Escape This Time
Historical Fiction Recommendations from Librarians
Finishing School series by Gail Carriger (complete - first book is Etiquette & Espionage)
Sophronia Temminick is a mess. By the end of the first chapter she’s already caused multiple disasters and been sent away to finishing school. But everything is not as it seems at Miss Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality. Sophronia’s in training to be a spy...a spy who can curtsey and knows which fork to use at dinner. Join Sophronia and her ragtag crew of misfits aboard their dirigible school in this delightful series of steampunk misadventures.
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
This was pitched as National Treasure meets Six of Crows and I absolutely loved it. You meet a diverse squad of teenagers--representing race, sexuality, mental health,neurodivergence, personality, upbringing, and more--in this heist-type novel seeping with history and magic. Their treasure hunt that they embark on during this novel is full of action, intrigue, and a bit of mystery. However, what really makes the book something special is the characters; they’re some of the best characters you’ll come across in YA. Sequel is set to come out September 2020; this is projected to be a trilogy as of now.
All the Bad Apples by Moïra Fowley-Doyle
[Warnings: Homophobia and discussions of rape]The women in Deena’s family have always been cursed. When her sister Mandy goes missing and is presumed dead by her family, only Deena is convinced that Mandy is still alive. She soon gathers her friends and embarks on a journey across Ireland to find her, hoping to uncover the truth about her family’s curse. What follows is a startling intergenerational tale about resilience, shame, and the systems of abuse that force women into silence. If you find yourself torn between contemporary and historical fiction, then this book is the perfect middle ground!
Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
Josie wants more out of her 17 year old life. In 1950’s New Orleans, Josie has grown up with a prostitute as a mother and has spent most of her life working in Madam Willie’s brothel, having to clean up many messes that a teenager should not have to clean up. Josie is smart, tough, witty, independent; she even knows how to handle a gun. What I love most about this story is that Josie has the dreams that many teenagers have: she dreams of going to college so that she can take herself “out of the easy” and start living her own life. When you read this, my hope is that you will see that perseverance and determination can pay off, even when we feel like giving up.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Set in turn of the century Williamsburg slums in Brooklyn, Francie Nolan needed fortitude, precocity, and strength of spirit in order to get by. Turning to books, rather than other kids her age, Francie is still scorned by other kids for her drunk, semi employed father, and her aunt’s habit of chasing down men. Following multiple generations of the Nolan family through trials and tribulations, there’s certainly plenty of drama, but also a lot of heart. Librarians love this title because of the atmospheric writing and the family drama that will keep readers hooked.
More Historical Fiction Recommendations
More Historical Fiction Recommendations
Cover Image from History