Tag Archives: Historical Fiction

MG – The Lost Year: A Survival Story of the Ukrainian Famine

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Marsh, Katherine. The Lost Year: A Survival Story of the Ukrainian Famine. Roaring Brook Press, 2023. 978-1-250-31360-7. 368 p. Grades 6-8.

Flipping between the days of the pandemic in 2020 and the Holodomor in the Ukraine in 1933, this eye-opening historical fiction work tells the story of Matthew, a young man barely tolerating the conditions brought on by COVID days and three cousins from the Ukraine. Matthew’s mother has moved GG, Matthew’s 100-year-old great-grandmother, to their home to protect her health. As a diversion from video games, she encourages her son to help GG sort through the many boxes from storage that GG brings with her. At first reluctantly, then gradually eagerly, Matthew gets to know his immigrant grandmother in a new way, learn about this atrocity that was suppressed in even prestigious newspapers like the New York Times, and form a tighter bond with his journalist father who is seconded to Paris for his work. In each compelling chapter, the reader uncovers the struggles, beliefs, and failures of the girls: Helen, the cousin who lives in a cramped apartment in Brooklyn and is trying to shed light on the Ukrainian famine; Mila, the spoiled daughter of a staunch Stalinist who has grown up believing the doctrine of the Communist Party; and Nadiya, the poor peasant whose family resists the collective farms and suffers terrible consequences. Author Katherine Marsh, whether deliberately or inadvertently, draws similarities between the disinformation prevalent during COVID in contemporary times and the near silence on the Ukrainians’ years of starvation in the early thirties. With the current war in the Ukraine continuing, the reader cannot help but feel sympathetic toward this country that has endured so much.

THOUGHTS: Students having Ukrainian or Russian ancestry will gain the most from this book, but everyone who reads it will know of the Holodomor. (I asked a student whose family came from the Ukraine if she knew about the Holodomor and she immediately said yes, though I just learned about it from this book.) It provokes discussion of perpetuating true information and encourages a stronger discernment of governments and the news they pass on. This title is a springboard for preserving family stories. Matthew’s search for information is contagious, and the action keeps building, but more prolific readers may predict the plot twist before it happens.

Historical Fiction                                          

MG – Light Comes to Shadow Mountain

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Buzzeo, Toni. Light Comes to Shadow Mountain. Holiday House, 2023. 978-0-823-45384-9. 263 p. $17.99.  Grades 4-6.

In her debut novel, Buzzeo has crafted an engaging story based on the arrival of electricity to the eastern Kentucky mountains in the 1930s. At that time, few rural areas had electricity, even though most cities did. Cora Mae Tipton lives on Shadow Mountain, one such unelectrified community. She dreams of becoming a journalist like Nellie Bly, while her best friend Ceilly wants to be an aviator. When news of the Rural Electrification Act arrives in the holler, the two girls are thrilled to learn about the formation of an electricity cooperative. Not everyone is excited about the life-changing news, including Cora’s mother, who is pregnant and still grieving for her daughter Ida, who died from the flu. Cora, always with a notebook in hand, questions her Pap, who is now working for the project. The budding journalist learns about the fees, which are prohibitive for some families and the school. Believing in the importance of electricity in the school, the friends come up with a successful plan to raise money for a subscription, but then trouble besets the Tipton family. Mrs. Tipton becomes more depressed, and there is frequent bickering between mother and daughter. One of the twins is badly burned, and the fundraising money is needed for medical bills. Cousin Glenna comes to stay to avoid an abusive father. Then Mrs. Tipton goes into premature labor at home. With no adult to help, Cora must call on  her inner strength if she is to save the baby and bring the Mountain out of the shadows. This piece of historical fiction offers an eye-opening look into rural America of the past- a world of pack horse libraries, settlement schools, and the frontier nursing service, which are all described in the back matter. The author has created well-developed characters, some who are resistant to change and some who embrace it. With its compelling plot, this deep and sensitive story will leave readers hoping for a sequel to learn what the future holds for the likeable Miss Tipton.

THOUGHTS: This outstanding book is highly recommended for middle grade libraries.

Historical Fiction

YA – Enter the Body

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McCullough, Joy. Enter the Body. Dutton Books for Young Readers, 2023. 978-0-593-40675-5 . 336 p. $18.99. Grades 9-12.

