It is 1957 Madrid, Spain, and Daniel Matheson, an 18-year-old Spanish American photographer is visiting Spain for the first time. All Daniel wants to do is get eye-opening photos for his portfolio and get into journalism school. However, his father, an oil baron, who is signing a deal with Generalissimo Francisco Franco, has other plans for Daniel. He wants Daniel to join the family oil company. Throughout navigating this messy time in Daniel’s life he meets Ana Moreno, an employee at the Castellana Hilton, the hotel he’s staying at.
Christian Florescu is a teenage boy living in Communist Romania. He lives with his mother, father, sister, and grandfather. During this time in Romania, the government, run by Nicolae Ceaușescu, has completely taken over the entire country, and made the living conditions horrible. Additionally, spies of all ages, helping the government spot out revolutionaries, are littered throughout the public. When Christian is recruited to become a spy, he attempts to take advantage of his position and topple the government from the inside out.
A Night Divided is a historical fiction book written by Jennifer Nielsen. The main character of the book Gerta, has been living in Eastern Germany after World War II ended. At the time, Eastern Germany was controlled by the Soviet Union and life there was harsh. In hopes of finding opportunities on the other side, her family is split in an instant as the Berlin Wall goes up. In this book, Gerta and her brother Fritz deduce a way to meet their family on the other side of the wall.
The Silence of Bones was published 3 years ago in April of 2020, and was written by June Hur. The book is set in the old Korean kingdom of Joseon, the protagonist being a teenage girl named Seol. As a child, her older brother had left home to pursue a life in the capital of the Kingdom. Years later, Seol is sent to the capital as an indentured servant to its police bureau. At the age of 16, she is caught in a web of conflict when a noblewoman is murdered.
Summary: Refugee by Alan Gratz is a gripping and emotionally charged novel that joins together the stories of three young refugees from different time periods and regions. Josef, a Jewish boy escaping Nazi Germany in 1939, Isabel, a Cuban girl aboard a makeshift raft fleeing to America in 1994, and Mahmoud, a Syrian boy seeking safety in Europe in 2015. Each character faces unimaginable hardships and dangers as they journey towards the promise of a better life.
Summary: The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani is a coming-of-age novel that revolves around the life of a 12-year-old girl named Nisha, set in India during the 1970s. Nisha, who is of Indian and American descent, navigates her way through cultural identity and family struggles after her mother's tragic death.
The Passion of Dolssa is a historical fiction novel by Julie Berry about a young girl in 13th century France named Dolssa. Dolssa can speak to Jesus and is blessed with the ability to bring good luck and healing to others. She wants to spread the word and love of Jesus, but members of the church, like Friar Lucien, see her as a heretic who is trying to trick innocent people. Friar Lucien wants to burn Dolssa at the stake, like the Church did to many heretics in this time period.
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle takes you through a young girl’s story in the Victorian Era. With exciting plot twists and a fun storyline, she learns to think for herself and who she truly is, even though the people around her might not approve. On a voyage to America, she discovers why she is on that ship, followed by a mystery. I enjoyed reading this book because of its wonderful storyline and mysterious foreshadowing. I can connect with the characters and it is easy to follow along.
