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Teen Reading List:
Historical

Alder, Elizabeth - The King's Shadow

After he is orphaned and has his tongue cut out in a clash with the bullying sons of a Welsh noble, Evyn is sold as a slave and serves many masters, from the gracious Lady Swan Neck to the valiant Harold Godwinson, England's last Saxon king.

Ayres, Katherine - North by Night

Lucinda is a young woman who longs for adventures. She helps her family aid travelers on the Underground Railroad. One day, she learns of a family of ten who are on the run. She quickly volunteers to help them, but is she ready for the adventure that awaits her?

Cushman, Karen - The Midwife's Apprentice (book, audio)

An orphan girl is literally rescued from the dung heap by Jane, the local midwife, who dubs the girl Beetle. Beetle later names herself Alyce and, although Jane greedily tries to hide her knowledge from the girl, Alyce learns enough that she becomes a threat to Jane's monopoly, and is sent away. 

Hobbs, Will - Jason's Gold

News of the 1897 Klondike Gold Rush causes Jason to undertake a 5,000 mile trip full of adventure and almost unbearable hardship. 

Holm, Jennifer - Our Only May Amelia

Based on the diary of her great-aunt, the author brings the pioneer days along the Nasel River in Washington State to life with this story of the only girl born to a large family of boys. 

Hoobler, Dorothy - The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn

Set in eighteenth century Japan, the merchant's son, who longs to be a Samurai, attempts to solve the mystery of a stolen jewel. 

Jordan, Sherryl - The Raging Quiet

Accused of witchcraft in her English village, Marnie grows to love and communicate with the village "madman", who is actually deaf. 

Lasky, Kathryn - Beyond the Burning Time

It is 1691 in Salem, Massachusetts. Mary and her mother live on a small farm on the outskirts of the community. Recently, the villagers have been mystified by the fits that have afflicted several girls Mary's age. What Mary doesn't know is that there are more fearful events ahead.

Lyons, Mary E. - Letters from a Slave Girl: The Story of Harriet Jacobs

Harriet Jacobs was born a slave in the early 1800s. After enduring unwanted attention from her master, she finally runs away. But what she has to endure on the run is just as hard as what she had to endure as a slave. 

McGuigan, Mary Ann - Where You Belong

It's really tough getting evicted. But it's tougher to know how to take care of yourself when the beating comes. Who can be trusted? How do you make friends with someone very different from you, especially in the Bronx in 1963?

Matas, Carol - After the War

Ruth Mendenberg is the only member of her family to survive the Nazi concentration camps. When Ruth reluctantly agrees to help lead a group of orphaned children to Palestine, she can finally begin to let hope into her heart.

Matas, Carol - The Burning Time

Rose's life is shattered when her father dies in a horrible accident. Soon after, the witch hunters ride into town. Can Rose save her mother without sacrificing herself? 

Meyer, Carolyn - Mary, Bloody Mary

In this fictional autobiography, Mary Tudor relates her own life story, beginning at age ten and ending at twenty, well before she becomes the "Bloody" Queen Mary I. She tells of her father, Henry VIII, who divorced his first wife, resulting in Mary being stripped of her title, position, and royal lifestyle. 

Murrow, Liza Ketchum - West Against the Wind

The year is 1850 and Abby's family is heading west to California. The wagon trail is harsh and Abby must grow up, both physically and emotionally. To make matters worse, she can't hide her growing feelings for their hired hand, Matthew. But Matthew has a secret and Abby's not sure she can trust him.

Napoli, Donna Jo - Song of the Magdalene

Miriam grows up in the Jewish town of Magdala over 2000 years ago, shunned because of her epileptic seizures and her friendship with Abraham, a paraplegic who teaches her to accept her condition. Miriam is sent away and strikes out alone to live in caves, but returns to meet the renowned healer Joshua. 

Paulsen, Gary - Nightjohn (book, audio)

To slaves, reading is punishable by dismemberment. But Nightjohn wants to teach others, in spite of the severe beatings and terrible scars he has already received. Twelve-year old Sarny is willing to risk it all just to learn, because there is power in knowing.  

Paulsen, Gary - A Soldier's Heart

When the Union Army marches through town seeking young men to fight against the South, Charley jumps at the chance to see the world and have an adventure. But when he experiences battle, Charley sees that war is not at all glamorous. 

Riley, Len - Harlem

Virginia Lambert can hardly believe her cousin Geneva when she writes that, in Harlem, "colored folks and white people are all treated the same…Everyone is rich." So the family moves from Florida to the exciting New York City borough of Harlem in the 1920's, only to find that their cousin and the city are far from what they expected. 

Rinaldi, Ann - Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons: The Story of Phillis Wheatley

This is the story of Phillis Wheatley, the first African-American poet. Purchased as a slave at the age of seven, Phillis' talent for writing is fostered by her owners. But what sacrifices must she make as she tries to find her way, and find herself, in the white man's world in the 1770s? 

Skurzynski, Gloria - Spider's Voice

Spider is a hearing mute who becomes involved with the famous lovers Eloise and Abelard in twelfth-century France.

Taylor, Mildred - The Land

Paul's father is a white plantation owner and his mother is a slave. Paul finds himself stuck between two worlds, not really a part of either. His dream is to buy some land and start a new life. But as a bi-racial man in the Civil War South, that is not as easy as it may seem. 

Wilson, Diane L. - I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade

Oyuna dreams of owning and racing a fine, fast horse despite the fact that an accident lamed her as an infant. Her family believes she is bad luck and confines her to their tent. However, Oyuna believes in her dream and in her ability to change her destiny. She sets off to find a horse and finds herself through the journey.