Question: What happens when you place Juliet, Ophelia, Cordelia, and Lavinia in a room beneath the famous Bard’s stage? Answer: They develop a voice and get to tell their story, their way. It sounds like a corny joke but is anything except a joking matter. All wronged by their co-stars and the famous Bard, each young woman has the opportunity to talk through (when able) her experiences in what reads like a group therapy session. The women are given the chance to decide how they would have done things differently if given another occasion and the ability to make their own decisions. Familiarity with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, King Lear, and Titus Andronicus (I was familiar with all but the last) is helpful for context but not a necessity. Naive readers – or those not familiar with the plays – may miss the seriousness of this tale (all of these characters were seriously wronged and are dead) but will enjoy the story nonetheless. At times this novel in verse reads like a teenage sleepover, with characters constantly interrupting each other. McCullough brings a contemporary voice to these classic characters that will resonate with today’s readers.

THOUGHTS: The audiobook is outstanding! One does not need to like Shakespeare or classic literature and plays – I am not a fan of either – to be moved by Enter the Body. Highly recommended for high school collections.

Historical Fiction

MG – I Am Kavi

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Ponweera, Thushanthi. I Am Kavi. Holiday House/Peachtree, 2023. 978-0-823-45365-8. $18.99. 224 p. Grades 5-8.

Fifth-grader Kavi has won the coveted scholarship, which enables her to attend any school in Sri Lanka that she wishes. After her soldier-father’s (Thaththa’s) death, her mother (Amma) has remarried and Kavi refuses to accept Siripala, her new stepfather. With the scholarship opportunity, Kavi wishes to whisk her mother away to a far off place, away from the relentless war. However, Amma is pregnant and says her place is at home, convincing Kavi that she is no longer loved or needed. Kavi’s aunt, Mala Nanda, works as a housekeeper to a wealthy family in Columbo, so she begrudgingly travels there to live with her mother’s older sister with the family, including their thirteen-year-old daughter, Sasha. At school, Kavi’s focus on studies drops to the wayside once she sees the dress and possessions of the popular girls. Her envy takes over and she has a willing tutor in the indulged but lonely Sasha. Kavi wins over the girls, Nethmi and Sulo, with her (borrowed) stories of a rich family and displays of modern 1990’s fashion. The charade seems to be successful until examination time when all pretense gets ripped away. This novel in verse tells a traditional coming of age story with a more international setting of Sri Lanka during the war torn years of 1997 and 1998. Handling mean girls, being the new kid, fitting into a new family configuration, and longing for popularity are universal. Doing this while witnessing soldiers walking through the streets, worshiping Buddha, and making sense of the differences between Sunhil and Tamil is new. This novel in verse gives a new spin to a familiar story.

THOUGHTS: Being true to oneself is hard if one’s life has little material objects to compare with the wealthy. Kavi takes a while to learn her lesson, but she shows real loyalty when she does. Nothing major to impress here, except a revelation of different customs, different life style, different times.

Historical Fiction  

MG – Nothing Else but Miracles

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Albus, Kate. Nothing Else but Miracles. Margaret Ferguson Books, Holiday House, 2023. 978-0-823-45163-0 $17.99. 278 p. Grades 4-7.

The Bryne children–seventeen-year-old Fish, eleven-year-old Dory, and six-year-old Pike–are on their own in the middle of World War II after their dad enlists. Their mother died a few years prior, but Pop is sure the tight knit Lower East Side neighborhood will take care of his children while he’s away. And they do. The ethnically diverse neighbors lavish food and care on the small family. No one anticipates, though, the entrance of a mean-spirited landlord after the sudden death of the kindly one. Dory, the protagonist, is a magnet for trouble, and does little to avoid getting in scrapes. When the new landlord presses to see their elusive father and threatens foster care, Dory takes it upon herself to find a solution. Caputo’s, their friend’s Italian restaurant, houses an ancient dumb waiter that acts like an elevator. Dory sneaks in and risks all to try out the unused equipment only to find that the ascending floors reveal an abandoned hotel. Once school is out for the summer, the family takes up residence there, avoiding detection from both social services and the restaurant staff. Until D-Day. Pop’s letters–and the rent checks–stop coming. Fish takes a job to help the money situation, but as more of the neighborhood’s fathers’ and sons’ blue service stars get replaced by gold, the children’s fear that Pop may not be coming back grows more real. This historical fiction book gives a vivid picture of a working class New York City neighborhood in the 40’s. Author Albus creates a memorable character with spunky Dory and does not stint on mystery or historical background. All characters seem to be white.

