CurriConnects Book List - 20th Century America, Part 2 (1945-2000)
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20th Century America, Part 2 (1945-2000)
Most students don't know about 2000, let alone 1950! Explore America after World War II with this list. Read nonfiction and fiction describing both happy and sad decades in American History. This list includes books on famous presidents such as JFK, Clinton, and others. Learn about the tumultuous 60s, the decade of Woodstock, the Civil Rights movement, and Vietnam. Follow the first footsteps into cyberspace and the exploding digital era of the final decades of this incredible century. The list includes books for all ages, though there are slightly more titles for older students. Allow students to choose books that relate to a period or event they have heard their parents discuss or one they are interested in learning more about. For a fun audio timeline, share the Song "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel (lyrics here) or the revised version by Fall Out Boy (lyrics here), some of which talks about people and events after 2000, but most of the song is applicable.
Middle School to Young Adult Books
The Outside of a Horse - Ginny Rorby, (978-0803734784), Fiction
Interest level: 6-12, Lexile: 720
Hannah's work with rescued horses turns out to be therapeutic for her war-disabled father.
Picture Books
The Lonely Typewriter - Peter Ackerman, (978-1567925180), Fiction
Interest level: K-3
When the family computer freezes, the discarded typewriter in the attic is brought back into usage.
Yellow Submarine - Beatles, (978-0763624408), Fiction
Interest level: K-12
The Beatles take the yellow submarine to assist the residents of Pepperland who are being besieged by the Blue Meanies.
The Berenstain Bears Computer Trouble - Jan Berenstain, (978-0060573942), Fiction
Interest level: K-1, Lexile: 640
The Berenstain Bears' family changes greatly after they procure a computer for their home.
I Am Ruby Bridges - Ruby Bridges, (978-1338753882), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 600
Ruby Bridges tells the story of her elementary years in her own words, focusing on her leadership in integrating New Orleans schools
Through My Eyes: Ruby Bridges - Ruby Bridges, (978-0590189231), Non-fiction
Interest level: 3-7, Lexile: 860
In November 1960, Ruby Bridges was six years old. As all of America watched and Ruby was surrounded by federal marshals, she walked through a mob of anti-integrationists and marched into her school. This book tells her story and highlights this pivotal time in history.
The Wall - Eve Bunting, (978-0395629772), Fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 270
A young boy has a strong reaction to visiting the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial wall in Washington, D.C.
Let the Children March - Monica Clark-Robinson, (978-0544704627), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 650
In May 1963, the children of Birmingham, Alabama, began a three-day march for desegregation. This book tells of the march and the days and changes that followed.
Satchel Paige - Lesa Cline-Ransome, (978-0689856815), Non-fiction
Interest level: 1-5, Lexile: 1010
Follow Satchel Paige's amazing career in mainstream baseball.
When Charlie McButton Lost Power - Suzanne Collins, (978-0142408575), Fiction
Interest level: K-3
Charlie's limited interest in only playing computer games leads him to beg his little sister for replacement batteries.
Year of the Jungle - Suzanne Collins, (978-0545425162), Fiction
Interest level: K-12, Lexile: 560
Suzy is troubled when her soldier father's postcards from Vietnam do not come anymore.
Return of the Library Dragon - Carmen Agra Deedy, (978-1561456215), Fiction
Interest level: K-2, Lexile: 580
Miss Lotty, the school librarian, finds she cannot retire until she is sure that computers will not replace her beloved books.
Rosa - Nikki Giovanni, (978-0312376024), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-4, Lexile: 900
The author pays tribute to Rosa Parks and her role in supporting the Civil Rights Movement.
Guinea Pigs Online - Jennifer Gray, (978-1623650377), Fiction
Interest level: K-4
Coco uses the computer to perform an online search for her buddy Fuzzy and finds out he is in danger; the guinea pigs then band together to form a hilarious rescue team.
