Historical fiction gets a bad rap, especially among teenagers. It’s criticized for being dull, difficult, and boring. However, it’s an incredibly diverse genre that allows us to see ourselves in a different time and place. So here are five of the best historical fiction books you need to read.
5. Milkweed: Poland, World War 2, published 2003
Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli is about a boy so traumatized by war that he can’t even remember his own name. As he tries to survive the ghettos of Poland, he meets a family, and for the first time in his memory, he knows what it means to love and be loved. It’s a heartbreaking account of PTSD, starvation, and the horrors of the holocaust and an essential tale of how love and strength prevail, even in the most horrible circumstances.
4. The Song Of Achilles: Ancient Greece, published 2011
Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles follows the life of the Greek hero Achilles, through the eyes of his partner Patroclus. While remaining faithful to the Iliad and other texts, it crafts the classic story to fit a modern audience. It focuses on themes of love, loss, grief, and destiny; its story and style will certainly captivate you. Read this if you’re looking for a good cry, an engaging story, or are interested in Greek mythology.
3. To Kill A Mockingbird: American South, 1930s, published 1960
If you haven’t read Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird yet, get your act together. It is arguably the greatest and most influential piece of American literature, so you have no excuse. It follows the story of Atticus Finch through the eyes of his daughter, Scout, as he defends a black man wrongly accused of a horrible crime. It illustrates the atrocious racism and bigotry of the 1930s all through the innocent eyes of a child.
2. The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue: Europe, 1700s, published 2017
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee is the humorous story of a young aristocrat Monty, his grumpy little sister, Felicity, and his best friend/crush Percy on a tour of Europe for one last year of fun before adulthood. However, Monty’s poor decisions cause the trip to go awry and lead to a man-hunt, pirates, alchemy, and a string of disasters. If you’re looking for a funny and chaotic comfort book, make sure to pick this one up.
1. Young Mungo: Scotland, 1980s, published 2022
Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart follows the story of Mungo, a queer, Catholic teenager living during the political and social upheavals of Scotland during the 1980s. Living with his single mother and siblings, Mungo struggles with the effects his mother’s addiction has on the family. Dealing with issues of abuse, rape, and violence, Young Mungo illustrates the strength of the human spirit. It will break your heart and heal it again in a single sentence. I cannot recommend this book enough.
