Historical Fiction

5/4/2012 11/22/1963 Stephen King, 2011

I recommend this book because it has various genres so anyone might like it. It is mainly Science Fiction but it also touches on the Historical Fiction.

The beginning is somewhat slow in getting started, but anyone who has read Stephen King would expect this from one of his books. If you like a book

that does a great job in giving you details that are very clear and specific then this is the book for you. However, there is some bad languge and it does

talk about smoking and some people might not want to read it for those reasons. If you don't mind those topics then this book is an amazing read! If you

have read other Stephen King books and liked those you might like 11/22/63. If you have read other Stephen King books and didn't like them, then maybe

you should give 11/22/63 a try.

Ashton Priddle 4th

2/5/2016 90 Miles to Havana Enrique Flores-Galbis, 2010

90 Miles to Havana is a great story about 2 young brothers that are sent to Miami from their home in Cuba by their parents. At the time Cuba was under the rule of Fidel

Castro and the boys’ parents wanted their sons to live and grow up in a safer environment.The book is written from a child’s view of the Cuban Revolution so it gives some

interesting insight there. This is a great book full of adventure, action, and great storytelling. This book is hard to put down and I can assure you, you will not put it down until

it is completely read. I recommend this book to anyone who loves action packed and adventurous stories.

Graham Gamel 6th

1/10/2018 The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain, 1884

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a classic book that is full of pre-civil war American views. The book is filled with terminology that is no longer used,

including racist terms which makes this book controversial. This book takes place in the world of Tom Sawyer, but follows a character named Huckleberry

Finn also called Huck Finn. This follows the adventure of Huck and a Runaway Slave named Jim. Through there adventure they meet many people raging

from ordinary nice people to Crooks, thieves and scam artists. This book initially is very interesting, with the conflicts that Huck has to deal with, such as his

alcoholic father. The book quickly becomes boring with the adventure becoming stale, as the conflict becomes less interesting. These side adventures leaves

the reader asking why does this matter, and why don't Huck and Jim just keep going down the river, and quit putting up with the “problems”. It has a decent

ending, although it's not worth reading, unless you are really into books similar to Tom Sawyer.

Grayson Brobeck 5th

5/31/2013 The Alchemist Paulo Coelho, 1993

I would recommend this book for any occasion, but specifically for a blue period of your life because this book inspires you to continue on with your life, no

matter what hurdles you may have to deal with right now. This book will give you a reason to try your hardest, and that is why I love this book.

Brice Fogarty 1st

1/10/2018 Alias Grace Margaret Atwood, 1996

This novel recounts the life of Grace Marks, following her story as she moves from Ireland to Canada and begins the life of a humble housemaid. However,

she soon gets caught up in a murder and is imprisoned at the age of 16, despite retaining no memory of the events. In vivid detail she recites her story to a

doctor studying her case of amnesia some years later, though the most important fragment of her life remains missing. With the use of primary sources from

the case as well as other historical documents of the time, Atwood weaves a tale that mirrors the analyzation of a murderer while creating a story that forces

you to sympathize with an alleged murderess. The book expands upon the surface of the infamous 1843 murders associated with Canada’s infamous Grace

Marks by integrating the reader into Grace’s story, forcing the reader to question both her sanity and innocence at the same time.

Emily, Nguyen 3rd

1/10/2018 All The Light We Cannot See Anthony Doerr, 2014

The book All The Light We Cannot See is both beautiful and heartbreaking. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to expand their way of

thinking and see other peoples views. In this book the two main characters have very hard lives but in very different ways. For example, Warner is an orphan

that has a talent to fix radios and is extremely intelligent, while Marie becomes blind at a very young age and is faced with challenges that even a person with

20/20 vision couldn’t possibly handle. Both of these amazing and talented people are from two very different world, Warner becomes a Nazi and Marie is running

away from the Nazis taking over, but it doesn’t matter that they are from two very different sides, they fall in love. This book is one of the best I have ever read,

and I read a lot of books, I highly encourage anyone to read it no matter what. Doerr did a great job at keeping you engaged and breaking your heart and then fixing it.

