Collection: Historical Fiction

The "irresistible" and "compelling" first novel in the historical mystery series featuring a Welsh Benedictine monk in the twelfth century (The Washington Post).

A Welsh Benedictine monk living at Shrewsbury Abbey in western England, Brother Cadfael spends much of his time tending the herbs and vegetables in the garden--but now there's a more pressing matter. Cadfael is to serve as translator for a group of monks heading to the town of Gwytherin in Wales. The team's goal is to collect the holy remains of Saint Winifred, which Prior Robert hopes will boost the abbey's reputation, as well as his own. But when the monks arrive in Gwytherin, the town is divided over the request.

When the leading opponent to disturbing the grave is found shot dead with a mysterious arrow, some believe Saint Winifred herself delivered the deadly blow. Brother Cadfael knows an earthly hand did the deed, but his plan to root out a murderer may dig up more than he can handle.

Before CSI and Law & Order, there was Brother Cadfael, "wily veteran of the Crusades" (Los Angeles Times). His knowledge of herbalism, picked up in the Holy Land, and his skillful observance of human nature are blessings in dire situations, and earned Ellis Peters a Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger Award. A Morbid Taste for Bones kicks off a long-running and much-loved series that went on to be adapted for stage, radio, and television.

A dozen women join a secret 1850s Arctic expedition--and a sensational murder trial unfolds when some of them don't come back.

Eccentric Lady Jane Franklin makes an outlandish offer to adventurer Virginia Reeve: take a dozen women, trek into the Arctic, and find her husband's lost expedition. Four parties have failed to find him, and Lady Franklin wants a radical new approach: put the women in charge.

A year later, Virginia stands trial for murder. Survivors of the expedition willing to publicly support her sit in the front row. There are only five. What happened out there on the ice?

Set against the unforgiving backdrop of one of the world's most inhospitable locations, USA Today bestselling author Greer Macallister uses the true story of Lady Jane Franklin's tireless attempts to find her husband's lost expedition as a jumping-off point to spin a tale of bravery, intrigue, perseverance and hope.

Celebrate all the wonderful things about grandmothers along with the American Girl characters Kaya(TM), Josefina(TM), Rebecca(TM), Nanea(TM), and Melody(TM) in this Little Golden Book!

From teaching us traditions to comforting us and telling us stories, grandmothers do it all with love. This Little Golden Book about all the ways grandmothers show their love for their grandchildren is perfect for children ages 2 to 5 and American Girl fans of all ages. It features full-color illustrations and a diverse group of spirited girls (as well as their Bubbies and Abuelitas) from a variety of historical settings.

Introduced in 1986, American Girl's flagship line of historical characters features 18-inch dolls, books, and accessories that give girls a dramatic understanding of the role women and girls played in shaping our country. Little Golden Books enjoy nearly 100% consumer recognition. They feature beloved classics, hot licenses, and new original stories. . . the classics of tomorrow.

The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm

Perhaps no other stories possess as much power to enchant, delight, and surprise as those penned by the immortal Brothers Grimm. Now, in the new, expanded third edition, renowned scholar and folklorist Jack Zipes has translated all 250 tales collected and published by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, plus twenty-nine rare tales omitted from the original German edition, as well as narratives uncovered in the brothers' letters and papers.

Truly the most comprehensive translation to date, this critically acclaimed edition recaptures the fairy tales as the Brothers Grimm intended them to be: rich, stark, spiced with humor and violence, resonant with folklore and song.

One of the world's experts on children's literature, Jack Zipes is a professor of German at the University of Minnesota and is the author of numerous books on folklore and fairy tales.

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Giver of Stars and Someone Else's Shoes, a post-WWII story of the war brides who crossed the seas by the thousands to face their unknown futures.

1946. World War II has ended and all over the world, young women are beginning to fulfill the promises made to the men they wed in wartime.

In Sydney, Australia, four women join 650 other war brides on an extraordinary voyage to England--aboard HMS Victoria, which still carries not just arms and aircraft but a thousand naval officers. Rules are strictly enforced, from the aircraft carrier's captain down to the lowliest young deckhand. But the men and the brides will find their lives intertwined despite the Navy's ironclad sanctions. And for Frances Mackenzie, the complicated young woman whose past comes back to haunt her far from home, the journey will change her life in ways she never could have predicted--forever.

