best nonfiction essays for high school students

25 Great Nonfiction Essays You Can Read Online for Free

Alison Doherty

Alison Doherty is a writing teacher and part time assistant professor living in Brooklyn, New York. She has an MFA from The New School in writing for children and teenagers. She loves writing about books on the Internet, listening to audiobooks on the subway, and reading anything with a twisty plot or a happily ever after.

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I love reading books of nonfiction essays and memoirs , but sometimes have a hard time committing to a whole book. This is especially true if I don’t know the author. But reading nonfiction essays online is a quick way to learn which authors you like. Also, reading nonfiction essays can help you learn more about different topics and experiences.

Besides essays on Book Riot,  I love looking for essays on The New Yorker , The Atlantic , The Rumpus , and Electric Literature . But there are great nonfiction essays available for free all over the Internet. From contemporary to classic writers and personal essays to researched ones—here are 25 of my favorite nonfiction essays you can read today.

“Beware of Feminist Lite” by  Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The author of We Should All Be Feminists  writes a short essay explaining the danger of believing men and woman are equal only under certain conditions.

“It’s Silly to Be Frightened of Being Dead” by Diana Athill

A 96-year-old woman discusses her shifting attitude towards death from her childhood in the 1920s when death was a taboo subject, to World War 2 until the present day.

“Letter from a Region in my Mind” by James Baldwin

There are many moving and important essays by James Baldwin . This one uses the lens of religion to explore the Black American experience and sexuality. Baldwin describes his move from being a teenage preacher to not believing in god. Then he recounts his meeting with the prominent Nation of Islam member Elijah Muhammad.

“Relations” by Eula Biss

Biss uses the story of a white woman giving birth to a Black baby that was mistakenly implanted during a fertility treatment to explore racial identities and segregation in society as a whole and in her own interracial family.

“Friday Night Lights” by Buzz Bissinger

A comprehensive deep dive into the world of high school football in a small West Texas town.

“The Case for Reparations” by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Coates examines the lingering and continuing affects of slavery on  American society and makes a compelling case for the descendants of slaves being offered reparations from the government.

“Why I Write” by Joan Didion

This is one of the most iconic nonfiction essays about writing. Didion describes the reasons she became a writer, her process, and her journey to doing what she loves professionally.

“Go Gentle Into That Good Night” by Roger Ebert

With knowledge of his own death, the famous film critic ponders questions of mortality while also giving readers a pep talk for how to embrace life fully.

“My Mother’s Tongue” by Zavi Kang Engles

In this personal essay, Engles celebrates the close relationship she had with her mother and laments losing her Korean fluency.

“My Life as an Heiress” by Nora Ephron

As she’s writing an important script, Ephron imagines her life as a newly wealthy woman when she finds out an uncle left her an inheritance. But she doesn’t know exactly what that inheritance is.

“My FatheR Spent 30 Years in Prison. Now He’s Out.” by Ashley C. Ford

Ford describes the experience of getting to know her father after he’s been in prison for almost all of her life. Bridging the distance in their knowledge of technology becomes a significant—and at times humorous—step in rebuilding their relationship.

“Bad Feminist” by Roxane Gay

There’s a reason Gay named her bestselling essay collection after this story. It’s a witty, sharp, and relatable look at what it means to call yourself a feminist.

“The Empathy Exams” by Leslie Jamison

Jamison discusses her job as a medical actor helping to train medical students to improve their empathy and uses this frame to tell the story of one winter in college when she had an abortion and heart surgery.

“What I Learned from a Fitting Room Disaster About Clothes and Life” by Scaachi Koul

One woman describes her history with difficult fitting room experiences culminating in one catastrophe that will change the way she hopes to identify herself through clothes.

“Breasts: the Odd Couple” by Una LaMarche

LaMarche examines her changing feelings about her own differently sized breasts.

“How I Broke, and Botched, the Brandon Teena Story” by Donna Minkowitz

A journalist looks back at her own biased reporting on a news story about the sexual assault and murder of a trans man in 1993. Minkowitz examines how ideas of gender and sexuality have changed since she reported the story, along with how her own lesbian identity influenced her opinions about the crime.

“Politics and the English Language” by George Orwell

In this famous essay, Orwell bemoans how politics have corrupted the English language by making it more vague, confusing, and boring.

“Letting Go” by David Sedaris

The famously funny personal essay author , writes about a distinctly unfunny topic of tobacco addiction and his own journey as a smoker. It is (predictably) hilarious.

“Joy” by Zadie Smith

Smith explores the difference between pleasure and joy by closely examining moments of both, including eating a delicious egg sandwich, taking drugs at a concert, and falling in love.

“Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan

Tan tells the story of how her mother’s way of speaking English as an immigrant from China changed the way people viewed her intelligence.

“Consider the Lobster” by David Foster Wallace

The prolific nonfiction essay and fiction writer  travels to the Maine Lobster Festival to write a piece for Gourmet Magazine. With his signature footnotes, Wallace turns this experience into a deep exploration on what constitutes consciousness.

“I Am Not Pocahontas” by Elissa Washuta

Washuta looks at her own contemporary Native American identity through the lens of stereotypical depictions from 1990s films.

“Once More to the Lake” by E.B. White

E.B. White didn’t just write books like Charlotte’s Web and The Elements of Style . He also was a brilliant essayist. This nature essay explores the theme of fatherhood against the backdrop of a lake within the forests of Maine.

“Pell-Mell” by Tom Wolfe

The inventor of “new journalism” writes about the creation of an American idea by telling the story of Thomas Jefferson snubbing a European Ambassador.

“The Death of the Moth” by Virginia Woolf

In this nonfiction essay, Wolf describes a moth dying on her window pane. She uses the story as a way to ruminate on the lager theme of the meaning of life and death.

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12 Nonfiction Literature Must Reads in the High School English Classroom

Jun 20, 2023

English teachers love a good work of fiction; we find many ways to include such works in our classrooms. Where we might need a bit more guidance or support is with the inclusion of more nonfiction literature in our lessons.

With nonfiction, students can use many of the same skills they do with fiction, but nonfiction lit offers some additional options and benefits. 

Through its focus on historical or current events, nonfiction literature provides background knowledge that will be useful as students continue in school and beyond. It also provides opportunities for critical thinking and connection-making between texts.

Finally, nonfiction literature teaches students about the ‘real world’ that can widen their understanding and point of view! 

Need help with Test Prep? Check out this  FREE Pack of 3 Test Prep Activities  to help students achieve success on standardized tests!

Table of Contents

Nonfiction Literature Definition

Nonfiction includes any text based on facts and real events about real people while fiction tells made-up stories even though it might adapt or adopt elements from real life. 

Types of nonfiction text stretch far and wide! From biographies, memoirs, or personal essays to textbooks for science, history, and geography, to any true account of current or historical events in newspapers or diaries, through to letters, reviews, and advertisements. 

Want help with teaching poetry in April?  Check out “Making the most of National Poetry Month!”

12 Nonfiction Literature Examples 

1. speeches  .

Focusing on the spoken word and referencing written forms, speeches fit into the realm of nonfiction literature. A good speech shares a person’s point; a great speech does that but with flair using rhetorical devices and figurative language to engage the audience! Teaching different speeches is important because speeches teach a lesson in getting an audience to care about a subject. Speeches additionally provide a closer look at rhetorical and figurative language in action.

• Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t a Woman” – Delivered in 1851 at the Women’s Rights Convention in Ohio, this speech focused on equality for race and gender. As an abolitionist and women’s rights activist, Truth’s speech is a must-read with your students! Begin your study of the speech with this series of quiz questions focused on comprehension using Common Core standards-aligned questions .
• “Declaration of Sentiments”- This 1848 speech from the first women’s rights convention is so named for its similarities to the US Declaration of Independence. This speech is a great one because it focuses on examining the author’s purpose of rhetorical devices like repetition, imagery, parallelism, historical allusion, and religious allusion. Grab this ready-made resource to examine all of these aspects!

2. TED Talks ™

Extend from historic speeches to more current incarnations with TED Talks™. They offer dynamic and diverse topics and speakers. At Ted.com you can search based on topic, duration, and popularity or check out what is trending based on months of significance or current events. What an easy way to include more Nonfiction Literature!

3. Essays/Research Papers

Secondary sources such as essays and research papers take a deeper dive into a subject and usually do so with a more narrowed focus. One option is to search Google Scholar for scholarly publications relevant to a topic you’re studying in class. Google Scholar includes a wide variety of disciplines and you can usually find a PDF version of the source ready to download.

4. Narratives  

Nonfiction literature narratives include memoirs, personal essays, and literary journalism. The stories told remain grounded in facts but include more literary elements to tell a gripping story. 

Here are some nonfiction literature narrative ideas with contemporary and/or historical elements: 

• “Hardware” by Kristin Menke – This personal essay is about a father who owned a hardware store and some of the people and situations he encountered; it is told from the perspective of the subject’s daughter. This original nonfiction narrative is an ideal jumping-off point for examining content and style. Check out this digital and printable resource with a detailed lesson plan, a variety of reading activities, and a full answer key .  
• Other narratives like Mark Twain’s semi-autobiographical travel narrative “Roughing It” work as a way to examine different genres. Such narratives are also good for lessons focused on skill development such as inference skills, summarizing, or citing evidence like in this no-prep lesson . 
• Jack London’s “The Road” is an autobiographical narrative about the author’s experiences as a wanderer at the end of the 19th century. Like Twain’s text, this one also works for a skill development lesson, this time with a focus on the author’s purpose using an excerpt from this narrative . 

5. Autobiographies and Biographies  

Accounts of others’ lives written by a third party in the case of biographies or by the subject (him/herself) in the case of autobiographies offer unparalleled insight into notable topics and time periods. Peeking into others people’s lives is not only exciting but highly informative since these texts offer a closer look into a person or moment.

If you want to integrate some science and history in your ELA class, consider an excerpt about Isaac Newton. Gaining insight into the mathematician and physicist renowned for discovering gravity is sure to pique students’ curiosity and provides a cross-curricular connection, too. Use this lesson with a biographical feature of Newton that digs deeper into the structure of such texts .  

6. Satire as Nonfiction Literature

The ultimate goal of satire is commentary that is either light-hearted or scathing in order to evoke a change of some sort. Exploring the rhetorical language used in such texts gives students a chance to see how authors play with language to great effect.

Here are 2 prime examples of similar satire: 

• A Modest Proposal is Jonathan Swift’s (in)famous satirical political pamphlet with a far-fetched solution to famine that is always a hit with students. Check out this rhetorical analysis and reading activities bundle that teachers say is comprehensive and easy to use ! 
• “Sending Grandma to the Ovens” by Colin Cohen is similar in structure, purpose, and topic to Swift’s piece but just as easily stands on its own. This lesson pack includes standards-based activities, graphic orga nizers, essay prompts, and everything else you need to teach rhetorical analysis, so your students can write with confidence!  

7. Paired Passages  

There is an art to using paired passages because you don’t want anything too obvious or too obscure. The goal is to have students ruminate on shared ideas so you want to ensure students can make those connections. Grouping like-texts together is vital because it provides a richer and more engaging learning experience!

For example, the following texts share a theme of fighting to defend the country but are dissimilar in time periods:

• FDR’s “Day of Infamy” speech delivered the day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 is a major speech in the history of our country as part of the declaration of WWII. Get students to read and analyze the speech with this FREE lesson . 
• Then pair FDR’s speech with Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty” speech from a decidedly different time but with a similar message. Compare the use of rhetorical appeals to the audience in each speech. Prep students for this analysis with a series of activities focused on Henry’s speech in this lesson pack . 

8. Historical Passages  

First-person accounts of historical events provide a window into the past. Unlike biographies or autobiographies, historical passages are often less edited and therefore can provide a better sense of the time. For example, this lesson pack focuses on citing evidence from a passage about the Oregon Trail from Ezra Meeker’s accounts of his travels from Iowa to the Pacific Coast. 

9. Important Documents  

As the name implies, these nonfiction literature documents are important to the establishment of government, political thinking, and more that reverberate through history up to our current day. 

In the United States of America, teaching “The Declaration of Independence” is obviously vital. Students have likely encountered it in other courses so use this familiarity to dig deeper into rhetorical analysis. And make your life easier with this lesson pack that includes everything to teach step-by-step from the reading of the text all the way to the final essay .

10.  Sermons/Religious Texts  

These types of nonfiction literature texts, like so many of those listed, provide insight into another facet of history. Consider sermons as another genre through which you can analyze rhetoric, structure, and connections to the overarching topic of religion.   

One foundational American Literature text is this classic religious text. “Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards is an early American sermon awash in rhetoric. Make teaching this nonfiction text stress free with this series of lessons all about Edwards’ historic sermon . 

11. News Articles  

With a wide variety of digital publications from around the world, news articles are another must-read for high school English. It’s important to know about our world through past and current events because they inform so much of our day-to-day lives. Therefore, make sure to include local, national, and international news sources. News articles are another chance to teach about the realities of different forms of media, a perfect addition to a nonfiction literature unit. 

12. Podcasts   a Different Type of Nonfiction Literature

Harkening back to the long-gone days of radio, podcasts have made a big comeback in the last decade. And the best part of this comeback is the variety that is available to use in high school English. Whether your students are into science, crime, love stories, current events, politics, or music, you name it and there’s a podcast to fit their interests. With a focus on oral communication, nonfiction literature podcasts provide a different form through which students can complete analysis activities and hone their skills for summary, author’s purpose, and just about everything else! 

Need help with teaching poetry?  Check out “7 Must Teach Middle School Poetry Activities!”

Why Teach Nonfiction Literature?

Two favorite podcasts include This is Love and Criminal by the same creative team and they are perfect for including more nonfiction literature in your classroom. Episodes in each series are a little off-beat from their key focus on love and crimes. For example, Episode 20 from This is Love tells the story of a man and his guide dog on 9/11. For Criminal , there are stories about witness protection, someone who habitually steals a community statue, police dogs and horses, and more. They are intriguing, relatively short (usually 30 minutes and often less), and just quirky enough to hook students!

Including nonfiction literature in any number of forms is important for student growth. And reading and analyzing different types of nonfiction at all levels of high school creates a framework for growth in background knowledge, comprehension, and skill development. 

But incorporating nonfiction texts into high school English classes can seem daunting. Just look at the list of options in this post! However, look at what you currently have as part of your lesson plans and consider where you could add a complementary nonfiction text. If you’re teaching a classic novel, incorporate an excerpt from an author’s biography or think about the big ideas of the novel and find some news articles, a Ted talk, or a speech (historical or contemporary) that can work. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel or suddenly create a whole new unit. Instead, focus on small steps to get more nonfiction literature into your students’ hands.

Need more ideas for English Lesson Plans for Teachers that include Nonfiction Literature ? Check out my store  Kristin Menke-Integrated ELA Test Prep !

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Engaging Nonfiction for High School Readers

Let’s face it….

Let’s face it: Nonfiction isn’t most readers’ favorite genre. Heck, I’ll admit it! I appreciate nonfiction as much as the next ELA teacher, but when it’s time to pick my next book to devour while I sip hot cocoa in a cozy blanket, I’m probably reaching for fiction. It’s not that I don’t like nonfiction; it’s just that fiction feels easier. Easier to find, easier to read, and easier to love. Sure, there are some incredible nonfiction texts out there, but there’s nothing like plunging head-first into a dystopian world and escaping reality. So it should come as no surprise that our high school students are hesistant to approach the nonfiction section of our classroom libraries.

These shelves don’t get nearly enough love because our students are even more intimidated by nonfiction. While that’s perfectly normal, it just means that we have a little bit of extra work to do to reel our high school readers in when it comes to nonfiction.

Just like I have to work a little harder to keep a healthy dose of nonfiction in my personal reading diet, I, too, have learned that I have to work a little harder to get my students hooked on nonfiction. It’s more work, but it’s worth it! Whether it’s through Book Trailer Tuesday , First Chapter Friday , our “Bookflix” display, my book recommendation brochures , or the titles I line up on my whiteboard, I’m always “advertising” nonfiction. If students aren’t going to approach the nonfiction shelves themselves, then I’m going to bring the shelves to them.

THE GOOD NEWS…

The good news is that there are plenty of incredible nonfiction texts to recommend to your students! And with the right high-interest texts and enough “advertising,” it’s easy to trick even the most reluctant of readers into finding a nonfiction book they love. To get you started, here are 10 of my favorite high school nonfiction books to recommend to your students (Pssst…if you’re looking for middle school recs, you can find them HERE .)