Barbara Zofkie 3rd

1/10/2018 All Quiet on the Western Front Erich Maria Remargue, 1929

The book All Quiet on the Western Front is a thought provoking book that makes its readers realize the true sorrows of any war. The main character, Paul, fights to

maintain control of his body and mind as he goes through the struggles of World War 1. This book requires attention to detail and understanding from the perspective

of nineteen year old men. As i first started reading as an assignment from my teacher I didn’t understand what it was truly like to be at war. Reading this book it kept

me intrigued but also reserved to the people who have sacrificed their lives. This book is written from the perspective of German soldiers and made me realized as

Paul did in the book, that the people fighting are just people and face the same things during times of war. Overall i would recommend to anyone looking for a book

they will cherish for a lifetime.

Aly O'Gwin 5th

1/30/2012 Animal Farm George Orwell, 1946

Animal Farm is a good book because it makes you think; if you read between the lines there is a lot of logic hidden. It is all about how too much power always

affects people or animals. Once you get the total concept about what George Orwell is trying to say by writing this story, it’s a great read. It is told in third

person point of view, so you get to see everything that goes on, and there is a lot that goes on. This is an interesting book because it took historical events and

put them in a farm setting just to show how immature they all were. Some people might not enjoy it as much as I did because of tricky word play and confusing

sentences. I would recommend Animal Farm to anyone who has good word comprehension.

Annie Paton 1st

5/3/2012 Between Shades of Gray Ruta Sepetys, 2010

I recommend this book because it really opens people's eyes to the real world and how things were during WWII. Not how we as Americans know it, but how an entire

different country experienced it- Lithuania. Even though this book is fiction there is also some truth behind it. I recommend this book because it has an amazing plot

and incredible suspense. A warning I have, though, is that it is very explicit and brutal in character's death and torture incidents so if you cannot handle that this may

not be the best choice for you. Overall, this book was awesome and if the Holocaust era intrigues you then you will also enjoy this read.

Carlee Fisher 2nd

1/8/2019 Between Shades of Gray Ruta Sepetys, 2011

Between Shades of Gray is a great book for someone who enjoys becoming emotionally and mentally invested in heart-wrenching, but also educational, stories of the Holocaust. I suggest this book, because it gives insight to a side of the Holocaust that is not very known today - people who were affected in other ways than being put into concentration camps such as Auschwitz. Parts of the story are very graphic and forthright, however that is what makes this book interesting and informational. The harsh reality of the experiences portrayed in Between Shades of Gray do an excellent job of making this an accurate book that leaves you with the desire to dig deeper into the depths of the Holocaust.

Angela Kelley 4th

5/29/2013 Between Shades of Gray Ruta Sepetys, 2011

I would recommend this book because it's an easy and fast read. It educates you on the Holocaust and what the Jews went through. I really enjoyed it because the

Holocaust is very interesting to me, and if you enjoy learning about that, you will love this book. The author writes the book so that it is a very easy read. You can’t

put it down. You have to just keep on reading to find out what is going to happen next.

Lexye Devita 7th

1/8/2019 The Book Theif Markus Zusak, 2005

A personal favorite book of mine is ‘The Book Thief’ while this story isn’t true, it is based of true events that changed peoples lives. The holocaust was one of the

biggest things that has ever happened in the world. This book tells you about things from a deceased point of view, drawing more of your attention in. People’s lives

were at stake but everyone did what they could to stay alive, which personally inspired me to do better myself. If you don’t or have never read this book in your life,

you’re missing out big time. It has love, romance, fights, death, and all the amazing things that make an amazing story and in the end you’ll love that you had the

opportunity to read this book.

Riana Rhone 4th

5/23/2013 The Book Thief Markus Zusak, 2006

This is an amazing book, full of drama, suspense, and love. The book takes place during Hitler’s reign in World War II Germany. The book is not graphic (there are no

depictions or details of the concentration camps, though they are mentioned) and it still moves you. The book is narrated by Death, and he includes his own memories

and excerpts from previous times. The book is well written, and deeply moving, it’s definitely a book for anyone who loves a good, heart-felt story.

