astrid Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Could you share your favorite historical fiction titles for junior high/high school girls? Dd is desperate for some great historical fiction (her favorite genre) and I'm uninspired. What do you recommend? Thanks! astrid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Well, if CC is ok, you could try the Mark of The Lion series. It's not Austen, but it's pretty good. Story set in 1st Cent. AD. I liked Indian Captive, the story of Mary Jemison. It's rather heartbreaking, but gives a great picture of the captive experience without denigrating the Native Americans (Senecas, in this case). It would be an easy read, level-wise, but content is rather intense in places. It's not totally fiction, but fictionalized. You can always check the Sonlight lists-- The Ramsay Scallop Parcel of Patterns (about the late plague in England--based on a true story) Shining Company (Roman legion, I think) My Antonia (high school) Cry, The Beloved Country (S. Africa--high school) Writers like Scott O'Dell and Sharon Creech-- I'll never forget my children's lit prof reading the first chapter of Sing Down The Moon to us as a class--beautiful language, imagery, emotion-- That's all I got for now, dearie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Atl Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 What time period is she looking for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 I have a high opinion of the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers. Also, Brock and Bodie Thoene are good historical fiction writers. Their editor is a dear friend of mine. They, Brock especially, research their books exhaustively and pay close attention to accurate detail. They are definitely more than hack writers--I have enjoyed their WWII series a great deal. Another good author to look for is Michael Phillips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrid Posted January 3, 2010 Author Share Posted January 3, 2010 What time period is she looking for? Anything, Jenny. She's reading Sphinx's Princess by Esther Friesner right now and she's raving that it's one of the best books she's ever read. The author has written two more about Helen of Troy, so those will be next on her list. astrid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caitilin Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 My favorites are probably too easy, level-wise, but I still re-read them every year or two: Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, by Jean Lee Latham, and Witch of Blackbird Pond. For a maturer person, I recommend Mary Renault's novels set in ancient Greece. They are excellent--of these, my favorite is The Last of the Wine, about the Peloponesian (sp??) War. It's heavily based on Thucydides. The reason that I stipulate that they're for a mature reader is that there is a fair amount of content having to do with the main characters as male lovers. There is nothing graphic, but it's a major theme. Obviously, I don't know if this is something your daughter is ready for or not. :) I can't think of anything else right now. If I get inspired, I'll be back. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrid Posted January 4, 2010 Author Share Posted January 4, 2010 Thanks for the suggestions, Caitlin! I just thought of one I loved when I was a girl--- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. I'll have to find that one for her. astrid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenL Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 (edited) The content in this is very depressing and raw, but I've yet to meet a teen who hasn't liked it. What about Night by Elie Weisel? It's not fiction, but it reads like a novel. I used to teach it in 8th grade Language Arts. Edited January 4, 2010 by jenL spelling error Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolin'mygirls Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 a trilogy involved with Roll of Thunder. I love To Kill a Mockingbird and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Of course,those are more recent history times than you mentioned Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caitilin Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 Oh, yes, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is excellent--and the author has a couple of other novels, though they are harder to find. One is titled Maggie Now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Atl Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 Anything, Jenny. She's reading Sphinx's Princess by Esther Friesner right now and she's raving that it's one of the best books she's ever read. The author has written two more about Helen of Troy, so those will be next on her list. astrid Let's see... Mac has liked Duchessina by Carolyn Meyer, Memoirs of Cleopatra by Maragret George, Georgiana by Amanda Foreman, Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson, A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly, Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (all of his are wonderful, but not all historical), The Help by Kathryn Stockett Page, and The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradle (though it's more a mystery but set in 1950). That should be a few for ya. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doran Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 http://www.webrary.org/rs/bibhistfict.html http://teenlink.nypl.org/history.cfm Not sure what age or maturity level you're after. Some books which have been among my daughter's favorites may have content to which others may be opposed. I haven't seen The Chosen on either of the lists above (haven't dug too deep either), but we liked it. We've also enjoyed the Crispin series and Number the Stars. The Other Boleyn Girl was good but has mature themes as does Girl with the Pearl Earring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 (edited) Some teens might like: Matilda Bone (Medieval England) Karen Cushman The Midwife's Apprentice (Medieval England) Karen Cushman Fever 1793 ( Early America) Laurie Anderson Witch Child (Puritan colonies) Celia Rees Cecile Gates of Gold (1711 Versailles) The Burning Time (Salem) Kathyrn Lasky These are all 'safe' books, and no prereading required for 99.99% of WTMinders. :) Edited January 4, 2010 by LibraryLover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 (edited) I wondered this as well. I enjoy Philippa Gregory, but I am thinking there might be too much of the sexing going on. lol Absolutely rated R or more. My teens hasnt read them, fwiw. I also wonder about Year of Wonders (Medieval England) by Geraldine Brooks. My teen dd liked that one, but perhaps a proof read is in order. (Not even close to as racy as Gregory!) There are also the very kid-friendly Princess Diary books by Scholastic. Not sure what age or maturity level you're after. Some books which have been among my daughter's favorites may have content to which others may be opposed. The Other Boleyn Girl was good but has mature themes as does Girl with the Pearl Earring. Edited January 4, 2010 by LibraryLover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caitilin Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 Just remembered! I, Claudius and Claudius the God by Robert Graves are also among my faves for historical fiction--they really make imperial Rome come alive, and are pretty accurate. He did tons of research. We listened to the audio books in the car, and even my littlers paid attention. There were a couple of passages I skipped through because of their ages, but my older daughters could have handled it fine. I just didn't want to get into everything with my (then) 4 and 6 year-olds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrid Posted January 4, 2010 Author Share Posted January 4, 2010 You are all coming up with some great titles! Thanks so much for jogging my poor, frozen brain! Now I"m off to Amazon.com! astrid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrid Posted January 4, 2010 Author Share Posted January 4, 2010 Dear Eliana!! Thanks so much for taking the time to compile such a great list! I've printed it out and it's in my purse; ready to take in hand to the library tomorrow! Such wonderful titles! Really, I can't thank you enough! astrid :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 A great list indeed, Eliana. Thank you! Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffeefreak Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 I love The Book Thief! I also really liked, "The Witch of Blackbird Pond," and "The Scarlett Letter." I'll have to rack my brain for some other titles that haven't been mentioned. Blessings! Dorinda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meet me in paris Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 There's also a series by Carolyn Meyers about the Tudors - The Young Royals. Beware Princess Elizabeth, Doomed Queen Anne, Mary Bloody Mary, and a few others. (Phillipa Gregory without all the rollicking ;)). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffeefreak Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 My dd also likes the "Royal Diaries" series. They're books written in diary form by the famous heroine. They have Queen Elizabeth, Anastasia, Cleopatra etc. Try those too! Dorinda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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