Rumors (A Luxe Novel) by Anna Godbersen

High society New York, socialites on the verge of getting everything they want, and all those delicious, frothy dresses and society events- what's more to love in historical chick lit? Rumors, the sequel to The Luxe, delivers all of this and more. If you have not read The Luxe, you should stop reading this review now as it will spoil what happens in the first book of the series.

Elizabeth Holland has pulled off the trick of the year by faking her death and running off to be with her love, Will, in California. Only her sister, Diana, and her best friend and rival, Penelope, know Elizabeth's secret. Well, at least until Diana spills the beans to her maid who in turn tells her sister, Lina, who is in love with Will too. Penelope on the other hand, is happy to have Elizabeth out of the picture as this puts her in a prime position to get her hands on Elizabeth's former fiancee, Henry Schoonmaker, who Penelope sees as her ticket into the old money society her newly wealthy family has been having trouble breaking into. But there's a little problem there too, for Diana and Henry are secretly in love and are just waiting for the proper amount of time of mourning to go by after the supposed death of Elizabeth. Got it all?

This topsy-turvy novel is not so hard to follow as it may seem, and Godbersen will keep you glued to the end. The story is a juicy, guilty read with just enough historical fact to make you feel not too guilty. If you liked The Luxe, you will enjoy this story too as it follows the same format. But, don't expect a neatly wrapped up ending here as there is more of the series to come.

Book; 13+; ISBN 9780061345692; New York : HarperCollins Publishers, 2008

Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague by Geraldine Brooks

Today, we know the plague was carried by fleas hitching rides on rats. Back in the day, nobody knew what caused the plague, a highly contagious disease that could wipe out entire towns. When townspeople showed signs of the plague, some would freak out and run to another town, not knowing they carried the plague with them to infect even more people. This is the climate in which Anna Frith, an 18 year old widow with two kids, lived in from 1865 – 1866. When her town’s people come down with the plague, some want to run away, but the town vicar, who Anna works for as a maid, convinces most of the townspeople to stay. The town locks down into a year of forced isolation. Nobody can leave, and nobody is allowed in. Of course, as the plague spreads, some still run off—some to join a group of flagellants, people who believed that the plague was sent by God to make people atone for their sins and that if they whipped themselves into enough pain, God would forgive them. As the year of isolation goes on, the townspeople suffer greatly and begin to look to each other for someone to blame. Is there a witch in their presence? Or did someone bring God’s wrath down upon everyone for his own sin? Anna, the vicar, and his wife are only a few of the townspeople who manage to cling to their humanity. Will they survive the year? Will the plague go away?

This book is based on an account of a true town that shut itself off from the world. Brooks does a great job of making even the mundane events of daily life readable and interesting, and the book is littered with one shocking event after another. Brooks keeps her readers emotionally involved, and you will be almost afraid to turn the page to see who else has died of the plague or violated the town's agreement to quaranting themselves.

Book; 13+; ISBN 9780142001431; New York: Penguin Books, 2002

Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Wouldn't it be nice to have a friend who you know will always be there for you? Someone you know you can count on throughout your life? Told from the point of view of 80 year old Lily, this is the story of two “old sames,” Lily and Snow Flower. The two girls’ families match them in an arrangement meant to create lifelong friends and provide an opportunity for Lily, whose family is not as high of status as Snow Flower’s family. The girls become fast friends and correspond with each other throughout their lives through secret letters written in the folds of a fan. They write in a secret form, called nu shu—created by women over a thousand years before—to protect their conversation from the male dominated society in which they live. As Lily describes her life, we learn about what it was like to be a woman in 19th century China, specifically in the Hunan province. We suffer with her through foot binding, an experience that can be difficult for some to read. We follow Lily and Snow Flower from young girls to old women, through marriages and children, and hardships. When Lily marries higher than Snow Flower, their friendship takes a hit, but they survive through that and more.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable book and a great way to learn about old Chinese traditions (you will cringe as Lily goes through foot binding- a barbaric practice in which the bones of the feet are broken then the feet are wrapped tightly to force them to stay small forever). There are enought twists to keep you interested. The story was written so beautifully that I found myself looking to see if it was based on a traditional story or legend- nope, the author is just a great storyteller!

