February 16, 2019 by David McCan | Historical Fiction, Legal Thriller | No Comments
This review contains spoilers. The Reckoning, by John Grisham, returns the reader to Ford County Mississippi during the 1940s to 1050s where an unusual murder takes place. Pete Banning, cotton planter, husband, father, and decorated war hero, one day walks into the Methodist church and shoots the pastor. There is no …
February 2, 2019 by Cindy McCan | Historical Fiction, Thriller | No Comments
The early 1950s come alive in Suspect Red with each chapter starting with “current” events, news articles, and information about 1950’s pop culture. The book contains pictures of people, places and events from 1953-1954 as well as comics and maps. A good argument for audio-listeners to have both the book …
January 20, 2019 by David McCan | Historical Fiction | No Comments
Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough is one of the best written and best told stories that I’ve read in a long time. It is the story of Artemisia Gentileschi, a young painter in Rome in the early 1600s. It is a man’s world and women have little say in their …
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January 12, 2019 by Cindy McCan | Historical Fiction | No Comments
The Luck of the Buttons by Anne Ylvisaker is the first book in the Buttons trilogy. Each book focuses on a different Button family member; the first two take place in 1929 and the third book takes place during the Civil War when granddaddy Ike was just a boy. All three of …
November 25, 2018 by Cindy McCan | Historical Fiction | No Comments
According to the author Gail Levine, inspiration to write this book came from her father who was an orphan at the Hebrew Orphan Asylum, the real life counterpart for the story’s fictional Hebrew Home for Boys. When Dave Caros’ father dies in an accident, his stepmother places him in the Hebrew …
November 25, 2018 by Cindy McCan | Historical Fiction | No Comments
Walter Dean Myers is known for his creative and unique writing styles when it comes to children’s literature. This book is no exception. It is written as a screenplay complete with directions for the camera shots. While listening to the full cast audiobook with sound effects and music, I felt …
September 27, 2018 by David McCan | Historical Fiction | No Comments
The Sea Queen by Linnea Hartsuyker continues the story that began in the Half-Drowned King. Ragnvald has sworn to King Harald, who wants to unite all of Norway under his rule. The first book focused on Ragnvald’s rise as a warrior, and his sister Svanhild played a more minor part. In …
September 13, 2018 by Cindy McCan | Historical Fiction | No Comments
Witness is a Reader’s Theater written in free verse with 11 distinct voices. The audiobook cast features a different reader for each character which really brings the book to life for listeners. The audio also includes an interview with both the author Karen Hesse and the historian Leonard Marcus. This …
August 31, 2018 by David McCan | Historical Fiction | No Comments
Age of Iron is a fun book that takes place during a time just prior to the Roman invasion of Britain. It is historical fiction and an adventure story. At its heart are three characters. Dug is a middle-aged warrior. He would prefer an easy job as a guard or …
August 18, 2018 by David McCan | Fantasy, Historical Fiction | No Comments
Sky in the Deep is an amazing, well written book based on Viking lore. It is an incredibly rich well told story about a young Aska warrior, Eelyn. The story begins on the battlefield where once again the Aska face off against their traditional enemy, the Riki. Five years previously, Eelyn …
June 22, 2018 by Cindy McCan | Historical Fiction | No Comments
The Witch of Blackbird Pond takes place in 1687, well before the idea of the colonies uniting to form one independent country took root. Even so, there is plenty of tension and trouble brewing between England and the Puritans as to who will rule the Connecticut Colony. Kit Tyler lives …
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May 24, 2018 by Cindy McCan | Historical Fiction | No Comments
Because of the top secret nature of the code talkers’ work, their role in World War II was unknown until it was declassified in 1969. Even now, with several books, movies and history programs on the topic, many people still don’t know the story of the Navajo code talkers. Joseph Bruchac’s book …
April 27, 2018 by David McCan | Historical Fiction | No Comments
The Half-Drowned King is about two young people, Ragnvald Eysteinsson and his sister Svanhild, who were raised by their stepfather following their father’s death. The stepfather takes over their lands and, in theory, Ragnvald should get them back when he becomes an adult. The story takes place in the ninth century …
April 8, 2018 by Cindy McCan | Folklore, Historical Fiction | No Comments
Tim Tingle is a Choctaw author, speaker and storyteller extraordinaire. The stories in this book take place in several states and throughout history. My goal is to highlight a different book and author for every state. I’ve placed this book in Oklahoma, though it would be equally at home in …
March 25, 2018 by Cindy McCan | Historical Fiction | No Comments
What a novel way to promote friendship between two countries: with dolls! Dr. Sidney Gulick, an American missionary who lived in Japan for 25 years, was dismayed over the deteriorating relations between the U.S. and Japan in the early 1900s. His idea was to promote friendship between the two countries …