YA Historical Fiction
Historical Fiction is usually well researched and is the combination of real events with fictional or fictionalized characters.
What are the sub-genres of Historical Fiction?
- Historical Romance: Sets love throughout the centuries.
- Regency Romance: Focuses entirely in England during the reign of King George III. It emphasizes dialog and social conventions and may or may not include sexual content.
- Historical Gothic: Explores Historical Fiction through mystery, horror, and romantisim.
- Historical Mystery: Mysteries set in the past or based on unsolved historical mysteries.
- Historical Thriller: Thrillers set in the past while using suspense, danger, and intrigue to set the tone.
- Historical Fantasy: Adds a touch of fantasy with magical or supernatural elements to historical settings, events, and / or characters.
- Alternate History: Diverging from actual history, it reimagines what could have been.
- Biographical Fiction: Uses elements of fiction with real historical events and historical people.
- Historical Adventure: Set in the past, the characters go on a journey, exploration, quest, or mission. Usually involves danger!
- Historical Saga: Spans generations with a sweeping and in-depth look into the history around a family, community, or place.
- Historical War Fiction: Based on wars and military conflicts throughout history.
- Holocaust Fiction: Set during WWII that focuses on the experiences of Jewish people and other victims of Nazism.
- Nautical Historical Fiction: Based on high seas adventures dealing with naval conflicts, exploration, or piracy.
Where will you travel to today?
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
"Trust no one. Tell no one. Spies are everywhere."
Synopsis
It's 1989 in Romania under the communist dictatorship of Ceasuşescu. The world thinks Romania is a prosperous country when in fact over twenty million Romanians are suffering while under constant surveillance—not only from government officials—but from their own friends and family. What will Cristian do when he is recruited to spy on someone? And who is spying on him?
Awards
- Carnegie Shadowers Award (2023)
- Yoto Carnegie Shadowers' Choice Medal for Writing (2023)
- Josette Frank Award for Fiction (2023)
- Numerous State Awards
Spotlight
First, you can never go wrong with Ruta Sepetys. She highlights pieces of history that, unless you lived through it, few people know about it. In I Must Betray You, she uses the character Cristian Florescu to highlight the dismal conditions every day Romanians suffered through, the constant surveillance citizens were under, and the oppressive state Romania was in. Expertly weaving in descriptions of spy reports of what Cristian does throughout the novel, Sepetys builds tension and drama, leaving you wondering who to trust when no one is safe. She makes you think every character has an alternative agenda making you question everything. Yet despite its bleak backdrop, the story ends with hope for the future.
With very short chapters, this book is a quick read, perfect for any reluctant reader. And a nice touch, each chapter not only has a number, but also the word in Romanian!
Ruta Sepetys spent 2.5 years researching the historical aspects of this novel and has listed her resources in the back of the book along with her authors note on her conducted research. She has also included actual photographic images of Romania during the 1980s/1990s, and included a map!
Additional Information
The Forest of Stolen Girls by June Hur
"The forest watches me, hostile and still, with remembering eyes."
Synopsis
In the 13th and 14th centuries, Korea, girls between the ages of 11 and 18 were taken from their homes and families and brought as human tribute to the Mongol emperor. 1426, in Joseon (Korea), Hwani and her sister, Maewol, are taken from their homes and wake up in the middle of the woods next to gruesome crime scene. Years later, Hwani's father investigates 13 missing girls from the same area only to disappear as well. Hwani must now solve the mystery about the woods and try to remember what happened all those years ago.
Awards
- A Junior Library Guild Selection (2022)
- Edgar Allan Poe Award Nominee (2022)
- YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection
- White Pine Award Nominee (2022)
- ALA Rise Selection (2022)
- CCBC Choices Selection (2022)
Spotlight
A nuanced social commentary, The Forest of Stolen Girls creates a discussion on gender inequality and empowerment in a historical context that most people have not learned about. Interweaving complex themes, June Hur creates an atmospheric novel about family and independence.
Not many people know about "kongnyǒ", aka "beautiful women" of Korea—most recently "Korean women and girls who were trafficked during World War II". (pg. 363) But long before the 1940s, in the 1300s and 1400s, kongnyǒs were used as human tribute to the emperor. June Hur, born in South Korea but brought up in Canada, talks about the stories she used to hear and includes a historical note about this topic at the end of the book.
Additional Information
No Stopping Us Now by Lucy Jane Bledsoe
"A girl. A game. A goal."