Book; 13+; ISBN 9780812968064; New York: Random House, 2006

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

In 1959, missionary Nathan Price takes his wife and four daughters to the Belgian Congo on the African continent. The story is told in turns by Orleana Price and her four daughters, Rachel, the oldest at 16, twins Leah and Ada, and Ruth May, the youngest at five years old. It is the tale of a family falling apart and a nation struggling for independence. The Price family has chosen what may have been the worst time to try to convert the people of the Congo who are suspicious of all whites as they are fighting for their independence from Belgium. Nathan Price either doesn’t get that he is putting his family in danger or just doesn’t care. For example, he is determined to baptize the people of his chosen village in the river even though it goes against their traditions and sense of safety—there are crocodiles and poisonous snakes in the river. The village is suspicious and fearful of Nathan Price, but begins to accept the daughters as children who need protection. Leah in particular begins to fit into village life as she learns the village ways and traditions. However, even she is considered unconventional as she insists on learning to hunt, a man’s task. Rachel just dreams of going back home to school dances, rock and roll, and in-style clothing. Ada lives in her own world of backwards writing and palindromes while she observes the affects of the experiences on those around her. Ruth May is the first to make friends with the village children and becomes a leader in their games. The first half of the book covers the family’s life in the village and their attempts to fit in. The second half of the book follows each family member after their escape to various locations when Congolese rebels revolt against the Belgian government. Orleana and Ada make it back to the U.S., Leah stays in the Congo, which becomes Zaire, and Rachel runs to South Africa.

Warning: This book is a page turner that is very difficult to put down! Each daughter's tale is a story in its own, and you will have trouble deciding whose story you like the most. The book looks long, but the tale flows so well that you will finish before you are ready. The author is very good at describing the Congo environment and making her readers feel as if they are there. The story takes place during real events but never gets preachy. You will find yourself looking up the history to learn more for yourself and to see if the U.S. really was as involved as described in the book. Found in the adult section.

Book; ISBN 978-0060786502; Thorndike: G.K. Hall, 1999

Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

What would you do if you contracted leprosy? Would your friends and family still love you or would they be ashamed to know or be related to you? This is what Rachel Kalani has to deal with when she contracts the disease. Rachel is 5 years old in Honolulu, Hawaii when her mother first sees the tell tale sign of leprosy (today known as Hansen’s Disease). Her mother, knowing what will happen to Rachel and her family if anyone finds out, tries to hide the sore that won’t heal and succeeds for a over a year. Unfortunately, Rachel’s condition is outed at school, and the health inspector finds out. This rest is the story of Rachel’s life at the Kalaupapa leper colony on remote Moloka’I island. She is sent there at 7 years of age and raised in dorms with a group of children who also have leprosy. Rachel and the others in the colony live their lives in isolation, forbidden from ever seeing family and friends again in case they might spread the disease. Any infants born at Kalaupapa are taken away from their parents and given up for adoption so they won’t contract the disease too. Many characters in the story are based on real people, including Father Damien, who devoted his life to caring for and treating lepers until he himself contracted leprosy and died. The story follows Rachel’s and her friends and family’s lives for about 80 years. The story unravels as Rachel’s granddaughter tries to uncover her family’s mysterious ties to the island only to find out her own grandmother had been a patient and resident.

This is a beautiful book about the ways people make the best of their situation and manage to live their lives in spite of the conditions while their families back home try to pick up the pieces and move on. It is a tearjerker whose story will stay with you for a long time. It is not a difficult read although sometimes it is not clear for a few sentences when the author has switched between the story of Rachel and the story of her granddaughter. Found in the adult section.

Book; 14+; ISBN 9781429943239; New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2003

Dancing at the Rascal Fair by Ivan Doig

Would you be willing to move to a country you have never seen to live on your own- without your parents? 19 year old best friends, Angus McCaskill and Rob Barclay, move from Scotland to the U.S. to become homesteaders in Montana. It is the turn of the century (the 20th century that is), and the novel follows the two young men as they go through their initial experiences as sheep ranchers, marry, have kids, and ends during WWI. The story is told from Angus’ viewpoint. To make ends meet when sheep ranching won’t, he takes a job as a school teacher. He falls in love with another teacher, Anna. When their relationship doesn’t work out, Angus, desperate to get over her, marries Rob’s little sister, Adair. When Rob realizes that Angus is still in love with Anna, not his little sister, the men’s friendship will be tried.

