Collection: Historical Fiction

From Pura Belpré Honoree Adrianna Cuevas is a sweeping, emotional middle grade historical novel about a twelve-year-old boy who leaves his family in Cuba to immigrate to the U.S. by himself, based on the author's family history.

"I don't remember. Tell me everything, Pepito. Tell me about Cuba."

When the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 solidifies Castro's power in Cuba, twelve-year-old Cumba's family makes the difficult decision to send him to Florida alone. Faced with the prospect of living in another country by himself, Cumba tries to remember the sound of his father's clarinet, the smell of his mother's lavender perfume.

Life in the United States presents a whole new set of challenges. Lost in a sea of English speakers, Cumba has to navigate a new city, a new school, and new freedom all on his own. With each day, Cumba feels more confident in his new surroundings, but he continues to wonder: Will his family ever be whole again? Or will they remain just out of reach, ninety miles across the sea?

A Kirkus Best Children's Book of the Year
2024 Middle Grade Read Aloud list

"...Cuevas' latest is a triumph of the heart...A compassionate, emotionally astute portrait of a young Cuban in exile." --Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW

"Cuevas' intense and immersive account of a Cuban boy's experience after the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion brings a specific point in history alive." --Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

"Cuevas packs this sophomore novel with palpable emotions and themes of friendship, love, longing, and trauma, attentively conveying tumultuous historical events from the lens of one young refugee." -- Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

A young woman discovers her mysterious powers could help catch a killer in the first book of The Diviners series--a stunning supernatural historical mystery set in 1920s New York City, from Printz Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Libba Bray.

Evangeline O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and sent off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is ecstatic. It's 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult. Evie worries he'll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far.

When the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer. As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfurl in the city that never sleeps. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened....

NATIONAL BESTSELLER - AN OPRAH'S BOOK CLUB 2.0 SELECTION - "A remarkable page-turner of a novel." --Chicago Tribune

In 1923, fifteen-year-old Hattie Shepherd, swept up by the tides of the Great Migration, flees Georgia and heads north. This "brutal, illuminating version of the twentieth century African-American experience belongs alongside those of Toni Morrison, Alice Walker and Zora Neale Hurston" (Newsday).

Full of hope, Hattie settles in Philadelphia to build a better life. Instead she marries a man who will bring her nothing but disappointment, and watches helplessly as her firstborn twins are lost to an illness that a few pennies could have prevented.

Hattie gives birth to nine more children, whom she raises with grit, mettle, and not an ounce of the tenderness they crave. She vows to prepare them to meet a world that will not be kind. Their lives, captured here in twelve luminous threads, tell the story of a mother's monumental courage--and a nation's tumultuous journey.

Don't miss Ayana Matthis's new novel, The Unsettled coming soon!

In this riveting mystery from New York Times bestselling author Jacqueline Winspear, Maisie Dobbs is hired to unravel a case of wartime love and death, an investigation that leads her to a doomed affair between a young cartographer and a mysterious nurse.

August 1914. As Michael Clifton is mapping land he has just purchased in California's beautiful Santa Ynez Valley, war is declared in Europe--and duty-bound to his father's native country, the young cartographer soon sets sail for England to serve in the British army. Three years later, he is listed as missing in action.

April 1932. After Michael's remains are unearthed in France, his parents retain London psychologist and investigator Maisie Dobbs, hoping she can find the unnamed nurse whose love letters were among their late son's belongings. It is a quest that leads Maisie back to her own bittersweet wartime love--and to the stunning discovery that Michael Clifton was murdered in his dugout. Suddenly an exposed web of intrigue and violence threatens to ensnare the dead soldier's family and even Maisie herself as she attempts to cope with the impending loss of her mentor and the unsettling awareness that she is once again falling in love.

A spare and haunting, wise and beautiful novel about war and the endurance of the human spirit and the subtle ways individuals reclaim their humanity.

In a city under siege, four people whose lives have been upended are ultimately reminded of what it is to be human. From his window, a musician sees twenty-two of his friends and neighbors waiting in a breadline. Then, in a flash, they are killed by a mortar attack. In an act of defiance, the man picks up his cello and decides to play at the site of the shelling for twenty-two days, honoring their memory. Elsewhere, a young man leaves home to collect drinking water for his family and, in the face of danger, must weigh the value of generosity against selfish survivalism. A third man, older, sets off in search of bread and distraction and instead runs into a long-ago friend who reminds him of the city he thought he had lost, and the man he once was. As both men are drawn into the orbit of cello music, a fourth character--a young woman, a sniper--holds the fate of the cellist in her hands. As she protects him with her life, her own army prepares to challenge the kind of person she has become.