Franklin and the Computer - Sharon Jennings, (978-1553373636), Fiction
Interest level: K-1, Lexile: 500
Franklin enjoys his friend Beaver's new video game a lot, and maybe too much, as he stops playing soccer and hanging out with friends.
A Sweet Smell of Roses - Angela Johnson, (978-1416953616), Fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 480
Two girls attend a parade and hear Dr. Martin Luther King speak of freedom for all.
The Boy Who Invented TV - Kathleen Krull, (978-0385755573), Non-fiction
Interest level: 1-4, Lexile: 860
Philo Farnsworth's interest in tinkering with machines and electricity led to his invention of many things, including modern television.
Hillary Rodham Clinton - Kathleen Krull, (978-1416971290), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 730
Although Hillary Clinton was a President's wife, she was and is a lot more than that, having been ambitious, determined, and well-known her entire life.
No Truth Without Ruth - Kathleen Krull, (978-006256011), Non-fiction
Interest level: PreK-3, Lexile: 860
This is the biography of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read - Rita Lorraine Hubbard, (978-1524768287), Non-fiction
Interest level: PreK-3, Lexile: 830
This is the story of how Mary Walker, a former enslaved woman, learned to read at the age of 116
On Her Wings - Jerdine Nolen, (978-781534478527), Non-fiction
Interest level: PreK-3, Lexile: 790
Toni Morrison is probably best known for her 1987 book, Beloved, but she has written numerous children's books and ten other novels.
Boycott Blues - Andrea Davis Pinkney, (978-0060821180), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 560
The author describes Rosa Parks's experience with riding in the front of the bus and her role in supporting the Civil Rights Movement.
Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - Doreen Rappaport, (978-1423106357), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-5, Lexile: 610
This simple biography appeals to readers of all ages by relating information about MLK's life and accomplishments, using his own words to show the power of his rhetoric.
Mario and the Hole in the Sky - Elizabeth Rusch, ((978-1580895811), Non-fiction
Interest level: 1-4, Lexile: 730
Mario Molina, a Mexican-American chemist, discovered the impact of CFCs on the ozone layer and the environment in the 1980s.
Andrew Higgins and the Boats that Landed Victory in World War II - Nancy Rust and Carol Stubbs, (978-1455625277), Non-fiction
Interest level: 1-4
Higgins' boats carried soldiers into Normandy during World War II. This text looks at how Andrew Higgins made these boats.
Octopus's Garden - Ringo Starr, (978-1481403627), Fiction
Interest level: PreK-3, Lexile: 500
Enjoy dancing and singing with the Octopus of Beatle fame.
The Teachers March - Sandra Neil Wallace, (978-1629794525), Non-fiction
Interest level: 2-5, Lexile: 700
Reverend F. D. Reese led a teachers-only march to the Selma, Alabama courthouse in January 1965. The teachers risked their jobs to demand their right to vote.
Chicken Clicking - Jeanne Willis, (978-1783440528), Fiction
Interest level: K-1
Even chickens have started shopping on the internet; see their concerns with it in this book.
Doug Unplugged! - Dan Yaccarino, (978-0375966439), Fiction
Interest level: K-2, Lexile: 630
A robot finds exploring a city after he unplugs himself much more enlightening than downloading facts about them.
Middle Grade Books
Becoming Muhammad Ali - James Patterson and Kwame Alexander, (978-0316498173), Fiction
Interest level: 3-7
Cassius Clay's best friend, Lucky, tells the story of his friend's rise to greatness.
The Return of Gabriel - John Armistead, (978-1571316387), Fiction
Interest level: 3-7, Lexile: 700
The Baptist pastor in a town polarized by pro and con civil rights believers must decide which side he will take while voter registration is encouraged by civil rights leaders.
Glory Be - Scattergood Augusta, (978-0545331807), Fiction
Interest level: 3-6, Lexile: 680
A town in Mississippi chooses to close its public pool rather than follow the new desegregation law, and Glory feels the injustice in that choice.
