The False Prince

by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Goodreads Summary:
In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.

As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.

An extraordinary adventure filled with danger and action, lies and deadly truths that will have readers clinging to the edge of their seats.


My Review:
This book was suggested to me by Conor L., and when someone has read 60+ books this year and says this is his favorite, well, you listen! I wasn't disappointed by the book, although I was hesitant as I always am with historical fiction. It's just not my thing. This book gave the reader to really have the world-building feeling of a fantasy book, but without the magic. And honestly, I didn't miss the magic aspect (well, too much, anyway).


Sage is a character that any reader can like. He is funny in a self-deprecating way. He tries to make light of every situation, no matter what he faces and how bad things seem to be. This character makes the book flow. Even when there isn't a ton of action, his voice keeps the story interesting. 


Some things are slightly predictable, but I didn't think that took much away from the story. I will be reading the next two books in the series.

Al Capone Does My Shirts

by Gennifer Choldenko

Goodreads Summary:
A twelve-year-old boy named Moose moves to Alcatraz Island in 1935 when guards' families were housed there, and has to contend with his extraordinary new environment in addition to life with his autistic sister.


Review:
If you go into reading this book with the understanding that Al Capone is NOT a major character, even though he is mentioned, you will probably enjoy it. I like Moose-he is funny and caring. He truly wants to do what is best for his sister and has a fierce loyalty to his family. The setting of Alcatraz is definitely a plus for this book, mainly because there are so many things that could happen in the story! With prisoners wandering everywhere- working in the gardens and houses of the people on the island, there is a tension created that few other places could replicate. 


As much as I liked this book, I really would recommend reading it to get to the second book, which I thought was even better.

The Little House Series

by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Summary of The Little House in the Big Woods from Goodreads:
Wolves and panthers and bears roam the deep Wisconsin woods in the late 1870's. In those same woods, Laura lives with Pa and Ma, and her sisters, Mary and Baby Carrie, in a snug little house built of logs. Pa hunts and traps. Ma makes her own cheese and butter. All night long, the wind howls lonesomely, but Pa plays the fiddle and sings, keeping the family safe and cozy. 


Review:
Everyone who lives in the Midwestern United States should read these books. I am rereading them with my 5-year-old daughter, who is loving every minute. These stories give modern-day readers a chance to look back into the late 19th century and learn about how life used to be. The exciting stories of bears attacking pigs and dogs saving people from panthers are weaved in with everyday routines, such as how Pa cleans his gun and prepares for each day. Grace and I both love the stories that Pa tells Laura and Mary about when he-or his father, their Grandpa-were their age. It seems like the mix of this information should make it confusing, but Wilder's tale is told smoothly. 


I love reading these books, looking out into the fields now, and wondering what life like a pioneer would have been like.

Black Duck

 In this historical fiction novel, a  boy named David goes after the impossible news story. Desperate to prove himself as a true reporter, he seeks to interview Mr. Rueben Hart about the times of prohibition and if he was involved. Hart refuses him, but finally concedes when David asks the key question He wants to know what happened with the boat the Black Duck?"

Long after it has happened, Hart recalls his story to David. It is not one of just alcohol prohibition (when the selling, creating, and consuming of alcohol was illegal in the United States in the late 1920s and early 1930s). It is also the story of Ruben and his friend Jeddy, who happen to find a dead mobster on the beach near their New England hometown. And of the Black Duck, a rum-running boat that has never been caught by the authorities, and its mysterious crew. This is a tale that will make you think about the strict line drawn between right and wrong, and what you truly believe.

While I am not one to classify myself as a historical fiction fan, the book Black Duck is still one of my favorites. It isn't drug down by facts; they are embedded naturally into the story. The action is intense, the characters believable, the story touching and memorable.

Shattered

We read the book, Shattered, by Jennifer Armstrong. It is a short story book. We read the short story, "The Second Day." It is historical fiction. It takes place during wartime in the Middle East. It is about a girl, her parents and her siblings. This is a sad, aggressive and emotional story that will hook you from the start. This family has to run away from home. On their way a tank almost hits them. They have to keep moving until they hit the border. This is about real people or based on real people.
I would say that this book is on the easy side. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes sad emotional books.

Recommended by Gabby and Hannah

Catch a Tiger by the Toe

Pretty much anyone who knows me, knows me as a reader. One thing I struggle with is reading books in the historical fiction genre. I guess it is because the setting, especially the time period, can often take away from the story instead of adding to it. I did just finish a historical fiction novel by Ellen Levine titled Catch a Tiger by the Toe. I decided to read this book for two reasons: 1- It is a time period I don't know much about, post World War II. 2- I have to read some historical fiction to feel like I am a well-rounded reader!

I liked this book because it focused on a time that many people who didn't live it don't understand. When the Soviet Union became a Communist state, and the US began fighting with them after World War II, being considered a Communist or 'Red' was pretty scary. During this time, a lot of people forgot what was fought for in World War II- freedom for everyone- and began to discriminate against people who were rumored to be Communists. A senator named McCarthy fueled everyone's fear by calling people to testify in front of the Senate about being a Communist, and asking them to name other people they knew who were part of that political party. People lost jobs, were shunned by their neighbors, and treated poorly because of this. The ironic thing is, it has never been illegal to be part of any political party!

This book centers around Jamie and her family. Jamie hints often to a secret her family has. It is why her best friend can't come over, and why her mom is often reminding her to keep her lips sealed. For much of the book, the exact secret is unknown, but readers can infer her family is connected to the Communist party somehow. She wants to be a normal kid, so she lies to cover up her family's secret. Soon, the cat-or tiger-is out of the bag, and Jamie must learn how to deal with it.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I liked learning about the McCarthy era, and want to know more about it. I am disappointed that I didn't learn more in school about this time period, which is similar to the little I learned about Japanese-American internment camps. I guess that textbook authors may feel it is easier to forget a mistake and move on instead of educate and learn from it.