Really cool Historical Fiction and Alternate Historical Fiction (SF changes to history)
This is a difficult genre; not usually my favorite (though I did get a bit of a buzz realizing that I had read more than I thought); and I decided to mix the 2 genres of SF Alternate History with actual Historical Fiction because I find that sometimes reading these type of fiction stories do the same thing. They force us to look at history in a different way, or from a different perspective and sometimes it just helps us to see how things were so we can look at how far we have (or haven't) come in the interim. I decided to stick with alternate history stories set in the past, so that it still feels like a like=like comparison. If you aren't familiar with alternate history, it is a small sub-genre of SF, where the author changes one or more things in the past and then writes a story of how things would be if that were actual history (for example, if the South won the Civil War, if the US lost the Revolutionary War, if Germany won WWII...that sort of thing).
Here is the link to the podcast in case you want to listen:
Just a quick note:; I am not talking about historical fiction romance novels, as they are a whole thing in and of themselves; however, if you are looking for a recommendation, Amanda Quick is my go to author for that; and she writes on a range of history, sometimes including paranormal & supernatural twists to the stories as well.
I always enjoy seeing the perspective of someone who looks like they should know but is actually an outsider; as it gives perspective to an event from multiple sides but also reminds the reader that you can't know who someone is by just looking at them. This is a YA book, but can be enjoyed by all ages.
Hoodoo is an eerie and atmospheric story set in 1930's Alabama, featuring a young boy who dreams of the dead rising from their graves. Is it a nightmare, or could it be really happening? Hoodoo Hatcher has been around folk magic (or "hoodoo". As an aside: His name is also the type of magic, loosely based on African traditions and often confused with Voodoo, but in actuality is it's own amalgamation of various traditions from different parts of many cultures combined into one through the years of slavery and secrecy). Now this young boy has to figure out who is after him and use the magic he knows but has never used to save himself and his family/friends. Such a cool book, but also striking in showing the times and the evil of prejudice.This is a YA book, but can be enjoyed by all ages.
Elizabeth Wein usually writes YA Historical fiction, many set in WWII. This book starts when a British spy plane crashes in Nazi occupied France. The pilot and passenger are best friends, and both have very different experiences. Verity has bee captured and her story is told in the form of a written confession of how she became a spy. The pilot is on the run, sheltering with Ally sympathizers and trying to get home, but wanting to save Verity. This is one of my most highly rated books, and I suggest it to everyone. It shows females in non-traditional roles, the realities of war and all the ways that strength can be defined. This is a YA book, but can be enjoyed by all ages.
This is another WWII story, but from a non-Western perspective. Emilia and Teo's mothers are best friends and when Teo's mom dies in a plane stunt gone wrong, Emilia's mom adopts him. Problem? Being the African American son of a caucasian mom in 1930's America is not usual and is fraught with problems. Emilia's mom decides to take the family to Ethiopia, so that Teo can grow up in a place where he won't be discriminated against.....but being an American in Ethiopia has its own issues. Now Italy has threatened war and no one is safe; but this family will find a way to survive and fight. This is a YA book, but can be enjoyed by all ages.
Book Thief was originally published for teens, but since the movie, the book has been repackaged (same book, different cover) for adults as well. I haven't seen the movie, but the book was really thoughtful and well done. I think my favorite thing (that I don't think they did in the movie) is that the perspective is not a human being, but is actually told from the viewpoint of Death. Since Death is not human, he is able to look at what is happening in Germany during WWII in a different way, which allows the reader to see what is happening but from a bit of a distance (thus making it both heartwrenching but intriguing as he jumps in and out of the main character's life). Liesel is the titular book thief, thus named when Death sees her stealing books from the book fires. The main action of the book occurs when she is a teen and her family is hiding a Jewish man and attempting to find a way to send him somewhere safe, while also not revealing that they are sympathizers and anti-Nazi.
I am not usually a fan of Western stories, but this one I found different and interesting. Kate Thompson's father is murdered for a journal that reveals the location of a gold mine. Kate disguises herself as a boy and is determined to find answers as well as to exact vengeance on those responsible. The journey is full of suspense and betrayals, but it is also a story about Kate growing. She also has to decide whether justice and vengeance are the same, and which she can live with better. This is a YA book, but can be enjoyed by all ages.
