BISAC Subject Headings List

Use the information provided here to determine the specific codes that describe your book. An asterisk (*) denotes a new heading for the current year’s edition. Not sure how to select your code? Check out our FAQ.

If you can't find the code you're looking for after reviewing all the pages below, we recommend you use whatever codes currently best represent your book. If you want to propose a new code for future BISAC additions, you can submit a suggestion here.

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YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION

Works of young adult nonfiction (ages 12-18; grades 7-12) should be assigned subjects in this section only. Collections containing both young adult nonfiction and young adult fiction may also be assigned subjects in the YOUNG ADULT FICTION section.

"Drama" and "Literary Criticism & Collections" subheadings for young adult works are found in this section.

Works of nonfiction intended for children (ages 0-11; preschool-grade 6) should be assigned subjects from the JUVENILE NONFICTION

Critical works intended for adults should be assigned "LITERARY CRITICISM / Children's & Young Adult Literature" and any other subjects needed in the LITERARY CRITICISM section (and should not be assigned any subjects in the YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION section). Critical works intended for young adults should be assigned "YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Literary Criticism & Collections".

Use "YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Media Tie-In" when a new ISBN is created and this ISBN represents a work (or works) of nonfiction based on a movie or television show. It is recommended that when "YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Media Tie-In" is used, another subject be assigned as the primary subject.

Use subjects containing the literal "Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island" for works about Indigenous people in Canada.  Turtle Island is a name for Earth or North America, preferred by some Indigenous peoples.  The name is based on a common North American Indigenous creation story and in some cultures is synonymous with "North America."

YAN000000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / General

YAN058000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Activism & Social Justice

YAN001000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Activity Books

YAN002000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Adventure & Adventurers

YAN003000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Animals / General

YAN003010

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Animals / Animal Welfare

YAN003020

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Animals / Birds

YAN003030

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Animals / Marine Life

YAN004000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Architecture

YAN005000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Art / General

YAN005010

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Art / Cartooning

YAN005020

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Art / Drawing

YAN005030

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Art / Fashion

YAN005040

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Art / History

YAN005050

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Art / Painting

YAN005060

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Art / Sculpture

YAN005070

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Art / Techniques

YAN006000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / General

YAN006010

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / Art

YAN006020

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / Cultural, Ethnic & Regional

YAN006030

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / Historical

YAN006150

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / LGBTQ+

YAN006040

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / Literary

YAN006050

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / Music

YAN006060

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / Performing Arts

YAN006070

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / Political

YAN006080

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / Presidents & First Families (U.S.)

YAN006090

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / Religious

YAN006100

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / Royalty

YAN006110

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / Science & Technology

YAN006120

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / Social Activists

YAN006130

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / Sports & Recreation

YAN006140

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / Women

YAN008000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Books & Libraries

YAN009000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Boys & Men

YAN010000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Business & Economics

YAN011000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Careers

YAN012000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / General

YAN012010

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Biography

YAN012020

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / History

YAN012030

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Science & Nature

YAN012040

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Social Topics

YAN013000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Computers / General

YAN013030

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Computers / Coding & Programming

YAN013010

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Computers / Entertainment & Games

YAN013020

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Computers / Internet & Social Media

YAN013040

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Computers / Software

YAN014000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Cooking & Food

YAN015000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Crafts & Hobbies

YAN016000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Curiosities & Wonders

YAN051230

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Disabilities

YAN061000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Diversity & Multicultural *

YAN017000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Drama

YAN018000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Family / General (see also headings under Social Topics)

YAN018010

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Family / Adoption

YAN018020

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Family / Alternative Family

YAN018080

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Family / Blended Families

YAN018030

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Family / Marriage & Divorce

YAN018040

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Family / Multigenerational

YAN018050

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Family / Orphans & Foster Homes

YAN018060

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Family / Parents

YAN018070

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Family / Siblings

YAN019000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Fashion

YAN020000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Foreign Language Study / General

YAN020010

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Foreign Language Study / English as a Second Language

YAN020020

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Foreign Language Study / French

YAN020030

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Foreign Language Study / Spanish

YAN021000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Games & Activities / General

YAN021010

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Games & Activities / Puzzles & Word Games

YAN021020

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Games & Activities / Questions & Answers

YAN022000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Gardening

YAN023000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Girls & Women

YAN024000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Health & Daily Living / General