This is a great book for those interested in the Old West and immigration stories. It has just enough romance, but the focus is on Angus’ and Rob’s overall experiences as they grow from greenhorns to experienced homesteaders. The story is truly a piece of art and something you will want to read again and again. This is actually the prequel to Ivan Doig’s English Creek so if you must read books in the order they came out, you might want to start there first. This book is a true hidden gem, and one you will want read again. Found in the adult section.

Book; 14+; ISBN 9780684831053; Boston: G.K. Hall, 1987

Troy by Adele Geras

This story retells the Iliad through the eyes of teen servants to Hector, the ruler of Troy. While the Trojan war wages on, Xanthe and her sister, Marpessa are caught up in romantic triangles (yes there is more than one triangle) partially created by the goddess, Aphrodite. Xanthe falls in love with the soldier, Alastar, when he is brought in with injuries from the war and she nurses him. However, bored Aphrodite decides to have some fun and makes Alastar and Marpessa fall in love with each other. Then, there is the stableboy, Iason, who is in love with Xanthe—not that she notices. Starting to feel a little like Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream? There are appearances by other gods and goddesses and plenty of war, including the infamous Trojan horse.

This is a fun summer read for guys and girls. The romantic plot is predictable, but the new setting makes for an interesting story. There are some inconsistencies in the story, but if you are not looking for them, you probably won't notice. At times the love triangle can get a little convoluted. In spite of it's flaws, it is still a good read and may be a good pick for a book report or just to supplement your learning of the Trojan War.

Book; 12+; ISBN 978-0152045708; San Diego: Harcourt, 2002

Ophelia by Lisa Klein

You may know the character Ophelia from Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet. However, you do not need to have read or know the story of Hamlet to enjoy Ophelia. Ophelia lost her mother at a young age and lives with her father and older brother. When Ophelia’s father goes to work for King Hamlet, the family, Ophelia, her father, and her older brother, move to Elsinore Castle. Ophelia has been allowed to sit in on her brother’s tutoring sessions and, thus, has more education than most girls in the 16th century. Eventually, this attracts the queen’s attention, and Ophelia becomes one of her ladies in waiting. This puts Ophelia into closer contact with Prince Hamlet. The two fall in love and begin a forbidden affair—Ophelia is too far beneath Prince Hamlet’s status to be considered an appropriate match for him. The two lovers decide to elope, but the murder of Prince Hamlet’s father gets in the way. Prince Hamlet is consumed with the desire to avenge his father, and Ophelia is forgotten. However, Ophelia knows too much about the suspected murderer, and, despite her hope of regaining Prince Hamlet’s attentions, decides she must run away from Elsinore to save her life.

This is a fun read. Whether you are familiar with the Shakespeare play or not, you will enjoy it. It does get a little slow in parts, but mostly kept my attention through to the end. The author diverges a little from Shakespeare's story, mainly to give Ophelia life beyond when she has died in the play, and this will keep those familiar with the story on their toes. The purpose of the book is to give Ophelia more of a voice than she had in Hamlet.

Book; 12+; ISBN 9781582348018; New York: Bloomsbury, 2006

A Northern Light by Jennifer Connelly

What do you do when you've made a promise to someone, but you could possibly find that person's killer by breaking that promise? In 1906, sixteen year old Mattie Gokey has big plans for her future but lots of obstacles in her way. Mattie is a writer who wants to go to college—provided she can pass her high school exit exams and find out how to pay her way to New York City. Oh, and she will be leaving behind her sisters and father who have come to rely on her after the death of her mother. Then there is the cute guy on the neighboring farm who is catching her eye. Will Mattie make it to college or stay in her rural town to take care of her family and marry the hottie? However, that is not the entire story. Mattie takes a job at a nearby hotel where a female guest gives her several letters with instructions to burn them before anybody can see them. The next day, the guest is found drowned in the lake, and her male companion is also presumed dead. Mattie is torn between reading the letters and fulfilling the guest’s last wish to burn them.

The story is set around an actual murder case and mixes romance, history, and mystery. This book is a page turner! It is not a light read, but I still recommend it for summer and travel. There are tons of copies available in the bookstores, which makes me thing that many others are enjoying this book as much as I did.

