sent away, or taken by force, to live and learn in a rather unpleasant school, but who together embark upon a daring heist.

It has all the markings of a future classic, and thankfully is also the start of a series. Though the main character is physically disabled, Iโ€™ve chosen this book because some of the supporting characters are neurodivergent and are portrayed accurately and sensitively and play essential roles in the plot. Each girl is feisty and determined, brilliant and brave, and shine when allowed to be themselves.

By Laura Noakes,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Cosima Unfortunate Steals A Star as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

Meet Cosima Unfortunate, and prepare to go on the adventure of a lifetime . . . A breathtaking tale of mystery, family and friendship from a phenomenal new voice, perfect for fans of Katherine Rundell, Tamzin Merchant, Hana Tooke and Robin Stevens.

'Gorgeous and powerfully inclusive...' Aisling Fowler, author of Fireborn

Cosima has spent all her life at the Home for Unfortunate Girls, along with her best friends: Pearl, Mary and Diya. Cos longs for a real home and a real family. But when Cos finds out that famed explorer Lord Francis Fitzroy is planning to adopt them, she andโ€ฆ


Book cover of The Glow

Chikodili Emelumadu Author Of Dazzling

From Chikodili's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Chikodili's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Chikodili Emelumadu Why did Chikodili love this book?

This book is HILARIOUS. Oh my giddy aunt, I laughed so much. Jane the protag has so many issues - petty jealousies, aimlessness, unbelief - that to insert her into the world of a cult figure was always going to be a disaster waiting to happen. To have her be in PR? Genius. Also, not to brag but I am personally responsible for about ten copies of this book being sold. This is solid data.
Source: Trust me, bro. Also, Twitter.

By Jessie Gaynor,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Glow as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Inner peace
Glowing skin
The perfect body
How far would you go?

Jane Dorner has two modes:

PR Jane is twenty-five, breezy, clever in a non-threatening way and eager to sell you a feminist vibrator.

Actual Jane is twenty-nine, drifting through mediocre workdays and lackluster dates while paralysed by her crushing mountain of overdue bills.

Enter the impossibly gorgeous Cass, whom Jane discovers scrolling through Instagram - proprietor of a 'wellness retreat' based out of a ramshackle country house that may or may not be giving off cult vibes. Suddenly Jane realizes she might have found the one ladder sheโ€ฆ


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Book cover of Caesarโ€™s Soldier

Caesarโ€™s Soldier by Alex Gough,

Who was the man who would become Caesar's lieutenant, Brutus' rival, Cleopatra's lover, and Octavian's enemy? 

When his stepfather is executed for his involvement in the Catilinarian conspiracy, Mark Antony and his family are disgraced. His adolescence is marked by scandal and mischief, his love affairs are fleeting, and yet,โ€ฆ

Book cover of The Yellow Bus

Leslie Barnard Booth Author Of One Day This Tree Will Fall

From Leslie's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Leslie's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Leslie Barnard Booth Why did Leslie love this book?

I don't want to spoil this beautiful book for you, so I won't say too much. But please, read it! This heartfelt story will move you. It might even make you cry happy, hopeful tears. The text is simple and accessible, but the themes that emerge are profound. How does the passage of time change our perspective? When something (say, an old school bus) is broken-down and abandoned, has its usefulness really come to an end? In this book, a yellow school bus lives many lives and serves many purposes. Seeing its role change over time, we also see what stays the sameโ€•the joy that comes from helping others.

By Loren Long,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Yellow Bus as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 3, 4, 5, and 6.

What is this book about?

There is a bright yellow bus who spends her days driving. She loves carrying children from one important place to another. Every morning they climb in... Pitter-patter, pitter-patter, giggle, giggle-patter. And they fill her with joy.

As time passes, things change. The Yellow Bus gets a new driver, a new route, and new passengers, young and old. Until one day the driving stops for good, and the Yellow Bus is left on her own. And yet, no matter where she is, the Yellow Bus still finds joy and discovery in the world around her.


Book cover of The World and All That It Holds

Roger Atwood Author Of Coming of Age in a Hardscrabble World: A Memoir Anthology

From Roger's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Desperate Delusional Delightful

Roger's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Roger Atwood Why did Roger love this book?

