Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish to showcase book and help other book bloggers get to know each other better. This week’s theme was supposed to be “Books I’d Play Hookie With” but I just couldn’t get into it, so I went a different route.
Did you know I was a history major in college? Yes, its true! I love learning about different time periods and thinking about what life must have been like during those particular times. I also really enjoy historical fiction, but I tend to read less of it than any other genre because it doesn’t circulate at my school. I try to focus on reading those things that my students will check out, so I can be informed on their tastes. Because of this I haven’t been able to read a lot of Young Adult or Middle Grades historical fiction, but I decided that I’d let you know which ones I have read and have enjoyed. So, this week’s Top Ten is focused on ten Historical Fiction titles I’ve read and enjoyed (in no particular order).
The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Based on the true story of teenager Helmut Hubner, who dares to tell the truth about Hitler in a World War II Germany.
What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell
A coming of age story of age story involving a girl and the scandal that surrounds her family’s vacation to Florida in a Post World War II United States.
Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos (MG)
Part fiction and part memoir, Jack Gantos tells the story of one strange, mysterious and humorous summer in his childhood.
Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen (MG)
On the cusp of the American Revolution young Sam must rescue his parents when they are kidnapped by Red Coats.
Cross My Heart by Sasha Gould (YA)
A girl navigates life in Venetian society while trying to discover the secrets surrounding her sister’s mysterious death.
May B.: A Novel by Carolyn Starr Rose (MG)
A girl struggling with dyslexia on the prairie is sent away to help a newlywed couple only to be abandoned in the middle of an extremely harsh winter.
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell (MG)
Karana is the Indian girl who lives alone for years on the Island of the Blue Dolphins where she struggles to survive and undergoes personal discovery.
Zora and Me by Victoria Bond and TR Simon (MG)
A fictionalized tale of the childhood of writer Zora Neale Hurston in which she and her friends uncover a mystery in their hometown of Eatonville, Florida.
Billy Creekmore by Tracey Porter (MG)
An orphan boy travels from the coal mines of West Virginia in the early 1900s to the world of a traveling circus, in search of his past, his future, and his own true identity.
The Sacrifice by Kathleen Benner Duble (MG)
The year is 1692 and witches have been found in Salem, Massachusetts. Panic begins to spread to Abigail Faulkner’s town of Andover causing life to quickly and drastically change for Abigail and her family.
What do you think of the list? I’m sure there are tons of historical fiction titles I haven’t read yet. Do you have any recommendations for my future reading?
Great list! Oh, Island of the Blue Dolphins…such a fantastic book. Would love for you to stop by to check out my Top Ten.
These sound amazing, I will definitely be reading some of them!
I’ve not read a single one of these books. I love it! Now I have new books I check out. I hate how all the TTT posts are always the same.
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Oh my this is SUCH a great list! I’m adding four to my wish list right this second: What I Saw and How I Lied, Cross My Heart, May B., and The Sacrifice. I love finding new books, especially in the historical fiction genre. It’s one of my favorites
If you haven’t read them already, I’d recommend Revolution and/or A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly, The Luxe Series by Anna Godbersen, and Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl. Also, I haven’t read anything by her in a while, but I used to love Ann Rinaldi’s historical fiction books. Those a few of my favorite young adult historical fiction books!
Yes, I have read the first 2 Luxe books and liked them a lot! Plus a friend told me how awesome Revolution is, so I’ll have to check it out!
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I loved Island of the Blue Dolphins when I was a teen. I highly recommend Chains and Forge, both by Laurie Halse Anderson. These books are set during the American Revolutionary War. I also LOVED The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. It is absolutely stunning and is set during the Holocaust. Thanks for the recommendations. My TBR list just got longer.
Oh I have heard fabulous things about the ones you mentioned! They’re on my I Can’t Believe I Haven’t Read These list!!
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Yay! I actually wrote an essay in grad school about how Island of the Blue Dolphins was one of the most influential books of my childhood. I got to reread it and it totally stands up, still love it. I also really want to check out Cross my Heart, the cover is breathtaking, and the synopsis sounds so interesting.
I remember reading Island of the Blue Dolphins forever ago! Great book!
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I can’t believe I’ve never read Island of the Blue Dolphins… I remember it being SO popular when I was in school, but I never read it. I guess I need to fix that!
Yes, it’s a classic! Let me know how you like it
Awesome list! The Boy Who Dared looks really interesting. I haven’t heard of it before today. Adding it to my ever-growing TBR.
I’m not a huge historical fiction fan, but What I Saw and How I Lied looks so amazing that it may change my mind… The Boy Who Dares also sounds amazing, both books which I’d love to read- thanks for introducing me!
I loved Cross My Heart – I need to check out a lot of the others yet
I love the spin you put on this! I think the only title I’m familiar with is The Island of Blue Dolphins – I remember its popularity, and I even have a copy, though I can’t remember that I ever read it! I’ll definitely have to see if I still have it around.