THOUGHTS: Though not a deep read about life during World War II, Nothing Else But Miracles drops a lot of names, places, and objects connected to the time. Give this book to readers interested in World War II stateside. Similar to Island Spies by Sheila Turnage, this book has some suspense, but the former has higher stakes for the country (spies vs. foster care, Pop’s return). Pair with the poignant The War That Saved My Life, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley’s book with its exquisite narrative and soulful characterization. Albus’s book is so much lighter, even with the loss of life. The reader never gets the same feeling here as one gets when Ava (in Bradley’s book) describes sleeping on sheets for the first time. A footnote: at one point, the family wants to go to the observation deck of the Empire State Building and needs $3.00, a small fortune at that time. I researched this and found that the Empire State Building did charge $1.00 admission. However, as a twelve-year-old New Yorker in the sixties, I recall walking into the lobby of the Empire State Building one evening and just taking the elevator up for free. My siblings confirm this.

Historical Fiction

MG – Iceberg

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Nielsen, Jennifer A. Iceberg. Scholastic Press, 2023. 978-1-338-79502-8. 339 p. $17.99. Grades 4-7.

Hazel Rothbury can’t afford a three-pound ticket to board the ship bound for New York. After being turned away, Hazel decides to stowaway on the ship rather than disappoint her family still struggling at home. The catch? It’s April 10, 1912, and Hazel just climbed aboard the infamous and “unsinktable” Titanic. Hazel is bound for work at a New York factory so she can send money home. After securing a cabin through her new porter friend Charlie, Hazel begins to explore the ship and gathers all kinds of information. The shores of Ireland disappear as drama and mystery unfolds between passengers. Hazel, an aspiring journalist, becomes unintentionally embroiled in a couple’s plot to steal hundreds of pounds from none other than her new first-class friend, Sylvia. As things get dangerous for Hazel, time keeps the ship moving forward toward the fateful collision with the iceberg. After the iceberg is hit and Titanic’s body begins to fill with water, all of the slow burn drama and mystery built-up between characters further fuels the novel’s fast-paced climax and conclusion.

THOUGHTS: While the ship’s icy end won’t come as a surprise to readers, there are still twists for those who like adventure stories. Nielsen’s story brings the human tragedy and error of Titanic to life for middle grade readers. While the story includes descriptions of the ship’s demise and also character development that intensifies the tragedy’s emotional impact, Nielsen’s writing in Iceberg is cleansed of the graphic horrors that stuck with me while watching a certain 90s film. Hazel sees plenty of red flags with the ship right away. Her foresighted concerns seem a little farcical—there are points where she reads a book on types of dangerous icebergs, and she directly challenges Captain Smith for answers about the ship’s design. There are also a few repetitious plot points where Hazel continuously encounters the villainous, thieving couple. Still, the dramatic irony at play will keep readers who know “something bad is coming” hooked through the heavy exposition toward the much later (more action-packed!) parts of the novel. Characters cue as white and European but range in social and economic status. Readers of Ruta Sepetys and Alan Gratz likely will gravitate towards this story as long as they are up for reading most of the book’s pages before ship and iceberg actually meet.

Historical Fiction

Elem./MG – The Windeby Puzzle: History and Story

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Lowry, Lois. The Windeby Puzzle: History and Story. Clarion Books, 2023. 978-035-867250-0. 186 p. $16.99. Grades 5-7.

In May 1952 in northern Germany, men excavating a peat bog discovered skeletal remains, with remarkably preserved hair and clothing remnants. Scientists estimated that this “bog body” was buried in the First Century A.D, during the Iron Age and could find no obvious signs of trauma. At first they believed the body was that of an adolescent female, and she became known as the Windeby Girl. Fascinated by this, Lowry poses a possible explanation to this mystery, after conducting research on that time period. She calls the girl Estrild, and she lives in a village with her family. Her friend is called Varick, who is an orphan boy with a curved spine and other disabilities. Approaching adulthood, Estrild is not looking forward to a future as a wife and mother.  Instead, she longs to be a warrior like her brothers and asks Varick, who works with the forger, to help her learn how to use a sword and shield. Soon it is time for the eligible boys to undergo the initiation rites of the warrior. Estrild joins them, declaring before the village and the druids that a woman should have the same opportunities to fight as the males. Those in power make a decision, which ends in tragedy. After writing this story, Lowry learned that a scientist in this century determined that the bog body was that of an adolescent male and so she created a second story from the viewpoint of Varick, who is very curious about nature and how things work. From his study of bones, he is able to successfully treat the forger’s hip injury, but sadly the teenager cannot help himself avoid an unfortunate end. The book is divided into five parts: History, Estrild’s story, History, Varick’s story, and History. The History sections discuss life in the Iron Age and the bog body discovery. There is ample information in the back matter about warrior shields, animals, and customs. The end papers show a photograph of the body, and there are grayscale illustrations by Stroh before each chapter. 

