The Best Nonfiction Books for 7th Graders of 2024

Not a fan of fiction or just want to learn something useful? In this post, you will find the best nonfiction books for middle school students reviewed. Also, we will discuss books about YouTube, basketball, space, the Holocaust, and other topics that 7th-graders are passionate about. We will also give you advice on choosing the perfect nonfiction reading. If you find the variety overwhelming, scroll down to the last section where you can learn how to find a book you will love. Parents and teachers recommended some of the reviewed nonfiction books for middle school lessons, homeschooling, and assistance with homework. Whether you like explorer books for kids, real-life stories for kids, or children’s stories about relationships and social problems, you will find a book to enjoy.

If you want to just get back to studying, get our top pick for nonfiction books for 7th graders here.

Last update: 2024-05-05

Our Favorites for Best Nonfiction Books for 7th Graders

The Amazing Book Is Not on Fire: The World of Dan and Phil by Dan Howell and Phil Lester

How much time do you spend watching YouTube? Maybe you want to become a famous YouTuber? You may know these guys then. Dan and Phil have millions of subscribers and hundreds of videos on their channels. In this book, they share their ten years of blogging experience and tell you a lot about Internet life. When you go behind-the-scenes with these guys, you will get many useful advice and tons of humor. You will see why some videos gather millions of views, and others don’t. Even though one of the boys is more successful, they remain good friends despite everything.

Why Choose this Book:

• The book is full of pictures that you won’t find anywhere else.
• The book’s quality is excellent; the pictures and the content will take you deeper than their videos.

What Makes this Book Unique:

• They tell their lives’ stories from their births and up until now. You read their conversations, their diaries, their school stories, and even about their trips.
• The book keeps you hooked till the end as there are fun quizzes, stories, jokes, sarcasm, and awkwardness.

Last update: 2024-05-05

---

A Year Without Mom by Dasha Tolstikova

It is a true story of a child whose mother leaves for the US in the early 1990s leaving the girl the girl for a year. Dasha is a 12-year-old girl in Moscow, and she has to figure out family, friendship, and school problems without her mom. The political situation in the country is making Dasha’s worries even worse. Just as the girl learns how to deal with everything, her mother decides to take her to America. How can she leave everything she loves and go to a place on the other side of the planet?

Why Choose this Book:

• A Year Without Mom is a graphic novel, the pictures and the text show America and Russia from a teenager’s perspective.
• It seems like every word is carefully chosen; the text makes you feel everything Dasha feels. Some parts of the book are very touching and emotional.

What Makes this Book Unique:

• Even though most of the book is about a girl from a different country and time, American teenagers will find out that Dasha has similar feelings and experiences.
• The book shows how every bitter experience can mean a lot later in life.

Last update: 2024-05-06

---

Survivors of the Holocaust: True Stories of Six Extraordinary Children by Kath Shackleton

If you like history and real survival stories, this book is perfect for you. From 1933 to 1945, Hitler and other Nazis were prosecuting millions of Jewish people in Europe. This book tells us about six children who survived the horror of those years, the Holocaust. Each story is different; the book will take you to Paris, England, Auschwitz, and other places.

Why Choose this Book:

• It is a graphic book, so it is fascinating to read. It doesn’t show anything that can traumatize, but the pictures explain a lot.
• The Holocaust is presented in an accessible way. It educates on the importance of remembering the tragedy and its effects on the present.
• The stories are short, easy to read, and are a great discussion topic.

What Makes this Book Unique:

• There is a simplified glossary to help with words that refer to history and the war. You will also see current pictures of the survivors and a short paragraph with updates about their lives after the war.
• Even if you don’t know anything about the Nazis, this book explains it well. Some teachers recommend using this book in class.

Last update: 2024-05-05

---

Runner Ups for Best Nonfiction Books for 7th Graders

Space!: The Universe as You've Never Seen It Before (Knowledge Encyclopedias) by DK Publishing

Do you want to know more about space, stars, planets, and rockets? This book will clarify everything you want to know about the space. Every topic is explained in detail, and even most complicated objects such as the black holes will become apparent with the 3D models, amazing pictures, and data boxes. The book is divided into 30 sections, some of which are Exploring Mars, The Sun’s Family, Inside Earth, Galaxies, and Saturn’s rings.

Why Choose this Book:

• It has star charts to locate objects in the north and southern hemisphere easily. There is also a reference section to look up information.
• It is excellent for the whole family: younger kids like the pictures, older kids wand adults appreciate the facts and the data.
• If you like this one, there are more encyclopedias from this collection about science, the human body, and dinosaurs.

