Reviews by Tag: historical fiction

Teen Review
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief

By Markus Zusak
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
N.A. Singh
Dec 9, 2021

Told through the point of view of Death, we follow a young German girl named Liesel. She is living in the midst of World War II in Germany, the heart of the Nazi regime. After stealing her very first book, she finds comfort in the words and develops a passion for reading and learning. However, soon her life is put into danger when her parents decide to hide a Jew, the once thought of enemy.

Teen Review
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

The Things They Carried

By Tim O'Brien
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Emily N.
Dec 7, 2021

The story of the men of the Alpha Company during the Vietnam War. During this story, we learn the stories of these men, and their lives before, during, and after the war. It is not told through one specific person, but instead takes turns in telling the stories of each member through their perspectives, or their fellow soldiers’.

Teen Review
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

Moon Over Manifest

By Clare Vanderpool
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Emily N.
Dec 7, 2021

This historical fiction book is a profound narrative that recounts the story of Abilene Tucker’s move to Manifest, Kansas. In moving to Manifest, Abilene soon discovers that the town is full of secrets, many that include her family. With her newfound knowledge, Abilene is determined to uncover the truth of her ancestors and Manifest.

Teen Review
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Malibu Rising

By Taylor Jenkins Reid
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Lisa J.
Nov 29, 2021

The year is 1983, and Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party is just around the corner. It’s always the wildest event of the summer, attracting both celebrities and people just wanting a glimpse of the famous Riva siblings, the children of legendary singer Mick Riva. There’s Nina, who, after being abandoned by her husband, just wants a quiet place to lick her wounds and rest for a moment. There’s Jay and Hud, the inseparable brothers who have a unique bond threatened by an impending confession. And then there’s Kit, overlooked and underestimated, yet harboring her own secrets.

Teen Review
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Things Fall Apart

By Chinua Achebe
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Anonymous
Nov 22, 2021

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a historical fiction novel with complex themes. It’s centered in Nigeria, and follows the story of Okonkwo, a fierce warrior. Achebe uses vivid imagery to illustrate daily life in his tribe, and uses small details to show the reader the different aspects of the culture surrounding Okonkwo’s village. The book is centered around Okonkwo’s deep rooted hatred of his father, his relationship with his sons, and how he and his tribe will deal with foreign beliefs and ideals.

Teen Review
The Inquisitor's Tale by Hatem Aly

The Inquisitor's Tale

By Hatem Aly
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Caroline P.
Nov 2, 2021

Run, don’t walk, to pick up a copy of Adam Gidwitz’s unbelievably great book, The Inquisitor’s Tale! A blend of medieval history, myth, commentary, fantasy, comedy, and drama (and probably a bunch of other genres too), The Inquisitor’s Tale, or The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog, is so different from most books in the library.

Teen Review
Cover photo of the book Lovely War

Lovely War

By Julie Berry
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Caroline P.
Oct 21, 2021

You will find it hard to put down Lovely War by Julie Berry! The book is a combination of historical fiction and myth. The Greek gods Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Ares, Hades, and Apollo appear in the 1940s, as Aphrodite is found secretly meeting with her lover Ares. Stalling for time, Aphrodite recounts what she calls “the love story of the century.” The gods interrupt each other and talk over each other to jointly tell the World War I story of two couples: Hazel and James, and Collette and Aubrey.

Teen Review
Chainbreaker by Tara Sim

Chainbreaker

By Tara Sim
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Anonymous
Oct 21, 2021

At the beginning of Chainbreaker, Tara Sim’s sequel to Timekeeper, Danny and Colton’s story continues for a little while before it is interrupted by concerning news: clock towers in India are falling, but time somehow manages to keep running.

Teen Review
Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Resistance

By Jennifer A. Nielsen
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Shreya A.
Oct 21, 2021

This historical fiction book written by Jennifer A. Nielsen is an engrossing and suspenseful novel with crazy plot twists and diverse characters. Chaya (the main character) is a resistance fighter against the Nazis. She teams up with a girl she despises at first and quickly learns to love her like a sister. They move from ghetto to ghetto, trying to help their people fight.

Teen Review
When You and I Collide by Kate Norris

When You and I Collide

By Kate Norris
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Marium K.
Oct 21, 2021

Winnie is a 16-year-old girl that can see things no one else can. She can see “splits,” when two outcomes diverge; also known as the multi verse theory. She keeps her power a secret, because she knows it could be used among the midst of the WWII.  Her physicist father experiments on her to see if she could change the future and the past. It was all fine until Scott, her father’s lab assistant, gets injured. Winnie chooses the reality where he is fine, but she finds out she doesn’t belong there.

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