Category Archives: historical fiction
Front Lines – Michael Grant
What if women were included in the armed forces during World War II? This is the premise behind this vivid portrayal of army life during WWII. The first part of the book focuses on several women and what led them … Continue reading
The Taming of the Queen – Philippa Gregory
In fairy tales young women dream of marrying a king, becoming a queen. But this isn’t a fairy tale. This is reality, circa 1543, London, and the king is wife murderer, Henry VIII. Newly widowed. Kateryn Parr has just received … Continue reading
The Marriage of Opposites – Alice Hoffman
Rachel didn’t follow the rules. And rules were important, for she was part of a Jewish community that fled the European Inquisition and finally settled in the Caribbean. She rarely did as she was told. She spent most of her time in … Continue reading
River Runs Deep – Jennifer Bradbury
Young Elias suffers from tuberculosis and is sent to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky for experimental treatments by Dr. Croghan who hopes the cool cave air will aid in recovery. In the 1840s there were few proven treatments for tuberculosis (consumption). … Continue reading
The Last Bookaneer – Matthew Pearl
Start with a South Seas island . . . Samoa. Add a large estate in the interior owned by a Scottish gentleman and his family. Throw in some colorful natives and some Germans lurking in the background looking to cause … Continue reading
Black Dove, White Raven – Elizabeth Wein
Teo and Em are children of a female pilot and wing walker team, traveling the US after WWI as performers in air shows. When Delia is killed, Rhoda raises Teo as her own. So brother and sister, black and white, … Continue reading
The Train to Crystal City: FDR’s Secret Prisoner Exchange Program and America’s Only Family Internment Camp During World War II – Jan Jarboe Russell
Crystal City, Texas, is a small town in a sandy, dry prairie near the Mexican border. Its only claim to fame is spinach. The sandy soil turned out to be fine for growing spinach and a statue of Popeye stands … Continue reading
Motherland – Maria Hummel
There was so much that needed to be done. Liesl felt overwhelmed. This was a household used to servants, and she was alone with three little boys. Alone and hungry and cold. Hans resented her, wouldn’t do as he was … Continue reading
The Boston Girl – Anita Diamant
The tape recorder began running in 1984, as Addie Baum, in response to her granddaughter’s request, started to tell of her life. The story begins in 1915 when she was 15, with the family of four living in one room … Continue reading
The King’s Curse – Philippa Gregory
Margaret Pole was careful, oh so very careful. She had been quietly married to a nice, obedient knight, Sir Richard Pole. She lived far away from court in Ludlow Castle with her husband who was guardian for Arthur, Prince of … Continue reading
Bracelet of Bones – Kevin Crossley-Holland
Vikings! The year is 1036. After defeat in battle, Halfdan decides to follow his leader, Harald Sigurdsson, east to Kiev then south to the Black Sea. He intends to join the Varangian guard, a troop of Vikings that serves the … Continue reading
Citadel – Kate Mosse
Sandrine is eighteen and is coping with the hardships of living under the occupation of the Germans, trying to keep life as normal as possible. Her early morning bicycle rides are a special pleasure. No one is stirring, and the … Continue reading
Museum of Extraordinary Things – Alice Hoffman
Coralie was a mermaid. She had webbed hands, with which she was born, and a beautiful scaled tale, with which she was supplied. Her father was the owner of the museum on Coney Island that exhibited all manner of oddities, … Continue reading
Road to Reckoning: A Novel – Robert Lautner
Thomas Walker’s great adventure had gone terribly wrong. Only a few days ago he and his father set out from New York to sell Samuel Colt’s Improved Revolving Gun in the hills of central Pennsylvania, hoping to make a living … Continue reading
VIII – H.M. Castor
This account of Henry VIII’s life from youth through the last of his six marriages is well researched – and G rated! It allows a glimpse into how an English king is molded from such a very early age. I … Continue reading
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