Anna Maria Vaccaro 7th

10/2/2014 The Book Thief Markus Zusak, 2006

This was a very good book. I read it last year in my English class. It has a very good plot but it also can be confusing at times. It is a historical fiction that is based

around the time of the holocaust. It involves a family and how they are hiding a Jewish man in their basement. They go for months without being suspected and

when they have a basement check to see if it can be used as a bomb shelter they have a close call and almost get discovered. The entire time reading this book

you cannot predict what happens. It just makes you want to keep reading it. I would highly suggest reading this book!

Justin Rodriguez 5th

10/9/2014 The Book Thief Marcus Zusak, 2005

I think that everyone should read this book at least once in their lives. It really goes in depth with symbolism. It teaches you about the holocaust and how people were

treated. It's told in the point of view of death which, in my opinion, makes the book so much more interesting. They book tells you mow much children had to step up

during this time period. There was so many things that you will love when you read this book. Jillian Iten 2nd

1/10/2018 The Book Thief Markus Zusak, 2005

This book was very insightful to what death can be perceived as. By writing it in Death’s perspective, the author brought new ideas and inspiration. This book

opened my mind to new ideas and perspectives on life. Zusak has a way of writing and telling the story that really just draws the audience into the book and I became

absorbed. I fell in love with it in just the first few chapters.

Michelle Pepper 4th

1/10/2018 The Boy in the Striped Pajamas John Boyne, 2006

The book "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" was a very entertaining read. I would recommend it for almost all readers. The author does an outstanding job of grabbing

the reader's interest with his characters. This book is in the perspective of Hitler and his family. The author shows you the life Hitler’s son lived, Bruno. The book sends

a message that would seem to affect us all, you can't judge a book by its cover. For example, when Bruno gave his life to help a Jewish prisoner find his father, he would

be the last person expected to help aid the people that his own father were working against. John Boyne uses that stereotype to create a message through characters in

this book. I enjoyed this book so much not only for the important message, but also for the film that goes along perfectly with the novel really helps you visualize how the

author intended to show the life of Hitler’s family. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an exciting read.

Evan Olsen 4th

2/2/2012 The Boy Who Dared Susan Campbell Bartoletti, 2008

This is one of my favorite books of all time. This is a true account of a boy my age(16) and the trials and tribulations of growing up in Germany when Hitler rose to power.

If you enjoy reading books through the eyes of someone our age, this is the type of book for you. Now, this book is obviously sad and intense at some parts because it is

about the Holocaust. There are a few humorous parts in this book which are mostly ironic situations the characters are placed in. In many cases, there are grotesque

passages which can make you cringe, but these passages also keep you reading on to discover what happens next. At the end of the novel, there are actual pictures at

the end of the novel of the people portrayed in the book who went through the events in this book in real life, which I found very interesting. I would definitely suggest this

book to a fellow high school student.

Ryan Barker 4th

1/10/2018 Breath, Eyes, Memory Edwidge Danticat, 1994

This book was a really moving way to show readers how hard life can be. It shows characters struggling and it shows characters picking themselves back up. For example

the mother gave her daughter up due to a tragic incident and that left the daughter feeling a way no one wants to feel. I liked this book cause it shows weakness and strength

and makes me truly appreciate what i have. The mother wants to see her daughter once again but it becomes very hard for her because she’s been living a good life with her

aunt. I liked this book because there was a lot of drama and is really intensive. It really shows you what things are like on the outside of a normal american life. Shows struggle

and real issues that occur outside our world. I recommend this book because it was a really good book and can change your perspective on life.

Elissa Strickland 7th

1/29/2012 Catch-22 Joseph Heller, 1961

Catch-22, by Joseph Heller, is considered one of America’s greatest literary feats. In no way is there any plausible debate with this statement; this book throws satire,

humor, history and philosophy into the oven and comes out with quite the novel cake. The book’s hilarious, fun filled and randomly tossed in lines all help highlight

deep, philosophical themes within our life. Most of the satire within the book focuses on the inefficiencies of the military, and the ways it does so will make you laugh.

It’s a great week read, and I would fully recommend it to anyone looking for something that will make you laugh and learn. However, be warned; some graphic

elements of death are contained within this book, and sexual references are made.