Book; 13+; ISBN 9780152053109; San Diego: Harcourt, 2003

The Morning Gift by Eva Ibbotson

20 year old Ruth Berger is left behind to brave the Nazis when her plans to escape Vienna and meet up with her Jewish family and fiancée go wrong. Luckily for her, an old family friend, a professor at the college where her father taught, comes to her aid. They come up with the idea to wed, move to Great Britain to get her out of Nazi territory then have their marriage annulled so she can then go to her family and fiancée. However, this story is a romance so things cannot be as simple as that! Of course, Ruth and her rescuer (I don’t want to give his identity away) become attracted to each other. They also have trouble getting their marriage annulled. Complicating matters is that Ruth becomes his student when she enrolls in college in England. There are plenty of obstacles in Ruth's path, and it is never quite clear until the end just who Ruth will end up spending her life with- or even what she wants.

This book has a slow start (it begins when Ruth is a little girl and goes into her family’s background), but it is well worth sticking with. You’ll be into it by the third chapter, I promise! The story never gets too dark in spite of the serious time in which it is set. Ibbotson is excellent at getting her readers emotionally involved into her stories and you will find yourself rooting for the protagonists and wanting to boo at the antagonist, a very annoying student at Ruth's college. This book is both light enough to be a summer read and meaty enough to satisfy readers looking for something to bite into and think about.

Book; 14+; ISBN 978-0142409114; New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1993

The Minister's Daughter by Julie Hearn

Witch trials and unwed mothers in the same book?! In 1645, Nell’s grandmother is ailing and Nell must quickly learn to take over as her town’s healer. However, in this time of Puritanism and witch hunts, it is a dangerous profession for women to be midwives and healers. When the minister’s eldest, and unmarried, daughter, Grace, becomes pregnant, she goes to Nell to terminate the pregnancy. Nell refuses to terminate the baby because the baby was conceived on May 1st—under pagan tradition, babies conceived on May Day are sacred children called “merrybegots.” Unable to admit her failing to her father and the town and wanting to get rid of the person who knows her secret, Grace, with the help of her sister, Patience, contrives to blame her condition on Nell and her grandmother. In this time when the Puritan church was fighting against old, pagan beliefs, it was not difficult to get the town riled up about the “witches” in their midst.

While piskies (pixies) and fairies have some minor roles in this story, the story is more historical fiction than fantasy. Set before the Salem witch trials of 1692, this story gets into the psychological background of the witch hysteria that took over New England in the late 17th century. While not a big page turner, the story will still hold your interest to the end.

Book; 13+; ISBN 978-0689876912; New York: Atheneum books for young readers, 2005

Maus I: A Survivor’s Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman

Whether you like graphic novels or never considered reading one, this book is a must! Maus tells the true story of Art Spiegelman’s parents’ survival of Hitler’s persecution of European Jews. Spiegelman tells not only the tale of his parent’s survival but of Art’s own coming to terms with his family history. In this Holocaust tale, the characters are depicted as animals: Jews are mice, Germans are cats, French are frogs, Americans are dogs, and Poles are pigs. Art’s father, Vladek enlists in the Polish Army when war breaks out. However, he is Jewish, and when Germany conquers Poland, he and his wife, Anna, are forced to move into a Jewish ghetto. When they learn what will happen to them if they are sent to a Nazi concentration camp, they go into hiding.

This novel does not have a happy ending… yet. It is the first of two graphic novels chronicling Art’s family as they struggle to survive the Holocaust. This graphic novel is sometimes considered an adult novel and sometimes a young adult. The story is harrowing and disturbing, even more so because it is told in pictures. Because everything is illustrated, it does not let your imagination soften the experiences of the Jews during the Nazi regime and the Final Solution. It is very "in your face."

Graphic Novel; ISBN 978-0394747231; New York: Pantheon Books, 1986

The Luxe by Anna Godberson

Like TV shows like Gossip Girl, 90210, and the OC? Then this book is for you. Full of fancy dresses, secrets, and wealthy teens who seem to have not much better to do than one-up each other, The Luxe is as its title suggests. However, not is all as it seems. It’s 1899 in New York and socialite Elizabeth Holland has fallen in love with her family’s stable boy. Unfortunately, their difference in social status is not the only obstacle in the way of their love. The Hollands, who are “old money,” have lost their wealth, and Elizabeth must marry wealthy playboy, Henry Schoonmaker, before anyone finds out and her family is ruined. The plotting begins when Elizabeth’s best friend, and greatest rival, Penelope Hayes, finds out about the engagement. Penelope has already set her sights on Henry Schoonmaker and has been having a secret affair with him. She wants to marry Henry so he can give her “new money” family some credibility in the upper class social circles into which they are trying to break. There are some interesting twists to this story, one coming right at the beginning: the story opens at Elizabeth’s funeral, during which not everybody seems all so sad, including Elizabeth’s sister, Diana. What happened to Elizabeth? You’ll have to read this fun, guilty pleasure of a book to find out!

