Historical Fiction Friday

Last summer Michelle Moran's book Cleopatra's Daughter came out, and now we have another book about Selene. Ancient history is interesting to me, so I am looking forward to reading this one and comparing Moran's book to Shecter.

Summary:
Selene has grown up in a palace on the Nile with her parents, Cleopatra & Mark Antony--the most brilliant, powerful rulers on earth. But the jealous Roman Emperor Octavianus wants Egypt for himself, & when war finally comes, Selene faces the loss of all she's ever loved. Forced to build a new life in Octavianus's household in Rome, she finds herself torn between two young men and two possible destinies--until she reaches out to claim her own.

This stunning novel brings to life the personalities & passions of one of the greatest dramas in history, & offers a wonderful new heroine in Selene.

This book hits the stores on August 1, 2011

New Tred. It's all about those Fairy Tales

As most of you probably know Red Ridding Hood is coming out in March 2011 by the same director who did Twilight. The trailer(below) has that Twilight feel(or so I think). Well, it seems that Fairy Tales are hot! hot! Hot! and Red Ridding Hood isn't the only one that will be on the big screen in the future. Check out my link below to read more.

For me, I'm not sure sure how I feel about this. I guess it would depend on how the movie looks, but I cant' see myself racing to the movies to watch one of them. What about you? Do any of the upcoming movies grab your interest?



Fairy Tales are Hot. Hot. HOT!

Historical Fiction Friday

It's the Victorian Era baby! Check out the summary for Fallen Grace. It hits stores on February 11, 2010.

Summary:
In Victorian London, impoverished fifteen-year-old orphan Grace takes care of her older sister Lilly, who suffers from a mental illness, but after enduring many harsh and painful experiences, the two become the victims of a fraud that is perpetrated by the wealthy owners of several funeral businesses.

I want it Wednesday

This is an older book, but I just found it today. It sounds interesting and I always like to throw some nonfiction onto the blog so check this one out.

Summary:
Chosen by Glamour magazine as a Woman of the Year in 2008, Nujood of Yemen has become an international hero for her astonishingly brave resistance to child marriage. Sold off by her impoverished family at the age of 10, continually raped by her husband before she even reached puberty, Nujood found the courage to run away, and with the help of an activist lawyer, sympathetic judges, and the international press, she divorced her husband and returned home. Her clear, first-person narrative, translated from the French and written with Minoui, is spellbinding: the horror of her parents’ betrayal and her mother-in-law’s connivance, the “grown-ups” who send the child from classroom and toys to nightmare abuse. She never denies the poverty that drives her parents and oppresses her brothers, even as she reveals their cruelty. Unlike her passive mother, she is an activist, thrilled to return to school, determined to save others, including her little sister. True to the child’s viewpoint, the “grown-up” cruelty is devastating. Readers will find it incredible that such unbelievable abuse and such courageous resistance are happening now.

The big bad wolf is coming for you....

Sister Red is an interesting concept, a retelling of Little Red Ridding Hood. And a lot of people(according to Amazon) loved it, but I don't know if it was because I was sick, distracted by events in my life or what, but I could not get sucked into this novel.

Scarlett and Rosie March have had a horrible childhood. Their grandmother was brutally killed before their eyes. Adding to their troubles, their mother decided to abandon them. Scarlett fights off the wolf that attacks her family but it leaves her horribly scared. That doesn't stop her from hunting down the horrible creatures who caused her pain.

Rosie is Rosie and she has a romantic interest in Silas, who is an ax man. He was also Scarlett's wolf hunting partner.

As I stated previously the story didn't pull me in, but I don't know if that's because so much was going on or if it was just a bad story. One thing I wish the author had done was have the story take place in the Victorian era or earlier. The story was set in modern time which seemed awkward at times.

However, most of the reviews on Amazon are glowing, so you be the judge.

Historical Fiction Friday

Once again my favorite time period is in the spotlight this Friday. This book looks interesting, but it doesn't hit shelves until April 12, 2011.


Summary:

It's 1854 and sixteen-year-old Molly would give anything to change her circumstances as a lowly servant in a posh London house. So when she hears of an opportunity to join the nurses who will be traveling with Florence Nightingale to the Crimea, she jumps at the chance. The work is grueling, the hospital conditions deplorable, and Miss Nightingale a demanding teacher. Before long, the plight of British soldiers becomes more than just a mission of mercy as Molly finds that she's falling in love with both a dashing young doctor and a soldier who has joined the army to be near her. But with the battle raging ever nearer, can Molly keep the two men she cares for from harm? A love story to savor, and a fascinating behind-the-scenes imagining of the woman who became known as "the lady with the lamp."

And the winner is.........

The ALA (American Library Association) announced its book winners for this year. Paul Volponi's book Rikers High was on the list of Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers.

Congratulations to Mr. Volponi! Well done!

Historical Fiction Friday

For this Friday we have The Lost Crown which is about the Romanov daughters. The thing that interests me about this book is it appears that everyone will be given the spotlight, not just Anastasia, which is usually the case.

This book comes out June 14, 2011. I can't wait.


Summary:
Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia. Like the fingers on a hand--first headstrong Olga; then Tatiana, the tallest; Maria the most hopeful for a ring; and Anastasia, the smallest. These are the daughters of Tsar Nicholas II, grand duchesses living a life steeped in tradition and privilege. They are each on the brink of starting their own lives, at the mercy of royal matchmakers. The summer of 1914 is that precious last wink of time when they can still be sisters together--sisters that link arms and laugh, sisters that share their dreams and worries, and flirt with the officers of their imperial yacht.

But in a gunshot the future changes — for these sisters and for Russia.

As World War I ignites across Europe, political unrest sweeps Russia. First dissent, then disorder, mutiny — and revolution. For Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia, the end of their girlhood together is colliding with the end of more than they ever imagined.

At the same time hopeful and hopeless, naÏve and wise, the voices of these sisters become a chorus singing the final song of Imperial Russia. Impeccably researched and utterly fascinating, this novel by acclaimed author Sarah Miller recounts the final days of Imperial Russia with lyricism, criticism and true compassion.

I want it Wednesday

I've spotlighted too many girl books lately, so I decided to throw in a "guy book;" ya know, no girly themes, a male MC etc. etc.


Summary: As Seattle sixteen-year-old Jonathan helps a dying man come to terms with a tragic event he experienced during World War II, Jonathan begins facing his own demons, especially the death of his twin brother, helped by an assortment of friends, old and new.

YA Historical Fiction Challenge

YABliss is having a challenge that I couldn't turn down. This history nerd is giving it a go and is challenging herself to reading 10 YA historical Fiction novels in 2011. I should be able to do it.

You can check it out at: http://www.yabliss.com/2010/11/ya-historical-fiction-challenge.html

New Releases for January 2011

Happy New Year! I hope it is a prosperous and healthy one for all my readers! Here are some new titles that are hitting the stores in January. Happy reading!

• Saving Zasha by Randi Barrow
• The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher
• Choker by Elizabeth Woods
• The Eagle by Rosemary Sutcliff
• Shadowspells by Jenna Black
• Slice of cherry by Dia Reeves
• Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
• Entangled by Cat Clarke
• XVI by Julia Karr
• Badd by Tim Tharp
• Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang
• Timeless by Alexandra Monir
• Warped by Maurissa Guibord
• Here lies Bridget by Paige Harbison
• Blessed by Cynthia Leitich Smith
• Famous by Todd Strasser
• Drought by Pam Bachorz