Fun Nonfiction Books for Middle Schoolers to Teach Critical Thinking
I never imagined I’d write one, let alone three, nonfiction books for middle schoolers (basically ages 8-13). When I first created Wild Thing, I hadn’t even been thinking about kids—the podcast was aimed at adults who were curious about the actual science behind some more fringe-y topics, like Bigfoot and aliens.
But then I started to hear from parents who were listening to the show with their kids (sorry about the swearing) and from teachers who were using elements of the podcast (like explanations of evidence and evolution) in their classrooms. I realized that I had completely overlooked what was probably the most curious audience of all.
As of October 2024, there are three Wild Thing books that are perfect for the inquisitive kid in your life:
The Search for Sasquatch uses the scientific method to explore the gray area between myth and science and try to decide if Bigfoot is real.
Is There Anybody Out There? looks at what evidence we have for alien life, where we might find it, and why we’re looking.
Do You Believe in Magic? examines the relationship between magic and science and how the two overlap.
Why choose these science nonfiction books for middle school?
interior of Do You Believe In Magic? /Abrams Books for Young Readers
As a kid, and even into high school and college, I remember being intimidated by science—I struggled to understand some of the concepts, while others felt very dry. My goal for the books was to make the science accessible and fun to kids who, like me, might feel the same. I wanted to use somewhat fantastical ideas as a hook to capture kids’ attention and then (hopefully) have them end up equally fascinated by the science, in part because it felt approachable.
With the latest book, Do You Believe In Magic?, I thought about all the ideas that make magic so irresistible to kids. Do curses work? Can we turn lead into gold (or people into frogs)? Do the constellations we’re born under determine our fate? They’re all fun questions that actually do have some relationship to science. Curses can be effective, especially if the person being cursed truly believes they have been, thanks to something called the nocebo effect. Alchemy—the idea of turning lead into gold—created the foundational knowledge for chemistry (although turning people into frogs remains out of reach). And while the location of the stars probably doesn’t affect our future, figuring out how those stars moved gave rise to the field of astronomy.
Science fact or science fiction?
interior of Is There Anybody Out There?/Abrams Books for Young Readers
I’m a journalist by trade and my job is asking questions and trying to ferret out what’s true and what’s not. For instance, in the second book, Is There Anybody Out There?, I did extensive interviews with astronomers, rocket scientists, astrobiologists, and planetary scientists. I also talked to people who claimed to have seen UFOs or aliens because I wanted to hear their perspectives.
My goal was to try to sift through all this information and figure out what’s fact, what’s fiction, and what’s in the gray area. One of the things I think is important for kids to understand about science is that there’s a lot we still don’t know, so it’s worth it to keep asking questions, consider all the possibilities, and figure out what makes sense.
And for you teachers and librarians who might be skeptical about the subject matter, know that all three books have been thoroughly fact-checked and include extensive notes sections and bibliographies, as well as glossaries. I’m hoping that these books serve as a jumping off point for readers and that kids will use all that reference material to find even more interesting resources.
Why wonder is important
interior of The Search For Sasquatch / Abrams Books for Young Readers
I’ve been asked why I write about un-serious things like Bigfoot and aliens. “There’s plenty of real, interesting science out there—write about that!” I’ve been told. Those critics are right—there is lots of real, interesting science out there (and I have written about some of it). But why not write about the weird stuff, too? Kids are drawn to these strange ideas because they’re so mysterious—it’s totally understandable that they have questions.
And, if you remember the steps of the scientific method, the first step is: Ask a question - what are you wondering? That element of wonder is essential to learning about science. But wonder is also central to learning about how other people and cultures might think, both now and throughout history. Wonder teaches us to be creative, engaged, and compassionate—assets that I want kids to have (as well as the adults who read with them).
Teacher & Parent Reviews
As a retired fourth grade teacher, I couldn’t help thinking how fun this book would be to build an entire unit around. The subject matter is engaging and rich with scientific vocabulary. Krantz is a great story teller, using humor and personal experience to explain the scientific method and introduce other scientific information with easy to understand dialogue. What a great book to read along with your curious child. I’m sure it will result in some very thought provoking discussion and hopefully a few camping trips in search of Sasquatch. Enjoy!!!
Krantz has done it again! Her engaging, conversational tone is accessible to a middle grade reader but also highly readable for an adult. She poses fascinating questions--like, if dolphins have developed a highly sophisticated communication system that doesn't rely on words, what are the chances that an alien culture would have a language based on rules other than what we know or could interpret? And--if our planet has grown "quieter" as it has developed more complex technology (cable and satellites producing sounds much less perceptible in space than radio and tv waves), is it possible that intelligent life from far away won't be able to detect us--and vice versa?
Most of all, she presents her excellently researched observations in a respectful, enthusiastic way that just makes you feel smarter once you've read it.
The illustrations are beautiful and the well-placed sidebars keep interest at maximum. As a middle school teacher and parent of tweens/teens, I can't recommend this more highly.
This book is so fun! It has a brilliant combination of mystical creature mystery and substantive conversation about the importance of science and facts. It’s conversational style make for a smooth read aloud and the language is precise yet easy to understand for younger readers. I read this with my 9 year old who loved it. It sparked multiple interesting conversations about science vs myth and why people want to believe in something even though they can not prove it exists. The illustrations are beautiful and add a touch of whimsy to the book. It is a must have for middle grade readers!
Laura Krantz is the host and producer of the Wild Thing podcast, which explores fascinating topics on science and society. Do You Believe in Magic? (coming October 8, 2024) is the third book in her non-fiction, middle grade series inspired by the podcast.
