Tuccelli’s debut novel is a sweeping account of multiple generations covering more than 100 years of life in and around a small mountain town in Georgia. The story opens in 1941 when Amelia, a young mother, is threatened as a result of her involvement in the NAACP. Feeling the urgency of the threat, she puts her daughter on a bus to escape danger. Ella never makes it and is left for dead on the side of the road until she was rescued by two women who play a central role in uncovering the rich layers of the child’s family heritage. This is a dense novel told from multiple points of view that vividly portray the harsh realities of slave life in the old South and the racism and oppression still in existence as the novel opens. Native Read more…

Dr. Cowell, a recognized expert in all forms of lunacy, treats patients at the Sanibel Asylum. The island sanctuary is home to a quirky set of inmates who come to be made whole again. As the Civil War rages on, the asylum becomes a retreat for those with wounded spirits. Iris is an independent woman who, responding to the cruelty and injustice her plantation-owning husband invokes on his slaves, creates a tragedy she cannot forget and for which she is sentenced to the asylum. While she is clearly not a lunatic, she does not fit into the expected norm for women of her time. The egotistical Dr. Cowell is determined to “fix” her and yet becomes fascinated by her quick mind and spirit. She quickly decides to plan an escape, even as she Read more…

  Kathryn Harrison’s latest novel centers on Rasputin’s daughter, Matryona Grigorievna Rasputina. After Rasputin’s death, his 18-year-old daughter, Masha, is sent to live at the imperial palace with Tsar Nikolay and his family. When the royal family is placed under house arrest, Masha begins telling stories (both true and imagined) to distract young Aloysha, a hemophiliac, from his suffering. Robert Alexander’s Rasputin’s Daughter (Viking, 2006) focused on events surrounding Rasputin’s death. The Enchantments tackles the later experiences of the same historical figure. The storytelling aspect, and the love that develops between the two young people, make this one special. Connie Williams, Petaluma High School, Read more…

  In Kristina McMorris’s second novel 19-year-old Maddie falls in love with her brother’s best friend. Because it is 1941 and her new husband is Japanese-American she is forced to give up her dream of studying violin at Juilliard — while Lane proves his allegiance by enlisting in the military. McMorris is half-Japanese, and carefully researched the historical period she portrays — including interviews with veterans and trips to visit the sites. The idea for her novel came from a story about a non-Japanese spouse who voluntarily moved to an internment camp to be with her husband. She later learned that over 200 spouses did the same. She shares photos from her research on her Facebook page and in the book trailer. Just a Read more…

  As we all know by now, it’s the centennial anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. Here is the first (surely not the last!) AB4T review of a book based on those events. Kate Alcott’s historical novel encompasses both the tragedy itself and the subsequent Senate hearings, about which teens are likely much less familiar. The author did a great deal of research, immersing herself in the period, including, of course, the fashions. Actually, Kate Alcott is a pen name. As reported in the New York Times a couple weeks ago, author Patricia O’Brien received rejection after rejection for The Dressmaker, her sixth novel — until her agent submitted it under a different name. Then it sold in 3 days. It’s an interesting Read more…

The Winter Palace became a bestseller in Eve Stachniak’s native Canada during its first week of publication. Stachniak believes that is partly because, as far as she knows, it is the only historical novel about Catherine the Great in any language. How is that possible?! Stachniak has long been fascinated by Imperial Russia, has the multilingual chops to do the research, and is already working on a sequel. And Catherine is hot right now. Robert Massie’s tome (Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman, Random House) is in its 12th week on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list. Give this one to teen readers of Philippa Gregory and Michelle Moran who might be looking to expand their horizons. It has appeal — two young girls, Read more…

Nancy Bilyeau features a nun, actually a young novitiate, as the main character in her first novel, an historical thriller set in the Tudor period. This is another great recommendation for teen fans of Philippa Gregory, notable for taking readers beyond the royal court and into another important realm of the time — the monastery.  Connie Williams, Petaluma High School, CA Adult/High School  Joanna Stafford is a novitiate in 1535 England, when her dearest cousin is sent to be burned at the stake for fomenting rebellion against Henry VIII, the self proclaimed head of the new Protestant Church of England. Defying the Rule of the Order, Joanna slips out to see the burning and support her cousin. On the way, she is accosted by two Read more…

Only two month ago I posted a review of The Women of the Cousins’ War, the nonfiction book Philippa Gregory shared with historians David Baldwin and Michael Jones. Now she releases a novel based on the life of Jacquetta, one of the women featured there. The Lady of the Rivers has many teen elements, from the author herself to story elements of witchcraft, romance and court intrigue, even Jacquetta’s connection to Joan of Arc. Given that this is the first in a new series from Gregory, it makes for a nice entry point for new readers, too.   Connie Williams, Petaluma High School, CA Adult/High School Teen fans of historical fiction absolutely must have a Philippa Gregory book in their repertoire. In this title, the author of Read more…

