Reviews by Tag: historical fiction

Teen Review
Hotel Rwanda

Hotel Rwanda

Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Victoria O.
Mar 18, 2024

Hotel Rwanda is a movie about the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager who protected refugees during the Rwandan genocide in 1994. The movie is about the events leading up to the genocide, as well as the violence and chaos that ensued. Rusesabagina uses his connections and resources to protect over a thousand refugees, risking his own life in the process. I watched this movie at school. I would not have normally watched it, but I liked it.

Teen Review
The Book Thief book cover

The Book Thief

By Markus Zusak
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Victoria O.
Mar 18, 2024

The Book Thief is a historical fiction book by Markus Zusak. The book takes place in Germany during WWII and is narrated by Death. After the death of Liesel's brother and being separated from her mother, Liesel is taken in by a foster family just outside of Munich. Using a book she found in the snow, Liesel learns to read and becomes very close with her foster father, Hans. As the war progresses, Liesel's family hides a Jew in their basement, and Liesel will go to extreme lengths to defend him.

Teen Review
Rebel Spy

Rebel Spy

By Veronica Rossi
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Greta K
Mar 18, 2024

Frannie Tasker is an adventurous young girl who is stuck living under the gaze of her terrible stepfather. While diving for a shipwreck, she comes across an opportunity to assume a whole new identity under the name of sophisticated lady Emmeline Coates. She knows she can tell no one or it will cost her, but that changes when she meet Asa. Asa teaches her how to truly pass as Emmeline Coates, who becomes her new life for the next few years. While living as Emmeline during a time of war, she steps into risky territory.

Teen Review
The Crucible

The Crucible

By Arthur Miller
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Vaibhav K.
Mar 18, 2024

The Crucible is a fictional tragedy based on the Salem witch trials which captures the spirit of fear and hysteria perfectly. It is a play written by Arthur Miller during the the tense era of McCarthyism trying to draw a parallel between the anti-communist hunt taking place in America during the time and the witch hunt in Salem, in turn showing the dangers of hysteria. 

Teen Review
The Boy at the Top of the Mountain

The Boy at the Top of the Mountain

By John Boyne
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Victoria O.
Mar 15, 2024

The Boy at the Top of the Mountain by John Boyne is a historical fiction book that takes place during World War II. After his mother’s death in 1935, Pierrot is now an orphan. He feels alone until he discovers that his Aunt Beatrix is arranging for him to live with her. Aunt Beatrix works as a servant in Aldolf Hitler’s home located on top of a German mountain. As Pierrot begins to adapt to his new life, he and Hitler form an unusual relationship.

Teen Review
The Odyssey

The Odyssey

By Homer
Star Rating
★★★

Rated by
Jeli N.
Mar 8, 2024

SUMMARY: Odysseus, stranded on an island, makes it out alive through the favoritism of the Greek gods, Zeus and Hermes. An adventurous, sorrowful and tragic twenty-one long year journey back to Ithaca he takes to see his beloved home as Poseidon chases after him, wanting him dead. Many lives are lost during the journey, only for him to find out that there are hordes of hubris men overstaying their visit. 

Teen Review
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

By John Boyne

Rated by
Victoria O.
Mar 7, 2024

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne is a historical fiction book that takes place during World War II. In this book, Bruno and his family leave their home in Berlin and move near a concentration camp where his father is now a commandant. In Berlin, Bruno had several close friends and loved exploring his house. After moving, he misses his friends and longs for his days of exploring to return.

Teen Review
Mila 18 book cover

Mila 18

By Leon Uris
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Mahad Z.
Mar 1, 2024

Mila 18 by Leon Uris is a historical novel set in Warsaw, Poland, during World War II, focusing on the Jewish resistance fighters in the Warsaw Ghetto. The story follows a diverse group of characters as they struggle against the Nazi occupation and the atrocities of the Holocaust. The titular Mila 18 is a bunker where the resistance makes its last stand against the overwhelming forces of the German army during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

Teen Review
A Spark Unseen book cover

A Spark Unseen

By Sharon Cameron
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Mahek T.
Feb 19, 2024

A Spark Unseen by Sharon Cameron is a historical fiction novel, the sequel to The Dark Unwinding. It starts off with Katherine waking up in the middle of the night, spoiling a kidnapping attempt on her uncle, the genius inventor who is in possession of something that could determine the result of the ongoing war in Europe with a mini competition between England and France on who will be the King of the Seas.

Teen Review
The Dark Unwinding book cover

The Dark Unwinding

By Sharon Cameron
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Mahek T.
Feb 19, 2024

The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron is a historical fiction book set in England with some science fiction elements. Katherine Tulman’s aunt gives her the responsibility of sending her uncle to a mental asylum from fear that all her son, the family’s heir’s, inheritance is being depleted rapidly. Katherine, being an orphan under her aunt’s care, dependent on her aunt for her finances, agrees to do so for her secure future. However, when she gets there, she uncovers a whole lot of things that were being hidden.

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