Historical Fiction

King of Shadows

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King of Shadows (Paperback)

By Susan Cooper
$7.99
ISBN: 9780689844454
Availability: In Stock-Click Title to See Store Inventory
Published: Margaret K. McElderry Books - June 1st, 2001

While playing Puck in a production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Nat Field finds himself four hundred years in the past, in another production of Midsummer, playing opposite Shakespeare himself. This is a really lovely historical fantasy that feels like a hug across time.

Ari

The Blackbird Girls

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The Blackbird Girls (Paperback)

By Anne Blankman
$8.99
ISBN: 9781984837370
Availability: In Stock-Click Title to See Store Inventory
Published: Puffin Books - January 19th, 2021

I often find it hard to sink into a historical fiction MG title, but this one absolutely sucked me in. The Chernobyl disaster isn't something widely addressed in kids' lit, and this title handles it so well. The interwoven political and social dynamics are heartbreaking, but the friendship the two main characters develop despite everything is so lovely. (This is also now a Sydney Taylor Book Award Silver Medalist)

Stacey

The Enigma Game

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The Enigma Game (Hardcover)

By Elizabeth Wein
$18.99
ISBN: 9781368012584
Availability: In Stock-Click Title to See Store Inventory
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - November 3rd, 2020

After Louisa Adair's parents are killed in the Blitz, she goes to Scotland to take care of an elderly German woman, and crosses paths with characters from Code Name Verity and The Pearl Thief, along with a secret German encryption device.

Sarah

The Silence of Bone

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The Silence of Bones (Hardcover)

By June Hur
$17.99
ISBN: 9781250229557
Availability: Available at Wholesaler
Published: Feiwel & Friends - April 21st, 2020

I loved this haunting historical mystery set in 1800s Joseon Korea, and can't wait to see more from debut author June Hur. I love a teen girl protagonist who won't stop asking questions and follows her own moral compass even when it means breaking the rules. Your heart will be in your mouth as you accompany Seol on her search for the truth!

Sacha, Writer in Residence for Young Readers

The Mercies

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The Mercies (Hardcover)

By Kiran Millwood Hargrave
$27.00
Not Available
ISBN: 9780316529259
Published: Little, Brown and Company - February 11th, 2020

 

A beautifully written tale of a 1600s witch hunt and trial on a small Norwegian island. It is a nuanced look at the power of a female community, the toxicity of patriarchy, and the whirlwind of a village descending into madness, eating itself from the inside.This book will sweep you up in its whirlwind.

Meaghan

The Secrets We Kept

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The Secrets We Kept: A novel (Hardcover)

By Lara Prescott
$26.95
Not Available
ISBN: 9780525656159
Published: Knopf - September 3rd, 2019

Inspired by the true story of the CIA’s role in the publication of Doctor Zhivago, Prescott imagines the lives of Boris Pasternak’s real life lover/muse Olga as well as the fictional Irina and Sally, spies involved in the mission to smuggle the novel into the Soviet Union. Espionage, forbidden love, and the zippy commentary of the Mad Men-era typing pool combine for an absorbing story.

Katie

Fountains of Silence

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The Fountains of Silence (Hardcover)

By Ruta Sepetys
$18.99
ISBN: 9780399160318
Availability: Available at Wholesaler
Published: Philomel Books - October 1st, 2019

 

It’s the summer of 1957, and aspiring photojournalist Daniel Mattheson is staying in Madrid with his wealthy family at the luxurious Castellana Hilton. When he meets Ana, a hotel employee, he begins to understand the dark truth of life under Franco’s dictatorship and strives to capture a story through his photography. This is rich, character-driven historical fiction that will appeal to both teens and adults.

Katie

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