THOUGHTS: This is an intriguing book that will attract middle grade readers. One can imagine Estrild as a modern day feminist and Varick a scientist. Even though the reader learns the fate of  the characters, there is no narrative discussing their actual deaths. Lowry is a fabulous storyteller, and elementary and middle school libraries will not want to miss this one.

Historical Fiction

MG/YA – Almost There

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Rochon, Farrah. Almost There. Disney Hyperion, 2022. 978-1-368-07756-9. $18.99. 464 p. Grades 7-12.

“What if Tiana made a deal that changed everything?” This story begins where the movie comes to an end, and against Tiana’s better judgment, she decides to make a deal with Dr. Facilier, also known as The Shadow Man. He not only promises that Tiana will have her restaurant but that she’ll have it with her father who died when she was young. In return, she must give up a future with Prince Naveen and add a special potion into her gumbo each night at the restaurant. When she agrees to the terms, she wakes up to a seemingly perfect life. Although she misses Naveen, she now has her father and the restaurant of their dreams. As time goes on, strange things start to happen in New Orleans, and Tiana may need the help of closest friends to set things right.

THOUGHTS: I’ve been a big fan of the Twisted Tales since I started reading them a few years ago but as a lifelong Disney fan, I was skeptical of the idea; however, each one has exceeded my expectations, including Almost There, a twist on The Princess and the Frog. Although this series has two main authors, Disney chose an African American author from Louisiana to bring Tiana’s story from the screen to the page. Set in 1920s New Orleans, the book is able to touch on subjects, such as racism, that the movie did not explore. Readers will enjoy this tale even if they haven’t seen the movie and will be inspired to explore the others as well. The Twisted Tales are a must have series for any middle and high school library.

Fantasy          Emily Hoffman, Conestoga Valley SD

MG -The Bluest Sky

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Gonzalez, Christina Diaz. The Bluest Sky. Alfred A. Knopf, 2022. 978-0-593-37279-1. 314 p. $17.99. Grades 5-8.

Political unrest in the Communist government of 1980s Cuba made life in Havana a delicate balancing act. In public, people must support all government decisions or face retribution from friends and family through the Committee for the Defense of the Revolution, but in private, people are secretly becoming disenfranchised with the Communist Party and the lack of freedom and opportunity in Communist Cuba. Hector’s father, a political dissenter who was jailed for speaking out against the government, was sent to the United States after serving time in prison, and now Hector’s mother is also considering leaving Cuba to reunite their family and build a new life away from Communism. When Hector’s grandmother, a fierce supporter of the Communist regime, finds out that his family may be leaving Cuba, she does everything in her power to make the family stay, and the terrible consequences of her actions spur Hector, his mother, and his brother Rodrigo to try to leave Cuba once and for all.

THOUGHTS: This book is a fascinating glimpse into the lives of people in Cuba during the Mariel Boatlift, a time in Cuban history that was marked by economic problems, widespread protests, and political unrest throughout many segments of Cuban life. Hector and his family give context to the general upheaval of this time period and provide an emotional window into the plight of people who live under oppressive governments. Fans of popular historical fiction authors such as Alan Gratz and Jennifer Nielsen will love this exploration of a little-known period of Cuban and American history.

Historical Fiction          Erin Faulkner, Cumberland Valley SD

YA – Murder for the Modern Girl

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Kulper, Kendall. Murder for the Modern Girl. Holiday House, 2022. 978-082-344972-9. 352 p. $19.99. Grades 9-12.

To the outside world, Ruby Newhouse seems like just another eighteen-year-old flapper, living a carefree life and enjoying the jazz clubs and parties of 1920’s Chicago. But Ruby has a secret – she’s been using her mind-reading abilities to identify men who target and victimize vulnerable women. Their crimes may go unpunished by law enforcement, but Ruby has been using her knowledge of poisons to ensure that these dangerous individuals are permanently removed from the streets. Buty is a morgue janitor with a secret of his own – he has the ability to transform his appearance into anyone he wants. He’s taken a job at the Chicago morgue in the hopes of learning more about his condition, but in order to do that, he has to assist the corner in solving a string of poisoning murders occurring across the city. Guy and Ruby seem set on a collision course. As they travel the streets of Chicago, the pair also must contend with Chicago underworld mobsters, crooked cops, unethical politicians, and more. 

THOUGHTS: This highly engaging historical fiction title will have readers eagerly turning the pages to find out what happens next. Holds appeal for fans of mystery, historical fiction, romance, and fantasy. Highly recommended.

Historical Fiction          Elizabeth Henry, Lampeter-Strasburg SD