A novel of great intensity and power, and inspired by a true story, The Cellist of Sarajevo poignantly explores how war can change one's definition of humanity, the effect of music on our emotional endurance, and how a romance with the rituals of daily life can itself be a form of resistance.

In Regency London, an unconventional scientist and a fearless female artist form an unlikely alliance to expose a cold-hearted killer . . .

The Earl of Wrexford possesses a brilliant scientific mind, but boredom and pride lead him to reckless behavior. So when pompous, pious Reverend Josiah Holworthy publicly condemns him for debauchery, Wrexford unsheathes his rapier-sharp wit and strikes back. As their war of words escalates, London's most popular satirical cartoonist, A.J. Quill, skewers them both. But then the clergyman is found slain in a church--his face burned by chemicals, his throat slashed ear to ear--and Wrexford finds himself the chief suspect.

An artist in her own right, Charlotte Sloane has secretly slipped into the persona of her late husband, using his nom de plume A.J. Quill. When Wrexford discovers her true identity, she fears it will be her undoing. But he has a proposal--use her sources to unveil the clergyman's clandestine involvement in questionable scientific practices, and unmask the real murderer. Soon Lord Wrexford and the mysterious Mrs. Sloane plunge into a dangerous shadow world hidden among London's intellectual enclaves to trap a cunning adversary--before they fall victim to the next experiment in villainy . . .

"Thoroughly enjoyable . . . with sharp, engaging characters, rich period detail, and a compellingly twisty plot, Andrea Penrose delivers a winner."
--Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author

"Fans of C.S. Harris take note! A riveting ride through Regency London, from the slums of St. Giles, to the mansions of Mayfair."--Lauren Willig, New York Times bestselling author

"Historical chemistry meets alchemy . . . A delight of a book."
--Joanna Bourne, award-winning author

WINNER OF THE 1973 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD
By the Author of Stoner

In Augustus, his third great novel, John Williams took on an entirely new challenge, a historical narrative set in classical Rome, exploring the life of the founder of the Roman Empire. To tell the story, Williams turned to the epistolary novel, a genre that was new to him, transforming and transcending it just as he did the western in Butcher's Crossing and the campus novel in Stoner. Augustus is the final triumph of a writer who has come to be recognized around the world as an American master.

Uncover the stories from one of the greatest-novelists of all time in this beautiful anthology of tales from Charles Dickens, rewritten and adapted in an accessible way for children.

This book introduces children to eight of Dickens' greatest works, accompanied by beautiful, colorful illustrations that breathe new life into these timeless classics. Includes favorites such as Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, and Great Expectations. A timeline at the back shows when each story was written, and gives facts about Dickens' life.

Revisit your favorite Dickens stories and introduce his legacy to next generation of readers with this beautiful first introduction to some of the greatest stories all time. Includes:

• Oliver Twist
• The Old Curiosity Shop
• David Copperfield
• Great Expectations
• Hard Times
• A Christmas Carol
• Nicholas Nickleby
• Tale of Two Cities

The World Full of... series is a collection of beautiful hardcover story treasuries. Discover folktales from all around the world or be introduced to some of the world's best-loved writers with these stunning gift books, the perfection addition to any child's library.

Also available from the series: A Year Full of Stories, A World Full of Animal Stories, A Stage Full of Shakespeare Stories, A World Full of Spooky Stories, A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals, and A Bedtime Full of Stories.

A thrilling graphic novel adaptation of Lauren Tarshis's bestselling I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916, with text adapted by Georgia Ball and art by Haus Studio!

