House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton Historical Fiction Mystery Supernatural Review #1 * * * Stars (Pretty good) This book is about a family that moves into a house called Dies Drear. Thomas, the 13-year-old, discovers different secret passages hidden in the house. Strange, weird things start happening. Will they solve the mystery or will it end up as a mystery forever?
Sweet Home Alaska by Carole Estby Dagg Historical Fiction Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) The book was great, it held a ton of description making the reader feel like part of the story. You could tell the author put a lot of effort towards the book by the words used along with her figurative language. Why I gave it a four star rating was that the beginning was quite slow and boring … Read more
Meet Kit: An American Girl American Girl series by Valerie Tripp Historical Fiction Review #1 * * Stars (Just ok.) This book is about a nine-year-old girl named Kit Kittredge with a nose for news. Kit writes her own newspaper stories. She reports about what happens during the day while her father is at work. Her father later loses his job because of the Depression. Her mother gets a brainstorm that turns the house upside … Read more
Julius Caesar by Shakespeare Classic Drama/Play Historical Fiction Romance Review #1 * * Stars (Just ok) This classic play is a tale of betrayal, destiny, and fortune. It gives greater insight on the somewhat far off figure that Julius Caesar sometimes is to the modern reader. It also offers a different view of Caesar’s personality if you read Antony’s speech. A bit dull at times, yet a great story!
The Smell of Other People’s Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock Historical Fiction Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Told from the points of view of four different teenagers growing up in Alaska in the 1970s, this takes a look at what it’s like for Ruth, who is unknowingly following in the footsteps of her ancestors (and ends up in a nunnery), Alyce, who desperately wants to become a professional dancer, but has to work … Read more
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: A Scandal in Bohemia by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Classic Historical Fiction Mystery Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) There was only one who once outsmarted dear Sherlock Holmes. Her name was Mrs. Irene Norton. And this is how… Later in the day the King of Bohemia came to visit Sherlock because he had to tell him of a great matter. His late ex-girlfriend forged a letter … Read more
Story of King Arthur and His Knights by Howard Pyle Adventure Classic Fantasy Historical Fiction Mystery Romance Thriller Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) King Arthur is a brilliant work that contains one of the most culturally recognized characters. Along with Merlin and his sword in the stone it makes this classic an amazing story. It has something for almost any type of reader. I would highly refer it to anyone who is … Read more
Smoke by Dan Vyleta Fantasy Historical Fiction * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Set in an alternate Victorian England, Smoke is both a read-alike for Harry Potter and a study of class structure within society. It can be enjoyed just for the impressive story-telling or studied by a book club with plenty of meaty subjects to explore. In the story, wicked thoughts or deeds are exposed for all to see when smoke and soot … Read more
Christmas After All: The Diary of Minnie Swift Dear America series by Kathryn Lasky Historical Fiction Review # 1 * * * * Stars (Great!) I love how this book is combined with history. The Great Depression was a very hard time, and this book describes some of the hardship very well. I am overjoyed to have books like this one. Without them, we wouldn’t be interested in our history. And before we know it, … Read more
Nest by Esther Ehrlich Historical Fiction Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Tween (Grades 5-8) * * * SPOILER ALERT! * * * Eleven year old Naomi “Chirp” Orenstein is an avid birdwatcher growing up with her older sister in the early 1970s on Cape Cod. The Orensteins’ lives are forever changed when Chirp’s mother is diagnosed with MS (multiple-sclerosis). Mom – a dancer – sinks into a deep depression when her … Read more