Ten Historical Fiction/History Books to Add to Your Summer Reading List Immediately!

July 16, 2021

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By: Kaysey A. Richardson

Summer is in full swing, which means so is summer reading.  Whether at the pool, beach, or just your backyard, now is the perfect time to sip a beverage and read a good book! As an avid reader myself, I asked my co-workers what some of their favorite historical fiction/history books were and compiled a list to share with our readers.  In this blog post you will find some of our favorite history/historical fiction books for adults of all ages and teenagers, recommended by yours truly—the staff of Museum of World Treasures!

1. The Art of War, by Sun Tzu
   • Recommended by: Mike Noller, CEO
   • Genre: History, nonfiction
   • Synopsis: 2,500 years ago, Sun Tzu wrote this classic book of military strategy based on Chinese warfare and military thought.  Since The Art of War has been written, its philosophy has been applied not only to military strategies but also politics, business, and everyday life. 
   • Why we like it: “Though written as a military treatise, in this 6^th century BC work I personally find so many helpful applications to my everyday life – especially his emphasis on being prepared to make quick and appropriate decisions to ever changing conditions, which certainly was applicable in navigating the Museum through a global pandemic this last year.” -Mike

2. American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America, by Colin Woodward
   • Recommended by: Mike Noller, CEO
   • Genre: History, nonfiction
   • Synopsis: American Nations explores the history of North America’s eleven rival cultural regions while examining America’s many identities and how the conflicts between them have shaped our past and continues to mold the future of America.
   • Why we like it: “This was fascinating work on the regional cultural differences across North America.” -Mike
3. Ben Hur by Lew Wallace
   • Recommended by: Kristin Martin, Programs Director
   • Genre: Historical fiction
   • Synopsis: Written in the 19^th century, Lew Wallace combines the events of the life of Jesus with grand historical spectacle. 
   • Why we like it: “This one is fascinating for multiple reasons.  As a story, I enjoy the depths Wallace reaches in his attempts to channel ancient Rome and Jewish traditions.  I also like that he attempts to place the life of Jesus into some historical context.  On top of the story itself, this book has another layer of history as the author, Lew Wallace, was a Union Civil War general!” -Kristin
4. Hearts West: True Stories of Mail Order Brides on The Frontier by Chris Enss
   • Recommended by: Kristin Martin, Programs Director
   • Genre: History, nonfiction
   • Synopsis: Hearts West tells the true stories of twelve mail order brides and their exploits during the Gold Rush era of the nineteenth century.  Desperate to strike rich during the Gold Rush, men headed west, giving up the company of a female.  Only after arriving did they realize just how much they missed having a woman companion, which led many to seek mail order brides from newspapers and subscriptions. 
   • Why we like it: “I enjoyed this book because it was so random.  Of course, some of the stories of these mail order brides are horrifying but some were surprisingly successful as well!  I also got a kick out of reading people’s ads for brides.” -Kristin
5. The Silence of The Girls by Pat Barker
   • Recommended by: Danielle Wetzel, Visitor Services Director
   • Genre: Historical fiction
   • Synopsis: The ancient city of Troy has gone a decade under the siege of powerful Greek army, which continues to wage war over a stolen woman—Helen.  In the Greek camp, another woman, Briseis, watches and waits for the war’s outcome.  Briseis is one of thousands of women living behind the scenes in war, all of which have been erased from history.
   • Why we like it: “I always loved the stories of Greek mythology.  Heroism and adventure, magic and fantasy!  I specifically loved The Silence of the Girls as it retells the iconic story of the Battle of Troy from the perspectives of the Trojan enslaved girls.  It is an enlightening perspective and a triumph for the female voice in a male dominated history.” -Danielle
6. Bloody Jack Adventures by L.A. Meyer
   • Recommended by: Jordan Adams, Collections Manager
   • Genre: Historical fiction
   • Synopsis: Life as a ship boy on the HMS Dolphin is a dream for Jacky Faber.  Jacky goes from fighting for survival on the streets in London to a skilled and respected sailor.  The only problem is, Jacky is a girl and she will have to use her wit and courage to keep the crew from discovering her secret.  This series follows Jacky’s journey through different parts of the past. 
   • Why we like it: “I enjoyed this book series not only because of the escapades and endearing characters, but because I could easily relate to Jacky’s dream of wanting to live free and as she likes, traveling the world and being a part of history in the making.  To have my own ship and travel the seven seas…well, maybe not quite like that but an adventure all the same!” -Jordan
7. Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13 by Jim Lovell
   • Recommended by: Brad Nuest, Education Manager
   • Genre: History, memoir
   • Synopsis: In April of 1970. NASA sends Commander Jim Lovell and two other astronauts on America’s fifth mission to the moon.  Only a couple days into the flight, a mysterious explosion shakes the ship and the oxygen begins to drain away. In this story of courage and quick thinking, Lovell examines one of the worst disasters in the history of space exploration.
   • Why we like it: “I found this book to be inspirational as it recounts the true story of a damaged spacecraft bound for the Moon and the determination of the astronauts and thousands of people back on earth working together to bring the crew home.” -Brad
8. The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams
   • Recommended by: Kaysey Richardson, Marketing Coordinator
   • Genre: Historical fiction
   • Synopsis: A young journalist from America, Lulu, heads to the Bahamas during WWII to write about the Governor and his wife for a New York society magazine.  After infiltrating their social circle, Lulu discovers that there are many secrets and lies that are hidden within the politics of The Bahamas. 
   • Why we like it: “This one tells a true story about political corruption in The Bahamas and the Nassau Riot of 1942.  The Bahamas were under British colonial rule during this time and the Nassau Riot happened because locals were being paid unfair wages for the work they were doing.  The Golden Hour intertwines true crime, corruption, war, and romance.  I loved it because I knew nothing about The Bahamas and their history during World War II and it was super interesting to learn about!” –Kaysey
9. The Alice Network by Katie Quinn
   • Recommended by: Kaysey Richardson, Marketing Coordinator
   • Genre: Historical fiction
   • Synopsis: Two women – one a female spy recruited to the real life Alice Network in France during WWI and one American socialite searching for her cousin in 1947 – are brought together in a story of courage and redemption. 
   • Why we like it: “One of my favorite parts about history is discovering just how involved women truly were.  The Alice Network was a group of predominately female spies stationed in German occupied zones with the intent of gathering information and reporting back to the Allies.  I mean, that’s pretty cool.” –Kaysey
10. A Brief History of Album Covers by Jason Draper
    • Recommended by: Allie Little, Senior Visitor Services Representative
    • Genre: History, nonfiction
    • Synopsis: Cover art can play a significant role in a record’s success, and some designs are so notable that they go down in music history.  To celebrate some of the greatest covers in the last fifty years, A Brief History of Album Covers has informative history alongside photographs behind some of the most memorable record covers. 
    • Why we like it: “As a music, art, and trivia lover, a perfect coffee table book! I’ve always loved studying music and pop culture, and this book does a fantastic job of analyzing the aesthetics of the art itself along with the cultural significance of the time an album was released.” -Allie

Many of these books mentioned are available through your local library and kindle for little to no cost!  For those who prefer to listen to their books, Libby is a downloadable app that allows you to borrow audio books with your library card.  Happy reading folks, and stay tuned for more reading recs throughout the year.