Kyle Marocchini 5th

2/3/2016 Catch-22 Joseph Heller, 1961

Written from the point of view of Yossarian, a selfish Air Force captain, Catch-22 is a highly entertaining classic about an Air Force squadron during World War II, and is

considered so due to its mixture of satire and historical fiction. I consider the novel a must read for everyone, especially those who enjoy a lot of sarcasm, as it is filled

with satirical hilarity from start to finish. Do note that Catch-22’s self-contained and relatively non chronological structure makes it a different type of read from most books

that some readers may not enjoy, and that the novel does contain violence and sexual content throughout.

Andrew Parmer 2nd

1/30/2012 The Clockwork Prince Cassandra Clare, 2011

This book is the second installment of Clockwork Angel which was just as great. It has everything you could ever want in a book action, drama, romance, and underworld

creatures. This book makes you feel the same frustration and emotion the characters feel. This book will leave you craving for the same answers the characters are

looking for. If you're looking for a great book that leaves you desperately wanting more this is it. I am sharing it with you.

Kennedy Williams 7th

1/9/2019 The Da Vinci Code Dan Brown, 2006

I would strongly recommend this book for anyone searching for an intellectually perplexing story that provides expansive entertainment. The Da Vinci Code recounts

Robert Langdon's adventurous quest for the holy grail as he races to keep this power out of the hands of a mysterious Christian organization known as Opus Dei.

Solving mysteries involving many murders and a trail of clues hidden in paintings and cryptic riddles, our characters are on a mad dash for the holy grail. This book

would appeal to anyone searching for an action packed mystery teeming with historical references and landmarks. Delving deep into the history of Christianity and

exploring the history of many esteemed figures of the past, this book does an excellent job at balancing perilous mysteries and fast paced adventure. This book

accomplishes what few ever do, providing a very intellectually thrilling adventure with fantastic character development and an intertwined mystery. For anyone willing

to read through the end this book is truly a spectacular novel.

Jonathan Ott 7th

9/25/2014 Distant Waves: A Novel of the Titanic Suzzane Weyn, 2009

Distant Waves is a book about the journey of 5 sisters. They grew up in a spiritualist town that summoned ghosts, but as they grow up they become their own person.

Their fates are interconnected aboard the Titanic. This book is a great story with interesting characters that incorporate the history in the early 20th century. I loved

this book because of the main character’s drive to be her own person and her relationship with her sister, as well as her love interest. Also the history surrounding this

book is intriguing, especially the Titanic. The book is different than most Titanic books because it offers an alternate ending than expected. It incorporates many of

the rich people of this time’s not so well known stories and the infamous, but brilliant, scientist Tessla. I absolutely loved it and anyone who finds Victorian age history

and the Titanic interesting will love it too!

Liz Kelton 7th

1/9/2019 The Family Romanov Candice Fleming, 2014

The book that I chose for the book recommendation is “The Family Romanov” by Candace Fleming. I recommend this book because it discusses the Russian

revolution in its entirety. It includes the murder, rebellion, and the fall of imperial Russia, which i personally find very fascinating. This is a great book for anyone

to read despite your level of historical knowledge. The author does a great job of helping the reader to understand the situation and conditions that many people

were living in at the time. This is the best book I have read on the Romanov’s in which the author does a great job of emphasizing the sharp contrast in the life

of rich and poor in Russia during the revolution. This is done to further demonstrate how striking the wealth divide was and help the reader fathom the magnitude

of the problem. The book also does a great job of explaining unfamiliar vocabulary (most of it being Russian words). However I feel as if the exaggeration of the

capitalized drama in the book distracted from the history behind the family. Overall this is a very interesting book that I would strongly recommend to anyone.

Paige Rhea 7th

1/8/2019 Fever 1793 Laurie Halse Anderson, 2000

I highly recommend Fever 1793 to historical fiction lovers. I recommend this book because it is a riveting story about the yellow fever epidemic that struck the city of

Philadelphia in 1793. The story is centered around Matilda Cook who goes by the nickname Maggie. Maggie is a respectable girl who had to grow up at a young age

and take care of her family due to the epidemic. The plot rages just like the fever itself due to its action packed chaos caused by the epidemic and those affected by it.

Maggie is forced to flee her home leaving her fever-stricken mother behind. This book takes you back in time to the year of 1793 and on an adventure through the death

filled streets of Philadelphia and many other cities struck by yellow fever. It creates such an experience that you yourself feel more thankful for modern medicine and

the need to wash your hands.