The Borden Murders by Sarah Miller

If you have true crime fans in your classroom, this book is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. The Borden Murders is the fascinating story of one of the most infamous murders in all of American history. Well-researched with lots of primary sources, it’s the book equivalent to a maddening unsolved mystery show/podcast that leaves you wondering “whodunnit.” This is another example of “clean” YA that can work for middle school, too. (Well, as clean as murder in cold blood can get, but still).

The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater

This masterfully written book explores one fateful bus ride that changed the lives of two teens forever. Through alternating perspectives, texts, letters, and other media, Slater tells the story of how 17-year-old Sasha’s skirt was set on fire as a reckless “prank”-turned hate crime in Oakland, CA in 2013. The book explores gender, poverty, racism, and more, making it a great text for powerful discussions in the classroom.

Call Me American (YA Adaptation) by Abdi Nor Iftin

This young adult adaptation of a story you may have first heard on This American Life , Call Me American is a moving memoir of a young Somalian refugee who grew up dreaming of America while war threatened his everyday survival. Fast-paced and accessible, Abdi Nor Iftin’s memoir is inspiring and informative for teen readers (even mature middle schoolers).

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei

This recommendation goes out to all of the graphic novel fans sitting in your classroom! This powerful graphic memoir gives readers a glimpse into Star Trek actor George Takei’s life growing up in WWII internment camps. They Called Us Enemy is incredibly eye-opening because it gives readers the chance to witness injustice from the eyes of a child. This is nonfiction your high school readers won’t forget!

The Far Away Brothers (YA Adaptation) by Lauren Markham

Similar to Enrique’s Journey (another fabulous nonfiction read), this is the incredible true story of two identical twins who fled for the US when their home of El Salvador became too dangerous for them to stay. The Flores twins’ story sheds new light on the reality of immigration and puts two human faces to the policies, stories, and debates your teen readers have likely seen in the news. This is one of those empathy-building books you need in your classroom library!

Every Falling Star by Sungju Lee & Susan Elizabeth McClelland

If you want to recommend nonfiction that feels like fiction straight from a dystopia, then this is your book. Every Falling Star is the unbelievable account of Sungju Lee’s life as a “street boy” in North Korea and his eventual escape from the country. Your high school readers will not be able to put this one down!

March series by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, & Nate Powell

March is another great option for graphic novel fans, reluctant readers, or anyone looking to learn more about Senator Lewis and the Civil Rights movement. Told in black and white illustrations across three books, this story brings history alive for readers in a powerful way! These graphic memoirs are a must-have for any classroom library, whether it’s middle or high school!

It’s Trevor Noah: Born A Crime (YA Adaptation) by Trevor Noah

For nonfiction with a healthy side of humor, I highly recommend Trevor Noah’s entertaining, informative, and powerful memoir of growing up during Apartheid in South Africa. The child of a black mother and a white father, he’s quite literally “born a crime.” Still, he manages to tell his story with a satisfying, sincere mix of painful scenes, hilarious moments, and earnest reflection. This book appeals to a wide range of readers, so you’ll find it on my middle school nonfiction list , too.

How Dare The Sun Rise by Sandra Uwiringiyimana & Abigail Pesta

This gripping, inspiring memoir is the incredible story of Sandra Uwiringiyimana, a  “war child” who survived a brutal refugee camp massacre in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In it, Sandra recounts not only her survival story, but reflects on the trauma, grief, and racism she faced after moving to the United States. But perhaps the best part is what she turned all of that into: resilience, hope, and activism. In addition to being a great addition to any high school classroom library, this book is a great option for mature middle school readers. 

Unbroken: An Olympian’s Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive (YA Adaptation) by Laura Hillenbrand

Want something to recommend to the survival/war story-obsessed readers in your classroom? The inspiring survival story of Olympian runner and WWII airman Louie Zamperini is sure to captivate these readers. This biography is a bit longer than some of the other texts on this list, but its thrilling narratives, photos, and perfectly-paced chapters will keep readers engaged. Your readers will be happy to know that there’s a movie, too: the perfect incentive for finishing a good book!

I hope these high school nonfiction books help your students learn to love a healthy dose of nonfiction in their reading diet! These are just a few of my favorites, but there are plenty of other high-interest biographies, memoirs, and other nonfiction texts available for your readers. In fact, many of the middle school nonfiction recommendations listed HERE would work for high school, too. If I’ve missed one of you or your students’ favorites, let me know in the comments. I love discovering new books and adding more to my tried-and-true reading recommendation toolbox.

WANT MORE BOOK RECS?

If you like these recommendations, then you’ll love my book recommendation brochures. The high school bundle is currently in progress and will be available soon, but you can check out the middle school collection in the meantime. Each brochure includes an interactive reader personality quiz that automatically gives students personalized book recs based on their interests. In fact, all of the above books (and dozens more) are featured in the different genre brochures.

These high school book brochures are the perfect way to take your book advertising to the next level! You can check out the growing collection of different genre brochures HERE. It’s a magical, self-sustaining system that will help your students answer the question, “What do I read next?” With over 250 book recs within the brochures, your students will never run out of books to read!

WANT MORE IDEAS TO HELP YOUR STUDENTS FALL IN LOVE WITH READING?

Want more ideas to help your students fall in love with reading? Check out the following blog posts:

• Engaging Nonfiction Books for Middle School Readers
• 5 Ways to Help Your Students Fall in Love with Reading
• Book Trailer Tuesday: How to hook students on books in 3 minutes!
• Book Recommendation Brochures: FAQ
• 15 Ways to Use Book Recommendation Brochures
• 10 Reasons to Try First Chapter Friday
• First Chapter Friday: Frequently Asked Questions
• 15 Tips & Tricks for First Chapter Friday
• First Chapter Friday: Middle School Book List
• First Chapter Friday: Middle School Book List PART 2

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An Essential Nonfiction Reading List for High School and Beyond

Recently, we took in a fascinating article entitled “ What Should Children Read? ” over at the Times ‘ Opinionator. In it, Sara Mosle briefly outlines elements of the new Common Core State Standards , contentious national curriculum guidelines which will begin to be implemented in public schools in 2014, and takes a look at some of the arguments over the new standards, suggesting that part of the problem is that high school English curriculums are often lacking in good narrative nonfiction that appeals to teenagers. Inspired by this question of what high school kids should be reading, we’ve put together an essential reading list of narrative nonfiction and memoir, from the canonic to the contemporary, that we think would benefit anyone under (and let’s face it, over) the age of 18. Click through to see our picks, and since every high schooler, past or present, should read way more than ten nonfiction books in their lives, be sure to add your own favorites to our list in the comments.

Maus I & II , Art Spiegelman

You can keep your Anne Frank s and your Night s — while those are excellent and canonical Holocaust texts, nothing brought the horror to life for us as teenagers better than Spiegelman’s postmodern graphic novel, which was, rather appropriately, the first graphic novel ever to win a Pulitzer prize. Part of the story’s power is that it isn’t limited to Nazi aggression and World War II, but focuses on the way families relate, Spiegelman’s relationship with his father in particular, showing trauma on both a minor and maximalist scale.

The Devil in the White City , Erik Larson

Want kids to pay attention to lessons about the turn of the century and the 1893 World’s Fair? Throw a serial killer in there — and don’t worry, he was there already. Larson’s acclaimed and highly novelistic book follows the lives of Daniel H. Burnham, the fair’s architect, and H.H. Holmes, the serial killer who used it as his playground, with special appearances from folks like Susan B. Anthony and Thomas Edison. In our experience, it is un-put-downable.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings , Maya Angelou

This is already a classic work of nonfiction in high school classrooms, so we thought we’d just reinforce the idea here — everyone should read Angelou’s beautiful, heartbreaking coming of age story, whether you need a little push towards self-actualization and inner strength (as teenagers often do) or not.

Into the Wild , Jon Krakauer

This book may have slightly less impact on those not living in snowy climes themselves, but we recommend it anyway. Krakauer is a master of the general interest narrative nonfiction style, and this book is our favorite of his oeuvre, following the story of Chris McCandless as he abandoned everything he knew to hike in Alaska, surviving on almost nothing for months until he finally succumbed to the winter. This book has a special quality for teenagers — or at least it did for us when we were among them — dealing as it does with the urge for separation from society, independence, and the fearsome capabilities of a young person on a mission.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X , Malcolm X

An incredibly important part of American history, one of the most classic American autobiographies of all time, and a fascinating and gripping story to boot, this 1965 book still holds up today. Though the book may not have the same effect on contemporary teenagers as it did on young readers in the ’60s with demonstrations on their minds, it is still a powerful story of change and strength that will help any American understand their country’s legacy.

Persepolis , Marjane Satrapi

Yes, another graphic memoir — but can you blame us? Satrapi’s memoir/bildungsroman of growing up as a young girl during the Islamic Revolution and the Iran-Iraq war is luminous, inspiring, and perfect for any teenager disinclined to hide their band t-shirts from their teachers. Which, as far as we can tell, is just about all teenagers.

A Room of One’s Own , Virginia Woolf

Woolf’s famous and oft-referenced extended essay, originally published in 1929, should still be required reading today, considering how the arguments over “women’s fiction” and the attention given to female writers versus their male counterparts rage on. But even if that were not the case, student could read this as a source text for learning about feminism, or read it simply for its beauty.

Slouching Towards Bethlehem , Joan Didion

Didion’s first collection of non-fiction, published back in 1968, is still one of our favorites, filled as it is with smart reportage mixed with the skeptical, open-eyed musings and incisive criticism that have made her one of the most important writers of all time. Of particular interest to California kids and the children of ex-hippies, we would imagine, but essential for everyone.

Friday Night Lights , H.G. Bissinger

How do you get today’s TV-addicted, bored young men to read narrative nonfiction? Give them the excellent book that spawned their favorite football-based television show, which follows the Permian Panthers of Odessa as they carry an entire town on their backs. Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bissinger after spending a year in 1988 in Permian, the view isn’t always pretty, but it is truly fascinating, in all its dusty glory and anti-glory.

The Whole Shebang , Timothy Ferris

They don’t call Timothy Ferris “the greatest science writer in the world” for nothing. This volume, cheekily subtitled “A State of the Universe(s) Report,” seeks to answer some of the unanswerable questions, explaining the many views of the universe — its structure, its shape, its basic geometry — in lucid, welcoming prose. Science nerds and curious teenage stargazers alike will likely fall under its spell.

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Non-Fiction Books for Teens

Today’s teenagers are a generation of compassionate, inclusive young people who care about the environment and their communities. They are enthusiastic about exploring the historical events that have impacted the present and the future and are motivated to contribute positively to society. Teenagers are pretty incredible, so here are 20 of the best new nonfiction titles that our future leaders will love.

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20 Fantastic Nonfiction Books for Teens

Here are 20 incredible nonfiction books teens love:

For the Budding Historian

Teens will find these narrative nonfiction books intriguing, action-packed, and full of lessons that are relevant today. 

Mr. Lincoln Sits for His Portrait: The Story of a Photograph That Became an American Icon

This short biography presents Abraham Lincoln in a unique light: as the country’s first media-savvy president. President Lincoln loved inventions, including the camera–he sat for over 100 portraits in his relatively short life. The book focuses on the iconic portraits taken on the afternoon of February 9, 1965, and how those photographs became deeply ingrained in U.S. history—one of the portraits from that day became the image on the penny; another depicts Lincoln and his son Tad. Teens interested in photography will be especially drawn to the historic pictures on almost every page. 

Doomed: Sacco, Vanzetti & the End of the American Dream

Doomed is the powerful story of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, two Italian immigrants wrongfully executed for murder in 1927. The Red Scare gripped America, and the country was rife with prejudice toward immigrants. When two men were robbed and murdered on a Massachusets street, Sacco and Vanzetti were quickly accused. In a trial that relied on flimsy evidence and eyewitness accounts that were later recanted, the men were convicted and sentenced to death, sparking outrage and mass protest. Letters written by Sacco and Bartolemo humanize them and draw readers closer to the story. A compelling examination of how bias can corrupt the justice system; teens will find this book impossible to put down. 

The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity

This narrative nonfiction book follows the Mona Lisa’s creation and, centuries later, the theft and recovery that made this previously insignificant painting the most famous artwork in the world. In alternating sections, readers learn about Leonardo DiVinci’s interesting life and the 1911 theft, which is full of conspiracy theories and well-known suspects, including J.P. Morgan and Pablo Picasso. The author highlights how the public has always been drawn to scandal, even when the truth is evident. After all, he says, “We’re all suckers for a better story.” A truly enjoyable read for any young teenager. 

For the Teen Sports Fan

After reading these books, young athletes and sports fans will be inspired to pursue their version of greatness. 

The Race of the Century: The Battle to Break the Four-Minute Mile

In the first half of the 20th century, it was widely believed that running a four-minute mile was impossible. However, after having disappointing finishes in the 1952 Olympics, three runners dedicated themselves to breaking that barrier: Roger Bannister from Britain, John Landy from Australia, and Wes Santee from America. Which athlete would break the four-minute marker first? This YA adaptation of The Perfect Mile combines running history with fast-paced action, making for an inspiring read for any teenager interested in sports. 

So You Want to Work in Sports: Advice and Insights from Respected Sports Industry Leaders

This comprehensive guide is an excellent resource for older teens who want to work in the competitive sports industry. Leaders in sports broadcasting, writing, photography, marketing, scouting, analytics, and more share how they got started and offer unique insights about working in their field. Readers learn how team photographers capture memorable shots, how team owners become great leaders, how sports agents negotiate, and how reporters deal with interviewing emotional athletes. Ideal for high school students, the guide is full of practical and actionable advice for launching a career in sports.  

Trust the Grind: How World-Class Athletes Got to the Top

Trust the Grind is an inspiring book for teenage athletes who want to understand how the best athletes achieve success. The author interviews professional athletes across eleven sports, including basketball, golf, football, and hockey, and examines the habits and practices that helped these athletes reach the top. While most interviews are with male athletes, the profiles of Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor and mixed martial artist Paige VanZant are some of the best in the book.

Thoughtful Books About Race, Society, and Culture

From movies and media to Indigenous cultures and the unique challenges of first-generation students, these books explore important social topics.  

Everything You Wanted To Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask: Young Readers Edition

This insightful book from Ojibwe author and professor Anton Treuer explores the often misunderstood aspects of Native American culture in an engaging, encouraging, and conversational Q&A style. The book covers various topics, from terminology and tribal history to social activism and spirituality. The author doesn’t hesitate to remind readers that his opinion does not reflect the views of an entire nation, but his responses to even the most offensive questions–such as “Why do Indians have so many kids?”– are thoughtful and well-researched. This book is an essential nonfiction choice for any teenage reader.

Share Better, Stress Less: A Guide to Thinking Ecologically about Social Media

Most teenagers know that pollution significantly damages the environment, but what about information pollution in our virtual environments? This book urges readers to consider how misinformation harms individuals and society, using ecological metaphors to help teens reflect on their online world. By thinking ecologically, readers better understand the connections between technology, networks, and themselves. The book demonstrates this by examining the experiences of teenagers who have dealt with stressors and controversies that come with sharing on social media. This book is invaluable for teenagers who want to make decisions that create healthier online environments.

Rising Class: How Three First-Generation College Students Conquered Their First Year

Rising Class is a narrative nonfiction book that chronicles the experiences of three first-generation college students during their freshman year, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Although Briani, Conner, and Jacklynn navigate different college experiences, they all deal with the evergreen challenges of making friends and dealing with academic pressures. However, as first-generation students, they confront additional challenges, including imposter syndrome and family pressures. Rising Class also highlights the resource disparities often present between first-year students and their more privileged classmates. The book beautifully captures the students’ emotions during a turbulent year and ends on a hopeful note.

The Movie Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained

The Movie Book is the latest in DK’s Big Ideas Simply Explained , an award-winning series that explores complex topics in easily understandable ways. With engaging text and graphics, this visual guide is an introduction to the fascinating history of cinema, showcasing 100 of the best films ever made – from timeless classics to modern sci-fi. The book includes biographies of actors and actresses, narrative timelines, and famous quotes. Teen movie buffs can explore their favorite films visually through mind, diagrams, and posters. The Movie Book is a perfect addition to any coffee table and makes a great gift.

How To Guides

Teenagers want to feel independent from the adults in their lives. Whether they want to build apps, write books, or learn to be fiscally responsible, these books will help them get started. 

Become an App Inventor: The Official Guide from MIT App Inventor: Your Guide to Designing, Building, and Sharing Apps

This companion guide to MIT App Inventor teaches teenagers how to create and publish their mobile applications, regardless of experience.  Engaging graphics and vivid diagrams take readers step-by-step through creating six different apps, ranging from a working piano to a maze game and a functional chat app. Each app builds on the skills learned in the previous one, becoming progressively more detailed. Additionally, the book highlights stories of young inventors who have created apps that positively impact their communities, including an inspiring foreword from Gitanjali Rao, a teen scientist and app inventor who was recognized as Time Magazine’s first-ever Kid of the Year.