Today we review Kimberly Cutter’s exciting historical fiction debut. Although Joan of Arc’s story has been told many times before, Cutter’s telling is particularly accessible, dramatic, and exciting for modern audiences. Jehanne is an uneducated, young teenager growing up in a small French village, and we experience her story from the beginning, from her point of view. The murder of her sister, living with an abusive, unpredictable father, and her first communications with the Saints are vividly communicated. Hers is a visceral, violent world. She is full of conviction, but not immune to doubt and fear. She’s human. The writing style could be considered a bit flowery and melodramatic, but that is a matter of taste. Cutter Read more…

Anna Solomon has a fun story about coming across the idea for The Little Bride. She was googling herself, and found a woman named Anna Solomon Freudenthal who was a Jewish pioneer in  the 19th century. The launch party for The Little Bride was held at the Tenement Museum. Although not found on most tourist agendas for New York City, it is a fascinating place and a wonderfully appropriate venue for a book about a young woman immigrating to the United States. Next time you’re in the city, take a tour! Twice the winner of a Pushcart Prize for her short fiction, this is Solomon’s first novel. SOLOMON, Anna. The Little Bride. 312p. Riverhead. 2011. pap. $15. ISBN 978-1594485350. LC number unavailable.   Adult/High School– In Read more…

Alice Hoffman’s new novel is, overall, a departure for the popular author which nevertheless retains her favorite elements. The Dovekeepers is weighty historical fiction that features strong women and a touch of magic. It centers on the Roman siege and tragedy at Masada 2,000 years ago, told in the voices of four women who tend the doves in the mountain fortress. This is a special book for Hoffman, and she devoted years to its research and writing. For more on what inspired her interest in Masada, take a look at this letter to her readers or listen to her tell the story on video, including images of the dovecote ruins. Obviously, this is not a book that will appeal to the majority of teens. But do offer it to those who enjoy Read more…

By Stacy Carlson A lot of teenagers have heard of P.T. Barnum and his awesome circus (as well as his “There’s a sucker born every minute” slogan) but wait, how many are aware of his American Museum? In this unique book, which is actually based upon the actual American Museum and revealed through the points of views of a number of people, readers can easily step straight into the realm of early 19th-century New York and experience it all for themselves. The 2 major figures are Emile Galliadeu, who was a taxidermist passed down to Barnum when he acquired the original museum from John Scudder, who founded it to spotlight the very best in American fauna and wildlife; along with Ana Swift, a professional giantess. The strain Read more…

I am sure we are all familiar with Philippa Gregory’s historical fiction, which is very popular with teens and especially with girls. The Other Boleyn Girl (Touchstone, 2001) and sequels are still her most popular books in my library. The Women of the Cousins’ War is Gregory’s first nonfiction title. It all began when she realized that no biography of Jacquetta, Duchess of Bedford exists. As long as she was researching a novel based on Jacquetta’s life, why not publish her findings? Gregory explains it all herself on a video available on the Simon & Schuster Educator’s site. The entire introduction to The Women of the Cousins’ War is posted on the same webpage, and on the author’s website. I should point out Read more…

From graphic novel blogger, Francisca Goldsmith: Rick Geary’s Sacco and Vanzetti isn’t just a question of who-really-dunnit, but a fine exposure of how prejudice, temper, arrogance, and even regionalism played their roles in the messed up trial the pair of Italian immigrants got after they were arrested for murder during a daylight robbery in 1920 Massachusetts. Accuracy during the evidence collection phase was a bit sloppy, but its tattered remains during the trial and then during the appeals process are shown by Geary as being criminally negligent. As is his typical method, Geary provides exquisite levels of detail within highly compressed space: he shows us how some witnesses couldn’t possibly see what they claim, what Read more…

For anyone who has ever looked at a royal family and wanted to be a part of it, or who thought just how wonderful and romantic it would be to be a princess, this book is a wakeup call. Becoming Marie Antoinette tells Marie’s story from the moment she realizes, at age 10, that her mother, Austrian Empress Maria Theresa, has only one thing in mind: getting her married to the dauphin of France, Louis-Auguste. In order to make this happen, Marie must undergo a complex “makeover,” including makeup, hair, teeth (she wore braces -– 18th century braces!), and wardrobe in order to become acceptable to the French. The transformation works, and she is sent to France to be wed. Once there, Marie must navigate the spider web of Read more…

Julie Otsuka’s new novel is the story of picture brides traveling from Japan to San Francisco in the early 20th century. Perhaps most striking is the collective voice with which it is told. Otsuka spoke during the Library Journal Day of Dialog that preceded BookExpo in late May, and called being a picture bride the equivalent of an internet date except that it was for life and there was no going back. Think of these girls, 13-15 years old at the beginning of the novel, leaving everything they’ve ever known to marry men they have never met. Many arrived to find that their husbands-to-be had greatly exaggerated their prospects, or enclosed a younger man’s photograph with their letters. Otsuka’s debut novel, When the Emperor Read more…