Synopsis
In 1974, two years after Title IX passed (U.S. Federal Law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in any school and / or educational program that receives federal government funding) Louisa’s high school refuses to fund an all girl's basketball team. This is Louisa's journey and fight to bring equality to school sports.
Awards
- Golden Poppy Award Finalist
- Northern California Book Award Finalist
- Rainbow Award Finalist Finalist
- RISE List: Feminist Book Project of the American Library Association
Spotlight
This novel is based on the Lucy Jane Bledsoe's first hand account of her school's rejection of Title IX, sexism, being targeted by the school's coaches, and being lied to by the school board for wanting to create a girl's basketball team. Not to be confused with a memoir, Bledsoe changed most names, created dialog, and merged a few characters to create a fictional account of what happened, but the events did happen. Important for any sports lover to read as it shows the struggle for equality in sports and creates a conversation about equality in sports today.
This is not just a sports novel, it is a novel about sisterhood, courage, and standing up for what is right.
Additional Information
Loving vs. Virginia by Patricia Hruby Powell
"A documentary novel of the landmark civil rights case."
Synopsis
In the 1960s, Richard and Mildred Loving brought a landmark case to the Supreme Court that legalized marriage between races. This is a fictionalized account of their harrowing story, told through poetry, from Richard and Mildred's perspectives.
Awards
- Audie Award for History/Biography (2018)
Spotlight
Loving vs. Virginia depicts racial tensions of the segregated 1950s and 1960s through Richard and Mildred Loving. Both—who were real people—were arrested, jailed, and fought for their marriage all because of the color of their skin. Their landmark case took 9 years to change U.S. history. People look to Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcom X as revolutionaries in the Civil Rights Movement, but not many know of the number of other raindrops that caused the flood to equality.
Written in verse with simple yet beautiful illustrations by Shadra Strickland and photographic images from the time, this novel is perfect for any person who may be intimidated by heavy reading or wants a quick read into the Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Movement was not that far away and this book creates a dialog about miscegenation (interracial relationships / marriages) today. "The last anti-miscegenation law in the United States, in Alabama, was reversed in the year 2000." (pg. 257)
The end of the book includes a timeline regarding the court case of Loving vs. Virginia, a bibliography of interviews, written material, and image / text / quote credits.
Additional Information
These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly
"Be careful how deep you bury the past."
Synopsis
It's the 1890s and Josephine (Jo) Montfort is an upper society girl almost ready to graduate from finishing school when her father dies. Marked as suicide, Jo doesn't believe it. She begins to investigate, but the more she looks into his death, the more she wonders if she should have kept the past buried.
Awards
- Carnegie Medal Nominee (2016)
- Amelia Bloomer List Recommended Title (2016)
- YALSA Best Books for Young Adults (2016)
- Multiple State Awards
Spotlight
These Shallow Graves features a strong female protagonist while promoting female friendship and gender equality in the 1890s. The characters are well written, the setting immersive, and the plot—a smidge predictable—keeps you on your toes while slipping in a romance that does not overtake the central theme. Nothing is easy for Jo Montfort so you feel every victory and every hardship. This is not a book to learn about an historical event or person—and a little heftier than most—but instead escape into a world of mystery and suspense.
Besides the beautiful cover, the end papers of the book are an old map of New York City which adds a really nice design touch.
Additional Information
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
"If an entire nation could seek freedom, why not a girl?"
Synopsis
In 1775, Isabel and her sister, Ruth, become the property of the malicious Locktons after being promised freedom when their old owner died. The Lockstons do not care for the revolution, and are British sympathizers. When Isabel meets Curzon, a slave with connections to the Patriots, he encourages Isabel to spy on her masters for information. Soon, Isabel realizes that her loyalty will belong to the person who can give her and her sister their freedom.
Awards
- Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
- National Book Award Finalist
- ALA Notable Children's Books
- ALA Best Books For Young Adults
- Booklist Editors' Choice
- Numerous State Awards
Spotlight
Geared toward a younger YA audience, Chains focuses more on the plight of Isabel than slavery or the Revolutionary War. It highlights the themes of slavery and war rather than the atrocities which may be easier for some readers to be able to read, and not shy away. It is a great starting point for younger audiences to talk about slavery (through the eyes of Isabel and Ruth) and slavery before the Civil War.
The juxtaposition of the letters and news reports at the beginning of each chapter against the life that Isabel and Ruth lead highlight the stark contrasts between what is said and what is being done.
The typography, especially each chapter title page, is beautifully done. It feels historical while being easy to read.
Additional Information
Comments
Post a Comment