Echo

By:  Pam Munoz Ryan

Genre: Children’s Historical Fiction

Pages: 587

Published: 2015

Told In: Third Person

 “Movie” Rating: G

Compare to:

Dash, Kirby Larson

Number the Stars, Lois Lowry

Wonder, RJ Palacio

In a nutshell:

The stories of 3 children in different parts of the world during WWII, bound together by a harmonica with mystical properties.

What you may enjoy:

This book is both moving and informative. The characters are well developed, relatable, and likable. The writing is well done. The story is enjoyable for all ages, although it’s a young target audience.

What you may NOT enjoy:

There are a few slow moving parts through the book. If you don’t like stories of 10-12 year old children, then you may not like this.

Warnings:

Violence and Graphic Images:

Boy is injured from being bullied; boy falls from a high ledge; man loses fingers in war; man shot in the leg and chest.

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Secret Life of Bees

By: Sue Monk Kidd

Genre: Historical Fiction/Literary Fiction

Pages: 336

Published: 2001

Told In: First Person

 “Movie” Rating: PG

(Leaning toward the PG-13 side)

Compare to:

Cold Sassy Tree, Olive Ann Burns

To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee

The Help, Kathryn Stockett

In a nutshell:

Set in the South during the 1960s, Lily’s life is shaped around the blurry memory of her mother’s death. After her black “stand-in-mother” gets into trouble, the two of them run away and stay with 3 bee keeping sisters where Lily learns about herself, life, and her mother.

What you may enjoy:

Eloquently written. The story is insightful for the time period and very expressive. Nothing feels forced, but the plot flows naturally and seems believable.

What you may NOT enjoy:

This is very much a “coming of age,” “sisterhood” kind of book. If that’s not your thing, you won’t like this. Some people find the religious practices of the woman a little wacky.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Woman shot and killed (mentioned several times); man shoves girl; man shakes wife violently; woman beaten; woman hit in the head; woman kills herself, her body weighed down in a river described; man slaps girl; boy throws bottle at a man

Sex and Nudity:

Women sit naked in a creek; girl lusts for boy while examining her naked body; man kisses woman; boy kisses girl

Language and Profanity:

Damn (or forms of it) 20xs; Hell 12xs; Ass (or forms of it) 9xs; God 5xs; Jesus Christ 7xs; Shit (or forms of it) 15xs; Bitch 4xs; Nigger 6xs

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Maisie Dobbs

By: Jacqueline Winspear

Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery

Pages: 309

Published: 2004

Told In: Third Person

Series: Maisie Dobbs, Book 1 of 13

“Movie” Rating: PG

Compare to:

A Duty to the Dead, Charles Todd

The Face of a Stranger, Anne Perry

Somewhere in France, Jennifer Robson

In a nutshell:

Maisie was born to humble circumstances, but her sharp mind opens up many opportunities for her including attending college, working as a nurse during WWI and then running her own detective agency. But then one case brings back all the memories of her life and country at war.

What you may enjoy:

The horrors of war are not descriptive, but they are there. The book captures the time period well, depicting the social climate of the time. The history and mystery are well woven together. A delightful journey watching how Maisie grows and learns.

What you may NOT enjoy:

The main character is a little too perfect for some readers to enjoy. The flashbacks interrupt the mystery plotline, although the mystery itself is a weak part in the story. Also, there is a tendency to get confused by all the characters at the beginning.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Man shot himself (mentioned); men shot in war (mentioned); men injured in war (mentioned); injuries mentioned; men die of war injuries; blood mentioned several times; blood on girl’s hands.

Sex and Nudity:

Suggested affair; woman kisses man; man kisses woman several times; man and woman kiss several times

Language and Profanity:

Damn, Bastards, Hell (5 times), God (5 times)

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A Night Divided

By: Jennifer A. Nielsen

Genre: Juvenile Historical Fiction

Pages: 317

Published: 2015

Told in: First Person

Compare to:

I Pledge Allegiance, Chris Lynch

Stones in Water, Donna Jo Napoli

Number the Stars, Lois Lowry

In a nutshell:

When the Berlin wall goes up Gerta’s family is separated. Four years later she sees her father on the west side of the wall telling her to dig her way out. But will Gerta and her brother be able to dig to safety without being caught?

What you may enjoy:

This is a great look for kids at how the Berlin Wall affected people. The story is moving, especially the relationships in the family. It’s a pleasant read that will also expand your basic understanding of the Berlin Wall.

What you may NOT enjoy:

This book only touches on the history of the time, not fully expanding on the fear that was felt. Descriptions were often vague, making the story difficult to visualize. The end drags on a little more than necessary.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Woman jumps from a window and dies; boy shot in the back; boy tortured (mentioned); people killed for trying to escape; man hurt, bleeding from head; girl held forcibly; man lays dead; boy shot in the leg; man shot in the chest and killed (pool of blood mentioned).

Sex and Nudity:

None

Language and Profanity:

None

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Ross Poldark

By: Winston Graham

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 393

Published: 1945

Told in: Third Person

Series: Poldark Saga, #1

Compare to:

Persuasion, Jane Austen

Outlander, Diana Gabaldon

Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy

In a nutshell:

Set in Cornwall, 1783-1787, Ross Poldark returns from fighting in the American Revolution to find that the girl he loves is engaged to his cousin, and that his father has died leaving him a derelict estate. To forget his past love, Ross throws himself into his work. But when he finds and takes in an urchin girl life for Ross begins to change.

What you may enjoy:

This is a social historical fiction; while it mentions world events that were occurring during the period it is centered on average people instead of a war or politics. It reads like a classic without feeling like a heavy book. The characters feel real and relatable, each with their own set of flaws and strengths. If you enjoy British historical fiction about the social middle class, this book is probably a good read for you.

What you may NOT enjoy:

To quote Goodreads reviewer, Ian, this is “a moderately entertaining book about nothing.” At times there is too much detail about mining or minor characters that can simply be skimmed over. It takes more than half of the book for anything to happen. There is no real draw to encourage readers to continue reading.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Cock fight, killing one rooster; boys beat girl; boys throw rocks at man; man shot in the ankle, mentioned; man’s face cut with a bayonet, mentioned; dog’s tail cut off; two men fist fight; group of men fight; rocks thrown at man; man beats his daughter, mentioned; man hit and killed wife, mentioned; man shot at; man slapped; man punched; man shot in the hand; man shot in the neck; man stabs baby; man stabs woman; man falls from a house and dies

Sex and Nudity:

Woman seduces man; man has sex with a prostitute, mentioned several times; man looks at a girl’s naked body, non-graphic; man accused of being a pedophile; man kisses girl (mentioned at least 6 times); man takes girl’s dress off; girl wakes up in man’s bed after alluded sex; man slaps girl’s bottom

   

Language and Profanity:

Damnably 2xs; damn 7xs; damned 4xs; damme (damn) 9xs; damnation; bitch 2xs; hell 4xs; God 8xs

Drugs and Alcohol Abuse:

Man and woman get drunk regularly; man too drunk to get on his horse; man and woman passed out from drinking; man heavily intoxicated; drinking throughout; people frequently drunk 

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