| Mother of Strangers by Suad AmiryWhat it is: a lyrical coming-of-age story about first love in a war zone, where teenagers Subhi and Shams fight for survival during the 1948 end of the British mandate in Palestine.
Read it for: the richly detailed depiction of the sophisticated and cosmopolitan coastal city of Jaffa on the eve of the war; the sweetly dissonant moments of innocence inside the minds of characters forced to grow up too quickly.
You might also like: Exile Music by Jennifer Steil; Salt Houses by Hala Alyan. |
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| The War Librarian by Addison ArmstrongHow it's told: through the alternating perspectives of two women who, though they lived decades apart, both displayed grit, resilience, and a determination to do what's right.
Starring: Emmaline Balakin, who trades Washington D.C. for the French countryside in 1918, to serve as a librarian at a hospital for wounded soldiers; Kathleen Carre, the granddaughter of one of Emmaline's friends who is one of the first women to enroll at the U.S. Naval Academy.
Reviewers say: "Historical fans will devour this intimate story about fighting for dignity and respect during trying times" (Publishers Weekly). |
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The Attic Child
by Lola Jaye
What it's about: two children locked away in the same attic, almost a century apart, bound by a shared secret.
What happens: they discover beneath its floorboards clues that provide comfort, when all hope is lost, to break free from their confinement and leave the darkness behind.
Starring: twelve-year-old Celestine, who was taken from his homeland and spends most of the time locked away in the attic of a large house by the sea in the early 1900s, and Lowra, a young orphan girl born into wealth and privilege whose fortunes have now changed and finds herself in the same attic in 1974.
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| Widowland by C.J. CareyWhat it is: a thought-provoking alternate history that examines questions of complicity and self-deception in a world where England surrendered to the Nazis and a Vichy-like regime takes power.
The setup: It's 1953 and Rose Ransom works for the Ministry of Culture, editing classic books to reflect Nazi ideals. But when graffiti of famous, forbidden literary quotes starts appearing across the country, Rose is tasked with infiltrating the apparently bookish insurgency and finds herself reckoning with the truth of her nation's fate.
Reviewers say: Author C.J. Carey builds "a chillingly believable setting" for readers intrigued by the idea of "The Handmaid's Tale by way of Fatherland" (Booklist). |
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The Marriage Portrait
by Maggie O'Farrell
What it is: an extraordinary portrait of a resilient young woman whose future hangs entirely in the balance.
What happens: in Florence during the 1550s, captivating young duchess Lucrezia de Medici, having barely left girlhood behind, marries the ruler of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio, and now, in an unfamiliar court where she has one duty to provide an heir, fights for her very survival.
Reviewers say: "a captivating portrait of a woman attempting to free herself from a golden cage. Fans of the accomplished Hamnet won't be disappointed by this formidable outing" (Publishers Weekly).
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| The Thread Collectors by Shaunna J. Edwards and Alyson RichmanWhat it is: the descriptive, character-driven story of four people whose lives intertwine in unexpected but profound ways during the Civil War.
Starring: classically trained flutist William, an enslaved man in New Orleans who yearns for freedom; Stella, a free Black woman who has the brilliant idea to hide maps to the North in her embroidery; abolitionist New Yorker Jacob, a Jewish Union Army musician; Jacob's wife Lily, a seamstress well placed to spread Stella's maps.
Read it for: the bond between Jacob and William, who bond over music while in the Union Army; the moving relationship William and Stella share, which they must keep hidden from William's predatory owner. |
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Act of Oblivion
by Robert Harris
What it is: a novel with an urgent narrative, remarkable characters, and an epic true story to tell of religion, vengeance, and power--and the costs to those who wield it.
What it's about: follows General Edward Whalley's and his son-in law Colonel William Goffe's flight to America in 1660 after their involvement in the beheading of King Charles I.
Reviewers say: "the raw emotions of the characters and the issues that drive human dissent make this a worthwhile read" (Library Journal).
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| Ithaca by Claire NorthWhat it is: a thought-provoking reimagining of Penelope of Ithaca as narrated by a bitter yet witty Hera, queen of the Greek gods.
Read it for: the richly detailed world full of "spying maids, crafty merchants, and conniving queens" that makes for a "thoroughly enjoyable exploration of Penelope’s side of the ancient story" (Kirkus Reviews).
About the author: Claire North is a pseudonym of British author Catherine Webb, who publishes young adult fiction under her own name and adult fantasy as Kate Griffin. As Claire North she is best known for The First Fifteen Lives of Henry August and The Pursuit of William Abbey. |
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| The Two Lives of Sara by Catherine Adel WestStarring: young single mother Sara King, who works at boarding house of Mama Sugar in segregated Memphis; Mama Sugar, who welcomed Sara with open arms but has a secret past that puts both of their bond and their livelihoods to the test.
For fans of: In the Face of the Sun by Denny S. Bryce; The Scent of Burnt Flowers by Blitz Bazawule.
Reviewers say: "masterfully suspenseful and certain to tug at the reader's heartstrings" (Booklist). |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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