Cash is Queen: A Girl’s Guide to Securing, Spending, and Stashing Cash

This guide to managing money, specifically for teenage girls, teaches readers how to establish healthy financial habits. The book is full of eye-catching illustrations and explains topics like budgeting, saving, and investing in an accessible, relatable way. “Crown jewels” summarize the essential points at the end of each chapter, and the entire book is written in an uplifting, empowered voice–a refreshing change from other financial guides! Cash is Queen is a vital resource for a society that neglects financial education, especially for women, and would make an excellent gift for any young reader.

Making Comics

Award-winning cartoonist Lynda Barry takes readers on a creative journey, emphasizing that drawing is a language we are all fluent in–if we let ourselves remember. Making Comics examines children’s art, noticing how drawings may start as one thing but evolve into something else and that stories show up on their own as children draw. Barry emphasizes that artistic skill isn’t as important as sincerity and bravery when it comes to making comics. Any teenager would love this book, but it will especially appeal to those who love art but lack confidence in their own work.

Dear Ally: How Do You Write a Book

This teen writer’s guide offers an insider’s look into becoming a published author. It features interviews with numerous YA writers and delves deeply into key aspects of crafting a compelling story, such as plot development, worldbuilding, creating conflict, and crafting memorable characters. Additionally, the book gives young readers a realistic look at the book publishing industry. The author emphasizes the importance of exploring different approaches to storytelling and finding joy in writing. While there are plenty of writing guides, Dear Ally stands out as a comprehensive and inspirational resource.

Touching Memoirs For Teens

Being a teenager is often overwhelming and confusing, so it helps to know that other people experience similar struggles. Reading these thought-provoking memoirs can help teens feel less alone.

In Limbo is a graphic novel memoir by Deb JJ Lee about a Korean-American girl who has always acutely felt her “otherness.” She experiences intense pressure during high school to find her place among changing friendships and interests. Deb’s abusive mother makes her home life chaotic and unpredictable, and Deb feels trapped. Her mental health deteriorates, resulting in a suicide attempt (another earlier attempt is also mentioned). However, Deb uses her love of art to slowly begin to heal and understand her heritage, her family, and herself. (Note: the author’s pronouns are they/them, but Deb is gendered as she/her, which the author said reflects that period in their life).

Ay Mija! (A Graphic Novel): My Bilingual Summer in Mexico

This graphic novel debuts sixteen-year-old Christine’s solo trip to Mexico to visit extended family. Christine struggles to find common ground with their grandmother and aunts, especially since they don’t speak the same language. This book explores the complexity of families, traditions, and personal identity through a warm, welcoming lens. The graphic novel format works well here–a smaller drawing of Christine on each page narrates their internal thoughts and draws the reader in. Teens caught between two worlds will feel connected to Christine and invested in their experience.

I Have Something to Tell You―For Young Adults: A Memoir

The young adult adaptation of the bestselling memoir of the husband of a former presidential candidate, I Have Something to Tell You, is one man’s story about growing up gay in his small Midwestern town. When Chasten Glezman Buttigieg was a boy, he didn’t quite fit in. He felt different from his father, brothers, and friends. He wanted desperately to belong, so when he realized he was gay, he kept it secret for a long and painful time. Chasten finally realized that truly embracing his authentic self was the only forward. The author tells his story openly and warmly, encouraging young readers to be kind to themselves and reminding them that they are never alone.

Teen Books About Science and the Environment

Hand one of these books to a young person fascinated by science or cares deeply about the environment. 

Saving Earth: Climate Change and the Fight for Our Future

Saving Earth is a powerful account of human involvement in climate change, explaining the decisions contributing to the world’s current crisis. The book looks unflinching at our past failures and examines the future for younger generations. While the book doesn’t shy away from past damage, the stories of young climate activists lend a hopeful look at what can be an anxiety-provoking issue for many young people. Saving Earth asks readers to reflect on how we understand our world and how we can collaborate to create a more positive outlook for our planet.

Hidden Systems: Water, Electricity, the Internet, and the Secrets Behind the Systems We Use Every Day 

In his graphic novel Hidden Systems, author Dan Nott explores water, electricity, and the internet–three fundamental systems that are often overlooked–to discover what’s hidden beneath the surface. Drawings and straightforward explanations explain how these hidden systems work and highlight their histories, inequities, and future potential. When readers are learning about a complex topic, visuals help increase comprehension, so the graphic novel format works exceptionally well here.

How We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind Humanity’s Greatest Adventure

Longlisted for the National Book Award, this stunning visual guide explores the history of the moon landing. Collage illustrations and individual profiles highlight unsung heroes–the engineers, mathematicians, welders, seamstresses, and factory workers whose innovation and hard work allowed NASA to achieve a historic accomplishment. Science-minded teens will love the explanations of rocket science concepts through the author’s detailed diagrams and technical drawings. This is an excellent reference book for any middle or high school science or social studies classroom.

Teenagers know what they like but are still willing to explore the world around them. Luckily, this list of new nonfiction books caters to a wide variety of interests and reading lives. Of this list of 20, which sounds the most interesting?

More Books for Teens

• Mystery books for teens
• The best books for teens
• Graphic novels for teens

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About Katie Wickliff

Katie is a writer and educator who fell in love with books after reading Lois Lowry’s Number the Stars. She shares her lifelong passion for children’s literature through her newsletter, The Magic Book House . Katie is the mother of two little bookworms, ages 9 and 11, who still allow her to read to them every evening. She’s keeping her fingers crossed that this habit (somehow) lasts forever.

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The Best Nonfiction Texts For Teaching ELA

Nonfiction texts are incredibly valuable for your secondary ELA classroom, and there are so many things you can do with them, from pairing them with poetry to using them as springboards into discussion about societal issues. 

One of my favorite classes to teach is AP Lang because it is packed to the brim with nonfiction, but you know what's funny? I didn't even read nonfiction until I was in my late 20s. I'm a lover of literature (as you probably are if you're an English teacher). So, if you are like me, and you have come to the world of nonfiction a little later, I've got good news: we've narrowed down some amazing nonfiction texts to start using in your classroom this week. No need to sort through the bowels of the internet to piece something together. 

This is a collaborative blog post where I include my favorite nonfiction text to teach, and my fellow teacher friends chime in on theirs!

A Nonfiction Text That You Can Pair With Poetry

Jeanmarie from McLaughlin Teaches English loves to be able to pair non-fiction with fiction and poetry.  So, when she stumbled upon the essay, “I Too, Sing America” by Julia Alvarez , she was excited for the possibilities because she was immediately reminded of the poems by Walt Whitman and Langston Hughes.

In this essay, Alvarez recounts the role that books and education played in her early years, growing up in the Dominican Republic. She chronicles how she felt lost once she came to America because she had lost almost everything in the move.  It was the 1960’s and she faced prejudice and a melting pot mentality.  She struggled to find her place.  That is until she found the pair of poems “I Hear American Singing” by Walt Whitman and “I, Too” by Langston Hughes .

Langston Hughes’ words resonated for her.  It made her realize there was a place for her and she talks about the importance of “one human family.”  She ends with is own poem:  “I, Too, Sing America.”

How To Teach This Nonfiction Text 

Have students first read the essay for its big ideas.  Have them annotate for anything that pertains to identity.  Then share the three poems (Alvarez’s poem appears at the end of her essay) to make comparisons.  Students could work in groups on one poem and then share or each group could work on all three poems.  Consider a three way venn diagram or having the students begin with dialectic journals .  Your choice.  Enjoy this non-fiction-poetry pairing.  Your students certainly will.

A Nonfiction Text With Unlimited Possibilities: Teen Vogue

It’s difficult to pick just one non-fiction piece so why not look to a source of many and offer options to students? 

Lesa from SmithTeaches9to12 loves Teen Vogue to offer different points of view on a variety of topics! You might be thinking this publication is just about fashion or style, and that certainly exists, but it’s so much more than that too!

The Politics section focuses on government, environment, immigration, justice, and history! Here are just a few options: this one about young voters   or this one with advice to current students from graduating seniors or even this one about climate change action in the face of wildfires in California . 

The Culture section is jam-packed with music, movies, tv, books, and tech. This article with 8 profiles of creators in Hollywood making a difference combines pop culture with difference-making.

The Identity section includes health and wellness as well as relationships and advice, but the best part of this section is Voices. In Voices current and trending events and ideas are addressed in a teen-friendly and teen-accessible way. This one about residential schools or this one about Muslim women in sport could be great.

Lesa uses a variety of articles about self-love and self-care as part of an SEL approach in her English courses. Luckily Teen Vogue has lots to work with on those topics too! 

To avoid having to sift through the site, check out this ready-made lesson with suggested articles, key questions for reflection and discussion, plus extension activities too. This lesson can work at any time of year but Lesa finds it particularly helpful as we approach Valentine’s Day. The lesson shifts the focus away from romantic love and this has been really helpful for all students in class!

Nonfiction Text For Developing Empathy

And now it's my pick! I have a deep love for this article by Tom Junod about Mr. Rogers that first appeared in 1998 in Esquire. 

Maybe you've seen the film staring Tom Hanks, but didn't know that you can still find that article? Well, yep! You can, and it is outstanding. You can also go to Esquire and see the actual article (but you have to pay). 

I actually used this article on a job interview a few years ago. For the interview I was required to teach a class of AP Lit students whom I'd never met before. It was scary, to be perfectly honest. But the students loved the article and they did fabulous with that lesson (and I got the job!). 

This article is so rich in use of language as well as it's structure, but perhaps the best thing about it is that it can actually serve to help teach empathy. 

How To Teach It:

You can use the whole article, or you can condense it, and just focus on a few parts. I've got to say that using the whole article is quite powerful, and I'd strongly suggest doing the whole thing if you can.  It's a long article, but students can still read and interact with it in a single class period. 

I love having students focus on what sentences stand out to them in the article, and even having them jot down sentences that "pack a punch." Then we talk about  why those sentences got their attention. Was it the imagery? The symbolism? The repetition? 

After reading the article and discussing some particularly powerful sentences and the crafting of those sentences, I'll have students do what Mr. Rogers himself would do: ask the group to think about an adult who deeply impacted their life. Sit and think about them for 2 minutes (it describes Mr. Rogers doing this in the article). 

After students have done this, I'll ask them to write about who they were thinking about. If we have time, I might have them go back and craft a few of their sentences in a way similar to Junod (i.e. using repetition or strong imagery). 

If you want to see exactly what I used for my interview, check the lesson out here. 

For most students, this is a powerful lesson that put them in a state of sincere gratitude for the adults in their lives. 

Using nonfiction texts allows your students to jump into deep and meaningful topics without reading a full-length novel: they're accessible, relevant, and absolutely necessary for the ELA classroom. 

Related Articles:

What Are Mentor Sentences?

4 John Green Essays That Are Perfect for High School ELA - SmithTeaches9to12

11 Brilliant Strategies for Dialectic Journals to Better Close Reading - McLaughlin Teaches English

5 Ways To Celebrate Black Voices In Your ELA Classroom This Year (abetterwaytoteach.com)

21 Nonfiction Books for Secondary ELA Classrooms | SECONDARY SARA

Engaging Nonfiction for High School Readers - Write on With Miss G

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High-Interest Nonfiction Resources for High School

Looking for high-interest nonfiction resources for high school students can take time. Free or paid, finding nonfiction that will help you meet standards and interest students can be an endless search.

I am continuously searching for appropriate nonfiction to share with my secondary ELA students. Often, I need short nonfiction articles to add to a poetry, literature, or public speaking lesson. Below, I’ve included places where I find nonfiction PDFs for English class. Hopefully, you can pick and choose what will work for your community.

Before I begin, my belief about informational texts is that they should be present in a variety of ways, and my ideas below reflect that. For instance, I desire my students to hone in on a topic, to really become impassioned about a topic that influences them. For that reason, I really use my librarian to bring me resources to flesh out lessons and encourage further learning about whatever topic we’re covering in class. Additionally, in my classroom library, I want to include nonfiction texts. My First Chapter Friday choices should also include nonfiction.

So! How can I include nonfiction naturally in my class? My ideas are below.

Keep your eyes open.

I came across a nonfiction resource today, and I think it will interest students. Many of our students focus on college. . . and for good reason: some will be there in four years or less.

Sure, I was intrigued when I read about Starbucks CEO announcing the company would pay for employee’s college tuition. I was skeptical, but excited.

Like many future teachers, I worked multiple jobs through college, and I still had loans. A boost would have been helpful. I continued reading about the free college assertion, because I wanted to know how true it was. It is true (with rules) and Starbucks employees are ready to get their educations.

Sure enough, my continued researching found an opposing viewpoint today. “ Starbucks price hike ” by Pat Schneider highlights:

Other analysts said the program fails to address systemic problems in higher education and financial aid, and even threatens to exacerbate them.

Include texts in your library.

One of the easiest way to incorporate nonfiction into your classroom is to display books for students. I’ve reviewed several memoirs and other pieces of nonfiction:

How I Resist

The Sun Does Shine

When I shop at thrift stores, I grab nonfiction “coffee table” books off the shelves. Those books are full of pictures and easily accessible information. I’ve discovered books about golf, cars, presidents, and animals. I even have a nonfiction book about animal waste, and it is one of the more popular books in my library.

Adding nonfiction books is a great way to naturally add informational texts to students’ reading diets. Plus, pulling excerpts from nonfiction books is a quick option. I use Small PDF to help me with 

Incorporate nonfiction with literature.

You might teach more nonfiction than you credit yourself. Do you teach the background of stories, either the author’s life or pieces about the setting? For instance, when I teach The Hunger Games , I pull current data about poverty, food scarcity, and income inequality. Unfortunately, I always find a current article. 

When I teach a Shakespeare play , we read about Queen Elizabeth, Shakespeare, and the play’s time period.

As you incorporate informational texts with literature, ensure that you are meeting standards. With a few additional questions or activities, you might be checking off more standards than you realize.

Finally, directly connect the facts to the literature. Students might not intentionally realize how that information influences the literature. Be sure to model realization of that connection.

Find free nonfiction resources for high school students.

Free nonfiction resources for high school students? Here is where I browse:

I use Common Lit, but sometimes, I want my students off their iPads and not answering multiple choice questions. Plus, all of the answers are online for free! Students manage to find previous answers which hurts an authentic discussion and brainstorming session.

Still, I use the articles and create my own questions.

Recently I stumbled upon News ELA, and I have found some quality materials. Sometimes I ask students to search the homepage and present an article of interest to the class.

New York Times

I pay for the NYT, but you can access many articles for free. Download a few, and you’ll have nonfiction article PDFs for students.

Students love reading articles from ESPN. Personally, I am not a huge sports fan. I know many of my students are, and when a big sporting event happens, I might share an article with the class to interest students with which I might not already connect.

Do you have any other places to find nonfiction articles for high school students? Share your ideas below.

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April 25, 2018

8 nonfiction texts that will captivate middle school and high school students.

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I'm always looking for new books to include in my classroom library. These are fantastic recommendations!

Thank you for the recommendations! I've had The Other Wes Moore on my WTR list forever...I need to get that book! :-) I have an Audible subscription, and, luckily, my students this year really like to listen to audiobooks. I have low-level freshmen, so hearing it as they read really pulls them in and helps them get a better understanding of the text. Plus, the narration is so much more engaging than my daily "performance." Hehee! Right now, I'm going to go check out How They Croaked; it sounds perfect! Thank you, again!

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Teaching Nonfiction in the Secondary Classroom

Teaching nonfiction can be a struggle for students and teachers, but it doesn’t have to be. Read on to learn activities, teaching tips, and student-approved titles that can make teaching nonfiction more engaging and effective all around.

When it comes to teaching nonfiction, my students always seem to slip into instant boredom. The mere phrase “nonfiction” practically puts them right to sleep. I know I can’t be the only one… right? It’s hard enough sometimes to engage students with literature, period. On top of that, I’ve realized many students associate nonfiction with boring textbooks and dense academic articles. However, there’s much more to the genre. In fact, the right nonfiction titles can be just as alluring as a great work of fiction. We must help our students understand that nonfiction texts also include:

• Biographies
• Newspaper and magazine articles
• Feature articles

So, how can we get our students to move beyond their hesitation to dive into (and enjoy) nonfiction? I’m glad you asked! Keep reading to learn some of my favorite tips and titles for teaching nonfiction in the secondary classroom.

Why is Teaching Nonfiction in the Secondary Classroom Important?

