A Spark Unseen by Sharon Cameron is a historical fiction novel, the sequel to The Dark Unwinding. It starts off with Katherine waking up in the middle of the night, spoiling a kidnapping attempt on her uncle, the genius inventor who is in possession of something that could determine the result of the ongoing war in Europe with a mini competition between England and France on who will be the King of the Seas.
The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron is a historical fiction book set in England with some science fiction elements. Katherine Tulman’s aunt gives her the responsibility of sending her uncle to a mental asylum from fear that all her son, the family’s heir’s, inheritance is being depleted rapidly. Katherine, being an orphan under her aunt’s care, dependent on her aunt for her finances, agrees to do so for her secure future. However, when she gets there, she uncovers a whole lot of things that were being hidden.
The Aeneid is an epic poem of Rome’s founding history written during the Roman Empire’s reign. The poem follows Aeneas and his fellow Trojans as they flee Troy following its destruction from the Trojan War. Aeneas searches for a way to fulfill his destiny, to set sail to Italy and found the Roman people, as told by Jupiter, King of the Gods.
It’s the summer of 1942 in Paris. Sarah is ten years old when officers come to her family’s apartment telling them that they must come with them and leave their home. Sarah is completely vulnerable as she has no idea why this is happening, and in the heat of the moment, she tells her brother to stay in the cupboard, locking him inside. The issue that Sarah's soon comes to realize is that her brother has no food and water and he has no way to get out and the key that Sarah holds will not be able to make it to help him.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a novella set during the Great Depression, following the lives of two itinerant ranch workers, George Milton and Lennie Small, as they navigate the challenges of a harsh and unforgiving world. George, a small and intelligent man, takes on the responsibility of caring for Lennie, his physically strong but mentally disabled friend. Together, they dream of owning a piece of land and achieving a better life.
The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is a book about two children named Ada and Jamie. Ada is a 10-year-old girl who is living in terrible conditions. They usually didn’t have food or water to drink or any to bathe with. Ada also had clubfoot and her terrible mother hated her because of it. She forced her to stay in one room and go to the restroom in a bucket. Whenever Ada was “bad” she made her climb into and old dirty cabinet. She was abusive to Ada and Jamie.
Taking place in the 1930s, protagonist Janie Crawford’s upbringing, adolescence, and adulthood is narrated from a third person perspective. The story touches on especially sensitive topics at the time of its publication: sexism, racism, socioeconomic inequality. A beautifully flawed story, Jaine struggles to find true love - filing 3 marriages throughout the process. As Janie moves from town to town, her psyche and mentality develops, embracing her environments. This book was a great read and thoroughly highlighted many disparities that still exist today.
Olivia is expected to be all that her parents want her to be. A prim and proper young lady who will marry well, as the oldest daughter must, host charity events, and she must not be found with people like Washington Dwight. Olivia thinks this is her destiny, even more so when she meets a suitable husband, but will she find all that she is looking for, love? Helen, the youngest daughter, has feelings about men, far different from Olivia. Helen thinks of many men like her brothers, as she works restlessly with them in the garage, working on cars.
This historical fiction novel by Anthony Doerr is a novel set against the backdrop of World War II and primarily follows two main characters, Marie-Laure LeBlanc and Werner Pfennig. Marie-Laure, a blind French girl, flees Paris with her father when the Germans invade. They seek refuge in Saint-Malo, carrying with them a precious jewel from the Museum of Natural History, where her father worked. As they navigate the challenges of the war, Marie-Laure's father constructs a miniature model of the city to help her memorize its layout.