Lucinda grows up at the very end of the Cold War, the daughter of a military family who has never lived in the United States. They have moved from one base to another her whole life. This book is about how she copes during her teen years, particularly with a volatile mother, an oblivious father, and unreliable friendships. It is also about her saving grace — rock and roll. The specific time period, circumstances and setting make it feel like historical fiction, as recent as it is. I found myself quite absorbed by this coming-of-age story. There is no struggle to reading Along the Watchtower. The writing is smooth, the characters are interesting yet perfectly realistic, and the setting almost steals the show. A lot happens — a Read more…

This historical mystery is the first in a series that is very popular in Germany. (Two more titles in the series are already available there, but not yet translated into English.) Oliver Pötzsch is a screenwriter for television, and his novel reads quite vividly. It’s also fun to know that Pötzsch is a descendant of the executioners in the Kuisil line. Adult/High School -– In 1659 in a small town in Bavaria, an orphan has been murdered and there is a symbol etched on his body pointing to witchcraft. The town clerk is certain that midwife Martha Setchlin is the witch and she is rushed to prison to be made ready to confess. When two more orphans are found dead with the same symbols on their bodies, and two others go missing, Read more…

by Napoli, Donna Jo This tale is based on a line from an Icelandic saga in which the slave of an Icelandic lord remarks that she was once an Irish princess. The resulting story of princess Melorka is vividly imagined, well-researched, and beautifully written. Set in early medieval times, it follows an Irish princess as she is captured by wandering slave traders. Melorka doesn't want her captors to know she is royal, so she opts not to speak. Napoli has an astounding talent for detail, capturing everything from the sights and smells to the collective imagination and accepted truths of the society. The lyrical language and strong, intelligent main character are added bonuses to what is already a captivating story. — reviewed by Read more…

by Doyle, MarissaLiving in 1827 London, twin sisters Persy and Pen Leland are beginning their first season out in society. They are wealthy, loved by family, AND… witches! Their beloved governess, Miss Allardyce disappears at the same time they meet a strange gentleman with odd eyes. Is Miss Allardyce attending to an ill relative or is her disappearance more sinister? Things become even more complicated as the sisters struggle through their first balls, Persy realizes she has strong feelings for a certain gentleman and they discover a secret plot to kill the Queen! How will the sisters find their governess and thwart the murder of the Queen? Can Persy find true love and will he accept her as a witch? This is recommended for Read more…

Fourteen-year-old Calogero leaves his native Sicily to live with relatives in Louisiana after the death of his mother. As he soon finds out, Tallulah in the 1890′s is a harsh environment for an outsider. Ostracized by the white community, Calogero finds solace in the company of local African Americans, particularly the lovely and tenacious Patricia. This mercilessly frank view of a little known slice of our past describes complex Jim Crow laws, rampant bigotry, and the unique challenge for Italian immigrants in Louisiana, who were neither white nor black. Based on extensive historical research, the story does more than remind southern Americans of our ugly past, delving into the reasons behind state-sanctioned bigotry in the post Civil Read more…

by Whitney, Kim Ablon A cruise liner ploughs the Atlantic, passengers fixed in a moment of luxury in lives of terror. Based on a true story, this is the tale of a group of Jewish refugees on a cruise ship heading from Germany to Cuba in 1939. Not knowing whether the new port will take him, Thomas can do little more than fight to survive until he meets Priska, a girl who has seen a different side of life to him, and who gives him something to live for instead of just surviving. This is accurate, gripping Young Adult fiction that creates a dangerous and terrifying world.- reviewed by Ian, North County Regional, Read more…

by Forman, Gayle We all have to make choices. Think about a difficult choice you’ve had to make. Did you have help making it? For Mia, some choices have been easy, like playing the cello, which always called to her, even though her family is more rock-and-roll than classical music. Others, like applying to Julliard, thousands of miles away from her family and her boyfriend Adam, have been more difficult. But then on one weekday morning, Mia’s life completely changes, and she realizes she has to make the biggest and most difficult decision imaginable. And she has to do it completely on her own. – reviewed by Emily, University City Regional, Read more…

by Fletcher, Christine Set in Chicago 1941, Ruby Jacinski is only 15 but she has to quit school to support her family. Her Mom is ill and her father has been dead for many years. She quickly realizes that working at the slaughterhouse in her lower class Yards neighborhood will only lead to poverty and an early death. When handsome Paulie Suelze suggests she would make ten cents a dance as a taxi hall girl, she realizes that would be a small fortune to her struggling family! Little does she know the job opens her up to a world she’s never known, decisions she’s not old enough to make, and danger beyond any thing she’s ever experienced. A sobering, spellbinding read on the plight of women in the 1940′s.- reviewed by Julie, South Read more…

by MacLean, Sarah The social season in London has begun! Lady Alexandra’s mother has waited for this moment to introduce her daughter to society and get her married. Unfortunately Alex and her best friends, Ella and Vivi, have other plans. These young ladies have no desire to marry they want adventure not romance. Adventure is what they find, when the Earl of Blackmoor is killed and his handsome son Gavin is determined to discover the truth. As Alex and Gavin grow closer can true love prevail? Follow along for the longing looks and exciting twists and turns in this fun, quick read. – reviewed by Angela, Cornelius Branch, Read more…