This story is a fast read- great for a travel or summer book when you don't want to have to think too hard! This is definitely fluffy, chick lit with lots of descriptions of clothes, friends betraying friends, and forbidden romances. It is the first in a series, the entirety of which has great reviews. I'll definitely be picking up the next guilty pleasure in the series soon!

Book; ISBN 0061345660; New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2007

Leonardo’s Shadow, or, My Astonishing Life as Leanardo da Vinci’s Servant by Christopher Grey

Giacomo has no idea who he is, including his real name. His last memory is of running from a mob who thought he was a thief. As he falls off a rooftop in trying to escape his pursuers, he is rescued by Leonardo da Vinci, the great Italian painter and inventor. This is a story of Giacomo’s quest to discover who he really is and of da Vinci’s creation of his masterpiece, The Last Supper. Da Vinci is horribly in debt and must finish The Last Supper before the Duke of Milan gives up on him and hires Michelangelo to finish the painting. He is already two years behind in working on the painting. Giacomo has a plan to help da Vinci get the painting finished and please the Duke of Milan before he becomes penniless. In the meantime, Giacomo is sure that da Vinci know the secret of his past, but why won’t da Vinci tell him? Furthermore, da Vinci refuses to give Giacomo painting lessons even though he works with pampered and spoiled young nobles to teach them an art they will never truly appreciate. Giacomo is determined to have his questions answered and to gain da Vinci’s trust.

The book is a great story that gives insight into da Vinci’s life and 15th century Milan. Giacomo tells the story as if you are living each step with him. If this were a movie, he would be speaking to the camera much of the time. The book is an easy read, but older teens will be able to enjoy it as much as younger teens. It's a must read for those who like to read historical fiction in order to learn more about certain time periods and historical figures. If you plan to travel to Italy someday, you may enjoy it for the location as well.

Book; 12+; ISBN 978-1416905448; New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2006

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

This untypical Victorian tale is a great mix of fantasy and mystery. After the death of her mother, Gemma Doyle moves from India to England to live nearer to her remaining family and to go to the exclusive Spence Academy, a boarding school. But don’t dismiss this book as yet another private school clique story; Gemma Doyle has visions—she even foresaw her mother’s death. Furthermore, a mysterious young man has followed Gemma from India. Is he there to protect or harm her? Or, is he there to keep her from learning the mystery of her mother’s death? At Spence, Gemma encounters the usual group of mean girls—the beautiful girls everyone wants to hang with at Spence. When Gemma protects her roommate from the girls, she gains their attention and is invited to join their “private club.” In spite of their initial animosity and general suspicion of each other, the rivals form a tight group centered around a diary that Gemma had found at Spence after following one of her visions. The diary was written by Gemma’s mother and tells of two former Spence students and a secret order that found their way into an otherworld called the Realms. Gemma and her friends use the diary to find their own way into the Realms unaware of the dangers that wait for them there. For the girls, who live during the strict confines of Victorian London, the Realms offer a freedom they know they will never have after they marry. Each girl finds her own fantasy in the Realms not knowing that a dark danger lurks and would follow them back into their world if they were careless enough to let it. In the middle of this story, Gemma searches to solve the mystery of her mother’s death. While the girls merely follow Gemma into the Realms, it is Gemma who has the power to go there. Exactly what are Gemma’s powers? Will Gemma go along with the expectations of her times and become wife to a wealthy man? Or, will she maintain her individuality and independence?

This tale is dark but very enjoyable. It is mildly supernatural and does not quite fit in with the other run-of-the-mill supernatural books out there. The writing is beautiful, and the author never insults her reader's intellegence. This is a good book for teens to adults so don't be surprised if your mother/aunt/oldest sister tries to steal it. The book isn't a total chick lit book, so guys, don't be afraid to pick it up and read it too!