I’ll admit it. I’m a die-hard lover of fiction and encourage my students to dive into the magical and moving world of fiction whenever I can. However, we can’t forget to shine a light on nonfiction as well. Here’s why:

First, students are expected to develop research and comprehension skills requiring nonfiction reading across nearly all grade levels and content areas. Embedding literary nonfiction into your classroom is an excellent way for students to bridge the gap between purely informational and purely narrative texts. This is also a great way to break the “nonfiction is boring” mentality.

Additionally, teaching nonfiction has a lot of positive real-world implications. For starters, nonfiction books are rooted in facts and real-life people or events. Therefore, they open students up a whole new understanding of the world around them. These texts help build empathy, introduce new perspectives and experiences, and promote social and emotional learning—and I think we can all agree we need those now more than ever.

Oh! And we can’t forget about those students who “don’t see the point” in reading fiction—because it’s “not real” so “who cares,” right? (Insert frustrated eyeroll here.) Introducing them to nonfiction is a great way to re-engage them in reading and build their comprehension and analysis skills.

Engaging Activities for Teaching Nonfiction in the Secondary Classroom

1. Two Facts and an Opinion.

This twist on the classic “two truths and a lie” is a quick, engaging, and easy way to introduce the concept of nonfiction. While your students are already familiar with the difference in these two definitions, it’s important to show them it’s not always so concrete. There are a few ways you can play:

• Present a topic to your students. Provide them each with a sticky note on which they will write one thing they know (or think they know) about said subject. Once all students place their notes on the board, begin to sort through them as a class, placing them in a fact or opinion column.
• Present a topic to your students as well as two facts and an opinion about said subject. Have them work individually or in pairs to decide which of the three statements is an opinion and which two are facts. As students share their findings, hold a discussion regarding what makes something a fact versus an opinion.

2. Book Tour.

Pictures, maps, and letters, oh my! Some nonfiction books include elements and artifacts not often found in the novels they’re used to reading. For example, memoirs and biographies may include photographs, letters, or diary entries as additional artifacts. If you’re preparing to read a nonfiction book as class, take a “book tour” together, flipping through the pages and discussing the varying elements and formats found throughout.

As for those nonfiction books that look nearly identical to the fiction novels they are used to? It’s a great opportunity to highlight the similarities (and differences) between fiction and nonfiction narrative works. It might be time to bring out the Venn Diagrams and get to work!

3. Tweet It.

Instead of always competing with social media for students’ attention, why not find fun ways to incorporate it into the classroom? Platforms like Twitter have grown to become forms of news in the modern world. You can take advantage of this and use the social media platform in two ways when teaching nonfiction:

• Introduce a topic relevant to your book and have students conduct a search on Twitter to find appropriate Tweets. This is a unique, fun, and totally “cool” way to build student background knowledge around the text and its characters, settings, and conflicts, just to name a few.
• During or after reading (or both), have students put their critical thinking skills to work by creating a class “Twitter thread” about the book. Dedicate a physical bulletin board or digital Padlet where students can “post” their thoughts about connections, people, places, or events relevant to the book. Feel free to provide a template and prompts if your students need more guidance.

4. Connect Four.

The opportunity for text-to-text, self, society, or world connections is one of the most powerful aspects of nonfiction books. This is a fun and highly engaging group activity that can be done as a pre, during, or after reading activity.

Put students into small groups. Challenge them to find four informational resources (news or magazine article, Youtube clip, blog post, etc.) or artifacts (photographs, letters, drawings, short video clips, etc.) that connect to the setting, situation, or character of the nonfiction book. Amp it up by throwing in a little competitive edge. The first team to find four connections wins! Otherwise, have each group share their findings with the class or hold a gallery walk.

If you’re looking for a simplified version of this activity, simply find and share a handful of resources with your students to help build background knowledge and foster connections. Additionally, if the story doesn’t take place in modern day, share a (relatively) current event with your students to help draw a connection between then (the story) and now. Let students explore the resources before discussing their reactions and responses.

5. Dear Diary

The more students connect to a text, the more they will stay engaged—and retain the information. (Talk about a win-win!) Therefore, when reading a nonfiction text, encourage students to keep track of those connections in a journal or diary. Be sure to give them time to freewrite or provide prompts to guide their connections and reflections to their lives and the world around them.  It’s up to you if you want to collect it for grading or not.

6. Pair It Up.  

While fiction and nonfiction might seem like opposites, they have a lot in common and make for a great pairing! So, if you don’t have time to fit in an entire nonfiction novel, no worries! Nonfiction texts make for great supplemental materials. In addition to finding fact-based articles to give students more context, excerpts from nonfiction books work well too! Find powerful excerpts to share with your students to build connections or learn about the inspiration behind fictional characters, settings, themes, and conflicts too.

Alternatively, you can have literature groups where some are reading a fictional novel and others are reading nonfiction. Then, bring the groups together often to discuss similarities and differences in both style and the story itself.

Here are some of my favorite pairings:

• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy
• Six Women of Salem by Marilynne K. Roach and Aurthor Miller’s The Crucible
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and Elie Wiesel’s Night
• The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie and Rex Ogle’s Free Lunch

Need more ideas? Ask your fellow teachers or school librarian for suggestions!

More Helpful Tips for Teaching Nonfiction

• Teach the power (and importance) of annotating. Remind students that, to be done well, annotations must include more than highlighted or underlined texts. Instead, annotations should include markings and notes in the margins (or on sticky notes) that express a thought, question, or reaction.
• Consider students’ experience, backgrounds, and interests. Providing students with opportunities to read stories of high interest or relatable characters and situations is always a plus. As you learn more about your students, strive to fill your classroom library with nonfiction texts that play into their interests, experiences, and backgrounds.
• Take advantage of cross curricular learning opportunities. I’m always looking for ways to showcase that education doesn’t exist in a vacuum. I love showing students that these things we’re teaching have implications for the world beyond the classroom walls. Chat with the teachers in other departments (especially history) to see if there are any opportunities for cross curricular learning.
• Make it relevant. Just as connections are important to student retention, so is overall relevance. Take time to hold discussions with the goal of making connections between the nonfiction text and student’s lives. By taking the time to discuss the text and finding ways it can relate to them, students will be able to make more connections than they realize. In turn, these simple discussions inherently promote social and emotional learning.

Teaching Nonfiction Texts: Stories Your Students Will Love

The truth is that many students are simply intimidated by the “nonfiction” label. While they know what to expect from a novel, nonfiction can feel like uncharted territory. However, by introducing your students to the right nonfiction titles, you can show them that these real stories can be just as engaging and easy to enjoy.

To get you started, here are 17 nonfiction titles your secondary students are sure to devour:

• Night by Elie Wiesel
• Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
• Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
•   The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore
•   A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah
•  Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
• Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
• The Borden Murders by Sarah Miller
• The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater
• Call Me American (YA) by Abdi Nor Iftin
• I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
• The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
• Free Lunch by Rex Ogle
• The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
• We Should Hang Out Sometime by Josh Sundquist
• Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
• Maus: A Survivor’s Tale by Art Spiegelman

Again, while fiction might seem more fun for you to teach and your students to read, that doesn’t have to be the case. By incorporating the right titles and activities into your classroom, teaching nonfiction doesn’t have to be such a bore. Give some of my teaching tips above a try and see for yourself! Chances are, you’ll convert some of your students into nonfiction fanatics in no time!

Have any other tips or titles for teaching nonfiction? Share them in the comments below!

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50 Engaging Narrative Essay Topics for High Schoolers

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What’s Covered:

Narrative essays vs. analytical essays, how to pick the right narrative essay topic, elements of a strong narrative essay, engaging narrative essay topics for high schoolers, where to get your narrative essay edited for free.

Narrative essays are an extensive form of writing that gives readers the opportunity to follow along as a person goes through a journey or sets of experiences. Rather than providing analytic insight, narrative essays simply share a story and offer a first-person account. These essays may seem easy to write at first, but it takes a certain finesse to write a narrative essay that is interesting, cohesive, and well-researched. Whether you’re looking for a unique topic to write about, or just want some new inspiration, CollegeVine is here to help! These 50 narrative essay topics are engaging, unique and will have you writing in no time.

A narrative essay is a great way to express your personal experiences and opinions, but it is important to remember that this type of essay is different from an analytical paper. In a narrative essay, you do not need to provide background information or explain your thoughts and feelings; instead, you simply tell a story. It’s important to avoid too much telling in your writing; instead, use creative details and vivid imagery to make readers feel as if they are actually right there with you.

Where You Will Encounter Narrative Essays

This type of essay is typically encountered in high school, where students may be required to write personal statements to prepare for their Common App essay . Narrative essays are also commonly seen in AP Language and Composition. Therefore, it’s important you are aware of the style because you are bound to have a narrative essay assignment.  

Of course, before you start writing, it is important to pick the right essay topic. There are many factors involved in the process of picking the perfect narrative essay topic for your story.

You should always choose a topic that you are passionate about, since writing on something you care about will make the process much easier. Not only will it be more interesting to create your paper around something that truly interests you, but it will also allow you to fully express yourself in your essay. You also want to be sure that the topic has enough material to work with. If your chosen topic is too short, you will not have enough content to write a complete paper. For example, if you are writing about your experience getting lost at the mall, make sure that you have enough information to work with to craft an engaging narrative. 

The best topic for an engaging narrative essay is one that focuses on showing versus telling, has a clear structure, and provides a dialogue. These elements come together to form an engaging narrative essay. Regardless of what subject you pick, any topic may be turned into a fascinating, A+ worthy narrative using the tips below.

Show, Don’t Tell

To write a good narrative essay, it’s important to show, not tell. Instead of simply informing your audience, show them what you mean. For example, instead of saying “I was nervous,” you could say “My heart began to race and my stomach filled with butterflies.” Also make sure to use sensory details, such as sights, sounds and tastes, and include a personal reflection at the end of your narrative. 

Begin with a Strong Opening Line

A good narrative essay will begin with an attention-grabbing opening line. But make sure to avoid common clichés, such as “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Instead, come up with something original and specific to you and your situation. For example: “My pre-calc teacher was obsessed with circles. I mean, he even used circular note cards.” Or, “It all started the day my mom brought home a guinea pig.”

Follows a Three-Act Structure

A strong narrative essay follows the same three-act structure as other essays. But in order to make it interesting, you’ll need to come up with a creative way to break things down into sections. For example, using the guinea pig example from above, you could write the following:

• Act 1 – Introduction: The day my mom brought home a guinea pig.
• Act 2 – Conflict: The day I had to say goodbye to my beloved pet.
• Act 3 – Conclusion: Looking back at how much I miss him now that he’s gone.

Conclude with Personal Reflection

To conclude your narrative essay, you’ll want to explain what this specific experience taught you or how you’ve changed. For example, upon realizing that her pre-calc teacher was obsessed with circles, the writer of the previous example begins to notice circular shapes everywhere. Another way to conclude your narrative essay is by touching on how this experience impacted you emotionally. For example, after losing his guinea pig, the writer explains how much he missed it.

Use Dialogue

Include a conversation in your essay to make it come alive. For example, instead of simply saying that you met a new friend, talk about how you introduced yourselves or what they were wearing when you met them.

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The following list of 50 narrative essay topics is divided into categories. This will make it easier to find a topic that fits your writing style.

1. What is a childhood song that still sticks with you today?

2. Your first day of Kindergarten

3. Talk about a time when you’re siblings looked up to you

4. Describe the best birthday party you’ve ever had

5. Talk about the best day you ever spent with a childhood friend

6. Explain your first childhood hobby

7. Describe your first halloween costume

8. A family vacation gone wrong

9. Your first family reunion

10. Describe a tradition that is unique to your family

11. Describe your family to a person who’s never met them before

12. What frustrates you most about your family

13. If you could only keep one memory of your family, what would it be and why?

14. Describe a time your family embarrassed you in public

15. The most beautiful place in the world

16. Your favorite season and why

17. If you were a part of nature, what element would you be? Why?

18. When you go outside, which of your senses are you most thankful to have?

19. Describe the first time you witnessed a tornado 

20. Write a poem about your favorite season

21. Describe yourself as one of the four seasons

22. Describe a time in which you felt connected with nature

23. Describe the first time you played an instrument and how you felt

24. What major event would be much worse if music was removed, and why?

25. If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

26. What would a life without music look like?

27. If you could master one instrument, what would it be and why?

Relationships

28. What if you had never met your best friend?

29. Describe a time when you fixed a broken relationship

30. Talk about a movie that defined a relationship for you

31. Describe your first date

32. Describe the first time you made a friend

33. Describe your relationship with your parents

Self Reflection

34. Have you ever fooled someone? If so, describe what happened and how you felt about it

35. What is the worst thing you’ve done to someone else?

36. Write about the difference between how things seem and how they really are. 

37. Have you ever been embarrassed in some way? If so, describe the situation and how it affected you as well as those around you

38. Have you ever witnessed something really beautiful? Describe it

39. Is your glass half empty or half full?

Overcoming Adversity 

40. Have you ever been very afraid of something but tried your hardest to appear fearless? If so, describe that experience

41. When have you ever succeeded when you thought you might fail

42. What are your secret survival strategies?

43. Describe the last time you were stressed and why?

44. Describe a time when you were discriminated against

45. The most memorable class you’ve had and why

46. Your favorite study abroad memory

47. Describe your kindergarten classroom

48. Describe your first teacher

49. The first time you experienced detention

50. Your first field trip

Hopefully these topics will get you thinking about a personal experience that could make for a thoughtful and engaging narrative essay. Remember, a strong narrative essay must contain relatable details and a clear flow that keeps the reader entertained and engaged to read all the way to the end.

If you need some additional guidance on your narrative essay, use CollegeVine’s free peer review essay tool to get feedback for free!

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by Michelle Boyd Waters, M.Ed.  

Essays Every High School Student Should Read

December 4, 2016 in  Pedagogy

One of the most important goals of any English class should be to help students learn how to express themselves to an audience — how to tell their own stories, how to provide much-needed information, and how to convince others to see things from a different perspective.

Below are some essays students can read, not only to help them see how such writing is done in the real world, but also to learn more about the world around them.

[bctt tweet=”Need a #mentortext for student essays? Check out these exemplars for personal narrative, argumentative, and expository essay writing.”]

Note : This is a living list. I will continue adding to it as I find important essays and articles, and as my readers make suggestions.

If You Think Racism Doesn’t Exist by Jordan Womack | Lesson Plan

A 17-year-old Oklahoma author details incidents of discrimination he has faced within his own community. Brief, yet impactful, the author’s authenticity strikes readers at their core and naturally leads the audience to consider other perspectives.

Facebook hack ‘worse than when my house burned down’ says teacher by Michelle Boyd Waters, M.Ed.

When a hacker destroyed my Facebook account and I couldn’t find a way to reach out to Facebook, I decided to use my story, voice, and platform to shed light on a situation faced by people around the world. This can serve as a mentor text for students writing personal narratives on shared experiences in the context of current events.

Letter from a Vietnamese to an Iraqi Refugee by Andrew Lam

Vietnamese lecturer, journalist, and author Andrew Lam offers advice in this letter to a young Iraqi refugee he sees in a photograph on the Internet.

Allowing Teenage Boys to Love Their Friends by Jan Hoffman

Learn why early and lifelong friendships are as vital for boys as they are for girls and what happens when those friendships are fractured.

Chris Cecil: Plagiarism Gets You Fired by Leonard Pitts Jr

The Miami Herald columnist and 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary winner castigates a Georgia newspaper editor for plagiarizing his work. This column would go great with this followup article from The Boston Globe: Ga. Editor is Fired for Lifting Columns .

Class Dismissed by Walter Kirn

The author of Lost in the Meritocracy postulates that getting rid of the high school senior year might be good for students.

Complaint Box | Packaging by Dylan Quinn

A high school junior complains about the impossible-to-open packaging faced by consumers of everything “from action figures to zip drives.”

Drowning in Dishes, but Finding a Home  by Danial Adkison

In this 2014 essay, a teenager learns important lessons from his boss at Pizza Hut.

How to Tame a Wild Tongue by Gloria Anzaldua

An American scholar of Chicana cultural theory discusses how she maintained her identity by refusing to submit to linguistic terrorism.

Humble Beast: Samaje Perine by John Rohde

The five-time Oklahoma Sportswriter of the Year features the University of Oklahoma’s running back.

In Praise of the F Word by Mary Sherry

An adult literacy program teacher argues that allowing students to fail will actually help them.

The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me by Sherman Alexie

A Native American novelist recounts his experience loving reading and finally writing in spite of a culture that expected him to fail in the “non-Indian world” in order to be accepted.

