Book Recommendations: Historical Fiction (With Pictures)

If you haven't figured it out already, I really love reading. It's funny, how I always say that I love losing myself in stories, but really, books are where I find myself. I would never be a writer if I didn't love books so much, and I doubt my mind would work the same way.

There are so many different genres of books and so many different categories to be explored. For today's post, I'll be recommending just a few of my favorite middle grade historical fiction reads. If you like reading historical fiction, then comment below if you've enjoyed any of these same books. If you don't, maybe some of these recommendations would be a good way to test the waters of a new genre! (Please keep in mind that some of these books have a small amount of content that not everyone might be comfortable with, but I don't expand on it at all in the reviews.)

I love historical fiction because I can learn about what life was like in different places and times and step into different "worlds" in a way I just can't do by reading a history textbook. It helps me to sympathize with characters with entirely different experiences than my own. Of course, fiction plays a big part in historical fiction, and part of the fun is exploring the way that the author imagined the past.

So without further ado, here are four of my favorite historical fiction reads in the middle grade genre!

1. Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk

This book makes a really wonderful summer read! It follows the story of a girl named Crow who lives on an island with her adoptive father and goes on a journey to discover her past. It takes place on the Elizabeth Islands, which are off the coast of Massachusetts, in the year 1925. I love the beautiful, vivid writing style and how real the characters feel.

2. The Star that Always Stays by Anna Rose Johnson

This book is one of my very favorites! It tells the story of the author's great grandma, a young girl of Ojibwe descent named Norvia growing up in the mid 1910's. It's emotional, funny, and engaging. I found myself laughing and crying right along with the characters. It has a similar flavor and themes to some of my favorite classics like Anne of Green Gables and Little Women! I really liked how relatable the characters were, how the author handled difficult topics with a biblical perspective, and the emphasis on family.

3. The War that Saved My Life & The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Okay, I guess this is technically two books. But I love the sequel just as much, and maybe even more than the first one! I have to admit, I have cried more than once reading these. They take place in England during WWII, telling the story of a young girl named Ada and her brother searching for their place in a broken and changing world. Ada feels so real and raw and imperfect, and this story of her fighting to belong is really powerful.

4. Jefferson's Sons by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

This book was actually one of my more recent library reads, and I liked it quite a lot. It was very compelling to read all about the lives of Thomas Jefferson's "secret" children and what it was like for them growing up in Monticello, owned by the very man who penned the words "all men are created equal." The writing is straightforward and engaging, and each character's personality really shines through. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about a part of history they don't often include in text books.

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And, that's all! Thank you for stopping by! I hope you've enjoyed these recommendations along with my (very amateur ;) ) pictures. See you next time!