Fever 1793 focuses on the Yellow Fever epidemic in Philadelphia. The book is told from Mattie's viewpoint, a young girl working at a family establishment. She is middle class girl with all that entails at the time, and the author takes us from the beginning of the epidemic through to the end from Mattie's view, as she loses friends and neighbors to a disease in a time when medicine didn't understand viruses or how they spread. Seeing the breadth of the devastation, especially while we are undergoing our own pandemic, is enlightening and thoughtful.This is a YA book, but can be enjoyed by all ages.
In 1911, Joan starts a diary, detailing how she leaves her farm life in PA to working as a "hired girl" (cooking & cleaning for a wealthy family). Joan moves to Baltimore, MD and begins working for a prominent Jewish family, while knowing nothing of Jewish life or traditions; but also hiding her true age (she tells the family she is 18 but is actually 14). Joan has much to learn about city life, Jewish families and struggles with classicism, racism and sexism while trying to build a better life for herself and hiding that she is so young and immature. Interestingly the author based this story on the life of a family member (mother? grandmother?), and is an amazingly quick read, with a little romance and a lot of sweetness; while also being quite educational about issues of the times. This is a YA book, but can be enjoyed by all ages.
Noah and his parents have changed names and moved behind the Iron Curtain into East Berlin. He doesn't understand why (but readers will totally understand they are spies). This book is all about his new life and his friend downstairs She disappears one day and he won't stop looking for her, and naively doesn't understand why it is a problem or how bad it is to stand out in Communist East Berlin. This is a suspenseful story and also features a disability (Noah has a very bad stutter and anxiety issues because of it). The disability is not the focus of the book, but does play a part in how things play out over the course of the narrative. For readers not familiar with this era in history it may prove enlightening; but it is also a look at lies & truth as well as how politics effect families....even though it happened long ago, some things still hold true. This is a YA book, but can be enjoyed by all ages.
Long Way From Chicago is the beginning of a trilogy (and has won many awards: this book was a Newbery Honor book, the sequel won the Newbery the following year and the final book also received accolades). Thus, even though this is a crossover teen/tween book, I encourage everyone to read it. The best reason for recommending it is to prove that historical fiction can also be funny. The story in this first book follows Joey and Mary Alice as they are sent to live with their grandmother in rural Illinois as their parents are having a hard time keeping everyone fed & housed in Chicago. This is set in Depression era, and highlights something actually done a lot, which was sending children away in hopes to save them from the deprivations of the times; as families everywhere struggled. The story, and indeed the trilogy, highlights the differences between rural and urban life but is also a humorous look at life in a small town. The grandmother is amazing, and is my favorite character in the books. Definitely check this book and the sequels out!
Set in July 1863 and centered around the race riots in NYC, Myers tells the story of Claire. She is the daughter of a Black father and an Irish mother and finds herself torn between both sides of rioters and the racism & hatred shown to both sides of her genetics. This is a quick, short book highlighting issues of race and class that sadly still resonate; but is told in a gentler style so as to be accessible for older and younger readers. This is a YA book, but can be enjoyed by all ages.
Black Duck is set during Prohibition times and takes place in Rhode Island. Ruben and Jed find a dead body, and thus end up caught up in drama between warring gangs of liquor runners. This book has lots of action and is a look at the lawlessness of Prohibition from a different perspective. This is a YA book, but can be enjoyed by all ages.
I am including this book here as fiction, though it is marketed as memoir; because it has been bounced between the two for years due to it being written like a fiction novel but based on the author's life. The series begins with this book and is set in the Yorkshire Dales just after WWII (the main character & the writer is one of many veterans of the war). Herriot is taking over a veterinary practice in this very rural environment, and many are resistant to his "fancy city ideas" of how things should be done; while Herriot needs to figure out that just because it's folk medicine doesn't mean it's junk. These books are a mix of humor and nostalgia, as well as being very British. They were turned into a BBC tv series in the 80's, and I have heard talk of it being revamped for Netflix or some streaming service....so check this out for a look at history and medicine.
Look! Not a teen book! (Though older teens are certainly welcome to read it, as it hasn't really anything objectionable in it). I haven't seen the movie, but the book really was enthralling as it jumped between an older man in a retirement home and his memories of his youth with the circus. Jacob as a young man in 1932 can't afford to finish getting his Veterinary Certification because of the cost, so he hops a train and finds a job with a circus as the animal doctor (because they aren't fussy about certificates). Jacob meets Marlena, the star of an equestrian act who is married to a charismatic but twisted animal trainer. This really deserved all the accolades it got, and that really says something from me as I tend to automatically shy away from books that "everyone loves" (mostly because I am contrary & usually don't agree with the majority on what is a "good book").