Lane’s Legacy: One Final Ride by Keith Ryan Cartwright

A heartbreaking look back at the hours before and the circumstances surrounding Lane Frost’s untimely death, followed by reflections on his rise to fame — before and after death.

Learning to Read by Malcolm X

The 1960s Civil Rights leader writes about how educating himself in prison opened his mind and lead him to become one of the leading spokesmen for black separatism.

Learning to Read and Write by Frederick Douglass

A former slave born in 1818 discusses how he learned to read in spite of laws against teaching slaves and how reading opened his eyes to his “wretched condition, without remedy.”

Learning From Animal Friendships by Erica Goode

Scientists consider studying the phenomenon of cross-species animal friendships like the ones you see on YouTube.

Losing Everything, Except What Really Matters by Dan Barry

After a 2011 tornado destroys a house, but spares the family, a reporter writes about what’s important.

The Marked Woman by David Grann

How an Osage Indian family in Oklahoma became the prime target of one of the most sinister crimes in American history.

Meet Mikey, 8: U.S. Has Him on Watch List by Lizette Alvarez

Read about what happens if you happen to share a name of a “suspicious person” on the U.S. No-Fly List.

Newly Homeless in Japan Re-Establish Order Amid Chaos by Michael Wines

After the tsunami that resulted in nuclear disaster in 2011, a reporter writes about the “quiet bravery in the face of tragedy” of the Japanese people.

No Ordinary Joe by Rick Reilly

Why in creation did American Football Conference’s 1981 best young running back Joe Delaney jump into that pit full of water that day, even though he couldn’t swim?

Politics and the English Language By George Orwell

Animal Farm and 1984 author, Orwell correlates the degradation of the English language into multi-syllabic drivel and the corruption of the American political process.

Serving in Florida by Barbara Ehrenreich

The Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America author tells about her experiences attempting to survive on income of low-paying jobs.

Starvation Under the Orange Trees by John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck, who later authored the fictionalized account of Okies in California, The Grapes of Wrath, first wrote this essay documenting the starvation of migrant workers in California during the Great Depression.

To Fall in Love With Anyone, Do This by Mandy Len Catron

Is falling in love really a random event, or can two people “love smarter?”

We’ll Go Forward from this Moment by Leonard Pitts

The 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary winner pens a column chronicling the toughness of the American family’s spirit in the face of the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attacks. He wrote the column one day after the attacks.

What’s Wrong with Black English? by Rachel L. Jones

Jones, a student at Southern Illinois University in the 1980s, wrote this piece for Newsweek. In her essay, Jones adds her story and perspective to the debate over Black English.

Related topics: Mentor Texts , Teaching Writing

About the author 

Michelle Boyd Waters, M.Ed.

I am a secondary English Language Arts teacher, a University of Oklahoma student working on my doctorate in Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum with an concentration in English Education and co-Editor of the Oklahoma English Journal. I am constantly seeking ways to amplify students' voices and choices.

A wonderful list of essays! I have neglected to teach essays as literature (only as student writing samples before we began work on an essay, after a novel). I’m looking forward to using these!

Thank you very much! I’d love to hear (or read) your feedback on the selections. Your input can help other teachers decide which essays to teach their students.

This list looks really great. Unfortunately, the first two links I chose were not working. One took me to a professors homepage and the other never opened.

Thank you for letting us know. I checked the “If you think racism doesn’t exist” went to the WordPress.com site where the author wrote his article and “Letter from a Vietnamese to an Iraqi Refugee” went to the Huffington Post article. Is it possible that your school web filter is blocking WordPress and Huffington Post?

Thank you for this. I am teaching a summer class that prepares 8th graders for high school essay writing. Trying to find a way to make it more creative and interesting, even interactive. I like the essays. If you have ideas about specific ways to use them, beyond reading and discussion, I would love to hear them.

You’re welcome! I think additional activities would depend on who your students are, their interests, and which essay(s) you plan to use. Perhaps if you join our RTE Facebook group and tell us about your kids and the essay you want to use, we can devise some activities to help them engage. Check us out here .

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Trending Post : Books Made Into Movies

26 Excellent Nonfiction Books for Teens

This post may contain affiliate links.

These nonfiction books for teens are excellent.  Real-life stories, biographies, memoirs, and informational texts are inspiring and educational. I suspect you’ll read them and then want to share them with all your friends and family.

In these books, you may be reading about people who did amazing things, usually despite great odds. There’s hope-giving power in these nonfiction true-life stories. For teens, and for us not-teens, too. Other books will educate you about a topic — fashion or historical inventions.

Excellent Nonfiction Books for Teens

Hidden Figures (Young Readers’ Edition)  by Margot Lee Shetterly I loved this book about female African Americans who made an impact in the space program.  It’s a blend of the historical realities and inspiring life stories of four mathematically talented women who worked to build this country’s aviation and aeronautical programs starting from the Civil Rights era to the Space Race and the Cold War to the fight for gender equality.  The text includes black-and-white photographs documenting the women’s lives and the historical events which add to the reader’s understanding.   Hidden Figures  educates and inspires readers. I’m looking forward to seeing how the movie translated what I read here.

I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World (Young Readers Edition)   by Malala Yousafzai with Patricia McCormick This is a powerful,  well-told personal memoir from the wise, self-reflective perspective of Malala Yousafzai . Malala draws readers in with her accounts of daily life in Pakistan — the sounds, smells, sights, habits. We are hooked from the first page. As the stage is set, we learn how her country used to be and the fearful place it became with the Taliban’s influence. After she is shot for her blog writing in support of educating females, she’s taken to England for recovery and safety. The confusion and contrast between the countries and cultures really stand out during this time. But what is even more striking is Malala’s hope, positivity, and belief in what she stands for. You can’t read this nonfiction book for teens and not be changed.

Never Caught, The Story of Ona Judge: Young Readers Edition  by Erica Armstrong Dunbar and Kathleen Van Cleve This is not just an important story based on the true life of an escaped slave of George Washington’s, it’s also a cautionary tale about idealizing historical icons. Because people, as it turns out, are deeply flawed… George Washington included.  At age 10, Ona becomes Martha Washington’s personal slave.  After 13 years of this thankless work with no pay, no days off, no freedom to have a feeling,…many of those years in Philadelphia, Ona learns that Martha plans to send Ona as a wedding gift to Martha’s cruel granddaughter. With the help of freed slaves, Ona escapes north which results in an angry George Washington who tries to capture her back without a trial. Luckily that doesn’t happen and Ona lives free until her death.

An Invisible Thread: A Young Readers Edition  by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski A true story with  messages of kindness, trust, and friendship that will renew your faith in humanity . Laura first meets Maurice when he’s 11-years-old and begging on the street corner, eventually spending a meal a week with him at McDonald’s. For YEARS. Laura treats Marice with respect and friendship — never, ever pity and she makes their time together educational, too — cooking from a recipe, sharing a Christmas experience for the first time, and things like that. The end of the book shows Marice as an adult with his own family who is still close friends with Laura.

Bomb: The Race to Build –and Steal–the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon  by Steve Sheinkin Another knock-out nonfiction book for teens from the talented Steve Sheinkin! I’m so impressed by how Sheinkin makes this story come ALIVE like it’s an adventure/mystery/thriller and not real life. Well, they do say truth is stranger than fiction. But usually, it’s written like it’s duller than dirt. This book is a great exception — mesmerizing. I wasn’t even interested in the topic until I started reading.

The Making of America: Susan B. Anthony  by Teri Kanefield (ages 12+) You’ll admire the perseverance and dedication of  Susan B. Anthony who worked tirelessly to advocate for women’s rights and the rights of African Americans . Women now days can own property, vote, divorce abusers, have custody of their children, and are citizens because of the efforts of Susan B. Anthony and others. I hope this book becomes required reading for middle schoolers — both boys and girls. It’s also beneficial for kids to know how much one person can do to make a difference in the world.

Terrible Typhoid Mary: A True Story of the Deadliest Cook in America  by Susan Campbell Bartlett I love how the author writes this using the facts and clearly stating when there are gaps in the accounts, making conjectures very clear. It’s a great book — and frankly , fascinating to understand the details of solving and then proving that Mary was the common thread of illnesses.  It also asks the questions of Mary’s rights weighted with the rights of the public. This would be a great book club selection!

Path   to the Stars: My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist  by Sylvia Acevedo Sylvia Acevedo’s story shows her incredible intelligence, drive, and determination.  She grows up poor in New Mexico greatly impacted by her Mexican-American heritage, Head Start, and the Girl Scouts. Sylvia credits the Girl Scouts with not just teaching her life skills but showing her that she could do hard things and that her life could be more than being a housewife. She is an amazing woman who becomes a rocket scientist and influential leader. I highly recommend this well-written nonfiction book for teens.

Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina  by Michaela DePrince and Elaine DePrince An orphan who was thought never to be adopted due to her skin condition, Michaela was adopted from an orphanage in West Africa.  Even at the orphanage, she wanted to be a ballerina — and her determination and hard work paid off.  Now she’s the youngest principal dancer with the Dance Theatre of Harlem.

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Whoppers: History’s Most Outrageous Lies and Liars  by Christine Seifert I read this nonfiction book aloud to my kids — it was SO fun because it prompted great discussion and interaction. They couldn’t believe that people would make up such outrageous lies.  Learn about historical people who told incredible wild whoppers  — from people you’ve heard of like Charles Ponzi to people you’ve never heard of like George Psalmanazar.

The Faithful Spy: A True Story! Deitrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hilter   by John Hendrix Bonhoeffer was a Christian minister who believed, unlike most of his peers, that he should not go along with Hitler who put himself above God in the church.  I am endlessly fascinated by why people do what they do in their lives which is why I loved reading about Bonhoeffer, seeing his journey as not just an outspoken critic of Hitler but someone who decided that he must also act to try to stop Hitler. This biography is illustrated with several colors in an appealing visual layout.

Rad American Women A – Z   by Kate Schatz, illustrated by Miriam Klein Stahl I learned a ton from this book because many of these inspiring women aren’t well known.  Each woman gets a full-page bio with information about what makes her a role model and “rad.”  Read about ladies like Wilma Mankiller, Nellie Bly, Lucy Parsons, and Hazel Scott.

The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club  by Phillip Hoose If you’re teaching leadership or becoming change-makers, use this book!  Knut and his friends couldn’t endorse their country of Denmark’s position on allying with the Nazi’s so they decided to do what they could to fight back.  Even though they were just teenagers, they managed small acts of sabotage. But more than that, they inspired a full Danish resistance movement!

Untamed The Wild Life of Jane Goodall  by Anita Silvey, forward by Jane Goodall This book series contains some of the best nonfiction books you can read! Untamed  is an excellent depiction of Jane Goodall’s life with kid-friendly language and appealing layouts of colorful photos. Interesting insets throughout describe tips for kids and information such as sign language. I love the Gombe Family Scrapbook at the end with some of the significant chimps in Jane’s life. I also found it really interesting to learn how this English girl read about Africa as a child and fell in love with it.

Finding Wonders: Three Girls Who Changed Science by Jeannine Atkins Three girls’ lives, Maria Merian, Mary Anning, and Maria Mitchell, are showcased in this beautiful verse. Each girl’s interest is explained and elaborated. We see how these interests grew into something more, into the passions and discoveries that become their life’s work. I love the flow of the poems and the celebration of these ground-breaking women.

Elon Musk and the Quest for a Fantastic Future (Young Readers Edition)   by Ashlee Vance Elon’s story is fascinating.  His unique history, intelligence, and vision are unique and worth knowing. The ins and outs of his businesses give readers insight into the mind of Musk, a mind that is quite extraordinary. Anyone, teen or adult, interested in being an entrepreneur should read this book. Musk shows that it’s not a straight line to success; that vision, hard work, failures, and perseverance are the basic ingredients. As far as the writing goes, the book is dense with many details you may or not find as interesting as me. But for those of you who are interested in Tesla and the SpaceX project, you’ll devour these details.

If you enjoy reading nonfiction books like these, you might also like:

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind  by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer Code Talker: a Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War II  by Joseph Bruchac In the Heart of the Sea (Young Readers Edition)  by Nathaniel Philbrick The Finest Hours (Young Readers Edition) The True Story of a Heroic Sea Rescue  by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman Irena’s Children: Young Readers Edition a True Story of Courage  by Mary Cronk Farrell and Tilar J. Mazzeo

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Audiobooks for Teens

Melissa Taylor, MA, is the creator of Imagination Soup. She's a mother, former teacher & literacy trainer, and freelance education writer. She writes Imagination Soup and freelances for publications online and in print, including Penguin Random House's Brightly website, USA Today Health, Adobe Education, Colorado Parent, and Parenting. She is passionate about matching kids with books that they'll love.

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I would add Obsessed to this list for sure. The Borden Mysteries/Lizzie Borden and also Ten Days a Madwoman. MS/HS kids love them!

Can’t wait to read these — thanks for the suggestions!

10 Must Read Non-fiction Books for High School Students

Do you love reading books? Us too! Whoever said a book is a thousand journeys in a lifetime, was correct! Fiction is often immersive and thus high school students often use it as a source of entertainment. 

That said about fiction, What about non-fiction? Do you think fiction is the only thing deserving of your attention? Well, you may be surprised to know non-fiction is equally interesting! We cannot ignore that non-fiction lacks the adventure and romanticism of imagined stories, which fiction supplies well. However, non-fiction is laced with knowledge. 

High schoolers often forget that non-fiction like history, mathematics, biographies, and philosophies form great pieces for reading . This post would showcase the importance of non-fiction works, you will also look into our picks for the 10 best nonfiction books for high school students.

How reading non-fiction can benefit high schoolers?

Non-fiction includes all those pieces of writings that are true to reality for major parts. They depict an event or a personality that has gone down in history, and so, everyone should read non-fiction for information rather than entertainment. The habit of reading non-fiction pieces of writings will benefit students a lot in the later part of their education.

Here are some important benefits for reading non-fiction:

• Non-fictions is often informational and lacks the lustre of imagination. Thus, they introduce the habit of rigorous reading. 
• Non-fiction comes with facts. Reading them will increase the background knowledge, which expands the horizon of the reader’s brains to newer topics.
• Non-fiction has a unique vocabulary that is unfamiliar to those who love fiction. Reading non-fiction adds to the vocabulary of the reader.
• Non-fictional pieces are a source of visual literacies like graphs, tables, and diagrams. For instance, a graph may be used to show how sales of a product have gone up in the past few months. Different variants of a car are compared using a table. 
• Adults go through various pieces of non-fiction every day. These include manuals, memos, job descriptions, etc. As future citizens, high school students should consider reading non-fiction.

Non-fiction books for high schoolers- Our picks

Here are our picks for the 10 best nonfiction books for high school students:

1. Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You 

This book comments on the prevalent racist issues in America and inspires hope for an anti-racist future. Stamped takes the reader through a complete journey of how all this started and why this poison still exists. Gripping and fast-paced narration by Jason Reynolds makes this book a good read. 

Best for students of 10th grade, this book helps students understand various social issues. The language in the book is gripping, fast-paced, and energizing, which leaves the readers assuaged.

2. The Diary of a Young Girl 

When Nazis occupied Holland, many families fled to hide. A family, Franks, built a “secret annexe” to save themselves, where they had to face hunger, boredom, and constant cruelties. Anne Frank, a thirteen-year girl from that family wrote her vivid experience in those difficult times in her diary.

This dairy was found a couple of years after her demise and was later adapted as a book—The Diary of a young girl. Thoughtful, moving, and surprisingly humorous narration and fascinating commentary make this book a good non-fictional pick.

3. Most Dangerous 

Set in 1964, Most Dangerous is the story of Daniel Ellsberg, who was transformed into

“the most dangerous man in America.” When there was a cold war between America and the soviet union, America was ready to do anything to stop communism—with or without the consent of the citizens. 

As the war on communism soon began to pose cruelties on Vietnam, Ellsberg turned against the war. The Book “Most Dangerous” narrates the story of those crucial seven years that made Daniel “the most dangerous man in America.”

4. Drowned City

Written by Don Brown, this book revolves around the worst natural disaster in American history. On August 29, 2005, the monstrous winds of Hurricane Katrina flooded low-lying regions of New Orleans, Louisiana. This disaster recorded the deaths of 1833 individuals.

The book Drowned City shows the selflessness, heroism, and courage of people along with incompetence and criminality. Reading such books can enlighten the students with happenings of the past. Books like such provide a lot of facts, without much bias, so that students can get to know the exact picture of the incident.

5. Chasing Lincoln’s Killer

Chasing Lincoln’s Killer is a fast-paced thriller written by James L.Swanson which narrates the 12-day chase of the man who killed Lincoln. The story navigates through the streets of Washington D.C., swamps of Maryland, and forests of Virginia.