Chet Roscow ha comenzado a sentirse a gusto en Elm Hills, Nueva Jersey. Tiene un trabajo, tres buenos amigos y ha encontrado el lugar perfecto para nadar. Pero todo cambia con la llegada de un tiburón blanco que ataca cerca de donde vive. Todos hablan de lo mismo. Sin embargo, cuando Chet ve algo raro en el agua, piensa que es su imaginación... hasta que se encuentra cara a cara con el tiburón!The Spanish edition of the graphic novel adaptation of I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916!Chet Roscow is finally feeling at home in his uncle's little New Jersey town. He has three new friends, and they love cooling off in the creek on hot summer days.But then comes shocking news: A massive shark has been attacking swimmers in the ocean along the Jersey Shore, not far from where Chet is staying. Fear is in the air.So when Chet spots a gray fin in the creek, he's sure it's his imagination running wild. It's impossible he's about to come face-to-face with a killer shark... right?Based on the real-life events of the Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916, this graphic novel brings Lauren Tarshis's New York Times bestselling I Survived series to vivid life. Perfect for readers who prefer the graphic novel format, or for existing fans of the I Survived chapter book series, these graphic novels combine historical facts with high-action storytelling that's sure to keep any reader turning the pages. Includes a nonfiction section at the back with historical photos and facts about the real-life shark attacks.

The #1 bestselling chapter book series of all time celebrates 25 years with new covers and a new, easy-to-use numbering system!

Jack and Annie are on a mission for Merlin the magician! This time, the magic tree house whisks them off to Thebes, Egypt, to find Florence Nightingale, a world-famous nurse. But when they find her, the Florence Nightingale they meet is not a famous nurse at all--she's not even a regular nurse! Have they found the right person? Or did Merlin make a mistake? An easy mission turns dangerous when Jack and Annie try to solve the mystery!

Formerly numbered as Magic Tree House #51, the title of this book is now Magic Tree House Merlin Mission #23: High Time for Heroes.

Did you know that there's a Magic Tree House book for every kid?

Magic Tree House: Adventures with Jack and Annie, perfect for readers who are just beginning chapter books
Merlin Missions: More challenging adventures for the experienced reader
Super Edition: A longer and more dangerous adventure
Fact Trackers: Nonfiction companions to your favorite Magic Tree House adventures

"This is an excellent book for sensitizing young people of any denomination to recognize injustice."--Church & Synagogue Libraries

Child Study Children's Book Committee Book of the Year Selection

The animals in the clearing were content until the Terrible Things came, capturing all creatures with feathers.

Little Rabbit wondered what was wrong with feathers, but his fellow animals silenced him. "Just mind your own business, Little Rabbit. We don't want them to get mad at us."

A recommended text in Holocaust education programs across the United States, this unique introduction to the Holocaust encourages young children to stand up for what they think is right, without waiting for others to join them.

Ages 6 and up

Knots and Crosses introduces gifted mystery novelist Ian Rankin, a fascinating locale and the most compellingly complex detective hero at work today.

Inspector John Rebus: His city is being terrorized by a baffling series of murders...and he's tied to a maniac by an invisible knot of blood. Once John Rebus served in Britain's elite SAS. Now he's an Edinburgh cop who hides from his memories, misses promotions and ignores a series of crank letters. But as the ghoulish killings mount and the tabloid headlines scream, Rebus cannot stop the feverish shrieks from within his own mind. Because he isn't just one cop trying to catch a killer, he's the man who's got all the pieces to the puzzle....

A Common Core Exemplar Text by an award-winning author-illustrator team

Tomás is a son of migrant workers. Every summer he and his family follow the crops north from Texas to Iowa, spending long, arduous days in the fields. At night they gather around to hear Grandfather's wonderful stories. But before long, Tomás knows all the stories by heart. "There are more stories in the library,"Papa Grande tells him. The very next day, Tomás meets the library lady and a whole new world opens up for him.

Based on the true story of the Mexican-American author and educator Tomás Rivera, a child of migrant workers who went on to become the first minority Chancellor in the University of California system, this inspirational story suggests what libraries--and education--can make possible. Raul Colón's warm, expressive paintings perfectly interweave the harsh realities of Tomás's life, the joyful imaginings he finds in books, and his special relationships with a wise grandfather and a caring librarian.

"A gentle text and innovative artwork. . . . While young readers and future librarians will find this an inspiring tale, the end note gives it a real kick: the story is based on an actual migrant worker [Tomás Rivera] who became chancellor of a university--where the library now bears his name."--Publishers Weekly

A 1946 Filipino American social classic about the United States in the 1930s from the perspective of a Filipino migrant laborer who endures racial violence and struggles with the paradox of the American dream, with a foreword by novelist Elaine Castillo

Poet, essayist, novelist, fiction writer and labor organizer, Carlos Bulosan (1911-1956) wrote one of the most influential working class literary classics about the U.S. pre-World War II, a period and setting similar to that of Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath and Cannery Row. Bulosan's semi-autobiographical novel America is in the Heart begins with the narrator's rural childhood in the Philippines and the struggles of land-poor peasant families affected by US imperialism after the Spanish American War of the late 1890s. Carlos's experiences with other Filipino migrant laborers, who endured intense racial abuse in the fields, orchards, towns, cities and canneries of California and the Pacific Northwest in the 1930s, reexamine the ideals of the American dream. Bulosan was one of the most important 20th century social critics with his deeply moving account of what it was like to be criminalized in the U.S. as a Filipino migrant drawn to the ideals of what America symbolized and committed to social justice for all marginalized groups.

Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month with these three Penguin Classics:

America Is in the Heart by Carlos Bulosan (9780143134039)
East Goes West by Younghill Kang (9780143134305)
The Hanging on Union Square by H. T. Tsiang (9780143134022)

'Victorian crime at its grittiest, most exciting best' ESSIE FOX

'Not to be missed' SJ BENNETT

In the hotly anticipated follow-up to The Tumbling Girl, Minnie and Albert take on a new crime-solving quest in the world of a Victorian music hall.

The Variety Palace Music Hall is in trouble, due in no small part to a gruesome spate of murders that unfolded around it a few months previously. Between writing, managing the music hall and trying to dissuade her boss from installing a water tank in the building, Minnie Ward has her hands full. Her complicated relationship with detective Albert Easterbrook doesn't even bear thinking about. But when a new string of murders tears through London, Minnie and Albert are thrown together once more. Strangely, the crimes seem to link back to a tragedy that took place fourteen years ago, leaving 183 children dead. And given that the incident touched so many people's lives, everyone is a suspect . . .

SHORTLISTED FOR THE IRISH CAP AWARDS 2023

'A beautifully written historical novel with characters who linger long after the last page is turned.' Hazel Gaynor, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Came Home

Society said they shouldn't fall in love...

It's 1828, and Ireland is in turmoil as Irish tenants protest against their upper-class English landlords.

Nineteen-year-old Bridget Muldowney is thrilled to return to the estate in Carlow she'll inherit when she comes of age. But since she left for Dublin seven years earlier, the tomboy has become a refined young lady, engaged to be married to a dashing English gentleman.

Cormac McGovern, now a stable hand on the estate, has missed his childhood friend. He and Bridget had once been thick as thieves, running wild around the countryside together.

When Bridget and Cormac meet again their friendship begins to rekindle, but it's different now that they are adults. Bridget's overbearing mother, determined to enforce the employer-servant boundaries, conspires with Bridget's fiancé to keep the pair apart.

With the odds stacked against them, can Bridget and Cormac's childhood attachment blossom into something more?

A Class Apart is the first book in Susie Murphy's historical fiction series A Matter of Class. The story continues in the second book, A Class Entwined.

Praise for A Class Apart:

'Susie Murphy writes with intelligence and assurance and has a real talent for capturing an authentic sense of time and place. I look forward to reading more from this bright new voice in historical fiction.' Hazel Gaynor, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Came Home

'I am completely blown away by this series...Simply outstanding.' Book Reviews for U, book reviewer

'Excellent characters and an interesting plot...The chemistry and romance between the two was well written and believable.' The Lit Bitch, book reviewer

'Romance, drama, suspense, and beautiful scenery reign supreme in A Class Apart...The story encompasses the real truths that the people in Ireland had to face in their time, weaving a heartrending tale that's impossible not to read.' Ashley O'Melia, author and freelance writer

'A richly detailed, historical tale of love against all odds...As you read this story you will fall deeper and deeper into the history of Ireland at the time, into the characters themselves, and into the emotions that are so vividly described that you cannot help but be caught up in it all too.' Books Of All Kinds, book reviewer

'For those of you who like Historical Fiction, you are in for a real treat...I devoured this book.' Coffee, Books and China Cups, book reviewer

What readers are saying:

★★★★★ 'The Irish Downton Abbey! Fabulous.'

★★★★★ 'If it was possible to give 100 stars to this book, I would!'

★★★★★ 'An absolute page turner.'

★★★★★ 'I loved the book from start to finish.'

★★★★★ 'A brilliant love story.'

★★★★★ 'A hugely satisfying read.'

★★★★★ 'Get ready to fall in love!'

★★★★★ 'This is going to be a fantastic series of novels.'

★★★★★ 'Superbly written.'

★★★★★ 'I am already itching to read the next book in the series!'