What Makes this Book Unique:

• The content is up-to-date, and you will find all the latest facts in this encyclopedia.
• The book is full of NASA pictures, CGI images, diagrams, and timelines.

Last update: 2024-05-05

---

I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World (Young Readers Edition) by Malala Yousafzai and Patricia McCormick

Can you imagine being threatened or even shot for going to school? That’s what happened to Malala, a Pakistani girl who stood up for girls’ education in her country. The Taliban wanted girls to be uneducated and to not even go outside without a male relative. But Malala fought for her rights. She almost lost her life on the way home from school. No one expected that she would survive. This book is one of the must-reads among young adults narrative nonfiction for girls and boys. It opens our eyes to a whole new world where girls and women are powerless. At the same time, it shows real girl and women power. How did a girl, whose mother couldn’t read and write, win a Nobel Peace Prize?

Why Choose this Book:

• There is an adult version of this book. So, parents and kids can read it at the same time and have great discussions.
• The book teaches the importance and power of education.
• It also explains Islam and the lives of Muslim families.
• The history of Pakistan and the Taliban is described in words that are easy to understand.

What Makes this Book Unique:

• The book includes exclusive photos and materials that explain the story.
• It is written by a young girl who is also the youngest Nobel Prize Winner.

Last update: 2024-05-05

---

The Way Things Work Now by David Macaulay

Have you ever thought of how your touchscreen phone, a can opener, and a 3D printer work? Macaulay will explain it to you in this book, which is a #1 bestseller among teenager books about physics. On four hundred pages, you will find out how things around us like WI-FI, locks, scales, and mixers are built. The book also describes how and when these things were invented. There are two editions, make sure you buy the newer one because the author added new technologies to the 2016 edition.

Why Choose this Book:

• It is one of the best nonfiction books for kids, teenagers, and adults.
• Every page is illustrated, the insides of the machines are easy to understand with pictures and descriptions.
• All machines and technologies are grouped together and categorized into five chapters according to the way they work. This makes it easier to comprehend the information.

What Makes this Book Unique:

• This book answers questions that may face every day, like why a scanner is ticking. It comes on hand when children bombard their parents and teacher with hundreds of questions.
• Many readers say that girls like the book as much as boys do. They also recommend getting a hardcover book instead of an eBook.

Last update: 2024-05-05

---

Value Picks for Best Nonfiction Books for 7th Graders

Into the Unknown: How Great Explorers Found Their Way by Land, Sea, and Air by Stewart Ross

If you enjoy reading explorer books for kids, you should consider reading this one. You will find 14 stories historic voyages of all time, starting from the Greeks traveling to the Arctic Circle in 340 BC and finishing with Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969. The journeys are described dramatically, but there are key concepts, places, and technology highlighted. Numerous maps and engineering explanations make the reading process even more entertaining.

Why Choose this Book: 

• With all the engineering details, you can understand how the machines were invented and then advanced and learn some history because the journeys are written in chronological order.
• You can find it reasonably cheap, there are many used book options online, and many libraries may have the book.
• On the last pages, you will find a glossary, an index, and sources.

What Makes this Book Unique:

• You don’t need to read the entire book. You can read any chapter you want without having read the previous one as the chapters are not connected.
• Each chapter includes a fold-out section with maps and pictures of ships and aircraft.

Last update: 2024-05-05

---

Stephen Curry: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Sharpest Shooters by Clayton Geoffreys

Clayton Geoffreys has written biographies of many famous basketball and football players. If you have been curious about how famous sportspeople began their careers and became successful, you should read at least one of Geoffreys’ books. In this book, you will learn about Curry’s life, starting from his early childhood. You will see how he got into the NBA, how he was once overlooked, and how then he became an influential basketball player.

Why Choose this Book:

• It is free with Kindle subscription with an audiobook available.
• The book is age-appropriate and overreaching; it provides some general basketball knowledge.

What Makes this Book Unique:

• Curry is one of the greatest shooters in history; discovering a human side of such an elite athlete is a wonderful opportunity for basketball fans.
• Even if you don’t know much about basketball, you will enjoy Curry’s inspirational life story.
• The book teaches that you have to follow your dream and don’t give up despite all the obstacles on your way.

