Category Archives: Historical fiction

THE SECRET IN THE TOWER

This past June I reviewed THE ANGEL PLAYER, the 2nd book in Andrew Beattie’s Tales from the Middle Ages series. It is a real page turner with memorable characters. I was anxious to read the first story with THE SECRET … Continue reading

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A FRIDAY DOUBLE FEATURE: REFUGEE THE GRAPHIC NOVEL & THE ESSENTIAL CHRISTMAS CLASSIC COLLECTION

I read my first Alan Gratz novel back in 2018. REFUGEE captured the tragic and emotional effect on families when they have to move because of political decisions. Three families were featured from different time periods and the stories tied … Continue reading

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WAR GAMES

Alan Gratz is back with another gripping historical fiction story. This time the setting is the 1936 Olympic Games set in Berlin, Germany. Thirteen-year-old Evie Harris is a gymnast and a competitor just like the more well-known Jesse Owens. Her … Continue reading

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THE HOUSE ON RONDO

The year was 1963 and Rondo Avenue in St. Paul was the home of a proud Black community. That quickly came to an end as the houses on that street were set to be demolished so the new Interstate 94 … Continue reading

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NOT LUCILLE

Set in 1931-32 Chambersburg, NJ, a suburb of Trenton, the third person narration stays close to 10-year-old Lucy who doesn’t like to be called Lucille. Her brain can’t seem to stop her from doing the wrong thing, especially in Miss … Continue reading

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THREAT OF THE SPIDER

The second book in THE WEB OF THE SPIDER series will have its debut on June 24th. No worries If you haven’t read RISE OF THE SPIDER, the first story that was released last September as they both read just … Continue reading

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THE ANGEL PLAYER

Set in 1349 England, British author Andrew Beattie gives readers an engaging second story in his Tales From the Middle Ages series. A disease known as the Black Death hovers over the cast of characters. Twelve-year-old Will Hunter travels with … Continue reading

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SPELLING IT OUT (PLUS A GIVEAWAY CHANCE)

Fictional character Ben Bellini takes readers back to the 1980’s when his path to become a good speller began in southern California. He tried and didn’t win the regional competition, but Ben’s goal was to some day reach the Scripps … Continue reading

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KAREEM BETWEEN

A novel in verse set during the 2016-17 school year will attract football fans, but the historical aspect will also be of interest to other readers. Kareem lives in Chicago with his mom, dad, older sister and younger brother. He … Continue reading

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MAMA’S CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS

In 1935, Vinegar Hill was an African American community, located in Charlottesville, Virginia. The main character and narrator of the story is 10-year-old Alexander Lewis (Allie). She’s a spunky girl with a lot of passion, especially when it comes to … Continue reading

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