Carleigh Cutbush 3rd

5/27/2013 For Whom the Bell Tolls Ernest Hemingway, 1940

For Whom the Bell Tolls is written by Ernest Hemingway, and is describing a man's experiences during the Spanish Civil War from 1936 to 1939. The novel is mainly

a war book, although people may like this novel because the story combines elements from multiple genres including adventure and romance. The book also provides

a historical viewpoint into the Spanish Civil War. People may not want to read this book because numerous characters die, the book can get a little slow, and portions

of the book are in Spanish. The book contains violence and language throughout, as well as some romance. However, this novel is a fantastic novel that still offers the

same gruesome glimpse of war.

Connor Turley 4th

1/9/2019 Gone With the Wind Margaret Mitchell, 1936

Gone With the Wind is set in mid to late 1800's and tells the story of the Civil War and the effects it had on the South. The plot is centered around a rich plantation

owner's daughter named Scarlett O'Hara. After soldiers from the North came and destroyed her way of life, she did everything she could to get back her fortune by

any means. She is vain, self-centered, spoiled, and a very interesting character to read about. All of the characters in the book are so well written and while reading

the book I found myself getting very attached to them. The story’s plot is so rich with many different aspects from romance between Scarlett and Rhett Butler, to the

everyday hardships faced by the people whose lives were devastated by the war. This book is very long but has the best story of anything that I’ve ever read and is

well worth it.

Kaylin Early 2nd

5/28/2013 The Great Gatsby Scott Fitzgerald, 1925

The Great Gatsby is one of the first truly American fiction pieces. It tells the story of the boom in America right after World War I. This book is interesting and different

in that the language and way that it is written lends itself to previous times. My favorite part is the historical background. It correctly relays the aspects of American life

at that time. I would not recommend this to anyone who is not a story reader because it is difficult to get into.

Nicole Escoffier 3rd

6/2/2013 The Great Gatsby Scott Fitzgerald, 1925

The Great Gatsby has very subtle literary devices used. It contains foreshadowing, different themes and a wonderful protagonist. This book is well-rounded, it is not geared

towards any gender. The way that this book is written in the narrative format make it so that you feel like you are being told a story by your father. It's an all-around good

book and a great book for any generation!

Jessica Gunn 3rd

1/9/2019 Grenade Alan Gratz, 2018

The book “Grenade” takes you on a journey through Okinawa, Japan, where World War 2 is raging. The story is told from two different perspectives. On one hand you have

Hideki, a fourteen-year-old boy who is put into the Blood and Iron Student Corps to defend his home. On the other hand you have Ray, an American Marine heading to his

first battle to defeat the Japanese. The accounts of both Hideki and Ray give the reader insight to what life is like in the midst of a war. I recommend this book because it

gives the reader a different perspective of the war and how it changed people and their homes. This book is a great choice for anyone who is interested in World War 2 and

the effects it had on people stuck in the middle of it all.

Katelyn Vroon 7th

1/9/2019 The Hate U Give Angie Thomas, 2017

The Hate U Give is an amazing book about African American discrimination. The story follows Starr and how she lives her life. Starr is an easy character to get defensive

for and attached to. She is a sweet girl who has to deal with two of her childhood friends dying in her life. One of her friends was Natasha who got shot in a drive-by and

the other was Khalil who got shot by a cop. Khalil’s death happened in the book and many people want justice for him while at the same time many want justice for the cop

who shot Khalil. At the center of this storm is Starr and everyone looks to her for answers. Overall, this book is personal and easy to read because it has a lot of teenager

slang that I’ve never seen a book use before. I love this book quite a lot and would recommend to anyone.

Rachel Schiller 7th

5/28/2013 Helmet For My Pillow Robert Leckie, 1957

I would recommend this book to people who are interested in war or WWII because it shows details about what the war was like to Leckie in a pleasant way. This book

contains some language and death that takes part in this book. This book follows the story of a man going through different battles in the Pacific Theatre part of the WWII.

This is a good read and I would recommend reading this book.