Last update: 2024-05-05

---

Everything You Need to Ace Science in One Big Fat Notebook by Workman Publishing

Are you interested in nonfiction science books? Big Fat Notebook is a series of books on Math, Science, American History, English Language Arts, and World History. The books are built in a way that is similar to a student’s notebook with the main points highlighted, with hand-drawn pictures and diagrams, with funny comments. There are questions to check your knowledge and understanding of the topics. Teachers say that information in the book covers science knowledge up to the 9th grade.

Why Choose this Book: 

• It is one of the high-interest nonfiction books for middle school among teachers and homeschooling parents.
• There are easy-to-understand definitions of science vocabulary for kids.
• Patents say that this book helps a lot with homework and with refreshing adults’ knowledge.
• The science part of the series is free with Kindle Subscription. Other subjects are not expensive.

What Makes this Book Unique:

• The format of the book keeps kids engaged with many hooks like comic drawings.
• The language is child-friendly and more comfortable to understand than traditional textbooks, but some people say that if you want to learn a topic in full, you may need more explanation about some details.

Last update: 2024-05-06

---

How to Choose the Best Nonfiction Books for 7th Graders for You

There are numerous authors of nonfiction books, thousands of topics, millions of ways to present them. How do you choose excellent quality nonfiction books for 13-year-olds? We have handy tips you can use to find a perfect reading.

First, how do you find a topic that interests you? You can do the following:

• If you have a hobby or a passion, we are almost sure there is a book about it. Are you watching a lot of YouTube videos, or maybe you enjoy mixing substances and watch how they react? Use your interests to find a book.
• If you have no idea what to read about, start paying attention to what news you notice most often, what videos, documentaries or TV shows you watch, what you talk about to your friends.
• Simply check out the books we reviewed or any other list of books and see what catches your attention. Write down names, places, events, and technologies that you want to know more about.
• Use Netflix, Amazon Videos, or any platform with videos to scroll down their “documentary” section. Write down topics and names that interest you the most.
• Ask your friend for a recommendation. Friends sometimes tend to like the same topics. Besides, you will have a broad topic for discussions.
• Visit a local library and look through the titles offered. Often libraries hold remarkable nonfiction books.

When you know what topic you want to read about, use these rules to find a good quality book:

• Make sure that the author of the book is a professional. He/she has to be an expert in what the book is written about. For example, if it is about History of England, the author has to be an expert in England History, not just a general historian. Google the author, and see how many years of experience in the field he/she has, how much he/she loves the subject.
• Take a few minutes to read a free sample of the book. Make sure that you like the illustrations, font type, and size. See if the book is properly organized, look through the table of contents, check if there is a glossary, an index, any other additional information.
• Read the title first. If it is too long, if the words are difficult to understand or if it has words like “surprising,” it may be not the best book on the market.
• The writing has to hook you at the very beginning and then keep you engaged. Writers can this with questions, smooth flow, notes, comments, pictures, diagrams, or playful approach.

When you are looking for a nonfiction book, try not to look at bestseller lists, popular books are not always the best. Read the reviews starting from the negative ones to see what people complain about. Sometimes they can be annoyed by poor delivery of the book or something that doesn’t concern the book’s quality. Also, don’t pay too much attention to the recommended age range or grade level. Even when the description says “nonfiction books for 10-year-olds,” you may want to give it a try. What matters is choosing a book according to your reading level, level of understanding of the topic.

Wrapping Things Up: The Best Nonfiction Books for 7th Graders

Here’s a table of the best nonfiction books for 7th graders we evaluated:

Last update: 2024-05-05

Nonfiction is a convenient way to educate children and adults while also enjoying the book. Whether you are a beginner in nonfiction or have read many books of this genre, we hope you could find a perfect nonfiction book or advice on how to find it in our post. Younger children and adults can also read most of the reviewed nonfiction books for 13-year-olds. Many parents and teachers said they used some of these books to homeschool and to help students with homework. When choosing your book, make sure that you are interested in the topic, that you understand it, and that the author’s writing style keeps your attention. Also check out if there is any additional information in the book like words definitions, diagrams, pictures, maps, explanations, or comments. Read a free sample of the book before buying it and ensure you like it. If you buy a book and then understand that you don’t enjoy reading it, you don’t have to finish it. Pick another book and enjoy the time spent with it.

If you found this post helpful, you’re definitely going to like our other reading book lists here.

You may also like these other reading book lists: 

> The Best Nonfiction Books for 6th Graders (11-Year-Olds)

> The Best 7th Grade Reading List

> The Best Books for Middle School Boys

> The Best Books for Middle School Girls

> The Best Middle Grade Books of All Time