History Rocks!

It's Dead Jim.

2009-04-01T12:56:00.001-04:00

Much to my dismay, I have decided to close down History Rocks. Its too hard to work on two blogs at once. I will be reviewing historical fiction novels every third Friday of the month. I am going to call it Historical Fiction Fridays and you can read my reviews over on my other blog at http://yabookmarks.blogspot.com/ .

Help!

2009-03-18T19:02:00.003-04:00

I realize now that I don't have time to dedicated to two blogs. Work has been crazy, I'm also trying to write a manuscript and I am reading two books a week for both blogs. I'm overwhelmed.

I'm not happy about it, I had thought I could do two, but I can't.

So I am asking if anyone would like to share the responsibilities with me. Would someone like to read historical novels for teens and write reviews of them? We could rotate every week if that is possible.

If you are game drop me an email. yabookmarks@gmail.com

Thanks

Historical Fiction Everywhere!

2009-03-03T18:24:00.005-05:00

I was walking around Barnes & Noble today when I noticed something different. There was a lot of historical fiction novels on display. On the new fiction shelves there had to be five or six titles. On the new paperback section there were three or four. There was even a display for historical fiction novels on an end cap.

I couldn't believe all the HF novels that were on display. It gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. Three months ago when I tried to find the latest and greatest HF novels I couldn’t find anything new. Now they were stocked with multiple titles.

Rockin!

I went over to the YA section and there were a few on display. One was A Voice of her Own which is about a young Emily Dickenson. Another entitled The Musician's Daughter also looked interesting. There was another one, but I forgot it.

Still, I was pleased that maybe things have finally changed. Maybe now fans of historical fiction can walk into a bookstore and find the titles they are looking for. That would be great!

Now, if only I could have the publishers create more historical fiction for teens! Hmmm.

One step at a time.

A Novel about Joan of Arc????

2009-02-26T21:37:00.003-05:00

Mariane de Courcey is the main character in Warrior Girl: A Novel of Joan of Arc.
Once again I was mislead by a title and a cool flashy cover (I really have to stop that) and bought a book on what I thought it would be about….Joan of Arc.

Now don’t get me wrong, Joan of Arc is in this book, but she is a secondary character. The narrator in the story is Mariane, a mute girl who has lost her mother after the English killed her. Mariane is Joan’s cousin and goes off to live with Joan’s family in Doremy. She later goes off with Joan on her mission etc. etc. etc.

I felt that I was mislead by the book. I wanted a story about Joan of Arc, from her perspective, but that’s not what I got. If readers don’t mind Mariane telling the tale, then they should be fine with this interpretation of events. I, on the other hand, didn’t like it. The historical details are good and I think some readers will be engaged.

For those looking for a historical fiction book about Joan of Arc there is:
Young Joan

Joan of Arc: An Army of Angels
Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc

For those looking for good nonfiction books I strongly suggest
Joan of Arc: In her own words This is an excellent book that records what she said throughout her public life. Nothing is added. The reader gets a raw, unflinching look at the warrior saint.

Joan of Arc: By Herself and her Witnesses

Vacation!

2009-02-22T00:41:00.002-05:00

I went on vacation for the first time in my life! YAY me! That is one reason I haven't updated my blog. I was so excited about going to Cozumel that I forgot to let you know that I would be gone for a week.

The history nut in me had to visit the Tulum Ruins. It was amazing and our tour guide rocked!

Anyway, I'm back in Syracuse. I'd also like to mention that I came back in a snow storm with an additional foot of snow on the ground. boo! Oh well, the sun was great while it lasted!

Expect a review in a few days.

An Angelic Catherine de' Medici?

2009-02-11T18:26:00.004-05:00

This novel relives Catherine's life as a young girl and closes with her being crowned Queen of France. Throughout the novel we see that her life was full of turmoil. Catherine’s parents die at a young age; and her cousin hates her and torments her religiously. She is held prisoner in a convent and is surrounded by nuns who dislike her and her family. Then later in life she is whisked off to France to marry a man she has never met.

This book paints Catherine in a very sympathetic light. While maybe not angelic, she certainly comes close to it. I’m not saying that’s right or wrong, but it is what it is. So if anyone is looking for the mean, hateful Catherine they will not find it here. The author does a wonderful job of describing the detail of the time without making it seem dull and like a history book. The characters are an interesting variety with their personalities shining through.

Sadly, I will say that I haven’t really enjoyed a YA historical fiction novel since A Northern Light, but this one was different. It held my interest and I didn’t find myself rolling my eyes or sighing.

I should make note that there is mention of rape in this novel; however it does not go into detail.