YAN024010

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Health & Daily Living / Beauty & Grooming

YAN024020

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Health & Daily Living / Diet & Nutrition

YAN024030

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Health & Daily Living / Diseases, Illnesses & Injuries

YAN024040

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Health & Daily Living / Fitness & Exercise

YAN024050

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Health & Daily Living / Maturing

YAN024100

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Health & Daily Living / Mental Health

YAN024090

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Health & Daily Living / Mindfulness & Meditation

YAN024060

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Health & Daily Living / Physical Impairments

YAN024070

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Health & Daily Living / Safety

YAN024080

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Health & Daily Living / Sexuality & Pregnancy

YAN025000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / History / General

YAN025010

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / History / Africa

YAN025020

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / History / Ancient

YAN025030

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / History / Asia

YAN025040

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / History / Australia & Oceania

YAN025050

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / History / Canada

YAN025060

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / History / Central & South America

YAN025070

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / History / Europe

YAN025080

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / History / Exploration & Discovery

YAN025090

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / History / Holocaust

YAN025100

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / History / Medieval

YAN025110

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / History / Mexico

YAN025120

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / History / Middle East

YAN025130

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / History / Military & Wars

YAN025140

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / History / Modern

YAN025150

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / History / Prehistoric

YAN025160

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / History / Renaissance

YAN025170

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / History / United States / General

YAN025180

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / History / United States / State & Local

YAN025190

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / History / United States / Colonial & Revolutionary Periods

YAN025200

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / History / United States / 19th Century

YAN025210

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / History / United States / Civil War Period (1850-1877)

YAN025220

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / History / United States / 20th Century

YAN025230

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / History / United States / 21st Century

YAN026000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Holidays & Celebrations

YAN027000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / House & Home

YAN028000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Humor

YAN029000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Inspirational & Personal Growth

YAN030000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Language Arts / General

YAN030010

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Language Arts / Communication

YAN030020

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Language Arts / Composition & Creative Writing

YAN030030

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Language Arts / Grammar

YAN030040

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Language Arts / Journal Writing

YAN030050

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Language Arts / Vocabulary & Spelling

YAN031000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Law & Crime

YAN032000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / LGBTQ+

YAN033000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Literary Criticism & Collections

YAN034000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Mathematics / General

YAN034010

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Mathematics / Algebra

YAN034020

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Mathematics / Geometry

YAN035000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Media Studies

YAN036000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Media Tie-In

YAN037000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Music / General

YAN037010

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Music / History

YAN037020

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Music / Instruction & Study

YAN037030

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Music / Popular

YAN037040

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Music / Rap & Hip Hop

YAN037050

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Music / Rock

YAN059000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Neurodiversity

YAN007000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Paranormal & Supernatural

YAN038000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / People & Places / General

YAN038020

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / People & Places / Africa

YAN038030

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / People & Places / Asia

YAN038040

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / People & Places / Australia & Oceania

YAN038050

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / People & Places / Canada

YAN038060

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / People & Places / Caribbean & Latin America

YAN038070

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / People & Places / Europe

YAN038010

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / People & Places / Indigenous

YAN038160

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / People & Places / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island *

YAN038080

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / People & Places / Mexico

YAN038090

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / People & Places / Middle East

YAN038100

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / People & Places / United States / General

YAN038110

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / People & Places / United States / African American & Black

YAN038120

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / People & Places / United States / Asian American & Pacific Islander

YAN038130

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / People & Places / United States / Hispanic & Latino

YAN038150

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / People & Places / United States / Middle Eastern & Arab American

YAN038140

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / People & Places / United States / Native American

YAN039000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Performing Arts / General

YAN039010

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Performing Arts / Dance

YAN039020

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Performing Arts / Film

YAN039030

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Performing Arts / Television & Radio

YAN039040

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Performing Arts / Theater & Musicals

YAN040000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Personal Finance

YAN041000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Philosophy

YAN042000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Photography

YAN043000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Poetry

YAN044000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Public Speaking & Presentation

YAN045000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Recycling & Green Living

YAN046000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Reference

YAN047000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Religion / General

YAN047010

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Religion / Agnosticism & Atheism

YAN047020

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Religion / Biblical Stories & Studies