It is claimed to be the real story of a manhunt that took place in April 1865. The letters, newspapers, manuscripts, and other documents shown in this book are also original.

6. An American Plague

The American Plague shows the scenario of Philadelphia, the nation’s capital during the epidemic of Yellow fever in 1793. The author, Jim Murphy, explained the major social and political events that took place in the early 1800s due to this epidemic.

This book shows how the president had to leave the city due to the constitutional crisis. The cause and cure took almost a century to come out, which forms a riveting point of this book. Such events in history have been significant which the student must know of. The book has stories of people who suffered from yellow fever and how they got cured. 

7. The Art of Statistics

This book is a comprehensive guide for understanding everything about statistical problems. Written by David Spiegelhalter, this book shows that statistics are everywhere and thus teaches the readers to think like a statistician.

Beyond stats too, we get the idea of how to clarify questions, assumptions, and expectations when a problem is approaching. The book teaches to answer questions as simple as ‘does eating meat causes cancer?’ in a statistical way. The author has explained statistics, and the use of this concept beautifully blending it with modern problems, and situations.

8. Humble Pi

Humble Pi is the book-length answer to those who ask, “When are we ever going to use algebra or vectors in reality?”. Matt Parker, the author, managed to fill the book with fun, information, and relentless entertainment, thus, making this book a guide for all the miscalculations in life.

Humble pi makes the readers see everything including website codes and street signs in the language of maths, which makes it a unique fiction pick.

9. The Equation That Couldn’t Be Solved

Mathematicians solved a number of algebraic equations but failed to find the equation on symmetricity. The equation of symmetry did not emerge from the study of symmetry, rather from the equation that couldn’t be solved.

The book, “ The Equation That Couldn’t Be Solved: How Mathematical Genius Discovered the Language of Symmetry” narrates the story behind the equation and how it was solved.

10. The Greatest: Muhammad Ali

Written by Walter Dean Myers, this book shows Muhammad Ali, his accomplishments both inside and outside the ring, and his personal ventures up close. Biographies are usually gripping tales of courage, fight, and inspiration. The same can be said about this one too!

This book throws light on the race issues in the 1960s and how it became tough for the children to understand these gaps. The book centers around Muhammad Ali, and his struggles with racism, which finally molded him into a champion of his field.

The bottom line

Non-fictional books are a great source of knowledge. As a high schooler, you could start with our favorite ten best nonfiction books for high schoolers. The best book for a young adult is the one that focuses briefly on everything- facts, figures, language, information, and even knowledge. Books which tell about a certain past event in detail helps to broaden the knowledge of the child, whereas books which teach something better about academics are also bliss. The best part of non-fiction books is that it gives first-hand information to the reader, and it is almost like living in the era of the story, which opens many horizons for the young adult.

If you have some more additions to this list or you have a review on these books, let us know in the comments. 

Sananda Bhattacharya, Chief Editor of TheHighSchooler, is dedicated to enhancing operations and growth. With degrees in Literature and Asian Studies from Presidency University, Kolkata, she leverages her educational and innovative background to shape TheHighSchooler into a pivotal resource hub. Providing valuable insights, practical activities, and guidance on school life, graduation, scholarships, and more, Sananda’s leadership enriches the journey of high school students.

Explore a plethora of invaluable resources and insights tailored for high schoolers at TheHighSchooler, under the guidance of Sananda Bhattacharya’s expertise. You can follow her on Linkedin

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the 17 best writing contests for high school students.

Other High School

If you're a writer—fiction, non-fiction, or fanfiction—you can put those skills to work for you. There are tons of writing contests for high school students, which can award everything from medals to cash prizes to scholarships if you win .

Not only will a little extra money, whether cash or scholarships, help you when it comes time to pay for college, but the prestige of a respected reward is also a great thing to include on your college application.

Read on to learn more about what writing contests for high school students there are, how to apply, and what you could win !

Writing Contests With Multiple Categories

Some high school contests accept entries in a variety of formats, including the standard fiction and non-fiction, but also things like screenwriting or visual art. Check out these contests with multiple categories:

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

• Award Amount: $1,000 to $12,500 scholarships
• Deadline: Varies between December and January, depending on your region
• Fee: $10 for single entry, $30 for portfolio

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards celebrate art by students in grades seven through twelve (age 13 or older) on a regional and national scale. These awards have a huge number of categories and styles, including cash prizes or scholarships for some distinguished award winners . Categories include science-fiction and fantasy writing, humor, critical essays, and dramatic scripts, among others.

Deadlines vary by region (but are mostly in December and January), so use Scholastic's Affiliate Partner search to find out when projects are due for your area.

Scholastic partners with other organizations to provide prizes to winners, so what you can win depends on what you enter and what competition level you reach. Gold medal portfolio winners can earn a $12,500 scholarship, and silver medal winners with distinction can earn a $2,000 scholarship , as well as many other options in different categories.

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards are open to private, public, or home-schooled students attending school in the US, Canada, or American schools in other countries. Students must be in grades seven through twelve to participate. Eligibility varies between regions, so consult Scholastic's Affiliate Partner search tool to figure out what applies to you .

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards have a $10 entry fee for individual submissions and $30 for portfolio submissions, which may be waived for students in need . These fees may vary depending on location, so be sure to check your local guidelines .

Ocean Awareness Contest

• Award Amount: Scholarships up to $1,500
• Deadline: June 13, 2023 (submissions open in September)

The Ocean Awareness Contest asks students to consider the future of a coastal or marine species that is under threat from climate change. Submissions are accepted in a variety of art forms, but all must consider the way that climate change impacts ocean life .

Submissions for all categories, including art, creative writing, film, interactive and multimedia, music and dance, and poetry and spoken word are due in June, although the exact date varies slightly each year.

Winners may receive prizes of up to a $1,500 scholarship , depending on which division they fall into and what prize they win.

The contest is open to all international and US students between the ages of 11 and 18.

River of Words

• Award: Publication in the River of Words anthology
• Deadline: January 31, 2023

The River of Words contest asks students to consider watersheds—an area that drains into the same body of water—and how they connect with their local community. Students can explore this concept in art or poetry, with winners being published in the annual River of Words anthology .

Entries in all categories must be submitted by January 31, 2023. 

The River of Words contest is primarily for recognition and publication, as the website doesn't list any prize money . The contest includes specific awards for certain forms, such as poetry, some of which may have additional prizes .

The contest is open to International and US students from kindergarten to grade 12 (ages 5 through 19). Students who have graduated from high school but are not yet in college are also eligible.

Adroit Prizes

• Award Amount: $200 cash award
• Deadline: Typically April of each year

Sponsored by the Adroit Journal, the Adroit Prizes reward high school students and undergraduate students for producing exemplary fiction and poetry. Students may submit up to six poems or three works of prose (totaling 3,500 words) for consideration. Submissions typically open in spring .

Winners receive $200 and (along with runners-up) have their works published in the Adroit Journal . Finalists and runners-up receive a copy of their judge's latest published work.

The contest is open to secondary and undergraduate students, including international students and those who have graduated early . The Adroit Prizes has a non-refundable fee of $15, which can be waived.

YoungArts Competition

• Award Amount: Up to $10,000 cash awards
• Deadline: October 15, 2022; application for 2024 opens June 2023

Open to students in a variety of disciplines, including visual arts, writing, and music, the YoungArts competition asks students to submit a portfolio of work. Additional requirements may apply depending on what artistic discipline you're in .

Winners can receive up to $10,000 in cash as well as professional development help, mentorship, and other educational rewards.

Applicants must be 15- to 18-year-old US citizens or permanent residents (including green card holders) or in grades 10 through 12 at the time of submission . There is a $35 submission fee, which can be waived.

Fiction Writing Contests for High School Students

Many contests with multiple categories accept fiction submissions, so also check out the above contests if you're looking for places to submit original prose.

EngineerGirl Writing Contest

• Award Amount: $100 - $500 cash prize
• Deadline: February 1, 2023

This year's EngineerGirl Writing Contest asks students (though the name of the organization is "EngineerGirl," students of any gender may participate) to submit a piece of writing that shows how female and/or non-white engineers have contributed to or can enhance engineering’s great achievements. Word counts vary depending on grade level.

At every grade level, first-place winners will receive $500, second-place winners will receive $250, and third-place winners will receive $100 . Winning entries and honorable mentions will also be published on the EngineerGirl website.

Students of any gender from third to 12th grade may submit to this contest. Home-schooled and international students are also eligible.

Nonfiction Contests for High School Students

Like fiction, non-fiction is often also accepted in contests with multiple categories. However, there are quite a few contests accepting only non-fiction essays as well.

The American Foreign Services Association Essay Contest

• Award Amount: $1,250 to $2,500
• Deadline: April 3, 2023

The American Foreign Services Association sponsors a high school essay contest tasking students with selecting a country or region in which the United States Foreign Service has been involved at any point since 1924 and describe, in 1,500 words or less, how the Foreign Service was successful or unsuccessful in advancing American foreign policy goals in this country/region and propose ways in which it might continue to improve those goals in the coming years .

One winner will receive $2,500 as well as a Washington D.C. trip and a scholarship to attend Semester at Sea . One runner-up receives $1,250 and a scholarship to attend the International Diplomacy Program of the National Student Leadership Conference.

Entries must be from US students in grade nine through 12, including students in the District of Columbia, US territories, or US citizens attending school abroad, including home-schooled students.

John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Contest

• Award Amount: $100 - $10,000
• Deadline: January 13, 2023

The John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage contest tasks students with writing an essay between 700 and 1,000 words on an act of political courage by a US elected official serving during or after 1917 , inspired by John F. Kennedy's Profiles in Courage . Each essay should cover the act itself as well as any obstacles or risks the subject faced in achieving their act of courage. Essays must not cover figures previously covered in the contest, and should also not cover John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, or Edward M. Kennedy.

One first-place winner will receive $10,000, one second-place winner will receive $3,000, five finalists will receive $1,000 each, and eight semi-finalists will win $100 each.

The contest is open to students in grades nine through 12 who are residents of the United States attending public, private, parochial, or home schools . Students under the age of 20 in correspondence high school programs or GED programs, as well as students in US territories, Washington D.C., and students studying abroad, are also eligible.

SPJ/JEA High School Essay Contest

• Award Amount: $300 - $1,000 scholarships
• Deadline: February 19, 2023 (submissions open in November)

The SPJ/JEA high school essay contest , organized by the Society of Professional Journalists and the Journalism Education Association, asks students to  analyze the importance of independent media to our lives (as of now, the official essay topic for spring 2023 is TBD) . Essays should be from 300 to 500 words.

A $1,000 scholarship is given to a first-place winner, $500 to second-place, and $300 to third-place.

The contest is open to public, private, and home-schooled students of the United States in grades 9-12 .

Playwriting Contests for High School Students

For those who love the stage, playwriting contests are a great option. An original play can earn you great rewards thanks to any of these contests!

VSA Playwright Discovery Program Competition

• Award: Participation in professional development activities at the Kennedy Center
• Deadline: January 4, 2023 (Application opens in October)

The VSA Playwright Discovery Program Competition asks students with disabilities to submit a ten-minute script exploring their personal experiences, including the disability experience . Scripts may be realistic, fictional, or abstract, and may include plays, screenplays, or musical theater.

All entries are due in January. Scripts may be collaborative or written by individuals, but must include at least one person with a disability as part of the group .

One winner or group of winners will be selected as participants in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Winners will have access to professional assistance in developing their script as well as workshops and networking opportunities.

This contest is open to US and international students in ages 14 to 18 . Groups of up to five members may collaborate on an essay, but at least one of those students must have a disability.

Worldwide Plays Festival Competition

• Award: Professional production in New York
• Deadline: March (official 2023 deadline TBD)

In the Worldwide Plays Festival Competition , students from around the world can submit an eight-minute script for a play set in a part of a neighborhood —specifically, at a convenience store, outside a character's front door, or at a place where people convene. Each play must have roles for three actors, should not have a narrator who isn't also a character, and should not contain set changes.

Entries are due in February. Winners will have their play produced by professionals at an off-Broadway New York theater . Scholarships are also available for winners.

Any student, including US and international, in first through 12th grade may submit work for consideration.

• Award Amount: $50 - $200 cash prize
• Deadline: 2023 deadline TBD (application opens January 2023)

Students may submit a one-act, non-musical play of at least ten pages to YouthPLAYS for consideration . Plays should be appropriate for high school audiences and contain at least two characters, with one or more of those characters being youths in age-appropriate roles. Large casts with multiple female roles are encouraged.

One winner will receive $250, have their play published by YouthPLAYS, and receive a copy of Great Dialog , a program for writing dialog. One runner up will receive $100 and a copy of Great Dialog.

Students must be under the age of 19, and plays must be the work of a single author.

The Lewis Center Ten-Minute Play Contest

• Deadline: Spring of each year

Students in grade 11 may submit a ten-minute play for consideration for the Lewis Center Ten-Minute Play Contest . Plays should be 10 pages long, equivalent to 10 minutes.

One first-prize winner will receive $500, one second-prize winner will receive $250, and one third-prize will receive $100.

All entries must be from students in the 11th grade .

Poetry Writing Contests for High School Students

For those who prefer a little free verse or the constraints of a haiku, there are plenty of poetry-specific contests, too.

Creative Communications Poetry Contest

• Award Amount: $25
• Deadline: December

Students in ninth grade or below may submit any poem of 21 lines or less (not counting spaces between stanzas) for consideration in the Creative Communications Poetry Contest .

Students may win $25, a free book, and school supplies for their teacher .

Public, private, or home-schooled US students (including those in detention centers) in kindergarten through ninth grade may enter.

Leonard L. Milberg '53 High School Poetry Prize

• Award Amount: $500-$1500
• Deadline: November 

Students in 11th grade may submit up to three poems for consideration in the Leonard L. Milberg '53 High School Poetry Prize . Submissions are due in November .

One first-prize winner will receive $1500, one second-prize winner will receive $750, and a third-prize winner will receive $500. Poems may be published on arts.princeton.edu. All entrants must be in the 11th grade.

Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest

• Award Amount: $500 - $5,000 renewable scholarship, $350 cash prize
• Deadline: October 31, 2022

Women poets who are sophomores or juniors in high school may submit two poems for consideration for the Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest .

One first-place winner will receive a $350 cash prize, publication in and ten copies of Cargoes , Hollins' student magazine, as well as a renewable scholarship of up to $5,000 for Hollins and free tuition and housing for the Hollinsummer creative writing program. One second-place winner will receive publication in and two copies of Cargoes, a renewable scholarship to Hollins of up to $1,000, and a $500 scholarship to attend Hollinsummer.

Applicants must be female students in their sophomore or junior year of high school .

What's Next?

If you're looking for more money opportunities for college , there are plenty of scholarships out there— including some pretty weird ones .

For those who've been buffing up their test scores , there are tons of scholarships , some in the thousands of dollars.

If you're tired of writing essays and applying for scholarships, consider some of these colleges that offer complete financial aid packages .

Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring K-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their college education.

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15 Online Internships for High School Students – 2024

April 30, 2024

Finding internships in high school can be difficult, especially because most internships are designed for college students and postgrads. It can be especially hard to find remote internships that work with your school schedule and don’t require expensive travel. However, if you find an internship that’s right for you, the experience of a remote internship in high school can be worth the search. These internships can offer support as students figure out what they care about and what they’d like to pursue after graduation. Plus, internships are great resume builders that look highly impressive on college applications (some are even paid). Continue reading for 15 examples of remote/online internships for high school students.

Considerations for finding an internship

Before getting started, here are some factors to consider as you apply for remote internships:

Length/duration : Internships vary widely in length. Some remote internships run year-round, while others are designed just for the summer or during a 3-month period during the school year. There are also project-based internships, which last for only the length of time it takes to complete a specific assignment. Make sure you have time to complete the internship you’re pursuing. If you’re taking five AP classes in addition to soccer practice and the school play, perhaps you should consider a summer internship in order to produce high-quality work. Of course, you know yourself best!

Commitment level : Another consideration is how much time per week is required by an internship. Perhaps during the school year, dedicating a couple hours per week to an internship is doable, while dedicating 15-hours per week is simply unrealistic. Additionally, make sure you read the job description carefully and communicate clearly with your manager to avoid being assigned tasks you did not sign up for.

Online Internships for High School Students (Continued)

Networking opportunities : Networking is a primary reason why students take on internships. Working with industry professionals can lead to awesome letters of recommendation and sometimes even future jobs. Make sure your internship offers opportunities for meetings/seminars with mentors who you will want to keep in touch with. Since remote internships may limit the amount of face-to-face time with these mentors, it can be worthwhile to send introduction and thank you emails, and take initiative to schedule extra mentorship meetings when possible.

