Free books: Historical Fiction
Die Zeit der Wunder (2011)
"A Time of Miracles" is about the adventures of Gloria and Koumail. It starts in Caucasus, then Europe, and finally ends in France. Koumail is Gloria's true son but she changes the story because the real father of Koumail is Zemzem, who is a terorist. The book starts in a place called "The Comple...
Meet Caroline (American Girl (2012)
Genre: Historical FictionAwards: noneGrade: K-2I think this would be a book that younger students would enjoy reading. It has an easy to follow, historically accurate plot line. Also, it has a common theme of bravery and doing what is right. The younger girls would be draw to this story because o...
Emily's Fortune (2010)
After reading the second book in the new series by Newbery Award winner Phylis Reynolds Naylor, I went back and grabbed the first book Emily's Fortune. This is a great transitional series for intermediate and younger readers. With short chapters and clever cliff hanger questions at the end, it ke...
Walking People (2010)
I almost gave this a five. Not sure if I liked this so much because it is the first fiction I've read in a long time, or because it was generational or because it taught me more about Ireland and Irish culture. Since living with my mother-in-law, I seem to want to know more and more about her you...
Spirit's Princess (2012)
Himiko (the protagonist) is a Japanese historical figure but the author definitely takes a lot of liberty in this story since there is not a lot know about Himiko. I liked the premis of the story but felt the book could have lost a hundred or more pages. Just drug on in parts. When it started ...
Whistling Woman (Appalachian Journey) (Volume 1) (2013)
I found this to be a really fascinating story of the life of their Aunt Bess growing up in North Carolina in the 1880's. Bess's relationship with her father was rich and complex. The events which would shape and affect her view of the world were told smartly and with great insight into a world o...
Catfish Alley (2011)
Started this book expecting a quick fluffy read. It was Quick, because I couldn't put it down but not the least bit fluffy. Some very serious race issues were dealt with in a way that made you think without being ugly or mean. This would be a good book for junior high student to read with a paren...
The Ballad of Trenchmouth Taggart (2008)
In the vein of Forrest Gump, The Ballad makes the implausible seem possible. Weaving in regional themes, dialects, and histories, the story follows Trenchmouth, equal parts gifted savante and ignorant WV mountain man. Beware the ridiculous: yep, he lets snakes rest in his strange mouth; yep, he m...
Diamond Ruby (2010)
I loved this book! I felt like I learned a lot from it about life in NYC in the 1920s. I had no clue about the epidemics and hadn't really thought about the lack of social services and what that would mean for people living then. I love baseball, but that's not a prerequisite to love this book fo...
The Year Money Grew on Trees (2010)
This was a great read! It isn't filled with action packed, high entertaining drama but its low-key adventures kept our attention anyway. I think it's good for kids to be exposed to books that ask them to put a bit of effort into sticking around until the end of a book.The kids really liked this s...
Templar Throne (2012)
I really enjoyed this book. It was a fast-paced thriller that took the reader to many different & little-known locations. This also gave the author a chance to give the reader some history about the locations. Some of the places had me running to the computer to see if they really existed & what ...
The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette's Journey to Cuba (2010)
I enjoyed this book when I first read it. The author is always so thorough with her narrative.This book tells the narratives of Frederika, Cecilia, and Elena in Cuba- and also Cecilia’s husband Beni, but only slightly. Frederika is a Swedish novelist who visits Cuba, and her host family is Elen...
De wereldverzamelaar (2006)
This book tries to get in the head of Richard Burton the same way that Hilary Mantel's books get in Cromwell's head. There are three distinct segments. India is where he first learns to become fluent in the languages and customs of the local population (mostly to gather intelligence). He then ...
Year Money Grew on Trees (2010)
2013 Rebecca Caudill nominee. This was a story about fourteen year old Jackson Jones who lives next door to his cousins and a 300 tree apple orchard. One day the owner of the apple orchard challenged him that if he took care of the apple orchard for a whole year and paid her $8,000 from selling t...
Secrets of the Sea House (2013)
Many novels come straight out of the author’s imagination. It is clearly evident that Gifford spent a lot of time and effort researching this novel. I found the facts she did include fascinating, serving to enrich the story and teach us more about the people and lands that surrounded The Sea Ho...