Viral: the Fight Against AIDS in America - Ann Bausum, (978-0425287200), Non-fiction
Interest level: 7-9, Lexile: 1190
Take a look at the AIDS epidemic in America and learn how the virus tore through the country and how it became under control.
Lauren Ipsum: A Story about Computer Science and Other Improbable Things - Carlos Bueno, (978-1593275747), Non-fiction
Interest level: 4-9, Lexile: 540
Walk with Lauren to learn more about computer science as she travels to whimsical places
Thank You, Jackie Robinson - Barbara Cohen, (978-0688152932), Fiction
Interest level: 3-7, Lexile: 730
Sam makes an unlikely friend in Davy, with whom, despite their racial and educational differences, he shares a great love of baseball, namely the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Vietnam War - DKPublishing, (978-0756611668), Non-fiction
Interest level: 3-7
Read this book to learn details about the U.S. military involvement in the war in Vietnam.
March on! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World - Christine King Farris, (978-0545035378), Non-fiction
Interest level: 3-7, Lexile: 860
Dr. King's sister describes the great Freedom March in Washington DC and her brother's famous speech.
The Watergate Scandal in United States History - David K. Fremon, (978-0766061071), Non-fiction
Interest level: 7-9, Lexile: 970
Learn about the people and events that led to the demise of Richard Nixon's presidency and his eventual resignation.
Recycle This Book - Dan Gutman, (978-0385737210), Non-fiction
Interest level: 4-9
This collection of essays by children's authors stresses the importance of conservation and recycling.
Comfort (Bakesr Mountain Series) - Joyce Moyer Hostetter, (978-1590788950), Fiction
Interest level: 6-9, Lexile: 680
Ann's disability resulting from her case of polio and her father's inability to procure employment because of the effects of being in the war caused her to grow up quickly.
John F. Kennedy: A Photographic Story of a Life - Howard Kaplan, (978-0756603403), Non-fiction
Interest level: 5-12, Lexile: 1090
This photographic essay portrays the life of assassinated President John Fitzgerald Kennedy (DK Biography series).
Schooled - Gordon Korman, (978-1423105169), Fiction
Interest level: 3-9, Lexile: 740
After a homeschooled teen's grandmother ends up in the hospital, he learns all about American culture, including TV, pizza, and school politics.
We've Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March - Cynthia Levinson, (978-1561456277), Non-fiction
Interest level: 5-12, Lexile: 1020
Learn about over 4,000 African American children who ended up in jail after participating in a nation-shaking children's march for equal rights.
Casualties of War - Chris Lynch, (978-0545270243), Fiction
Interest level: 5-9
Beck joins up to fight in the Vietnam War with his three friends; he learns to be a mechanic and a soldier and comes to admire the country of Vietnam (series: Vietnam).
The Rock and the River - Kekla Magoon, (978-1416978039), Fiction
Interest level: 5-9, Lexile: 550
Sam feels conflicted between his father's peaceful approach to civil rights in Chicago in the late 1960s and his brother's interest in the Black Panthers there.
Who Was John Kennedy? - Yona McDonough, (978-0448437439), Non-fiction
Interest level: 3-7, Lexile: 790
Learn about the life and lasting legacy of John Fitzgerald Kennedy (series about many American Presidents: Who Was?).
A Dream of Freedom - Diane McWhorter, (978-0439576789), Fiction
Interest level: 3-7, Lexile: 1220
This book is a comprehensive and well-written history of the development of the American Civil Rights Movement between 1954 and 1968.
Presidential Power on Trial: From Watergate to All the President's Men - William Noble, (978-0766030589), Non-fiction
Interest level: 6-12
The author compares the real events of the Watergate Scandal with the popular movie All the President's Men in this fascinating series (Famous Court Cases That Became Movies).
