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Top 10 Young Adult Historical Fiction Recommendations

Here is my top ten young adult historical fiction recommendations. Historical fiction is one of my most read genres especially young adult historical. So I thought I would narrow it down to ten of my favorites.



1.
The book thief by Markus Zusak
Rating: 5/5
summary: (x)


The book that started the whole historical fiction trend in my reading. I picked this up by chance and since then it had become my favorite book written. It shaped my writing and my reading habits.

2.
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Rating: 5/5
summary (x)


Another book I picked up on a whim. I was just getting into historical fiction and this was a fast read. It was on a topic I had never really heard about so it spurred my interest in the subject.

3.
The watch that ends the night
Rating: 5/5
summary: (x)

An old but good book. I had a huge Titanic phase when I was younger and this book was an excellent fiction novel on the Titanic. I loved the way the story was written and flowed.

4.

The Gentleman's guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi lee

Rating:5/5

Summary: (x)

One of the best books of 2017. I loved the representation in the novel, the humor, and basically everything about this book. A must read for sure.

5.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Rating: 5/5

Summary: (x)

Another excellent historical fiction novel that is set in ancient Greece. This one tells the story of Achilles and Patroclus. It is heartbreaking and good at the same time.

6.

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Rating: 5/5

Summary: (x)

Another heartbreaking novel by Ruta Sepetys. God her writing is so good but dear lord are they so sad. Read this you will learn more about an event not really talked about in WWII history.

7.

Grave Mercy by Robin Lafevers

Rating:5/5

Summary: (x)

Assassin trained in a nunnery sign me up. I love this series a lot it is so inventive and original. This first book is so good and a great start to an amazing series.

8.

Front Lines by Michael Grant

Rating: 5/5

Summary: (x)

 

This is an alternate version of WWII where women fight in the war. It is so underrated and one of the best books I have ever read. It is the first book in an excellent series that I cannot recommend enough.

9.

The Diviners by Libba Bray

Rating:5/5

Summary: (x)

This is the first book of a series set in the 1920s. It a paranormal series that is down right creepy and so good. I was not sure about the whole creepy factor of the novel but that was the part that made the novel.

10.

A mad wicked folly by Sarah Biggs Waller

Rating:5/5

Summary: (x)

A novel set in 1909 about the suffragette movement and has an excellent plot line. A recent read of mine that I cannot recommend enough.

No Greater Valor: The Siege of Bastogne and the Miracle That Sealed Allied Victory by Jerome R. Corsi

Rating: 5/5

Summary: (x)

My Thoughts:

      I have not reviewed a military history book in a while so I thought I would review this one. This was a random buy for me  I saw it was on Bastogne and thought okay I will give this a read. I have read a bunch on Bastogne but this one is by far the best one I have read. It includes excellent maps and troop movements which help visualize what happened as it happened. There were a lot of new facts I had not know especially concerning the  501st parachute regiment. I know a lot about the 506th but little about the other so it was nice to get more information on the other regiments and divisions that fought.

           A lot of this book was in separate chapters featuring different people who were performed heroic deeds and made sure the Germans did not break through the line. One section that truly affected me was the chapter on the Angels of Bastogne. Their names were Renee Lemaire and Augusta Chiwy and the section shed a lot of light on Augusta who I did not know about. They were featured in Band of Brothers and learning more about them made this book worthwhile to me.

             This is a book I would recommend if you want to learn a lot about Bastogne and want to learn more about the men and women who helped hold back the German army in Belgium. It was a random book I am happy that I picked up.

January TBR

I'm going back to college so I do not expect much reading to get done.
I've already finished two books which is good.

A list of books:

1. A Time for Trumpets: The Untold Story of the Battle of the Bulge by Charles B. MacDonald
2. The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell
3. D-day by Stephen E. Ambrose
4. The Victors by Stephen E. Ambrose
5. Renegades by Marissa Meyer

Books of December 2017

So I read a fair bit of books in December more so than the last few months. Since I am out of school for a month.

1. The longest winter by Alex Kershaw
2. life after legend by Marie lu
3.Riveted by Jay Crownover
4. Currahee by Donald Burgett
5. The road to Arnhem by Donald Burgett
6.Seven Roads to hell by Donald Burgett
7.Beyond the Rhine by Donald Burgett
8. Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare
9. 11 days in December by Stanley Weintraub
10. When the tides turn by Sarah Sundin
11. Once upon a time in war by Robert E. Humphrey
12. Caraval by Stephenie Garber
13. No greater Valor by Jerome Corsi
14.Alamo in the Ardennes: The Untold Story of the American Soldiers Who Made the Defense of Bastogne Possible by John C. McManus
15.Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein 
16.Behind Hitler's Lines: The True Story of the Only Soldier to Fight for both America and the Soviet Union in World War II by Thomas Happer Taylor
17.A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller

18. Wonder Woman: Warbringer (DC Icons, #1)by Leigh Bardugo

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Rating: 5/5
Summary: (x)

My thoughts:

This one was a highly anticipated read of the year. I had heard really good reviews and when I saw a copy on sale I knew I had to read it. It was a fast read and full of so many good things. It was a very original novel and one that I loved. I cannot wait for the next book in 2018 to read about Scarlett's sister Tella. This is a book I highly recommend if you love fantasy.