Book; 14+; ISBN 9780385732314; New York: Delacorte Press, 2005

Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Meyers

Fighting in battle can seem romantic and brave. The Vietnam war caused many to begin questioning that romanticism of war. Seventeen year old Richie Perry had plans to go to college after graduation in the late 1960s, but those plans fall through. Not knowing what to do, Richie enlists in the Army figuring it is better than ending up on the streets of Harlem. He is quickly sent off to Vietnam after a brief training. He has hopes that his knee injury will get him out of fighting, but, of course, something happens with his paperwork, and he ends up in battle alongside his new buddies, PeeWee and Jenkins. Richie struggles to come to terms with what he was told about war and Vietnam during his basic training and the reality he experiences in Vietnam. He begins to question the validity of the U.S. role in Vietnam. After dealing with commanders who are more concerned with their own promotions and their soldiers’ safety and realizing that African-Americans are purposely being sent on the most dangerous missions, Richie decides to demand some answers from his authorities, despite warnings from his comrades.

This is a coming of age story about a young adult who is trying his best to live to come of age. The story is an eye opener about the realities of war. This is a great book about survival and discover, and a recommended book for anyone who dreams of fighting in battle. Meyers manages to let the story speak for itself without becoming preachy. With you are for or against war, this page turner will have you questioning your own beliefs and perceptions. Fans of other Walter Dean Meyers books will not be disappointed as he continues writing in his usual edgy style here.

Book; 14+; ISBN 978-0545055765; New York: Scholastic Inc, 1988

A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson

Anna, who was a Russian countess until the Russian Revolution forced her aristocratic family to flee to England, decides to find work as a house servant to help support her family and allow her brother to remain in school. To keep her job, Anna must keep her aristocratic upbringing from her employers and also keep her job secret from her own family. Even though Anna is almost penniless, her new co-workers soon figure out that Anna was born into a higher class. However, Anna manages to keep her job by showing her wiliness and determination to work just as hard as everyone else. Complicating matters is the young master of the house, Rupert, the Earl of Westerholme. Rupert has recently returned from the Great War (that’s World War I) with the guilt of his brother’s death. Anna is attracted to Rupert, but he already has a fiancée, the horrible Muriel. To Rupert, Muriel is sweet, perfect future wife. To the house servants and Anna, Muriel is a cruel woman and a horrible snob. Unknown to Rupert, Muriel is into eugenics, a plan to breed people to create a superior race and eliminate undesirable traits. Sound a little like the Nazis? Hitler and his followers tried to implement eugenics in their quest for the perfect, Aryan race.

A Countess Below Stairs is a bit predictable, but still enjoyable. It’s a great read for hard times when you need a lift. There are enough twists to keep a reader interested, and readers of this book usually end up coming back for more Eva Ibbotson books. Whether you are interested in this book as a romance or as historical fiction, you will enjoy it.

Book; 12+; ISBN 978-0380613748; Leicester: Ulverscroft, 2007

Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James Swanson

Even though we all learn that it was John Wilkes Booth who assassinated Abraham Lincoln, few of us learn the supsenseful story of how Booth ran and was ultimately caught by the authorities. When Abraham Lincoln is assassinated on April 15, 1865 the hunt begins for his killer, John Wilkes Booth and his accomplices. This book tells the story of that manhunt. Booth ran for 12 days from Washington D.C. to Virginia. A suspenseful page turner, the novel tells us the story from the viewpoints of those hunting Booth and families of the conspirators involved in the assassination.

Although this book is found in the fiction department, it is based on true events and all characters are actual people. It is a great introduction to the true-crime genre as well as a fun way to learn about history. You might pick this book up to supplement your U.S. history class, but you’ll end up reading it for enjoyment. It is a page turner that will have you wanting to share the story with others, which makes it a great book report book.

Book; 13+; ISBN 978-0439903547; New York: Scholastic Press, 2009

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

During the Holocaust, Nazis did not only target Jews. They sent many other groups to concentration camps as well. In late 1930s, Nazi Germany, Liesel’s has lost her family. Her father, accused of being a communist, is sent to a Nazi concentration camp, and her brother has died. Liesel goes to live with a foster family. She has a habit of stealing books, and stole her first book before she was even able to read—a gravedigger’s manual from her brother’s funeral. Her foster father uses this manual to teach Liesel to read. The story is told by Death (you know, the Grim Reaper) as Liesel lives through the war years. Liesel gains an eclectic group of friends and supporters, including the Jewish man hiding in her foster family’s house.

This is a book that is difficult to explain without ruining its experience. It was originally published for adults, but in the U.S. is published for young adults, maybe because it is about a child. Parts can be disturbing, and the book is great to read with others with whom you can discuss it. The Book Thief stands out from the herd of other Holocaust and World War II books, and I highly recommend it.

Book; 14+; ISBN 978-0375842207; New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006.