Suggested Non-Fiction Reading For Advanced Students
Last year, I worked with a particularly gifted student applying to Hunter College High School (she got in, by the way). She was only 11 years old, but she had a fully adult level of reading comprehension and a desire to tackle interesting, sophisticated, and challenging material. At the same time, she was still a child and books written about certain adult experiences and emotions simply held no interest for her. Working with this girl got me started thinking about books that might interest a child or teenager while being challenging for even the most advanced students.
It's a crime to think of excellent literature in terms of test preparation. And yet, as a tutor, I sometimes find myself framing reading in those terms. Instead of doing that here, let me just say reading literature at this level makes the reading comprehension on a test such as the SHSAT or even the SAT seem like child's play. It is also probably the only way for a child to have a real chance at a school like Hunter College High School or The Anderson School.
My basic criterion for choosing these books is that they had to be interesting to me, contain rich vocabulary and complex thoughts, and not be sexually explicit or wantonly violent. Furthermore, they had to have something in them that I think would be interesting to many young people- for example, many of these books feature young protagonists. To be part of this particular list, the book had to be non-fiction- at a later date, I will write a similar list of recommended fiction books for advanced readers. Obviously, this list is highly idiosyncratic and far from comprehensive. The books range from moderately to extremely challenging.
Non-Fiction
Wild Swans by Jung Chang
In Wild Swans, the author tells the history of modern China through the history of her own family, in particular her grandmother, her mother, and herself. This book is emotionally difficult as well as technically difficult: it is long and complex, and it deals with some of the darkest aspects of human nature. On the other hand, it is richly informative and gripping. It also shows some people being the best that humans can be.
It seems to me that many classic novels that are often read in middle and high school (1984, Lord of the Flies, Deliverance) are popular at least in part because they encourage an exploration of society gone wrong. In my personal opinion, a flaw of many of these books (and all of the ones I just listed) is that it is too easy to dismiss the mistakes of the characters because they are not real and, ultimately, not fully convincing. Wild Swans on the other hand, paints portraits of people who do deeply evil as well as exceptionally heroic things, that are much harder to dismiss because they are actually real and because the author is able make her characters' motivations understandable.
Uncle Tungsten: Tales of a Chemical Boyhood by Oliver Sacks
In this book, the author tells of his childhood love affair with chemistry. It takes place in England, around the time of World War II, and perhaps the most immediately astonishing part of the story is how much freer children were at that time. His parents are clearly loving and responsible, but he nevertheless conducted a wide variety of hair-raising chemistry experiments that would never be allowed today. Indeed, many of the materials that he so casually bought as a boy are now almost impossible for a private individual of any age to purchase legally.
The writing style of this book is relatively challenging, but most of the content should be easy for young people to identify with. While Oliver Sacks was no doubt an unusual boy, his excitement when he discovers something new to him or when he causes a particularly good explosion is contagious. Likewise, his emotions surrounding negative events caused by World War II are easy to relate to.
The Cannon by Natalie Angier
When I think about science books, I don't usually think about books filled with deft word play, cultural references, and delicious prose that reads almost like poetry. And yet, that is exactly what The Cannon delivers. This book is written by a New York Times science reporter, and it is about the biggest, most important ideas in science, as defined by a wide range of working scientists. The science is clearly intended for a non-scientific, yet sophisticated, audience. I think that many students would get a real kick out of reading about what they are learning in science class, but in a far more sophisticated and artful way than any textbook has ever been written.
There is nothing simple about the writing style of this book; indeed I would go so far as to say that a big part of the tragedy of low reading comprehension levels is that people who have them will never be able to enjoy a book like this. On the other hand, this book is truly a reward for those skilled enough to enjoy it.
The Interesting Narrative by Olaudah Equiano
The title of this book does not lie; it is an exceptionally interesting narrative! Olaudah Equiano was born around 1745 in what is now Nigeria, was kidnapped when he was about ten years old, and was sold into slavery. As a slave, he served as an officer in the British Navy and then as a clerk, laborer, sailor, and even ship captain for a private owner. Eventually, he purchased his freedom. As a free man, he had an astonishingly wide range of experiences, which included working as an overseer of slaves, attempting to sail to the North Pole, having an intense religious conversion, marrying an Englishwoman, and working hard to end slavery.
The Interesting Narrative was written as part of Olaudah Equiano's anti-slavery efforts. It is a complex book that is difficult to summarize. It is not an easy read; it is from a very different time and both the language and the concepts are somewhat different from what we are used to. However, it is also an extremely vivid, rewarding read that opens a window into a world that no longer exists.
The Last Algonquin by Theodore L. Kazimiroff
In 1924, a 12 year old boy who was studying for a Boy Scout merit badge encountered Joe Two Trees, a man who believed that he was the last living member of the Algonquin tribe. Joe Two Trees, who was living a traditional hunter-gather life and who had not regularly spoken to another human being for decades, decided to tell his life story to that boy. This did not happen in a remote, wild area- it happened in New York City. Specifically, it happened in Pelham Bay Park, a very large park in the Bronx.
The story that Joe Two Trees told is exciting, moving, and sometimes very sad. It is also a reminder that astonishingly drastic change can take place during one person's life time. The boy he told it to was Theodore Kazimiroff, Sr and The Last Algonquin was written by his son.
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