Media Meltdown: A Graphic Guide Adventure - Liam O'Donnell, ((978-1554690657), Fiction
Interest level: 3-9, Lexile: 590
Three friends use media publicity, including newspapers, the Internet, and movies, to try to stop a huge corporation from squeezing out a small fruit farm.
Marching for Freedom: Walk Together Children and Don't You Grow Weary - Elizabeth Partridge, (978-0670011896), Non-fiction
Interest level: 5-10, Lexile: 960
This book details protests and marches that occurred in Selma, Alabama, as Dr. King's non-violence was combatted by the white establishment.
Lost in Cyberspace - Richard Peck, (978-0140378566), Fiction
Interest level: 4-12, Lexile: 550
Josh and Aaron find their school's computer can help them travel through time to learn about the past and improve the future.
With the Might of Angels - Andrea Davis Pinkney, (978-0545297059), Fiction
Interest level: 3-7, Lexile: 740
After Brown v. Board of Education, Dawnie Rae Johnson's parents decide to send her to the all-white school in town. On her first day, she is greeted with the reality of racism, and she starts to question if it is all worth it.
The Greensboro Lunch Counter: What an Artifact Can Tell Us About the Civil Rights Movement (Artifacts from the American Past) (Smithsonian Artifacts from the American Past) - Shawn Pryor, (978-1496695802), Non-fiction
Interest level: 4-6, Lexile: 950
The Greensboro Four sat at a lunch counter in 1960. The four black men tried to order coffee at the all-white lunch counter at Woolworths in Greensboro, North Carolina. That lunch counter has become a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement and is now housed at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC. This book tells the history of the movement, the sit-in, and the lunch counter.
Tales from a Not-So-Glam TV Star - Rachel Renee Russell, (978-1442487673), Fiction
Interest level: 4-7, Lexile: 710
In this new episode of the " Dork Diaries " series, Nikki's life suddenly becomes on TV as a reality TV crew follows her everywhere.
Tangled Threads: A Hmong Girl's Story - Pegi Deitz Shea, (978-0618247486), Fiction
Interest level: 4-9, Lexile: 630
A young Hmong teen travels from Thailand with her traditional grandmother to Rhode Island to start a new life, but she finds that the American customs she wants to adopt conflict with her family's values.
Inside Out and Back Again - Lai Thanhha, (978-0061962783), Fiction
Interest level: 2-8, Lexile: 800
A Vietnamese immigrant writes a series of poems reflecting on her experiences in Vietnam during the war and her resettlement in Alabama.
Countdown - Deborah Wiles, (978-0545106054), Fiction
Interest level: 3-7, Lexile: 800
Franny's involvement with the Cold War includes her corresponding with Krushchev, reading about people building bomb shelters, feeling stressed about the possibility of nuclear war, and living through the Russian missile crisis.
Revolution - Deborah Wiles, (978-0545106078), Fiction
Interest level: 3-7, Lexile: 840
This gripping novel tells the story of two young people of opposite races in the American South at the dawn of the Civil Rights era.
Bat 6 - Virginia Euwer Wolff, (978-0590898003), Fiction
Interest level: 3-9, Lexile: 930
Prejudice appears as 6th-grade girls share their versions of a post-war softball game in the 1940s.
Brown Girl Dreaming - Jacqueline Woodson, (978-0399252518), Non-fiction
Interest level: 5-9, Lexile: 990
In this series of poems, Author Jacqueline Woodson's autobiography gives an inside look at the life of an intelligent and aware African American child in South Carolina and New York.
Spy Runner - Eugene Yelchin, (978-0399252518), Fiction
Interest level: 3-6, Lexile: 900
At the beginning of the Cold War, Jake learns that his new Russian border knew his dad in World War II. Jake is determined to figure out if the man is trying to learn American secrets.
Young Adult Books (ages 12-18; Grades 7 and up)
The Sixties - Robert Altman, (978-1595800244), Non-fiction
Interest level: 7-12
Photographer Robert Altman documents the 60's with his award-winning photographs.