Drew Faulkner 3rd

2/2/2016 The Invention of Hugo Cabret Brian Selznick, 2007

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Even after reading some other really good books, this one still stands out to as the best. While

it might seem a daunting task of reading the huge book, about half of it is pictures, and I'm not talking about colored pictures. I’m talking about really good charcoal

pictures. They give a very good Idea of what stuff in the book looked like. The pictures were all drawn by the author, something I find incredible. They also tell different

parts of the story that are not in words.

Jeremiah Dotter 7th

5/31/2013 Johnny got his Gun Dalton Trumbo, 1939

This book should, in my opinion, be taught in schools and read by anyone wishing to join a combat branch of the armed forces. It is largely a philosophical book, which

for me made it good, but for some is a major turn off. On top of this, the book is not for the faint of heart, due to disturbing mental imagery, but for anyone willing to give it

a try, the book is worth the read if for no other reason than to promote healthy thought.

Lucas Steffen 4th

1/9/2019 The Jungle Upton Sinclair, 1906

Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle tells the story of Jurgis Rudkus, a Lithuanian immigrant who comes to America to search for a better life for himself and his family during

the Industrial Revolution. It then continues into the tale of Jurgis falling deep into the cycle of poverty, struggling to survive in the ruthless city of Chicago. Jurgis works

in a filthy, and extremely dangerous meat packing plant under heinous conditions for pennies to support his family. While Jurgis is at the bottom of society, he works as

hard as he can, believing that hard work will bring him and his family out of poverty. However, Jurgis is beaten down time after time, and left with nothing. The merciless

cycle of exploitation and poverty destroyed everything Jurgis came to America with, hopes, dreams, his wife and family, and his long-held belief that hard work alone

would get him to the top. The Jungle was not written to be a happy story, but a powerful commentary on the life of impoverished laborers of America’s lowest class, and

it succeeded. After The Jungle was published, social reforms were made to protect the lower class. This book is still taught in high schools and colleges across America,

more than a hundred years after its publication, because of its profound message and compelling story.

Madelyn Alegre 7th

5/30/2013 The Killer Angels Michael Shaara, 1974

This book gives a fantastic description of the Battle of Gettysburg. Shaara goes into great detail on the events of the battle and the mindsets of the leaders involved on

both sides. Any history buff should read this novel because it is the BEST story I have ever read.Amen.

Christian Bigner 3rd

11/3/2011 A Land Remembered Patrick Smith, 1984

This is a great book that will teach you about the early history of Florida. Not the usual history you'd read in a history book but the real history of the land. The

main characters of this book are a family who move from Georgia during the Civil War. Thier fight to survive in central Florida is amazing. They have to deal with

bears, mountain lions, and 'gators every day. They also have to deal with starvation and the usual human element - law-breaking deserters from the army and

other riff raft. The story also shows how the growth of southern FL changed the state of Florida forever.

Kim Escoffier

1/10/2018 A Land Remembered Patrick Smith, 1984

A land remembered is a fiction chronicling the story of a the MacIveys a family living in the early frontier era of the Florida territory. This story creates vivid

characters with charming, and yet understated ties. The main characters become a sort of family with Skillet a runaway slave as well as his wife and, two kids

even taking the MacIvey name. As the family gains wealth, however the drift apart. Skillet moves very far away, as he gains enough wealth. The whole family moves

away from the land as per the timing of their ability to afford to, abandoning their love of the land. They love of its people fades as well, not to exclude a reduction of

respect at that. It truly follows the ebbs and flows on the same route as a true colonization, removing them when it is possible and abusing them when it is not

Patrick Piard 2nd

1/10/2018 Listening for Lions Gloria Whelan, 2005

This book is interesting from start to finish. With its many twists and turns, you are left unable to anticipate what might happen next. This is evident in the main character’s

journey away from her homeland of Africa all the way to England, a place devoid of much sunlight and warmth. Her long journey began after she lost both of her parents to

the influenza virus during the early 1900s and her selfish neighbors took advantage of her vulnerability. Because of their vicious threats, the young girl is coerced into

participating in a scheme intended to bring them a wealth. Throughout Listening for Lions there is much sorrow, however; the book ends in a heartwarming manner. Even

though the girl was unable to reunite with her departed parents, she was able to find benevolent people that allowed her to be introduced into their own family. This book

was an amazing read and I would definitely recommend it to many others.