The first novel in #1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens's legendary Cynster series--now available in a trade paperback edition for the first time--a breathtaking tale of passion and mystery involving a duke known as "Devil" and the governess who beguiles him.

The Duke of St. Ives, known to those closest to him as Devil Cynster, comes from one of England's most powerful families, but even a dynasty as respected as the Cynsters has its skeletons. When the duke's young cousin is found murdered, Devil is determined to uncover the killer . . . even if means disgracing a member of his own blood.

Matters aren't helped by the distracting presence of Honoria Wetherby. She may be "only" a governess, but Devil has never met a woman like her before--one with brains, beauty, and a fearless desire to help him in his quest for justice.

Together, they embark on an adventure--one of danger, love, and passion--a journey that just might cost them their lives.

In the thriving kingdom of Idaza, Mikalla is the adored Conjurer, the nation's chief storyteller. Using the shadows cast by the city's glorious ceremonial flame, he weaves the history and tales of Idaza for all to see, threading the people together through common goals and ideals.

With a beautiful family and his position as one of King Oro's favorite courtiers, Mikalla's life is perfect. That is, until the king commands him to deliver a deadly message-one that will inevitably end in bloodshed and a war-torn Idaza.

With King Oro's minions-Secretary Kitan and General Jax-skulking in the wings, Mikalla doesn't know who to trust. Worse, he isn't sure who's really pulling the strings behind this political charade.

Betrayal and murder lie in the shadows Mikalla has always used to captivate the masses.

Will the flames reveal the truth hidden within the twisted schemes, or will Mikalla rise to his government's call? Mikalla, the Conjurer, must realize his choices alone hold the power to change Idaza-to change everything.

Mermaid Island by Sarah Bounty Ridyard takes YOU on a magical, mermaid adventure under the sea. Readers ages 5-8 will become real life mermaids, swim with magical sea creatures, and teach others the importance of protecting the ocean. Mermaid Island is an interactive adventure book in which YOU decide what happens next. YOU are a magical mermaid who has lived her entire life in an underwater palace. You celebrate and protect all species under the sea. Princess Island and Prince Island, the very best royal summer camps, are right nearby. Ever since you were a little mermaid you have dreamed of leaving your underwater home and joining the land princesses. Will YOU leave your comfortable palace under the sea and teach the land princesses and princes the importance of protecting the planet and our oceans?

Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte, and Gertie are back! In the fourth entry in the All-of-a-Kind Family series--set right after the first book--Charlie is growing up. Ella gets a big role in the Purim play, Henny gets into trouble at school and runs away from home, Sarah gets her ears pierced, Charlotte has a scary kitchen accident, and Gertie finally is old enough to have a book of her own. Life is never dull for this one-of-a-kind family!

Born in 1904 on New York's Lower East Side, Sydney Taylor was one of the first authors of children's books centered on Jewish characters, and is especially known for the immensely popular All-of-a-Kind Family series. The Sydney Taylor Book Award is given each year by the Jewish Association of Libraries to a book for young people that authentically portrays the Jewish experience.

The Eyes of Pharaoh, 1177 BC: During the reign of Pharaoh Ramses the Third, Seshta, a 13-year-old dancer in the Temple of Hathor, dreams of becoming a famous entertainer. Horus, the brother of her heart, is content as a toymaker's apprentice. Reya, at 16, has joined Egypt's army with hopes of becoming a hero. Despite their different paths, nothing can break the bonds of their friendship. Yet when Reya hints that Egypt is in danger from foreign nomads, Seshta and Horus don't take him seriously. How could anyone challenge Egypt?

Then Reya disappears. Seshta and Horus set out to find him--and discover a darker plot than they ever imagined. To save their friend, Seshta and Horus spy on merchants, soldiers, and royalty, and start to suspect even The Eyes of Pharaoh, the powerful head of the secret police. Will Seshta and Horus escape the traps set for them, rescue Reya, and stop the plot against Egypt in time?