YAN047030

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Religion / Buddhism

YAN047040

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Religion / Christianity

YAN047050

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Religion / Eastern

YAN047060

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Religion / Hinduism

YAN047070

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Religion / Islam

YAN047080

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Religion / Judaism

YAN048000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Religious / Christian / General

YAN048010

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Religious / Christian / Dating

YAN048020

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Religious / Christian / Devotional & Prayer

YAN048030

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Religious / Christian / Family & Relationships

YAN048040

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Religious / Christian / Inspirational

YAN049000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / School & Education

YAN050000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Science & Nature / General (see also headings under Animals or Technology)

YAN050010

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Science & Nature / Anatomy & Physiology

YAN050020

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Science & Nature / Astronomy

YAN050030

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Science & Nature / Biology

YAN050040

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Science & Nature / Botany

YAN050050

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Science & Nature / Chemistry

YAN050060

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Science & Nature / Disasters

YAN050070

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Science & Nature / Earth Sciences

YAN050080

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Science & Nature / Environmental Conservation & Protection

YAN050090

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Science & Nature / Environmental Science & Ecosystems

YAN050100

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Science & Nature / Experiments & Projects

YAN050110

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Science & Nature / History of Science

YAN050120

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Science & Nature / Physics

YAN050130

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Science & Nature / Zoology

YAN052000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Science / General

YAN052010

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Science / Archaeology

YAN052020

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Science / Customs, Traditions, Anthropology

YAN052030

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Science / Folklore & Mythology

YAN052040

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Science / Politics & Government

YAN052050

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Science / Psychology

YAN052060

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Science / Sociology

YAN051000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / General (see also headings under Family)

YAN051010

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Assimilation

YAN051020

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Bullying

YAN051270

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Civil & Human Rights

YAN051030

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Class Differences

YAN051280

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Compulsive Behavior

YAN051210

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Cutting & Self-Harm

YAN051040

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Dating & Sex

YAN051050

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Death, Grief, Bereavement

YAN051060

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Depression & Mental Illness

YAN051070

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Drugs, Alcohol, Substance Abuse

YAN051080

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Eating Disorders & Body Image

YAN051090

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Emigration & Immigration

YAN051100

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Emotions & Feelings

YAN051110

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Friendship

YAN051140

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Manners & Etiquette

YAN051150

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Peer Pressure

YAN051160

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Physical & Emotional Abuse (see also Social Topics / Sexual Abuse)

YAN051120

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Poverty & Homelessness

YAN051170

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Pregnancy

YAN051180

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Prejudice & Racism

YAN051190

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Runaways

YAN051200

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance

YAN051220

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Sexual Abuse

YAN051240

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Suicide

YAN051250

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Values & Virtues

YAN051260

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Violence

YAN053000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Sports & Recreation / General

YAN053010

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Sports & Recreation / Baseball & Softball

YAN053020

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Sports & Recreation / Basketball

YAN053030

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Sports & Recreation / Camping & Outdoor Activities

YAN053040

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Sports & Recreation / Extreme Sports

YAN053050

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Sports & Recreation / Football

YAN053060

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Sports & Recreation / Hockey

YAN053070

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Sports & Recreation / Martial Arts

YAN053080

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Sports & Recreation / Motor Sports

YAN053090

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Sports & Recreation / Olympics & Paralympics

YAN053100

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Sports & Recreation / Soccer

YAN053110

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Sports & Recreation / Track & Field

YAN053120

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Sports & Recreation / Winter Sports

YAN054000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Study Aids / General

YAN054010

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Study Aids / Book Notes (see also STUDY AIDS / Book Notes)

YAN054020

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Study Aids / Test Preparation

YAN055000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Technology / General

YAN055010

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Technology / Aeronautics, Astronautics & Space Science

YAN055020

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Technology / Agriculture

YAN055030

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Technology / Electricity & Electronics

YAN055040

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Technology / Inventions

YAN055050

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Technology / Machinery & Tools

YAN055060

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Technology / Robotics

YAN056000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Transportation / General

YAN056010

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Transportation / Aviation

YAN056020

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Transportation / Boats, Ships & Underwater Craft

YAN056030

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Transportation / Cars & Trucks

YAN057000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Travel

YAN060000

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Volunteering

If your title does not have subject content, i.e. a blank book, please use the Non-Classifiable term below. Otherwise, use the Subject/General term in the closest descriptive area. NON000000 NON-CLASSIFIABLE

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