Kite Runner is the story of two boys. One is the son of a wealthy man, and one is the son of that man's servant. The story is set in and against the story of the struggles in Afghanistan in the last 30 years and how the status and wealth has allowed for very different stories for the two young men. It is also a story of friendship and how it can step over class lines; and for me, a story of how sometimes as you grow older you can lose track of what is important. This is a mix of historical fiction and contemporary as it jumps back and forth but I am counting it here, and it is a devastatingly good story.
This is kind of a modern classic, but if you haven't read it, you should. Tan looks at four families (focusing on the women as mothers, daughters and wives) from 1949 through to the 90's (when the book was published). Life stories and experiences from China, immigrating, growing up Asian in differing time in America are all explored as the family grows and changes. The Joy Luck Club really highlights how culture shapes us differently with each generation.This was published for adults, but has been read for summer reading, etc by older teens for years.
When the Emperor Was Divine uses five viewpoints to walk the reader through various stories from Koreans and events happening there during WWII. Japanese internment camps, restrictions and prejudices are explored and the reader can see the terrible effect events have through this one family's story. I feel that this is an important story as is shows WWII from a non-Western perspective and the effects of the war on a country that is not often discussed. Bigotry and prejudice can happen anywhere, and it is good to read a story that allows one to see it from a viewpoint not often shown. This is an excellent but heartwrenching book written for teens but good for anyone to read who wants to try something different.
Bruchac has written many books from the viewpoint of a Native American and I highly recommend all of them. Code Talker highlights the roles and lives of Code Talkers in WWII through the eyes of a 16 year old Navajo who is called into service. Bruchac doesn't shy away from the prejudices or issues code talkers encountered or how difficult it would be to be a teen in a war zone. I highly recommend this book to readers both teen and adult.
Jackaby (#1 in Jackaby series) is a Sherlock Holmes style mystery set in New England 1892 but in this reality magic is real (though many still are in denial). Jackaby helps find extraordinary things or solve mysteries with paranormal culprits and Abigail Rook applies for and is accepted as his assistant. She has to learn investigation techniques and about the supernatural world at the same time; as well as fighting assumptions of her "female capabilities". Jackaby is the only one who doesn't treat her differently and to me, that says something .....for the only character not afraid to admit that supernatural monsters exist to also not be afraid of treating a female as his equal. This is a fun and fascinating series written for teens, but for the enjoyment of anyone.
Boneshaker is a Steampunk tale set in the gold rush era of the 1800's but some notable changes are made. Firstly Priest adjusts geographical and population estimates a bit, and then adds in some unexplained but vaguely magical events...namely the Incredible Bone Shaking Drill which is the backbone of the story. Leviticus Blue accepts a commission from Russia to build a drill able to work in the wilds of Alaska (still owned by Russia), so they can access all the gold hidden behind ice and in frozen lakes. Blue settles to work in Seattle (a large settlement but still not part of the US yet). On it's initial test run, the Bone Shaker destroys Seattle by undermining the structures of many of it's buildings (including coincidentally several banks which lose untold amounts of money). A by-product, either of the fuel of the machine or of the drilling into the deep ground; releases an unknown gas which is deadly poison, and also keeps the dead alive and hungry for live food. As a consequence, Seattle is walled off (gas stays in a specific density, so can be seen; and also if walled in, won't rise) with a 200 foot high wall and all survivors eke out an existence outside the city hoping for a miracle, for the gas to go away or for the US government to accept Washington as a state and help them fix their city. The actual story begin 16 years after the "bone shaker incident"; and is told from the perspective of Blue's widow, Briar and his son. Both are bullied and shunned for their association with Blue; but in a twist of fate; Briar's father died a hero in the aftermath of the escape and so she is also deified as the daughter of a folk legend and a sort of unofficial saint of thieves. When Briar's son goes under the wall into Seattle to prove himself, Briar must go in after him; and life behind the wall is a nightmare for all who live there.