I know Iโ€™m allowed to recommend books from any year, but Iโ€™m going to keep myself to books published in 2023.

It was a tough year for me โ€“ my mother died, my husband lost his job, my sister was nearly killed by a drunk driver โ€“ and this epic, unforgettable novel reminded me about what outlasts all adversity and allows us to go on living: love. It tells the story of two soldiers in the First World War who escape the front and survive as refugees by their wiles, their humanity, and their solidarity with one another.

This is a novel of mysterious power and staggering beauty that, for a few weeks, allowed me to live a parallel life when I really needed one.   

By Aleksandar Hemon,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The World and All That It Holds as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'This life-stuffed novel is Aleksandar Hemon's masterpiece' - David Mitchell, author of Cloud Atlas

The epic, cross-continental tale of a love so strong it conquers the Great War, revolution, and even death itself.

As the Archduke Franz Ferdinand arrives in Sarajevo one June day in 1914, Rafael Pinto is busy crushing herbs and grinding tablets behind the counter at the pharmacy he inherited from his father. It's not quite the life he had expected during his poetry-filled student days in libertine Vienna, but it's nothing a dash of laudanum, a summer stroll and idle fantasies can't put in perspective.

Andโ€ฆ


Book cover of A Disappearance In Fiji

Karen McMillan Author Of The Paris of the East

From Karen's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Imaginative dreamer Enthusiastic researcher Traveler Lover of life

Karen's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Karen McMillan Why did Karen love this book?

Set in 1914 in Fiji, 25-year-old Akal Singh, would rather be anywhere else in the world than in this far-flung colony. But then an indentured Indian woman goes missing from a sugarcane plantation, and Akal is assigned the case.

Those in the plantation say she has run off with the overseer, the newspaper headlines scream it is a kidnapping. Akal is keen to prove himself, but he quickly finds himself invested in the case for many more reasons as the cruelties of the indenture system are revealed in shocking clarity.

A Disappearance in Fiji is charming and full of warmth and wit. The characters are created with a great deal of heart and empathy, and this page-turning mystery also shows the impact of colonialism in Fiji with care and nuanced historical detail.

By Nilima Rao,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked A Disappearance In Fiji as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A charming debut historical mystery set in 1914 Fiji. Perfect for fans of Abir Mukherjee, Vaseem Khan and Sujata Massey.

'AN UTTERLY CHARMING NOVEL ... NILIMA RAO IS AN AUTHOR WELL WORTH DISCOVERING' ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH

'AN EXCEPTIONALLY PROMISING DEBUT' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY STARRED REVIEW

1914, Fiji: Sergeant Akal Singh would rather be anywhere than this tropical paradise - or, as he calls it, 'this godforsaken island'. After a promising start to his police career in Hong Kong, Akal has been sent to the far-flung colony of Fiji as punishment for a humiliating professional mistake. Lonely and embarrassed, he dreams ofโ€ฆ


Book cover of Smarty Ants

Carol Gordon Ekster Author Of Trucker Kid

From Carol's 8-year-old's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Passionate Educator Learner Determined

Carol's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Plus, Carol's 8-year-old's favorite books.

Carol Gordon Ekster Why did Carol's 8-year-old love this book?

Watching my grandson count the ants and ask to hear the rhythmic text again was joyous together time! It's filled with fun, and we just want to keep turning the pages to see what's next.

As a picture book author myself, I appreciate these unique books that have layers of offerings. There's wordplay, friendship and working together, rhyming text, great illustrations, humor, AND math!

By Kirsti Call, Corey Rosen Schwartz, Erin Taylor (illustrator)

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Smarty Ants as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

Ants are busy little creatures, and these smarty ants are extra busy using their maths skills! They are ready to build one gigantic home, filled with everything an ant could want. But what happens when disaster strikes? Dynamic author duo Corey Rosen Schwartz and Kirsti Call use simple addition, word play and rhyming text to create a memorable maths picture book that young learners will want to read over and over again.


Book cover of Big
Book cover of A Day of Reckoning
Book cover of You Are Brave

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