Payment/cost : By pursuing a remote internship instead of an in-person one, you’re probably already saving money on commuting and/or living away from home. As an additional bonus, some of these internships come with stipends. While these stipends are rarely enough to survive on, they can be useful for offsetting the costs of spending time on the internship instead of an after-school job. Even the internships that don’t pay can come with useful perks such as strong letters of recommendation and college course credit. On the other hand, some internships ask interns to pay a tuition, such as the Ladder Internship Program (though financial aid is sometimes available). If you choose to pursue an internship that costs tuition, make sure it’s something that you’ll get a lot out of.

15 Online Internships for High School Students

1) building-u internship.

Centered around helping high school students as they move forward into postsecondary experiences, Building-U offers 3-month internships to high school students year-round. The organization is formed by a series of high school teams, including resources development, multi-media, marketing, Blog Squad , coding, business, social media, and more.

• Payment: No stipend provided
• Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students can apply
• Application: Send an email with your resume to the organization (rolling deadline)

2) Bumper Ambassador Program

Bumper is a team of high school and college students building an investing app for teenagers. You can get involved through the Bumper Ambassadors Program, which is perfect for high school students interested in investing, personal finance, and startups. This program involves participation in weekly meetings on topics surrounding investments and financial literacy. After completion of this 9-week program, you will receive a letter of recommendation for jobs, internships, and colleges.

• Eligibility: All high school students can apply
• Application: Fill out an online form to become part of the summer cohort (no deadline listed)

3) EnergyMag Research Internship

This non-profit offers virtual internships to high school and college students who wish to learn about renewable energy and the energy storage industry. Virtual internships at EnergyMag provide on-the-job training in research, writing, and non-profit work. Half-time (summer) and quarter-time (school-year) internships are available to suit the needs of students’ busy schedules.

• Eligibility: Sophomores, juniors, or seniors in high school taking at least one honors English class with GPAs over 3.25 can apply
• Application: The application involves an essay and interview, with writing samples and transcripts upon request (rolling deadline)

4) Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI)

FPRI interns connect with members of the foreign relations community at a prestigious think tank. In addition to working one-on-one with professionals in the field, interns attend weekly foreign policy and career-focused seminars with guest speakers. Types of internships include Research, Special Events/Development, Communications, and Operations. Are you also interested in writing for publication? Interns also have opportunities to work on research papers that can be considered for the publication FPRI Intern’s Corner (check it out for a great lens into the issues that these interns work on).

• Payment: 10 paid internships are available with stipends provided, and several more unpaid internships are available
• Eligibility: High school students can apply
• Application: Applicants are asked to submit a single PDF file that includes a cover letter, resume, and writing sample; there are separate deadlines for Fall, Spring, and Summer internship sessions, each running 3-4 months

5) Green Scholars Program—Seaside Sustainability

This project-based program allows students to undertake a hands-on project that directly benefits schools and communities. Green Scholars encompasses the domains of environmental literacy, professional skills, and project/program management, through which students discover their own interests and engage with their schools. Interns collaborate on a variety of critical projects and initiatives, working a minimum of 15 hours a week for 5-month contract periods.

• Payment: No stipend is provided, though course credit may be possible
• Eligibility: High school and university students can apply
• Application: Applications include resumes, writing samples, and several essay questions (rolling deadline)

6) Intern Abroad HQ

Through this program, high school interns are able to intern around the world from the comfort of their homes. Whether completing a Data Analysis internship out of Greece or a Finance & Business Consulting internship out of Tanzania, these year-round remote internships offer career preparation and international exposure.

• Cost: $1,099 for 100 hours; $1,499 for 250 hours; $1,799 for 350 hours
• Eligibility: High school students aged 16-18 can apply
• Application: Students apply online with an application fee (rolling basis)

7) Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science Program

In addition to an in-person experience open to Baltimore City high school students, the Johns Hopkins Neurology and Neurosurgery Center invites high school students across the U.S. to apply for a 5-week virtual summer internship. This research internship aims to expose students to careers in the neurological sciences. The virtual option includes educational presentations, professional development training, exposure to laboratory techniques, and mentorship training.

• Payment: $500 scholarship to support student education
• Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in the U.S. can apply, and students from underrepresented groups, students with disadvantaged backgrounds, and students with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply
• Application: Application is open from December 1-March 1 annually

8) Ladder Internship Program

Founded by Harvard alumni entrepreneurs, this competitive internship program allows students to work with top startups and build real-world projects. Fields of research include Machine Learning & AI, Environmental Science, Finance, Software Engineering, Health Tech, and more. Interns work for 5-10 hours per week for a duration of 8 weeks. There are also extra hours allocated to personal coaching with research and writing mentors.

• Cost: $1,990 (financial aid available)
• Application: Application deadlines are May 12 and June 26 (for Summer I and II cohorts).

9) Mary Miller Summer Program by the PHC Group

The PHC Group Consulting Services began the Mary Miller Summer Program to gain leadership skills and tangible work experience. It was founded in honor of community leader and activist, youth advocate, and educator Mary Miller. In this paid internship, rising high school seniors work on social media projects and virtual community interaction under the guidance of the Public Health Director using the PHC Group’s mission. This is a great opportunity for high school students to gain experience in online communications in the consulting world.

• Payment: Stipend provided
• Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with Microsoft Office knowledge can apply
• Application: Apply by sending an email with attached resume (deadline not specified)

10) Meaningful Teens Teaching Programs

Meaningful Teens offers internships and volunteer experiences for high school students across its welfare and educational programs. Projects range from Project Omega (tutoring Oakland grammar school students in reading) to Project Speak Together (offering one-on-one conversational experiences with Ukrainian students). Interns and volunteers contribute to these projects for a few hours each week.

• Application: Application is open year-round

11) Medicine Encompassed

Student-led non-profit organization Medicine Encompassed accepts high school student members from all backgrounds and countries who are interested in pursuing a field in STEM. The program aims to bridge the gap between careers in medicine, underrepresented minorities, and those from low-income backgrounds. General Positions (such as writers, editors, and resource creators) are available on a rolling basis, while Executive Positions are available to already-active members of the organization. The time commitments of these positions range, though they tend to be ongoing and flexible (at least 1-2 hours of work per week).

• Application: Accepted on a rolling basis

12) NASA Internship Programs

NASA’s internship programs provide training, mentoring, and career development opportunities both remote and in-person. In addition to their Pathways Internship , NASA lists a range of internships on their “ Explore Our Opportunities ” page. For example, the listing “ Connecting the Local Urban Fabric to Global Climate Change ” is a virtual internship intended for both high schoolers grades 10-12 and undergraduates.

• Payment: Most interns receive a paid stipend award
• Eligibility: U.S. citizens grades 10-12 (and ages 16 and up) can apply
• Application: Application materials and deadlines depend on the specific internship

13) United Planet Virtual Internship

United Planet is a non-profit organization with virtual volunteering opportunities across over 40 countries, aimed at building partnerships across the world. Specific internships focus on Children and Education, Community Development, Global Health, and Environmental Sustainability. Tasks of virtual interns and volunteers range from research and project design, to digital marketing, to technical support, to language teaching and mentoring. In certain situations, it is also possible to gain course credit for your virtual internship.

• Cost: T o participate, students must pay $800 a month (though the cost-per-month decreases as months are added)
• Eligibility: High school students must be 16+ (some projects require specific skills/experiences, while others are more open)
• Application: The enrollment process includes an online application, a phone session with a program coordinator, and a pre-program training

14) U.S. Department of State’s Pathways Internship Program

These internship programs are perfect for high school and college students who wish to explore federal careers in a range of areas. The U.S. State Department offers the Internship Experience Program (which lasts the duration of a student’s current academic program) and the Internship Temporary Program (which runs during seasonal and holiday breaks). Here are the current vacancies for these internship programs.

• Payment: Interns are paid using the General Schedule pay scale for Civil Service employees
• Eligibility: U.S. citizens of 16+ years with GPAs over 2.0 can apply (all applicants are subject to drug testing and Secret/Top Secret security clearance)
• Application: By 11:59 PM on the application closing date, applicants must submit their resumes, transcripts, and proof of enrollment (be sure to carefully read the specific resume requirements)

15) Virtual Internships Foundation

This project-based internship program is designed to give students aged 14-18 professional development opportunities at top companies. Internships are available across over 80 countries, and can help students to land prestigious jobs worldwide in areas from architecture, to engineering, to fashion design, to hospitality and tourism. The program includes two sessions of one-on-one coaching. College credit is available.

• Application: Once students complete the online application (available on a rolling basis), they are matched with companies.

Online Internships for High School Students – Additional Resources 

We hope that this list of remote internships for high school students has offered you some ideas to jumpstart your search. For more on opportunities for high school students and internships, check out the following articles:

• Best Colleges for Internships and Co-ops
• Research Opportunities for High School Students
• Online/Virtual Volunteer Opportunities for High School Students
• 16 Best Computer Science Internships for High School Students 
• 16 Best Business Internships for High School Students 
• 20 Best Law Internships for High Schoolers
• 20 Best Medical Internships for High School Students 
• Extracurricular Activities

Sarah Mininsohn

With a BA from Wesleyan University and an MFA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Sarah is a writer, educator, and artist. She served as a graduate instructor at the University of Illinois, a tutor at St Peter’s School in Philadelphia, and an academic writing tutor and thesis mentor at Wesleyan’s Writing Workshop.

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5 Last-Minute Summer Plans That Will Impress Ivy League Admissions Officers

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As summer approaches, high school students may find themselves scrambling to find ways to make the most of their time off of school. Whether they were not accepted into their top choice programs, their internships fell through, or they simply haven’t yet made a plan, it’s imperative that students find enriching ways to spend their summers. Colleges look to students’ summer activities as a means of better understanding their passions and interests, and determining the kind of community members they will be outside of the classroom.

For those with Ivy League dreams, the pressure to maximize summers to stand out in the college admissions process can feel particularly daunting. While the deadlines for prestigious academic summer programs have passed, it’s not too late to engage in meaningful summer activities that will impress Ivy League admissions officers. While many students assume that admissions committees at top schools only care about intellectual pursuits, students can convey important elements of their candidacy through a plethora of summer plans, whether academic or non-academic.

If you are still unsure of how you’ll be spending the summer months, here are five last-minute summer plans that can help you demonstrate your passion, initiative, and commitment to personal and academic growth:

1. Secure an internship.

While securing a summer internship can be challenging, it can pave the way for the rest of a student’s professional and academic journey. If you have connections with local professionals, leveraging your network to find an internship opportunity can enhance your resume, help to build your professional network, and demonstrate initiative to colleges on your list. If you choose to intern during the summer months, you can maximize your time by demonstrating your willingness to go above and beyond; take the initiative to expand your skill set and explore areas outside of your designated responsibilities. You may find a new passion or outlet for your interests in the process.

2. Get a summer job.

While many students assume colleges are uninterested in their summer jobs, with the proper strategy, thoughtfulness, and hard work, students can leverage their summer jobs to stand out to Ivy League admissions officers. Whether you’re working as a lifeguard, camp counselor, dog walker, or administrative assistant at a law office, every job offers the opportunity to demonstrate self-motivation and leadership. Stepping up in the workplace not only allows students to develop critical life skills that will carry them into their college careers, but it can also highlight students’ willingness to contribute to their communities.

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For students seeking a job or internship, sites such as LinkedIn , AngelList , and Idealist are fantastic online resources for sourcing opportunities in their interest area, location, and schedule constraints.

3. Take an online course.

Enrolling in an online course or certification program allows students to enrich their knowledge, skills, and expertise in a specific area of interest—whether it's computer science, finance, environmental science, or creative writing, among others. Platforms such as Coursera , edX , and Udemy offer a wide range of courses taught by leading experts and institutions from around the world. Select courses that align with your academic interests, intended major, or core passion, and dedicate yourself to mastering the material. Completing an online course or earning a certification demonstrates self-motivation, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to lifelong learning—qualities highly valued by Ivy League admissions officers.

4. Volunteer in your community.

Ivy League admissions committees seek to identify students who are plugged in to issues in their community and willing to mobilize their passions to make positive change. One of the best ways to demonstrate this quality is to use your free time during the summer to volunteer. For example, you could consider volunteering at a local soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or food bank to help address food insecurity and support vulnerable populations in your community. While any type of volunteering will be beneficial for both your growth and those in need around you, it is best to identify a volunteering opportunity that aligns with your skills and interests and that you can engage with long-term throughout your high school career. By volunteering your time and energy to support those in need, you can make a tangible impact on your community while developing empathy, compassion, and a sense of social responsibility.

5. Develop your passion project.

Perhaps the most beneficial use of the summer months is brainstorming and building a dynamic passion project, a student-led initiative that puts passion into practice. Whether environmental conservation, mental health awareness, animal welfare, or technological literacy, students should be intentional about identifying their guiding interest and developing an independent project to more deeply engage with their subject or cause of choice. This could involve organizing a fundraising event, creating educational materials, or launching a social media campaign to raise awareness and mobilize support. By channeling your interests and talents into a passion project, you can make a meaningful contribution to your community while gaining greater insight into your core passions and interests.

Whatever students choose to do with their summer, they should keep in mind that all of their activities should work in tandem to tell a cohesive story through their college applications. Whether completing an internship, working a summer job, or taking a summer course, put your best foot forward and approach the process with self-reflection, motivation, and intentionality.

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The best international schools in Moscow

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Embark on an educational journey in Moscow with a selection of elite schools catering to diverse needs. From the British-focused MCS, offering personalized bilingual education, to Riverside School’s immersive English environment in the picturesque Novogorsk, each institution stands out. Brookes School Moscow, part of a global network, promises quality education in a central location. Russian International School, combining Russian and British curricula, ensures holistic development. Whether it’s “Classika” emphasizing language proficiency or the innovative “Tomorrow’s School” with a unique biblical approach, Moscow’s educational landscape is rich and varied, ready to shape students for success on the global stage. Explore the options and discover the perfect fit for your child’s academic journey.

Let’s explore the top 11 schools in Moscow that meet the best criteria.

     Advantages of the school:

– Students begin learning English from an early age, not only as a subject but as the primary means of instruction and communication.

– The program offers a comprehensive international-level education starting from kindergarten.

– Qualified teachers from English-speaking countries are involved in the teaching process.

– Small class sizes (up to 14 students) allow for individualized learning.

– The school provides additional activities such as drawing, dance, ballet, football, chess, jiu-jitsu, fencing, robotics, diving, vocal training, graphic design, and animation.

– Infrastructure: Modern campuses equipped for comfortable and engaging learning. Campuses are located in Skolkovo (western Moscow near the Skolkovo innovation center), Festivalnaya (northern Moscow near Rechnoy Vokzal metro station), and a campus in St. Petersburg near the Gulf of Finland.

British International School

BIS is one of the oldest international schools in Moscow, providing high-class education and a comprehensive approach for children aged 3 to 18. Over 2000 students have graduated from the school, gaining admission to leading universities in Russia and worldwide.

The school operates two departments:

– International Department: Education follows the best traditions of British schools based on the National Curriculum of England and the pre-university IB Diploma program.

– Russian Department: Education aligns with Federal State Educational Standards. English is intensively studied, and students can choose a second foreign language (French, Spanish, German, or Chinese).

BIS holds an “Excellent” rating in every category according to the British Schools Overseas inspection.

   Features:

– International accreditations (ECIS, CIS, COBIS).

– Six schools in different areas of Moscow.

– Class sizes up to 15 students.

– Large team of qualified teachers.

– Over 25 school clubs including 3D modeling, programming, chess, ballet, mental arithmetic, martial arts, fashion design, etc.

– Comprehensive approach including school bus services, extended day programs, and psychological and speech therapy services.

   Licenses and Certificates:

– Moscow Department of Education and Science License.

– Edexcel Approved Centre Accreditation.

– Cambridge International Examinations Accreditation.

– IBO Accreditation.

– ECIS Membership Accreditation and Certificate.

– CIS Membership Accreditation and Certificate.

British School MCS

British School MCS focuses on the individual development of each student, offering a diverse range of courses and a creative atmosphere – fulfilling expectations of what parents seek from British schools. MCS provides bilingual education, skillfully combining British educational programs and Russian Federal State Educational Standards (FGOS). Graduates receive two diplomas.

   Key Features:

– Modern and high-quality education comparable to private English schools.

– Emphasis on developing critical thinking, curiosity, and increasing academic motivation through solving non-standard tasks.

– Full-day school with teaching based on individual educational routes, along with pedagogical and psychological support for each student.

