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Historical Fiction April 2021
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| Vera by Carol EdgarianWhat it's about: chosen family, resilience, and coming-of-age, set against the backdrop San Francisco just after the massive 1906 earthquake.
Starring: Vera, the 15-year-old daughter of emotionally distant Barbary Coast madam Rose; Swedish-American Pie, Vera's pragmatic foster sister; Lifang, Vera's half-Chinese half-sister who enjoys a much closer relationship with their mother.
You might also like: A Splendid Ruin by Megan Chance, which follows another feisty young woman making a life for herself in the devastated city. |
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West with giraffes : a novel
by Lynda Rutledge
What it's about: Inspired by true events, this part adventure, part historical saga and part coming-of-age love story follows Woodrow Wilson Nickel as he recalls his journey in 1938 to deliver Southern California’s first giraffes to the San Diego Zoo.
With lines like: "Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes."
Reviews call it: "witty, charming, and heartwarming" (Booklist)
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The rib king : a novel
by Ladee Hubbard
What it's about: Exploited by the white family that took him in as a servant fifteen years earlier, groundskeeper August Sitwell becomes tragically enraged by how his employers mindlessly profit from the talents of a hired Black cook.
Have you heard? The Rib King is one of the most anticipated books of 2021 according to Lit Hub, Book Riot, Good Morning America, Vulture, Glamour, Bustle, the Chicago Review of Books and more.
Reviews say: "Ultimately the reason to read The Rib King is not its timeliness or its insight into politics or Black culture, but because it accomplishes what the best fiction sets out to do: It drops you into a world you could not otherwise visit and makes you care deeply about what happens there." (BookPage)
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The last garden in England
by Julia Kelly
What it's about: Given the opportunity of a lifetime to restore an admired designer’s famed historic gardens, Emma uncovers long-hidden secrets about her role model and three women who lived on the property during World War II.
Why you might like it: In this sweeping novel reminiscent of Kate Morton's The Lake House and Kristin Harmel's The Room on Rue Amélie, Julia Kelly explores the unexpected connections that cross time and the special places that bring people together forever.
Reviews say: "Like gardens themselves, these pages invite lingering and thoughtful reflection." (Booklist)
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The gates of Athens
by Conn Iggulden
What it is: A historical epic inspired by the ancient world’s Battle of Marathon and the Last Stand at Thermopylae follows the unlikely Greek victory against Darius the Great’s invading Persian army 10 years before Athens succumbed to factionalism and betrayal.
Why you might like it: "Iggulden has impressive command of period terminology and largely follows the historical record, filling in gaps with well-thought-out reasoning. This is also an inspiring read about the value of democracy, whose birthplace was classical Athens, and how people fought hard and long to preserve it for posterity." (Booklist)
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In the garden of spite : a novel of the black widow of La Porte
by Camilla Bruce
What it's about: Rendered desperate and ruthless by men who forced her to endure brutal suffering, a calculating woman becomes the most prolific female serial killer in American history in her determination to survive and claim a life on her own terms.
Inspired by: Real-life 19th century serial killer Belle Gunness.
Why you might like it: "Despite her prowess with a meat cleaver, Belle has a soft spot for children, and this complexity in her character adds to the interest of this grisly historical thriller." (Booklist)
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The Paris library : a novel
by Janet Skeslien Charles
What it's about: Based on a true story, describes how a lonely, 1980s teenager befriends an elderly neighbor and uncovers her past as a librarian at the American Library in Paris who joined the Resistance when the Nazis arrived.
Perfect for fans of: Lilac Girls and The Paris WIfe.
Why you might like it: "Charles brings her experience working at the American Library in Paris to this novel inspired by real people, that is a love letter to Paris, the power of books, and the beauty of intergenerational friendship." (Booklist)
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The girl from the Channel Islands
by Jenny Lecoat
What it's about: After fleeing Vienna, a Jewish woman living in the British Channel Islands is forced to hide in plain site during the German occupation and to survive must depend on her own courage, her community and a soldier she befriends.
Why you might like it: This is an unforgettable tale of resilience and bravery, and of the extraordinary power found in quiet acts of heroism and love.
Reviews say: "Lecoat capably combines historical fact with the fictional narrative, and offers a cast rich with multidimensional characters." (PW Reviews)
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Contact your librarian for more great books?
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Winfield, IL 60190
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