Priest tells a fascinating story of a small/medium town reacting to a tragedy; finding people to blame and those to exalt. I find it telling (and indicative of the times) that Briar is always defined by the men around her; her father, her son, her husband but never upon her own merits. Even as she fights to find her son and survive; there is a distinct tendancy to treat her as the object instead of as a person; which Briar uses to her benefit. All in all, this is a good story (though a bit long), written for adults. There are more books following this one if you want to see what else this alternate history series has to offer.
Dread Nation is set 16(ish) years after the Civil War was derailed by the dead rising from battlefields in Gettysburg and Chancellorsville. Now, the dead have destroyed much of society, and though the war ended unresolved, the slaves were freed....but only in order to force people of color to instead fight the dead. All "natives and negroes" are required to attend a combat school and are trained in weaponry and etiquette in order to keep high society white people safe and serve them (with weapons or in actual service jobs). Jane is dreaming of returning home to fight after school (though her mother kept her hidden for years in order to keep here out of the schools). Unfortunately for Jane, her years spent at home have not made her a "bidable young woman" and so she is constantly at odds with those in charge. Quickly she is caught up in a local conspiracy and sent to the West for "resettlement" in a supposed utopia....but utopia is always a lie. Jane and her schoolmate (enemy turned friend) find terrible atrocities and lies that threaten to end the world; and the two must find a way to fix it. Ireland has written not only an engaging and completely original zombie story; but also a story which highlights all of the race issues present at the time, many of which still resonate today. She also showcases the struggles within the African American community with regards to standards of beauty. Jane is an amazing character of strength but with flaws, and as the reader watches her grow and learn; we too can follow. This is a YA book, but can be enjoyed by all ages.
Years of Rice and Salt is an interesting SF adventure set in a world where 99% of the population dies of the Black Plague. Robinson speculates how that would have changed the way things were run; the society's running things; land distribution and indeed even the very structure of society. This is a book written for adults, with lots of dense literary elements and some solid action sequences as well.
Soulless is the first of the Parasol Protectorate books for adults (the teen books in the same universe are the Finishing School books). This is a steampunk world where there is magic, and also supernatural creatures like werewolves and vampires out and about in society. Alexia is "soulless" because supernatural abilities don't work around her....and also because she tends to operate from a logical rather than a typical emotional perspective (as everyone knows this how most women should). Vampires and Weres are created upon death, and no one really knows why some die and others become supernatural, but it is believed to be an "excess of soul" that allows survival past death. Thus supernaturals tend to cultivate followers of great talent and charisma in the hopes they will become future members upon death. Alexia can also force spirits to move onto their next plane of existence (for ghosts), thus exorcising them from existence. As this is a steampunk universe it is set in vaguely Victorian times but with adjustments allowed here and there. Alexia is one of my favorite female characters as she is fearless and loud, brash and bold but also caring and thoughtful. Carriger also injects quite a lot of humor into the adventures, so they are fun, adventurous and funny.
Widdershins (Whyborne & Griffin #1) is set in the 1800's but with secret magics and supernaturals (so they exist but not everyone knows). Percival Whyborne is excellent at reading dead languages (16 in fact) and at hiding himself away from everything and everyone in his desire to never be noticed. Part of that is a lifetime of bullying from society and family due to Percival being too small, too scholarly, not manly enough, etc. Part of his desire to hide is due to the tragic death of his best friend (and secret love) which happened when he was a teen, and for which he blames himself (because being gay is a horrible sin and deviant behavior). When Griffin, a former Pinkerton agent needs his help with a translation; the museum pressures him to provide assistance but with unexpected consequences; because mysterious deaths are happening all over Widdershins, and the more Whyborne and Griffin find; the more dangerous it gets for both of them. Adding to the danger is the discovery that both men share an attraction for each other and exploring that in addition to solving a mystery involving authorities is dangerous and problematic. This book sticks closely to real societal norms aside from the paranormal & magical elements. Therefore it is sometimes heartbreaking to see the two men falling for each other but so careful and afraid of being discovered. Hawk writes a fine mystery and adds in a believable romance with a deft hand. This is an adult story available only on Amazon.
