Texas Topaz Nonfiction Gems 2021 (YA Gr. 9+)

In a series of personal essays, prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson explores his childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia. From the memories of getting his teeth kicked out by bullies at age five, to flea marketing with his loving grandmother, to his first sexual relationships, this young-adult memoir weaves together the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer boys.

"Tyler Feder shares her story of her mother's first oncology appointment to facing reality as a motherless daughter in this ... graphic memoir"--

"Tracing the path to the landmark decision in Roe v. Wade and the continuing battle for women's rights, Blumenthal examines ... the root causes of the current debate around abortion and repercussions that have affected generations of American women"--Publisher marketing.

"From hormones to homework, parents to peers, health issues to bad habits, life can be a pressure cooker leading to anxiety and even thoughts of suicide. How can we find relief? Author Whitney Stewart introduces readers to the practice of mindfulness. With its roots in ancient Buddhist teachings, mindfulness--the practice of purposefully focusing attention on the present moment--can change a person's approach to stress, develop skills to handle anxiety...

"Formaldehyde, borax, salicylic acid. Today, these chemicals are used in embalming fluids, cleaning supplies, and acne medications. But in 1900, they were routinely added to food that Americans ate from cans and jars. Often products weren't safe because unregulated, unethical companies added these and other chemicals to trick consumers into buying spoiled food or harmful medicines. Chemist Harvey Washington Wiley recognized these dangers and began...

The construct of race has always been used to gain and keep power, to create dynamics that separate and silence. Racist ideas are woven into the fabric of this country, and the first step to building an antiracist America is acknowledging America's racist past and present. This book takes you on that journey, showing how racist ideas started and were spread, and how they can be discredited.

"Presents the history of the AIDS crisis through the lens of the ... victims and activists who demanded action and literally fought for their lives, ... [exploring] everything from the disease's origins and how it spread to the activism it inspired and how the world confronts HIV and AIDS today"--