For students looking for a good historical read then I strongly suggest this book. It has great detail and paints Catherine in a different life. For students looking for a dark, gloomy book about the hateful Catherine de' Medici, then this is not the book for them.

Struggling to survive

2009-02-01T11:43:00.003-05:00

Juliet Bradshaw’s life is turned upside down as the Civil War rages on. Her father is killed, and her brother is one of Quantrill's renegades, which puts a huge strain on her life. Instead of leaning how to become a proper lady, Juliet tries to survive a series of interesting events in her life, which include being arrested by the yankees and kidnapped by one of Quantrill’s raiders.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I wasn’t on the edge of my seat, but the subject was interesting. I cannot recall any books about William Quantrill or his men so that made the book a unique read. The historical detail was very good, though I still question Seth (Juliet’s older brother) decision to put a slave in charge of the other slaves. I never heard of such a thing before. So that had me wondering if such an occurrence would ever happen. It seems doubtful, but maybe it happened. Other than that I enjoyed the book.

The book is for ages 9 -12, but there were some adult situations in this novel. They were subtle, but they were there. I think this book would be good for freshmen or even sophomores, but anyone older may find it a bit juvenile.

Great writing, but predictable

2009-01-20T19:28:00.004-05:00

Make no mistakes about it; Ms. Ibbotson is an excellent writer. I loved her descriptions, and her story seemed to have so much more detail then a lot of young adult books I have read recently. That being said, while the book sounded interesting the writing was predictable.

Anna escapes to England during the Russian Revolution. This instantly caught my attention because there are so few historical fiction novels dealing with Russian history. Adult author Robert Alexander is the only author I can think of that writes about Russia, and he knows his stuff. Anyway, back on topic.

So Anna needs a job. She finds one as a maid. Now, she knows how to be a maid because she has read an old book on the subject and is an expert on the matter. She works in a house and there is a handsome earl. However the earl is engaged to a snuck up, extremely wealthy woman who is in love with another man! Do you see where this is going…I think you do.

The plot was too predictable for me and this dragged down the book. Had there been some surprises thrown in, I would have enjoyed the book a lot more.

Do I think teens will enjoy it? If teens are looking for a fun, fluff read that doesn’t take much brain power, then this is for them. For teens that are looking for something a little more deep, I suggest The Kitchen Boy by Robert Alexander. It’s a great novel with a twist at the end.

For more information on Robert Alexander please check out his website:

An Amazing story

2009-01-07T12:40:00.006-05:00

My first library gig was working in a rural, school district called Otselic Valley. I was the librarian for grades 7 - 12(all 200 students). It was a tight knit community and it was here that I first learned about this amazing novel and the sad history behind it.

The tragic story of Grace Brown from the small, sleepy town of South Otselic, NY has capture many people's attentions over the years. Grace was a simple farm girl who went to Cortland, NY to work in a factory. There she meets the handsome Chester Gillette, nephew of the factory owner. They fell in love and poor Grace found out she was pregnant. Afraid, distraught and unsure where to go she went home hoping and praying Chester would do the right thing and marry her.

Grace's story ends tragically, but it is because of the sad ending that it has endured for over 100 years. The story has inspired plays and operas. Theodore Dreiser was so interested by the story that he wrote An American Tragedy, which was later turned into a movie called A Place in the Sun. The latest installment of the Grace Brown story is by Jennifer Donnelly.

Mattie Gokey promised her dying mother that she would help raise her two younger siblings even though in her heart she wanted to become a writer. Mattie was different than the other girls in her town. She was a young woman ahead of her time, stuck in a world where a woman’s only purpose in life was to marry and have children. In the novel she struggles with the choices she faces. Should she marry the handsome Royal(even if he is dull and uneducated) because that is what society and her father want for her? Or should she follow her dreams and become a great writer like Louisa May Alcott or Emily Dickenson?

When money becomes tight for the Gokey family, Mattie’s father allows her to work at a hotel. This is where Mattie meets Grace Brown and her life is changed forever. Grace tells Mattie to burn her letters but in the end Mattie cannot do it.

This is one of the best novels I have ever read. The characters are so vivid and real. Ms. Donnelly does a wonderful job of capturing racism, sexism and everyday life during the turn of the century. A lot of people tend to think of history as women wearing pretty dresses, but Ms. Donnelly shreds that image and gives a harsh, brutal account of what really happened if you were a poor, young woman in 1906.

For students who enjoy A Northern Light and want to read more about Grace Brown's murder, there is are two excellent books by Craig Brandon. One is entitled Murder in the Adirondacks. It is a nonfiction book. He also compliled Grace and Chester's letter's in a small book entitled Grace Brown's Love Letters.