Engineer (Magic & Steam #1) is a novella series set in 1881 where magic exists and those who are proficient at it are highly regimented and controlled by the government.....all official users are registered regardless. Gillian Hamilton is a special agent magic caster with the Federal Bureau of Magic & Steam. He is sent to Shallow Grave, AZ to arrest a madman engineer known as "The Tinkerer". He runs into Gunner the Deadly, a notorious outlaw; but he must work with him in order to save the people in the town and stop the Tinkerer. The more they work together, the more they find an attraction that is dangerous on a number of levels. This novella is a quick read, and yes; it is adult with some sexual situations; but really the story is focused on the adventure. I really like the correlation the author makes with hiding one's LGBTQ nature and living under a microscope as a magic user; and also how having to register and live that way affects one's life......because once the government has you on a list, you are always on a list. This is am Amazon exclusive title.
I have mentioned this book several times but need to bring it up again here. It is a really good alternate history steampunk novel (basically the Haitian revolution spread to LA, but was stopped there). It is a solid adventure with magic, it is an adult story but would work for older teens; as there isn't anything graphic in it. The main character is trying to keep a secret society from releasing the black god's drums, which will cause a devastating earthquake and flood; and gods from African mythology are used as well as elements of voodoo. This is an Amazon exclusive. Clark doesn't focus on racist themes, but with an African American main character, those elements do still show up.
Magpie Lord (Charm of Magpies #1) Lucien is exiled to China for most of his life and really never planned to return to England. Unexpectedly, he is required to do just that when his father and brother both die, leaving him to inherit the Earldom and the estates. Lucien is magically attacked (thus explaining why his father and brother died); and his friend finds Stephen to help him lift the curse. Stephen hates Lucien's family, for good reasons, but he helps Lucien anyway. The slow love story in conjunction with the action & suspense makes for a fun read. The author also highlights cultural differences in attitudes towards men who love men as well as how class plays a role in what one can get away with. This is an adult series that is an Amazon exclusive.
Rampage At Waterloo and Clash of Empires (the two Battlesaurus books) have an amazing two part change to history...1. dinosaurs were never wiped out by a meteor (though the ones in Europe are mostly only small due to hunting) and 2. the colonies never became the US (and also it was discovered many species thought to be extinct are found in the wilds of the Americas. So it isn't out of the realm of possibility for Napoleon to secretly arrange transport of T-Rex dinosaurs, and weaponize them for battle. Only Napoleon would care more about winning than about how the dinosaurs are as likely to attack their own troops as the enemies.....I love how Falkner weaves in actual historical events with his changes and let's it loose. I thought it would be a silly story, but it was actually more of an actual "what if" with solid storytelling, although heavy on battle scenes and lighter on plot. This is a YA book, but can be enjoyed by all ages.
Lockwood and Co is the name of the investigative team, taking on ghosts and trying to make a name for themselves as an independent group amidst all the corporate entities. The historic change is that some supernatural event happened, which made ghosts real, but also only children able to see them or fight them (though they can cause real damage and death to anyone). This change means a new industry focused on children as ghost hunters, facing real perils but only able to be overseen or trained by adults who can't actually see or help with the dangers (and in the case of unscrupulous adults, not caring about the danger as long as they get paid, and able to take advantage of children making them almost slaves). The teens who have started Lockwood & Co have much to prove and only a short window of time before they are no longer able to do the job...and also since the series takes place in the late 19th century, attitudes towards children/labor/rights is not in their favor. This is a fun, mysterious and suspenseful series for teens but able to be enjoyed by anyone.
The Dragon Slayer of Trondheim (Story of Owen #1) has the historical twist that dragons are real....and because they are drawn to heat and energy, it has changed the way the world runs, the layout of cities and the way fuel is expended. Dragons of all kinds are dangerous, and thus dragon slayers are necessary but rare (and usually living wealthy lives near cities). Owen is a teen dragon slayer who chooses the small town of Trondheim, but does his best to protect the town. This is a really emotional story of sorts, as Johnston really dives into how heroes are created and how much we love to destroy our heroes while simultaneously demanding their help; but it is also an interesting look at a world that views things very differently than ours. This is a YA book, but can be enjoyed by all ages.
Lastly, I have an honorable mention: 
Lamb is a humorous look at the missing years of Jesus (between the ages of 13-30) and how he prepared to become the messiah. This isn't really an alternate reality but a straight up funny book (as long as you don't mind humor poking at religion). This was written for adults but can be enjoyed by teens and adults alike. Moore is a well known humorous storyteller, so check it out if you want to try something different.
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