The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is one of the most powerful stories that I have read. Taking place during the Holocaust, this book’s depth is immediately apparent (as is any story in the face of such a great tragedy.) The story centers around a girl named Liesel, who loses her family at the novel’s opening, and thus finds herself in the care of the Huberman family. The Huberman family provides Liesel with a new warmth that had been lacking previously in her life–they represent, for her, a true family.
The Button War by Avi is a historical fiction novel set in Poland during World War I, focusing on a group of boys who engage in a competition involving the collection of the buttons of soldiers. The story follows the protagonist, a boy named Patryk, as he experiences the war among countries as well as among his friends. The Button War has themes of loyalty, ambition, the destructive nature of war and the loss of innocence.
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys is a book that really tugs on your heartstrings. It follows Cristian Florescu, a 17-year-old boy who lives in Romania when it was still behind the iron curtain. He lives in a Romania where you have no privacy and your loved ones could be spying on you and reporting back to higher authorities. A Romania where if you step out of line or break a single rule, you could be sent away forever.
Harry Turtledove's Days of Infamy is an action-packed alternate history novel that presents a chilling "what if" scenario of a successful Japanese invasion of Hawaii following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The novel vividly portrays the chaos and terror that engulf the islands as Japanese forces occupy and attempt to control the local population.
Harry Turtledove's Give Me Back My Legions! is an action-packed historical novel set in an alternate timeline where the Roman Empire never fully conquered the Germanic tribes. The plot centers on the dramatic clash between the Roman legions, led by the historical figure Publius Quinctilius Varus, and the Germanic coalition, led by Arminius, in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest.
Harry Turtledove's Hitler's War is an action-packed entry in the World War series, continuing the gripping alternate history where aliens invade Earth during World War II. This installment delves deeper into the global conflict, showcasing humanity's ongoing struggle against the technologically superior Race.
Harry Turtledove's Last Orders is an action-packed alternate history novel that plunges readers into World War II where the United States is losing. The narrative centers on the evacuation of Southern California as Japanese forces advance, focusing on a diverse group of characters and their desperate struggles for survival.
The Davenports is a historical romance novel set in 1910s Chicago, following the lives of four young Black women navigating love, ambition, and societal expectations. The story is about the wealthy Davenport family who built their wealth through a carriage business and was one of the few Black elites of the era. Olivia Davenport, the eldest daughter, is expected to marry well but finds herself in love with a civil rights activist. Helen, her younger sister, is more interested in mechanics than debutante balls.
Salama was once a pre-medical student living a normal life with a bright future ahead of her. Suddenly, when war breaks out in Syria, her life is uprooted, and she watches her brother and father taken away to fight at war. Later, her mom is lost in another fight near her neighborhood. Now, the only person Salama has left is Layla, her sister-in-law, who is carrying her brother’s child. Salama feels heartbroken that her brother won’t be there during the birth of his baby, or to support Layla, but she promises that she will keep Layla safe at any cost.
The Death of Stalin is a darkly comedic masterpiece that hilariously chronicles the chaotic power vacuum following Joseph Stalin's demise. This action-packed film, though rooted in historical events, unfolds with a frenetic energy as high-ranking Soviet officials scramble for control, engaging in backstabbing, betrayals and farcical power plays.
