Annotated Bibliography: Non-Fiction/Informational Texts

Amanda Farley

Annotated Bibliography

Non-Fiction/ Informational Texts

Fever (580L)

Anderson, L. H. (2000). Fever 1793. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

            Laurie Halse Anderson’s novel Fever 1793 is an interesting take on how the world was before the age of modern medicine. This novel is based on the city of Philadelphia in the summer of 1793. Before modern medicine, fever outbreaks were fatal. The main character of the story is Mattie Cook. Her family owns a coffee shop on the other side of the city from where there is a massive mosquito outbreak. Then, the mosquitos start moving in on the city of Philadelphia.

            I really found this to be an interesting novel. This was my first time reading it. I thought Mattie’s character had gone through some tough times. The themes of this novel are beating the odds, coming of age, faith, family, fear, friendship, love, loyalty, perseverance, seizing the moment, and of course survival.  

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1010L)

Angelou, M. (1993). I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. New York, NY: Bantam

            Maya Angelou’s autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a novel where Angelou explains her childhood and her upbringing. Maya and her brother are sent to live with their grandmother. Readers learn all about her time with her grandmother and then when she returns to live with her mother in St. Louis. She explains her inspirations for her writing and how she learned who she was as a person and as a writer.

            I have read a few of Maya Angelou’s works in middle school, so it was interesting to read how she had been brought up by her love of literature and of course her love of writing. The themes in this novel are abuse of power, coming of age, courage, faith, family, freedom, friendship, heritage, love, loyalty, mothering, parent-child relationships, prejudice, religion, survival, and the overlooked.

Boy: Tales of Childhood (1020L)

Dahl, R. (2001). Boy: Tales of Childhood. New York, NY: Puffin Books.

           

            Roald Dahl’s autobiography Boy: Tales of Childhood is a novel where Dahl describes his life and childhood in England. We learn about his life through in his own writing style. It is interesting to look at how an author grew up, and then becoming a best-selling author.

            I have always loved Roald Dahl. My father introduced me to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when I was young. I enjoyed reading about his childhood in England and how he was a chocolate tester at Cadbury’s, I am so jealous of that position. I wonder if they are hiring. The themes in this novel are coming of age, courage, faith, family, friendship, heritage, loyalty, obligation, quest for knowledge, and seizing the moment.

A Child Called “It”  (850L)

Pelzer, D. (1995). A Child Called “It”. New York, NY: HCI

            Dave Pelzer’s autobiography of how he was mistreated by horrible mother will move you. He almost did not make it out of his mother’s house. She would play games with him and would beat him, and would starve her own child. The meaning behind the title is that Pelzer’s mother refused to acknowledge him as her son. She did not treat him as a human, let alone her one son, he became an “it” in her mind

            This autobiography makes me sad for the children of the world who are going through similar situations. How can a mother treat her child like that? He could have died.  The themes in the novel are that of abuse of power, courage, faith, fate, fear, manipulation, parent-child relationship, perseverance, and survival.

Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare (1030L)

Stanley, D. (1998). Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

            Diane Stanley’s novel on William Shakespeare shows how he lived during the Elizabethan Era and the introduction to modern theater. Readers learn about his struggles on writing and he struggles to get working in the theater. He fell in love with theater and it became his life.

            I have taken quite a few courses on William Shakespeare throughout my college experience. He has always been an inspiration in my writing. It is interesting to have some insight into his life and his inspirations.  The themes for this novel are coming of age, courage, family, fear of failure, freedom, friendship, heroes, love, loyalty, peer pressure, price of progress, quest for knowledge, and seizing the moment.