Halle Bright 4th

5/28/2013 The Lotus Eaters Tatjana Soli, 2010

This novel provides a great opportunity for the reader to experience the Vietnamese War through the eyes of others. As long as you don’t mind a little bit of strong language

and lots of intense violence through gruesome death and war in general, this is just the book for you! The book is almost 400 pages, so it’s not a quick read, but it is

definitely interesting and worth the read.

Tiffany Heffelfinger 7th

2/3/2016 Mr. Midshipman Hornblower C.S. Forester, 1950

Oh, Hornblower… Why do you have such an unfortunate name?

“Mr. Midshipman Hornblower” is a fantastic book for anyone who’s not scared away by a bunch of Navy slang. I fell in love with Hornblower’s witty, clumsy, and charming

attitude the minute I started reading. Hornblower isn’t your regular hero, but he still manages to succeed… most of the time. He isn’t even a normal navy man, but

he doesn’t let that stop him. “Mr. Midshipman Hornblower” is a great read for history buffs, future navy men/women, people who like ships, or people who like adventure

filled with great characters.

Katrin Woods 7th

The Mists of Avalon - Marion Zimmer Bradley -

This is the story that attempts to truthfully tell all about the reign of the famous King Arthur of Camelot. This twist on this story is that it is told from a woman's perspective.

Arthur's sister, Morgaine, tells the story of a changing world as she looks back on her life, beginning as the older sister of Arthur. She becomes a Druid priestess and

becomes a leader in the pagan religion in England as Christianity is born. Other important characters from Camelot are also a part of the story including Sir Gawain,

Sir Lancelot, and Gwenevere, Arthur's childless wife. The book is so great because when you are done, not only will you have a better understanding of the advent

of Christianity in the western world, but you will also have a newfound respect for the pagan religions that existed in England for hundreds of years before Christianity

arrived. The book is long but well worth it.

Kim Escoffier

5/30/2013 Moon over Manifest Clare Vanderpool, 2010

I recommend this book because it is an extremely good story set during the Great Depression. The main character is frequently told stories about the town that she

is living in, Manifest, during the World War I period. It is a very sweet and also funny story, and is really amazing because everything told in the stories of the two time

periods connect in the end. However, it is sad, but is the happy kind of sad, so I would recommend it to anyone.

Erin Murphey 7th

1/10/2018 The Pale Assassin Patricia Elliott, 2009

This is a very interesting book. The story is about a young French aristocrat girl during the French Revolution. She has to leave and go live with her uncle in Britain, for

safety trying to escape an arranged marriage to an Assassin. Her brother ends up getting left behind , back in France.The story also deals with rebels who take over and

constantly threaten aristocrats everywhere and overthrow the royal family. This book can be gory at times due to the rebels in the book decapitating people by guillotines

and such. I recommend this book because I really enjoyed it . It has a very good plot and some very lovable characters.The book is an overall interesting read it has dark

elements and has a lot of historic elements during the French Revolution. It can be sad and humorous at times but is a great read, I enjoyed this book and I hope if you

read it you will too.

Ella Ford 2nd

1/29/2012 Private Peaceful Michael Morpurgo, 2003

This book is a great read that is hard to put down. The story is being told from the perspective of Tommo who is reflecting on his life as a young child as well as his life

at war. Tommo starts the beginning of each chapter by giving us the time; the reason for which is revealed at the end of the book. Throughout the book it shows the

many hardships Tommo and his brother faced during World War I. I recommend this book for anyone who is interested in historical fiction because it shows the many

aspects of war that people don’t normally think about. This is a story of great courage, bravery, trust, and fellowship. I do have to warn you, there are a few battle

scenes from the war and it has a very sad ending. All in all, this is a very good book that I would recommend to anyone who wants a great read.

Brooke Sneller 4th

5/3/2012 The Red Badge of Courage Stephen Crane, 1895

This book is a fantastic read for anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction. The experiences that the main character has throughout the story are extremely similar

to what a soldier would have experienced during the civil war. Of course with this being a novel based on a war there are instances of death, illness, and other

pleasantries associated with war. Despite this, the plot of the story flows very well and is highly addicting. If you enjoy history then reading this book is a necessity,

Stephen Crane does an amazing job of both telling a story and being historically accurate.