Plot:

Scarlett lives an isolated life with her sister on an island run by her cruel father. She goes to Caraval to escape but her sister is kidnapped. She is the main event for Caraval since whoever finds her is the winner of the event. She sets out with the mysterious sailor who to her to the island to find her sister before anyone else. It is full of twists and turns that she did not expect.

Characters:

I loved Scarlett she was a strong character who took no crap. She was very relatable. I loved Tella as well. Both were excellent characters.

Best 17 books of 2017

I have read 153 books in 2017 and am almost to my goal of 160. Which is very exciting. I will be reviewing books again soon since I just finished college. A goal of mine this year was to read as many of the books related to Band of Brothers and the Pacific as I could. Here are my top 17 books of the year and in particular order:

1. Shifty's War
2. China Marine
3. Frontlines
4. Simon vs the Hom Sapiens Agenda
5. Illuminae
6. Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends
7. Island of the Damned
8. Long Way Hime
9. Masters of the Air
10. The Gentleman's guide to vice and virtue
11. Easy company Soldiers
12. Beyond Band of Brothers
13. A Conjuring of light
14. In the footsteps of the band of brothers
15. The Alice network
16. the upside of unrequited
17. Tash hearts Tolstoy

Releases of early 2018

January:

• Let's talk about Love by Claire Kann (January 23,2017)

•   Batman by Marie Lu ( January 2, 2017)

• The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert ( January 30, 2018)

• Purple Hearts by Michael Grant (January 30, 2018)

• Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda Special Edition by Becky Albertalli (January 30, 2018)

• Say You'll remember me by Katie Mcgarry (January 30, 2018)

February:

• Hamilton and Peggy by L.Elliot ( February 13, 2018)

• The Sea before Us by Sarah Sundin ( February 6, 2018)

March:

Obsidio by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff ( March 13, 2018)

April:

Love and War by Melissa de la cruz( April 17, 2018)

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli ( April 24, 2018)

May:

Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir ( May 22, 2018)

From Twinkle with Love by Sandhya Menon ( May 22, 2018)

Legendary by Stephanie Garber ( May 22, 2018)

Love and Luck by Jenna Evans Welch (May 8, 2018)

November Reads

I read a few books this month not as much as I would like but between Nanowrimo and school not much time to read at all. But I read a lot of good books though.

1. Neutral Zone by Catherine Gayle (5/5)
2. Eliza and her Monsters by Francesca Zappia (5/5)
3. Love and other consolation prizes by Jamie Ford(3/5)
4. Before the devil breaks you by Libba Bray(5/5)
5. All the crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater(3/5)
6. Strong men armed by Robert Leckie(4/5)
7. Night by Elie Wisel(5/5)
8. The forgotten Elie Wisel(4/5)
9. Alex and Eliza by Melissa de la cruz(3/5)
10.  Citywide by Santino Hassell (5/5)
11. The Mighty Eighth by Gerald Astor(5/5)

December TBR

I am about to be on break so reading marathon will commence. I am doing a themed read of sorts with the fact I have over a dozen books on the Battle of the bulge so I thought I would knock some out. There are a few other books mixed in as well.

1. Caraval by Stephanie Garber
2. Code Girls by Liza Mundy
3. Currahee!: A Screaming Eagle at Normandy by Donald R. Burgett 
4. The Road to Arnhem: A Screaming Eagle in Holland by Donald R. Burgett 
5. Seven Roads to Hell: A Screaming Eagle at Bastogne by Donald R. Burgett 
6. Beyond the Rhine: A Screaming Eagle in Germany by Donald R. Burgett  
7. The Longest Winter: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of World War II's Most Decorated Platoon by Alex Kershaw
8. Once upon a time in war by Robert e. Humphrey
10. No Greater Valor: The Siege of Bastogne and the Miracle That Sealed Allied Victory 
11. by Jerome R. Corsi
12. Alamo in the Ardennes: The Untold Story of the American Soldiers Who Made the Defense of Bastogne Possible by John C. McManus
14. A Time for Trumpets: The Untold Story of the Battle of the Bulge
15. by Charles B. MacDonald
16. Behind Hitler's Lines by Thomas H. Taylor
17. D-Day by Stephen e. Ambrose
18. The Victors by Stephen E. Ambrose
19. 11 days in December: Christmas at the Bulge by Stanley Weintrub