Set in ancient Egypt, this story of drama and intrigue brings an ancient world to life. The ideas in this book echo in the international politics of today, while the power of friendship will touch hearts both young and old.

Readers agree:

"Mid School students and their teachers will love this fast paced mystery that has so much history and culture hidden in plain sight.... You won't be able to put the book down until you learn what happens to the three friends."

"THE EYES OF PHARAOH delivers what I expect from author Chris Eboch - exciting action with interesting characters, a brisk plot line and historically-accurate details of the book's setting. The concepts of loyalty and friendship are as relevant today as they would have been to the main characters in this book despite the thousands+ years difference in time. Another good read from a solid author."

A myth as old as civilization.

The boy who donned wax wings and flew too close to the sun. Follow the tale of Icarus. And that of the father who tried to save him ... but brought his life to an end.

You will come to love him. Then you will watch him fall. Live the tragic story as you never imagined possible.

From the author of Escape from Chernobyl comes another fast-paced historical thriller about a city caught between an enemy army and their own brutal government.

Artem lives in the sleepy city of Stalingrad, which has mostly been cut off from war with Nazi Germany--until the summer of 1942. That July, martial law is declared as the Nazis begin their unprecedented march toward the city. Artem's older brother is a soldier in Stalin's Red Army, so Artem is worried for his brother's safety once he and his family have evacuated the city.

Then the announcement comes. Stalin has ordered that no civilians be allowed to leave Stalingrad. The city which bears his name is an important symbol, and the Red Army believe that the soldiers defending it will fight all the harder if their families' lives are at stake.

Artem and his new friend Yuna are put to work shoring up the city's defenses, digging trenches and building fortifications. Then, on August 23rd, the bombing begins. A massive German air raid reduces most of the city to rubble. With Stalingrad blockaded by both the Germans and their own government, escape from the coming battle seems all but impossible...

Felix, a Jewish boy in Poland in 1942, is hiding from the Nazis in a Catholic orphanage. The only problem is that he doesn't know anything about the war, and thinks he's only in the orphanage while his parents travel and try to salvage their bookselling business. And when he thinks his parents are in danger, Felix sets off to warn them--straight into the heart of Nazi-occupied Poland. To Felix, everything is a story: Why did he get a whole carrot in his soup? It must be sign that his parents are coming to get him. Why are the Nazis burning books? They must be foreign librarians sent to clean out the orphanage's outdated library. But as Felix's journey gets increasingly dangerous, he begins to see horrors that not even stories can explain.
Despite his grim suroundings, Felix never loses hope. Morris Gleitzman takes a painful subject and expertly turns it into a story filled with love, friendship, and even humor.

It is 1789, and three young provincials have come to Paris to make their way. Georges-Jacques Danton, an ambitious young lawyer, is energetic, pragmatic, debt-ridden--and hugely but erotically ugly. Maximilien Robespierre, also a lawyer, is slight, diligent, and terrified of violence. His dearest friend, Camille Desmoulins, is a conspirator and pamphleteer of genius. A charming gadfly, erratic and untrustworthy, bisexual and beautiful, Camille is obsessed by one woman and engaged to marry another, her daughter. In the swells of revolution, they each taste the addictive delights of power, and the price that must be paid for it.

Set during Mussolini's 1935 invasion of Ethiopia, The Shadow King takes us back to the first real conflict of World War II, casting light on the women soldiers who were left out of the historical record. At its heart is orphaned maid Hirut, who finds herself tumbling into a new world of thefts and violations, of betrayals and overwhelming rage. What follows is a heartrending and unputdownable exploration of what it means to be a woman at war.

Pick your own path, pioneer! Follow color paths on the page, make a decision, follow the trail, and turn the page to the corresponding tab to see if you make it!

Ford rivers, hike mountains, and make the trek to Oregon City in this colorful, fully illustrated adventure! Depending on the path you pick, you could face wild animals, natural disasters, famine, sickness, unpredictable weather, or even death. With more than fifty story possibilities to follow, each decision counts. Make the right choices and blaze a trail out west! Do you have what it takes? Perfect for young readers who love graphic novels, video games, and Minecraft.