Historical Fiction for Teens
Teens have lived through amazing times all around the world, and sometimes make history themselves. MS=Books for middle school readers, GN = graphic novel (updated April 2025)
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A Suffragist's Guide to the Antarctic
Clara lies about her age and citizenship in order to join a British expedition to the South Pole in 1914, but when their ship is stuck in the ice, her fight for women’s rights must take a back seat to survival.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Kill Her Twice
In 1930s Los Angeles, May, Gemma, and Peony suspect Chinatown star Lulu Wong’s death was murder and set out to find the killer themselves, revealing a deeper conspiracy. MS
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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The Red Car to Hollywood
When Ruby Chan befriends rising actor Anna May Wong, she begins to challenge her father’s beliefs about arranged marriage and women’s independence.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Everything Is Poison
Carmela aspires to join the staff of her mother’s apothecary in 17th century Rome, hoping to prove that they aren’t witches but healers.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Eyes Open
Despite her father’s objections and the oppressive rules of the nuns at her school, budding poet Sónia resists the Portuguese regime publicly and clings to her artist boyfriend, Ze Miguel, even after he is imprisoned.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Bridge Across the Sky
Tai Go comes to San Francisco to join his father and uncle, but is detained on Angel Island, where he comes across a burgeoning resistance movement among other immigrants.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Family Style
Thien recounts his memories of immigrating to the United States from Vietnam in terms of the food he and his family sometimes struggle to find, but always enjoy. GN
Format: Graphic Novel
Availability: Available
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The Queen's Spade
Ten years after she is captured by slavers and freed by the British Navy, Ina, now called Sarah, plots revenge against everyone in Britain, including Queen Victoria herself.
Format: Book
Availability: All copies in use
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Everything We Never Had
Enzo’s anxiety at the start of the pandemic only gets worse, but when his grandfather moves in and starts telling stories of his youth as a farm worker and labor organizer, Enzo finds the broad perspective helps him.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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The Bletchley Riddle
In 1940, Lizzie and her older brother Jakob are brought separately to Bletchley Park, where they work in secret with others to decode the Enigma Machines, which hold the codes and the secrets of the German military. MS
Format: Book
Availability: All copies in use
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