A Decent Read

2008-12-29T23:57:00.009-05:00

I found this book on the “discover new authors” shelf at B&N. At first I thought "Keria Knightly is doing covers??" I mean, common, it does look like her... sorta. Anyway, I was informed this book could be up for an award. To which I thought, “It must be a slow year in publishing!”

Cornelia, 14, is the daughter of Rembrandt, who in his prime was one of the greatest artists around. But now the family is penniless and the creditors are always knocking on their door. Her mother died of the plague a few years before and Cornelia is struggling with keeping her sanity as she tries to understand her unusual father. Her half brother, Titus leaves her behind to marry a wealthy woman. Added to the mix is Cornelia’s budding romance with Carel, who is the son of a wealthy shipping magnate. He is rich, she is poor, but will love overcome class? Also there is Neel, her father’s last remaining pupil.

Overall, it was a decent read. I enjoyed it but I wouldn’t rank it up there with The Queen’s Soprano and it in no way could it be compared to A Northern Light. The characters were likeable with their flaws; but I thought Ms. Cullen should have developed Cornelia a little better. It didn’t seem as if she had enough dept for me. The plot was predictable; which is a shame because teens deserve more than this.

On the flap of the book it says “Based on real characters and filled with family dramas and a love triangle that would make Jane Austen proud…” Eh, I highly doubt that. The love triangle for me was flat.

Should this book win an award? Well, it made it onto ALA’s 100 best for 2007.

For teens looking for a fun read about a confused girl searching for love then this if for them. For everyone else, you may want to pass.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-24T08:22:00.004-05:00

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Solstice and Happy Hanukkah! Here's hoping that the new year brings you great opportunities and fulfills all your wishes!

Historical footnote that no one remembers

2008-12-17T20:23:00.011-05:00

Two Suns in the Sky takes place during World War II and introduces many readers to an unknown historical footnote. The story takes place in Oswego, NY which was the only refugee shelter for Jews in the country during that time. Even though Americans knew the Jews were being persecuted all over Europe we only allowed 1,000 into this country. That was in 1944.

Fifteen year old Chris Cook is bored with her life in Oswego. Nothing exciting ever happens, or so she thinks until she meets Adam Bornstein. He is one of the Jews in the emergency shelter. The two begin to sneak around, and Chris knows she is falling in love with Adam. But can a Catholic girl and Jewish boy live happily every after? Would Chris’ father ever allow her to marry a Jewish man? While the book centers on their blooming relationship it also exposes the prejudices both had to face.

I enjoyed the novel a lot, but I could be biased. Local history has always fascinated me, and even though I only live 45 minutes away from Oswego I had never heard about the refugee shelter until I read the book. Still, I think teens will enjoy this book because of the good historical details, interesting subject and the burning question… “will they end up together or won’t they?”

For those who wish to read more about the refugee shelter there is a nonfiction book called Haven by Ruth Gruber and Dava Sobel.

Ms. Gregory maybe losing her touch

2008-12-13T10:34:00.004-05:00

Wait! Some of you maybe saying this isn't a young adult novel. This is true, but I have had a lot of my students read Philipppa Gregory's novels and enjoy them. So for my first post I thought I would review her latest book The Other Queen.

I have enjoyed most of Ms. Gregory's novels. I thought her last novel, The Boleyn Inheritance, was amazing. So I was eager to read The Other Queen which is about Mary Queen of Scots. My eagerness quickly wore off, however.

The story is told from three different perspectives. While the three perspectives worked in The Boleyn Inheritance it doesn't work for The Other Queen because the novel feels like groundhogs day and constantly repeats itself.

The three different narrators are Bess, George (Bess' husband) and Mary. And to be honest I didn't feel sympathy for any of them. As I continued to read the novel I kept feeling like I missed out on all the interesting things that happened in Mary's life. All I was left with was a dull, flat story about nothing exciting and some strange sexual tension. I pushed my way through 150 pages and after that I had to give up.

If Ms. Gregory wanted to write a novel about Mary's life she should have done so before her imprisonment. I think it would have been far more compelling. But instead she wrote a drab novel where nothing interesting happens.

Hardcore Gregory fans may want to give this one a go, but I strongly suggest they loan it from the library. I cannot thank Ms. Gregory enough for pushing historical fiction into the forefront, but I hope in the future she writes more compelling novels.

The birth of a new blog!

2008-12-11T18:05:00.001-05:00

I'm a huge historical fiction fan, and I have noticed a ton of HF blogs out there for the adults. I thought to myself why isn't there one for teens. Or if there is one I haven't found it yet. This blog will review historical fiction books for teens.