– Balanced workload, collaboration of psychologists, educators, healthcare professionals, and a tailored schedule contribute to effective learning of both programs without mental exhaustion.

– Certificates such as A-levels, GCSE, and/or Cambridge CAE are awarded, granting the right to university admission in any English-speaking country.

Riverside School

Riverside School is a bilingual primary school located in the Moscow suburbs, in Novogorsk. It simultaneously follows British national and Russian educational programs. The British program includes Key Stage 1 (ages 5–7, grades 1–2) and Key Stage 2 (ages 7–12, grades 3–6). Alongside the British program, children undergo Russian primary education based on FGOS.

   Advantages:

– Full immersion in an English-language environment.

– Experienced English-speaking educators in the English department.

– Wide range of extracurricular activities: sports (swimming, tennis, football, wrestling, skiing, golf), creative workshops (drawing, dance, music, theater), intellectual development clubs (chess, robotics).

– Professional security and daily bus transportation.

– Extended school hours until 20:00 with various activities and amenities for children.

   Location:

Riverside School is situated in a nature conservation zone in the Skhodnya River valley, surrounded by over 1 hectare of forest.

Brookes School Moscow

Brookes School Moscow is an international coeducational private school founded in 2018. All subjects are taught in English, and it is part of the Brookes Education Group with schools worldwide. The institution includes a preschool section for children aged 2 and a school for children aged 6 to 7.

– Highly qualified teachers, many with advanced degrees.

– Exchange programs with schools in the USA, Canada, UK, South Korea, India.

– Healthy three-meal daily catering.

– Convenient location in one of Moscow’s best districts.

– School representatives assist with organizing accommodation in Moscow.

Russian International School (RIS)

RIS is an elite educational center offering dual programs: Russian and British national. The school features experienced educators from Russia and the UK, adhering to high standards in both Russian and British education.

   Special Features:

– Class sizes limited to 10 students.

– Additional sections and workshops: ballet, karate, artistic gymnastics, football, Chinese martial arts, theatrical studio, chess, and English clubs.

– Collaboration with British educational institutions, aiding with admissions and document processing.

– Accreditation from the British Examination Commission (Edexcel Approved Centre) to prepare students for A-levels and GCSE.

– Accreditation from Cambridge International Examinations, along with an educational license from the Russian Ministry of Education and state accreditation.

Academic Gymnasium

Academic Gymnasium offers preschool, primary, basic general, and secondary education according to the Russian educational program. It is also an ESOL center for conducting Cambridge English tests. Graduates successfully pass these tests, facilitating admission to foreign universities.

– Extensive extracurricular activities, including excursions, clubs, conferences, roundtable discussions, Olympiads, research, sports sections, and competitions.

– Options for full-time, homeschooling, part-time (external), and their combinations.

– Educational program supplemented with individual subjects from Cambridge University.

– Learning a second foreign language.

– Accreditation and license for educational activities.

– Certified Cambridge ESOL center.

European Gymnasium

European Gymnasium is one of the few international private schools in Russia using the International Baccalaureate (IB) program from grades 1 to 11. Children also follow the state educational program. In the primary school, the state program integrates with the PYP IBO approaches. From an early age, students deeply study English and begin learning a second foreign language.

– Preparation for the IB and Russian exams on individual programs.

– In-depth study of two foreign languages.

– Students in middle and high school can choose the language of instruction: English or Russian.

– Preparation for KET, PET, and FCE exams.

– Authorization for all three IB programs: PYP, MYP, DP.

– State accreditation and license.

School of Tomorrow

“School of Tomorrow” is a bilingual school based on biblical principles, using the proprietary teaching methodology created by Dr. Donald Howard. The approach involves individualized learning, allowing students to progress at their own pace.

    Features:

– Mandatory SAT and TOEFL testing for graduates.

– Authorized to conduct Stanford testing since 2004.

– Graduates easily pass the Russian Unified State Exam (EGE) and gain admission to top global universities.

– Annual “School of Tomorrow” Olympiads with participants from various countries.

    Licenses and Certificates:

– NCPSA and Accreditation International certificates.

– Fire safety declaration.

– CITA accreditation.

Marina International Private School

Marina International Private School operates based on the federal program with a focus on mastering several foreign languages. Children start learning English from the 1st grade, and from the 4th grade, they choose French, Spanish, or German. In higher grades, a third foreign language is added to the curriculum.

– Collaboration with leading universities in the country, British, Canadian, and American universities.

– Educational exchanges and trips during holidays.

– Participation and victories in Olympiads and project work competitions (including in India and California).

– Marina, together with the California Theater, stages musicals in English.

– License and accreditation for educational activities.

– CIS (Council of International Schools) membership.

– Conclusion C (unknown context).

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7 Honors College Students to be selected for publication in premiere nonfiction student review, Limina!

April 29, 2024 - Anna Abeyta

Limina , formerly known as Best Student Essays (BSE) , stands as the premier nonfiction student review at the University of New Mexico. Published annually, it invites submissions from both undergraduate and graduate students across all disciplines. Limina welcomes a diverse range of nonfiction pieces, encompassing essays, research papers, scientific writing, memoirs, photo essays, foreign language compositions with English translations, and more.  

The recent release of Limina 's 34th volume on Saturday, April 13, brought great delight as it announced the inclusion of seven Honors College students in this year's edition.  

Five of these outstanding students submitted works cultivated in their Honors classes, with the invaluable support of their dedicated professors. These students and their respective works are:  

- "Conscience as Justification: Excusing Dorian in The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Rae Wilson (mentored by faculty member Renee Faubion, Honors College)  

- "The Lure Made of Gold: How 'Hamilton' and 'West Side Story' Portray the Bitter Reality of the American Dream" by Sherwin Thiyagarajan (mentored by faculty member Maria Szasz, Honors College)  

- "Calf" by Addison Key (mentored by faculty member Maria Szasz, Honors College)  

- "Homelessness and Gentrification as Evidence of Postmodernism in Rudolfo Anaya’s Rio Grande Fall" by Charlotte Auh (mentored by Myrriah Gómez, Honors College)  

- "Magical Ignorance" by Flora Granados (mentored by Myrriah Gómez, Honors College)  

Additionally, two other Honors students who submitted their original work were also selected:  

- “Discord or Harmony” by Sachi Barnaby    

- “Men of Metal and Angels of Meat: On the Philosophical Implications of Al Sentience” by Addison Fulton  

We take immense pride in the accomplishments of these students, whose dedication and talent shine brightly in this esteemed publication!  

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25 Best Universities In Moscow For International Students 2024

Moscow is surely one of the places you should be considering if you’re looking to study in Russia . This location has a lot to offer for international students, including world-class universities and exciting student experiences. With more than 59 universities and colleges in Moscow, you’ll surely have a wide range of choices.

Out of 59 universities in Moscow , RUDN University and Moscow State University are the top-performing schools in Moscow. This list covers both public and private institutions in Moscow.

To help you narrow down your school options, we’ve compiled the best universities in Moscow. We based our rankings on academic reputations from reputable sources and the number of international students. By doing this, you’ll have an efficient way of comparing your target universities and choose your host university in Moscow.

How do I get admission to the best universities in Moscow?

Applying to the universities in Moscow involves submitting requirements and following specific admissions procedures set by your chosen university. The requirements often include a student visa, application packages, and language scores. Check out our guide for international students who want to study in Moscow to learn more about applying for admission in this country’s universities!

How much are the tuition fees at the best universities in Moscow?

Tuition fees at Moscow’s universities can vary depending on which university, degree, and program you will be enrolling in. Generally, tuition fees for the bachelor’s level range from 0 RUB to 730,000 RUB , while tuition fees for the master’s level range from 0 RUB to 870,000 RUB. If you are interested, check out the affordable universities in Moscow !

As we cover the best universities in Moscow for international students, feel free to check out the university’s information on Admission, Tuition, Courses, and Language Requirements by looking at the individual university pages.

Top Universities in Moscow for International Students

1 rudn university.

RUDN University is one of the best universities in the capital city of Russia and is known as The People’s Friendship University of Russia. This higher education institution is mostly known for the high number of international students attracted to this university’s high ranking. The university is ranked among the world’s top 500 universities, which speaks volumes about the level of study this university provides.

2 Moscow State University

Moscow State University is one of the largest public universities in Moscow, Russia. This university is the cornerstone of formal higher education, and it provides education to close to 40,000 students. Some of the most attended programs are in the fields of economics, politics, and finance, where students gain real-world experience that may help them in their careers.

3 National Research Nuclear University MEPhI

The National Research Nuclear University MEPhI is one of the world’s most prestigious universities in its field and the perfect place for candidates that would like to specialize in nuclear technology. It focuses on fostering innovation, creativity, and internationalization. The university is known for its wide and highly specialized degree offer and its outstanding research performance. It has multiple institutes that develop studies in areas like nanoengineering, cyber-physical systems, and plasma technologies. These projects are completed in state-of-the-art facilities that include a research nuclear reactor and an accelerator.

4 National Research University Higher School of Economics

The National Research University Higher School of Economics, or otherwise known as HSE University, is one of the best universities of higher education in the capital city of Russia. This institution has one of the largest campuses in the country that houses approximately 50,000 students and can provide them with all the necessary equipment for them to have the best possible experience.

5 National University of Science and Technology MISIS

The National University of Science and Technology MISIS started as a mining academy and then became a steel institute. Over time, it expanded its course offer and modernized its facilities, but it’s still widely known for its programs in metallurgy and mining. Nowadays, the university has six campuses, 8 academic colleges, and multiple research institutes. They also have cutting-edge specialized laboratories in fields such as nanomaterials, cryoelectronic systems, biophysics, casting technologies, and much more!

6 I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University

I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University or usually referred to as Sechenov University was founded in 1758, making it the oldest medical school in Russia. It was initially the medical faculty of the Imperial Moscow University and eventually became independent in 1930. At present, the university has more than 18,000 total enrollment and offers undergraduate to Ph.D. programs in Medicine, Sciences, and Professional Education.

7 Plekhanov Russian University of Economics

The Plekhanov Russian University of Economics is a public university with over a century’s history of world-class economics and management education. Programs at the university are strongly focused on practical learning and provide opportunities for students to gain professional and international experience with its numerous partner employers around the world. The university also conducts several initiatives and projects that aim to address different educational, industrial, and social issues. 

8 Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration

The Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration is a very young institution of higher education located in the capital city of Russia. This university has grown in popularity in the region, and it now has over 46,000 students studying in various fields. Despite its youth, this university is ranked among the top 801 universities in the world by the prestigious QS World University Rankings.

9 Bauman University

Bauman University is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Russia. It specializes in education and research in applied sciences and engineering. The university boasts excellent programs for all levels of higher education and is home to some of the most advanced scientific laboratories and facilities in the country.

10 Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation

Ranked among the best universities in Russia and the world, the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation is a specialized institution that aims at contributing to the country’s economic development and financial transformation. This is a prestigious university known for being the educational home of many important Russian figures including prominent politicians, millionaires, and CEOs of important companies. It focuses on providing hands-on learning and encouraging critical thinking by using methods like case studies, discussions, and financial projects. It also has partnerships with governmental bodies and major businesses in order to offer workshops, academic collaborations, and internship opportunities.

11 N.R.U. Moscow Power Engineering Institute

N.R.U. Moscow Power Engineering Institute is a public technical university in Moscow with a prominent reputation for producing outstanding scientists and engineers for more than 90. It is also one of the most sought-after universities for aspiring engineers from around the world. The university also has numerous cooperation agreements with foreign universities and companies for its students and faculty to participate in different international programs and activities. 

12 Moscow State Pedagogical University

Moscow State Pedagogical University is a Russian higher education institute that offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral programs. It was established as the Women’s Courses of Higher Education in 1872 and underwent a transformative journey to what it is now. The university is well-recognized with International Partners across the globe, such as the University College of Teacher Education Vienna in Austria, the University of Pardubice in the Czech Republic, and the CY Cergy Paris University in France. Accessibility is a forefront advocacy with dedicated institutes for it, such as the Center for Student Disability Services and Psychological Assistance Center.

13 Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia

The Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia is the largest institution that offers education, training, and research in chemical technology in the country. The university was established in 1898 and is dedicated to raising future engineers and specialists who can formulate solutions to the most pressing scientific, industrial, and societal problems. It is also the alma mater of several notable individuals with significant contributions to different branches of science and chemistry.  

14 Russian National Research Medical University

Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University (RSMU) is a private university specializing in medicine located in Moscow, Russia. It was founded in 1906 as the Higher Medical Course for Women. Among the programs available at the university are general medicine, pediatrics, biochemistry, dentistry, pharmacy, social work, psychology, neuroscience, and radiology.

15 Moscow State Institute of International Relations

The Moscow State Institute of International Relations is one of the most prestigious and elite universities in Russia and the world, making it the perfect place for studying anything related to diplomacy, economics, international affairs, or languages. This institution strives for internationalization, which is why it has partnerships with multiple universities worldwide with which it offers dozens of double and triple degrees. It has different research institutes that develop studies in diplomacy, governance, energy policy, and global matters. Additionally, it constantly collaborates with international organizations and local governmental bodies.

16 Moscow Aviation Institute

Moscow Aviation Institute is an aviation school that offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Postgraduate level programs. Both the Russian and English languages are used as mediums of instruction. Aside from these university programs, Pre-university and Professional training programs are also offered. Nine dormitory options filled with quality service facilities are present for student residents. Three Metro stations are also near the campus, providing sufficient access for students with no personal vehicles.

17 Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas

The Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas is a specialized institution of higher education. This institution mostly focuses on developments in the field of oil and gas extraction and the safety of this direction. The main attraction for students is the affordable tuition prices for top-of-the-crop programs that are taught by experts in the relevant fields.

18 Russian State Social University

The Russian State Social University is a distinguished university in the country of Russia because it provides all levels of study to both domestic and international students with the opportunity to gain various financial aid through university or state-funded scholarships. This university is located in Moscow and was founded in 1991, but it is making its way slowly toward the ranking of the best universities in Russia.

19 Moscow Polytechnic University

Established in 1865, Moscow Polytechnic University, or Moscow Poly, is one of Russia’s educational institutions that provide technology-related programs. Currently, they deliver education to more than 16,000 local and international students. As they provide top-quality education and research in various fields, they also have various activities on campus to foster diversity.

20 Synergy University

Synergy University was established in 1988 and is one of the top business schools in Russia. The university’s programs are focused on providing strong fundamental knowledge of different principles, theories, and concepts and combining it with experiential learning to develop its students’ skill sets, thereby preparing them for the professional world. Synergy University has a student population of over 65,000 and has international campuses and branches in Dubai, London, United Arab Emirates, and New York.

21 National Research University of Electronic Technology

The National Research University of Electronic Technology is a public university that offers undergraduate and graduate-level education. In total, there are 40 Bachelor’s programs and 42 Master’s programs. It was founded in 1965 and was only officially renamed to its current title in 2011. Annual enrolment is estimated to be 4500 students, and over 600 academic staff are present to handle them. Not only do other universities partner with the National Research University of Electronic Technology, but over 131 corporations also cooperate with it.

22 Russian State University of Physical Culture, Sport and Tourism

Russian State University of Physical Culture, Sport, and Tourism is a leading sports university in Russia. It was established in 1918 and is known for producing over 200 outstanding athletes that have made their marks in prestigious international competitions such as the Olympics. The academic and research programs at the university are conducted by highly qualified and reputable coaches, experts, and scientists to further enhance athlete training and prepare future sports champions and professionals. 

23 Moscow City Teachers’ Training University

Moscow City Teachers’ Training University is a public university in Moscow, Russia. The Ministry of Education established it in 1995 as a pedagogical university, with only 1300 students in its first year. The university currently has over 18,000 students and offers degree programs in the humanities, natural sciences, sports technology, law, business, and language studies.

24 New Economic School

The New Economic School (NES) is a private institution located in Moscow that focuses on teaching and research in the field of economics. It takes pride in having a faculty made up of established professionals from the field, most of them holding a Ph.D. NES aims to train students who will be able to make valuable contributions to the growth of Russian society and business.

25 State University of Management

The State University of Management has been a frontrunner in providing management education in Russia for over 100 years. The university offers practice-oriented management education and training in different specializations such as business informatics, hotel management, and advertising. The State University of Management also conducts intensive research and innovative projects aimed at improving its academic programs and responding to the needs of the country’s economy. 

We know that choosing your dream school in Moscow not an easy task. After all, you need to consider other factors like the cost of your education, school background, and population, as it can be overwhelming on your part.

So, to help you out further in weighing your school options for studying in Moscow , make sure to visit our list of the best public and private universities in Moscow! These articles will surely help you in deciding your next study destination!