Christian Bigner 5th

1/9/2019 Refugee Alan Gratz, 2017

I would most definitely recommend the book Refugee because it can most definitely show how life back in the 20th century, and for the characters in this book, it was

devastating. The three main characters, Josef, Mahmoud, and Isabel life their life in pandemonium, trying to seek refuge in places far from their birthplace. Josef is a

young child based in Nazi, Germany in the 1930s who goes on a ship to a different place on earth. Mahmoud lives in present-day Syria (2015 Syria) and tries to flee to

Europe. Last but not least, Isabel’s tragic story is based off of Cuba and her and her family’s mission is to board a raft and sail towards North America. To wrap it all up,

this book is suitable for all grade levels and it can certainly make you feel sorrowful (not in a bad way) for these characters.

Keylon Leno 7th

1/8/2019 Refugee Alan Gratz, 2017

Refugee is a book that highlights the suffering and need that most refugees had to go through and most people know about it mentally but this book really shows

what they went through by the way the author tells the story from the individual character’s point of view. It puts facts that we know and add the human aspect to them

while still staying very interesting and informative. The book follows three children each story happening in different years and tells the story of their escape and journey

through their eyes which creates a powerful page turning reading experience. We know that refugees exist but sometimes when we refer to refugees it's almost like we

are referring to a creature made up of many. This book tells the stories of the individual refugees which puts a face to the hardship we know they suffered making it on

a level, personal.

Tobin Smith 7th

1/30/2012 Saboteur Dean Hughes, 2006

If you enjoy books about love and war told from different point of view, then you will like Saboteur. A young man goes off to war, leaving behind a younger brother

and a girl. It is about the struggles of growing up and keeping promises. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction of slightly religious

books. I would not recommend this book to anyone who does not like death, racism, or Mormons.

Molly Clifton 2nd

1/10/2018 The Secret Life of Bees Sue Monk Kidd, 2001

The Secret Life of Bees gives a touch of both sentimental value and historical facts and perspective from minorities. It starts off slow, but quickly you develop and bond

with the characters and get attached to them. It’s also interesting to see things from a perspective from not only the past, but also from a perspective of an oppressed

minority. One example in the book is the main characters house maid who she treats as a mother figure and would do anything for her and the people she meets along

her adventure because of her. I would recommend this book for anyone who is interested in reading a different type of book than normal and wants to experience things

they haven’t seen before. Some of the main topics in this book are prejudice, racism, and childhood struggles that lead into the adult life, good and bad that will change you.

Abby Falzone 2nd

5/29/2013 Summer of my German Soldier Bette Greene, 1973

I believed the book, Summer of my German Soldier, to be a moving book; a life changing book. It allowed me personally to realize to be thankful for the things I have

and value who I am as a person. Any teenager can relate to Patty (the main character) and can relate to some if not all the things she goes through. I never wanted the

book to end. I’m absolutely thrilled to hear that there is a sequel! This is fantastic book dipping its content into the history of a young German soldier’s life and his new

found love. If you are interested in Action, Romance, Historical Fiction and a great book I advise you to go find this book as soon as possible!

Amber Fling 7th

5/31/2013 The Things They Carried Tim O'Brien, 2009

The Things They Carried is a tale of a group of American soldiers during the Vietnam War and the hardships they had to endure. I would recommend this novel to

anyone who enjoys war stories. This book made me feel for the characters, I wanted them to survive so they could get back home. There is graphic violence and

language, so if this offends you in any way, then this isn't the book for you. I really enjoyed this book, it was the best book that I read all last year.

Cameron Cherenzia 7th

2/5/2016 The Viking Marti Talbot, 2010

This book is probably one of my favorites and I'm not even into vikings or anything. It's historical fiction but the way it's written it feels almost realistic. The plot has a good

build up and leads to a unexpected climax then an crazy falling action. Its also not like a super long book so it won't take you long to read but you won't be able to put it

down. Now while it is a good book there is some romance in it, not a whole lot so it's still a good read. Overall this is a great book and I think everyone should read it.

Ian Lunsford 7th