The Young Adult Historical Fiction Society discussion

Looking for recommendations for books that are not romance oriented. I don't mind a romantic element, but I don't want that to be the focus of the book. :)

Some examples:
Recently I read Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys, which I thought was very good.
Revolution & A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly.
Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran
And a favorite is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

I really need to read The Book Thief. It is almost shameful to not have read it at this point. I've owned it for over a year now. I hear nothing but great things about it.

As for YAHF without a romantic theme, I'd suggest our first group read, , is a great one. It is a super fun story about a girl who disguises herself as a boy to get work on a naval ship. There is a bit of a romantic element to it but it is not the primary focus of the story.

I'd also recommend Laurie Halse Anderson's . Her writing is impeccable. That is the story of a young black girl fighting for her own freedom against the backdrop of the American revolution.

Laurie Halse Anderson also wrote about the outbreak of yellow fever in Philadelphia. I have not actually read this one but I've yet to read anything by Laurie Halse Anderson that wasn't great so on a leap of faith I am betting that this one is good too.

I'll have to come back with some more later or let the rest of the class chime in.

Nothing else? Well I guess I'll just have to give up on this YAHF thing... Maybe quit reading altogether. O_o

Will nobody save me from this fate worse than death??

All I need is some YAHF that's not romance-centric... *sigh* LOL

I'm sure there are quite a few, but I haven't read any as far as I know. Otherwise, I'd love to help you out.

There's a good chance we'll get some varied readers as the group develops more, since we've only been live for a couple of days.

*dramatic sigh* I guess I'll have to be more patient. ;) LOL

Haha. Patience is overrated.

Stacia *eyes up here* wrote: "Haha. Patience is overrated."

Definitely!

I dug up some more:
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Airman by Eoin Colfer
The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen
Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure by AR Shickman
Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli

I really liked the first three - well actually LOVE TKAM. I didn't really think that the last two were all that great, unfortunately.

Oh, well I know of a lot, I just haven't read them. I'll make a list when I'm at home.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
I loved this one.

Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
This one was pretty good.

Ok, I have read a ton of YA historical fiction, so this is from memory and it's possible I have mixed some books up since most of these were read years ago, but this is what I can think of (and I am sure I am forgetting some):

Father of Lies
I Am Regina
The Ransom of Mercy Carter
Fallen Grace
At the Sign of the Sugared Plum
The Edge on the Sword
The Coffin Quilt: The Feud Between the Hatfields and the McCoys
The Staircase
Mine Eyes Have Seen
The Fifth of March: A Story of the Boston Massacre
Finishing Becca: A Story about Peggy Shippen and Benedict Arnold
The Secret of Sarah Revere
A Break with Charity: A Story about the Salem Witch Trials
Or Give Me Death: A Novel of Patrick Henry's Family
Cast Two Shadows: The American Revolution in the South
The Blue Door
An Acquaintance with Darkness
Girl In Blue
Mary, Bloody Mary
Beware, Princess Elizabeth
The Plague
Two Girls of Gettysburg
The Musician's Daughter
Deadly
Tread Softly

Great list, Rebecca!

Great list!! I'll admit that all the historicals I've read includes at least some romance in them. Even Between Shades of Gray has a bit.

Some romance is OK, I just want to find books that aren't solely focused on it. That's not the whole point of the book being written, y'know?

@rebecca- so You mean that Ann Rinaldi is great, right? ;-) I would recommend "Someone Named Eva" by Joan M. Wolf, "Second Fiddle" by Rosanne Parry and "Before we were Free" by Julia Alvarez. And pretty much any book by Kimberley Brubaker Bradley. She is an excellent writer, and there is is very little, if any, romance. Ann Rinaldi is also great but does have more elements of romance.

There are two prehistoric novels which might match what you're looking for - and I can offer you free ebook versions if you wish, because I am, well, (cough), the author. 'The Dry Lands' and 'In the Rattle of the Shaman's Bones' are both set in Africa 43,000 years BC. If you want review copies, send me a message or reply here. All are welcome - I need honest reviews.

If anyone is still looking :

One Came Home

The Serpent's Children Golden Mountain Chronicles 1

Dragons of Silk Golden Mountain Chronicles 10

Palace of Spies

Rose in Bloom

A Brief History of Montmaray The Montmaray Journals 1 book A Brief History of Montmaray

A Spy in the House

the Texas Panhandle series by Loula Grace Erdman

The River Between Us

Anything by Jennifer L. Holm

Daddy-Long-Legs

Hattie Big Sky

The Story Girl

The Golden Road

the Anne of Green Gables series

anything by Karen Cushman

The Witch of Blackbird Pond

Gilbert Sullivan Set Me Free

Double Crossing by Eve Tal

Bread Givers

Little Women

Annie Between the States

Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Copper Sun

Adaline Falling Star

Firehorse

The Miner's Daughter

The Tamarack Tree

Mairelon the Magician

Stella Stands Alone

A Heart For Any Fate Westward To Oregon 1845

The Edge on the Sword

Violins of Autumn

Before We Were Free

anything by Jane Yolen

Girl in Blue

A Golden Web

Red Moon at Sharpsburg

A Time for Angels

Emily of New Moon trilogy by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Jane of Lantern Hill

Dear Great American Writers School

Hellie Jondoe

Come Juneteenth

Newsgirl

Streets of Gold

My Lady Pocahontas

Anything by Tamora Pierce

anything by Gloria Whelan

anything by Eva Ibbotson

Witch Child

any of Carolyn Meyer's early books are good

anything by Ann Rinaldi, especially her early books