The Impossible Knife of Memory - Laurie Halse Anderson, (978-0670012091), Fiction
Interest level: 6-12, Lexile: 720
Hayley's father finds it difficult to return to a normal life after the war due to post-traumatic stress.
Watergate: A Story of Richard Nixon and the Shocking 1972 Scandal - Jules Archer, (978-1632206060), Non-fiction
Interest level: 6-10
This book carefully examines the events that led to the famous Watergate break-in of 1972.
Growing Up Simple: An Irreverent Look at Kids in the 1950's - George Arnold, (978-1571680716), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
Follow five children as they grow up in the 1950s in the U.S.
Reality Chick - Lauren Barnholdt, (978-1435284906), Fiction
Interest level: 9-12
Ally's selection as a member of a reality TV cast teaches her about how fickle love can be and how relationships may not be what they first appear to be.
Karma for Beginners - Jessica Blank, (142-3117514), Fiction
Interest level: 8-12, Lexile: 730
Tessa meets an attractive boy in the ashram her hippie mother takes her to in this book for mature teens.
Tubes: A Journey to the Center of the Internet - Andrew Blum, (978-0061994951), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
This fascinating, well-written book describes the impact of the Internet on modern life and other technological developments.
The Moves Make the Man - Bruce Brooks, (978-0064470223), Fiction
Interest level: 7-12, Lexile: 1150
Jerome, an African American student at a white school, easily finds a friend in Bix, and they share their love of baseball.
American Counterculture of the 1960's - Richard Brownell, (978-1420502633), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
The counterculture period during the 1960s comes alive in this easy-to-read, well-documented book.
Reality Check - Jen Calonita, (316-045543), Fiction
Interest level: 6-12, Lexile: 690
Charlie and her friends' lives are always different after they are selected to star in a new reality series.
Forgotten: Seventeen and Homeless - Melody Carlson, (978-1600069482), Fiction
Interest level: 10-12
Adele finds herself homeless after her mother disappears; she tries to keep up a brave front at high school, but with no money and no support, her life deteriorates.
The Killing Woods - Lucy Christopher, (978-0545461009), Fiction
Interest level: 8-12, Lexile: 660
Emily tries to help her father, an ex-soldier with PTSD, but her efforts lead her into a dangerous and violent game.
Tom Clancy's Net Force - Tom Clancy, (978-0425171912), Fiction
Interest level: 7-9
David Gray uncovers a dangerous group of cyberspies who are changing people's thought patterns with their advanced technology as well as revealing business secrets.
My Life: The Presidential Years - Bill Clinton, (978-1400096732), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
Bill Clinton writes about his years in the White House.
Living History - Hillary Rodham Clinton, (978-0743222259), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
Hillary's autobiography details the development of her ambition and confidence.
Flight 116 is Down - Caroline Cooney, (978-0590444798), Fiction
Interest level: 7-12, Lexile: 710
After a 747 crash, a young woman overcomes her anxiety and sets about helping as well as she can.
Fire From the Rock - Sharon Draper, (978-0142411995), Fiction
Interest level: 7-12, Lexile: 760
Sylvia must decide if she will be one of the students to attempt to desegregate an all-white high school.
The Spoken Word Revolution: Slam, Hip Hop & the Poetry of a New Generation (A Poetry Speaks Experience) - Mark Eleveld, ed., (978-1402202469), Non-fiction
Interest level: 7-12
This book, written by many poets, and its accompanying CD show how oral poetry represents today's youth.
Woodstock: 50th Anniversary Edition: Three Days that Rocked the World - Mike Evans, (978-1402766237), Non-fiction
Interest level: 10-12
This in-depth analysis of the phenomenon of the Woodstock Music Festival in 1969 includes information from musicians and organizers, photographs, graphic illustrations, and more.
Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott - Russell Freedman, (978-0823420315), Non-fiction
Interest level: 5-10, Lexile: 1110
This book describes the events that led to the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and its impact on the Civil Rights Movement.
If I Ever Get out of Here - Eric Gansworth, (978-0545417303), Fiction
Interest level: 5-12, Lexile: 870
Lewis wants to trust his new friendship with George, but he remains cautious as a Native American, aware of the discrimination between his people and whites.
lol. . . OMG! - Matt Ivester, (978-1466242074), Non-fiction
Interest level: 10-12
Learn how to protect yourself online and become a respectable computer/internet user: for older teens.
Evil Genius - Catherine Jinks, (978-0152061852), Fiction
Interest level: 6-12, Lexile: 720
Cadel finds himself among other brilliant Hackers at his new school, a crime academy.
No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row - Susan Kuklin, (978-1250044457), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
Prisoners speak about their experiences waiting on death row.
My Beautiful Hippie - Janet Nichols Lynch, (978-0823426034), Fiction
Interest level: 8-12, Lexile: 780
An overly protected teen leaps into the California counterculture of the 1960s after finding a hippy boyfriend.
McCarthy Era - Ann Malaspina, (978-1604137651), Non-fiction
Interest level: 7-12
Learn about the forces that led to Joseph McCarthy's rise to power and influence in U.S. history.
As Seen on TV: The Visual Culture of Everyday Life in the 1950's - Karal Ann Marling, (978-0674048836), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
This book explores the visual offerings of culture in the 1950s, including TV, paint-by-number hobbies, clothing, and automotive design.
Tim Berners-Lee: Inventor of the World Wide Web - Stephanie Sammartino McPherson, (978-0822572732), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12, Lexile: 960
Read about Tim Berner-Lee's remarkable vision of the future of computer technology, specifically that of the information superhighway.
Fallen Angels - Walter Dean Myers, (978-0545055765), Fiction
Interest level: 7-12, Lexile: 650
A recent high school graduate finds his enlistment in the Army to fight in Vietnam devastating.
October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard - Leslea Newman, (978-0763658076), Fiction
Interest level: 9-12
This fictionalized version of the murder of a young gay man in 1998 tells the story from multiple viewpoints.
Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot - Bill O'Reilly, (978-0805096668), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
This enthralling book about Kennedy's assassination holds a reader's attention as well as any fictional mystery.
The Car - Gary Paulsen, (978-0756966850), Fiction
Interest level: 6-12, Lexile: 830
Two friends find their road trip more than they expected when they meet two Vietnam veterans with plenty of stories.
The Haight-Ashbury - Charles Perry, (978-0394741444), Non-fiction
Interest level: 10-12
Learn how the Haight-Ashbury hippy area of San Francisco in the 1960s was the growing ground for the massive cultural revolution that changed American life forever.
The Things a Brother Knows - Dana Reinhardt, (978-0375844560), Fiction
Interest level: 6-12, Lexile: 650
Levi accompanies Boaz, his older veteran brother, on a walking tour along the East Coast, hoping to discover what ghosts Boaz has brought back from the war with him.
The Vinyl Underground - Rob Rufus, (978-1635830507), Fiction
Interest level: 6-12
After his brother died in Vietnam, Ronnie faces his 18th birthday. He and his friends develop a plan to keep him from getting drafted.
History of the Internet and the Digital Future - Johnny Ryan, (978-1780231129), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
Learn about the impact of the internet's development on political history, questions of intellectual freedom, censorship, and more.
Purple Daze - Sherry Shahan, (978-0762440719), Fiction
Interest level: 8-12
The story of six teens in LA is told against the backdrop of a country involved in the Vietnam War and the explosion of drug use among the young.
How Are Online Activities Affecting Society? - Bonnie Szumski, (978-1601525468), Non-fiction
Interest level: 10-12, Lexile: 1310
This Nonfiction book examines all aspects of the internet's effects on lives in the 20th century.