We continue our series of posts featuring some of the best books in the CA Library collection — today’s featured titles are all in the Historical Fiction genre. Follow the links for each book to learn more from the CA Library catalog!
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Everything Is Poison by Joy McCullough — Sixteen-year-old Carmela Tofana finally gains access to her mother’s apothecary in early 17th-century Rome, where she discovers that alongside healing remedies are dangerous potions that can change women’s lives. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook
“Based on a real figure and set in the same universe as Blood Water Paint, this eloquent, rapid-fire novel is rich in cadence and history” (Publishers Weekly).
The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick by S. Isabelle — Bridgerton meets The Davenports in this wildly entertaining standalone romance, following a young Black woman trying to balance her independence with her future in 1860s London’s high society. Banished from etiquette lessons and unsure of her future, Stella dreams of a writing career and independence, but 1860s England offers little opportunity beyond marriage or servitude for a sharp-tongued, dark-skinned girl. Get the Audiobook
“A comfort read for anyone who is drawn to romances set in the Regency and Victorian eras” (SLJ).
If Looks Could Kill by Julie Berry — While conducting volunteer work in Manhattan in 1888, eighteen-year-old Tabitha and Pearl’s fates intertwine with Jack the Ripper as he is hunted by the Gorgon Medusa. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook
“Fans of magic-laced historical fiction who like gory true crime and introspective character studies will find a wealth of that here” (Booklist).
One Step Forward by Marcie Flinchum Atkins — An historical fiction novel in verse about Matilda Young — the youngest American suffragist imprisoned for picketing the White House to demand women’s right to vote. Amid the backdrop of World War I, Matilda’s story vividly highlights the extreme mental, physical, and emotional battles faced by the protestors leading up to the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment.
“This coming-of-age story intertwined with women’s fight to vote creates a forceful story while chronicling parts of the suffrage movement often ignored” (SLJ).
The Rebel Girls of Rome by Jordyn Taylor — Part historical mystery, part sweeping romance, The Rebel Girls of Rome brings the stories of two young women to brilliant life: Lilah, a college student looking to understand her grandfather’s mysterious past, and Bruna, a queer Jewish woman who joins the resistance during World War II.
“This rare depiction of the Jewish experience under Mussolini is ultimately a moving, cathartic family story of self-forgiveness and love” (Booklist).
The Red Car to Hollywood by Jennie Liu — In LA’s Chinatown in 1924, sixteen-year-old Ruby Chan rebels against her parents’ conventional plans for her future when a friendship with nineteen-year-old Anna May Wong, a rising Hollywood film star, opens up new possibilities. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook
“Readers will be inspired by Ruby’s resilience and dazzled by the historical setting that Liu has painstakingly recreated” (Booklist).
Salvación by Sandra Proudman — With rising tension in Alta California after the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, seventeen-year-old Lola de La Peña becomes the masked vigilante Salvación to protect her family and town from a man wielding deadly magic, but her mission is complicated when she begins falling for Alejandro, a member of his dangerous entourage.
“Action-packed and thrilling with a touch of romance, Proudman’s debut novel is an homage to folk hero stories told through a feminist lens” (Kirkus Reviews).
COMING SOON! Under A Fire-Red Sky by Geraldine McCaughrean — From bestselling author Geraldine McCaughrean, an utterly immersive and unforgettable novel set during the London Blitz. With World War II on their doorstep, four teens evade evacuation and remain in London, attempting to aid the Fire Service and keep each other safe during the Blitz. Get the eBook
“Descriptions of WWII during the London Blitz are all-consuming, complete with heart-wrenching detail and loss. A riveting story, sure to please fans of historical novels” (SLJ).
Under The Same Stars by Libba Bray — In this propulsive historical mystery that examines truth, rebellion, reconciliation, and what must be sacrificed for a better world, three timelines converge to unveil the mysterious disappearance of two girls during World War II. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook
“A breathtaking journey that will leave a lasting impression on readers’ minds and hearts” (Kirkus Reviews).
Where The Heart Should Be by Sarah Crossan — This historical novel-in-verse is a suspenseful and heartbreaking story of love, family, and the forces that can destroy us or bind us forever. Ireland is starving, and Nell, a poor Irish scullery maid, falls in love with the British heir to the land. Can their romance stay hidden during the devastating famine? The potatoes are black, people are dying, and in the midst of it all, Nell must do everything she can to keep her family together and everyone she loves alive. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook
“An emotionally taut story of strength and loss, exhibiting how darkness and hope can intertwine. Readers will be left breathless” (Booklist).
Find even more great titles in these previous posts!
