Looking for interesting middle school non-fiction recs

My son's first book report of the year is supposed to be a non-fiction book, but we're both scratching our heads about it. Last year, he used 'Understanding Comics', and this year, he was thinking about 'something to do with history. Maybe the middle ages.' (Yeah, you got it. Like there is such a small number of those.)

So I am actively soliciting recs for non-fiction books that my middle-schooler might like. He needs something with a good narrative voice, and where the vocabulary won't have him looking up every second word (as he doesn't just look it up, he just yells 'mom, what does this mean?', and then I have to yell back at him to look it up, which leads to a lot of shouting.)

If you can think of something that fits these vague guidelines--I'd also say Age of Sail along with the Middle Ages--please drop me a comment and we'll check it out.

Vid: I'm the Cat, remastered

Vid: I'm the Cat
Vidded by: Media Cannibals, the HL collective. gattagrigia,sherrold, feochadn and I were the primary vidders here, back in the late 1990s.
Remastered by: killabeez
Summary:a more light-hearted, season 4-ish view of Methos and his relationship with Duncan, which continues our theme of comparing BSOs and cats.
Fandom Highlander
Format: DIVX

Huge thanks to killabeez who surprised us by having remastered the vid. Yay, Killa!

This vid is also up on imeem if you want to stream it.

You can download a few other old MC vids using Sandy and my Clucking Belles Vid Site.

Feedback of any sort is always appreciated. Recs, reviews, and concrit welcome.