By Barbara Kingsolver 
Set in the Congo in 1959, the novel is about Nathan, a missionary, his wife, four daughters, and their troubles and tribulations during Congo’s war of independence from Belgium. For one who is not familiar with the history of the Congo, it was an eye opener as for the atrocities committed in the name of Colonialism and greed.

Yet, a great sympathy goes to the wife and four daughters facing the harsh conditions in the country, the bullying/fanatic personality of Nathan, and the painful tragedy with the death of one of the daughters. The beauty of this book is that it is narrated by the female characters.  We feel for their insight, pain, and the changes that take place within them even after they leave Nathan.

By Christopher Paul Curtis

"Fragile" is how others describe 11 year old Elijah who cries easily. Elijah is from  Buxton, an 1860 Canadian settlement of free former slaves. Elijah is the first child born here -unaware of the horrors of slavery and the fate of those who escaped when caught. I loved listening to the book. The narrator in the audio version, Mirron Willis, sounds just like a happy and innocent boy. Yet, his voice changes to reflect a maturing Elijah who encounters the harsh treatment of his people when venturing into the United States.  In the end, Elijah proves his strength and loses his "fragility" while facing danger where slavery is a reality. I admire authors who can draw us into the reflections of a child. The tenderness in children reminds us of their gullibility.  Though Elijah is funny, he faces the grim truth with hope and courage.

By Chinua Achebe
 The novel is a portrayal of the tribal traditions, superstitions and social interactions in a village in Nigeria before the arrival of colonialism and missionaries. The hero, Okonkwo, is a proud farmer who rules his wives and children with an iron fist. Even though he is a courageous, admired leader, Okonkwo biggest fear is to resembling his unsuccessful father. This concern controls him and he is in constant struggle to prove his manhood. The story is about the inner struggles of a man against his society and the threatening changes beyond his control. Okonkwo's tragedy is that he is no match against the increasing power of the incoming Christian church and the white man. Eventually like  others who cannot acclimate, he succumbs. Things do Fall Apart for him and others who cannot adapt.

By Louis de Bernières 
Taking place in a little village in Turkey in the eve of WWI, the story is about Turkish Nationalism, the rise of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk  the father of modern Turkey, the relationship between Moslems and Christians, and religious intolerance. The reader cannot escape from the sadness and the sympathy that one feels toward the characters -  ordinary people from different religions. They are victims of chains of events which turn friends into foes and change the landscape forever. If you want to have a better understanding of the past and the present  in this part of the world, this is a very informative novel.

By Tatiana de Rosnay
A heart wrenching story told by American woman in Paris, Julia Jarmond, who is investigating Vel' d'Hiv's, a day sixty years ago when French police, collaborating with the Nazis, arrested Jewish citizens to be sent to the death camps. Julia discovers the ordeal of a little Jewish girl, Sarah, who was rounded up with other Jews in 1942.  Sarah survived and was saved by the kindness of a French family. For the rest of her life, Sarah was haunted by the fact that she hid her little brother in a closet (just before being marched out of her apartment with her parents), promising him to come back and get him. She never did. As Sarah grew up she could not sustain relationships with those who loved her and did not tell her story to the new people in her life in America. The novel also focuses on Julia, and her family relations. Julia is brave  while seeking the hidden truth about France's ugly past, family secrets, and searching for those who knew Sarah. Yet, the image of a little boy waiting in a dark closet for his sister, grasps one’s heart throughout the reading, leaving Julias' life on the sideline. 

By Michael Shaara- Pulitzer Price Fiction for 1975.
The book is about the days in the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War. The story is told from the points of view of the military men who were involved in the war from the North and the South. Here, old friends face each other in battle. Each decision made by these men, is burdened with a lot of emotions and thoughts. The humanity of the characters and the obstacles they faced renders this book a great historical fiction.

By Dalene Matthee

The setting of the story is South Africa in the 1880’s. The novel describes the exploitation of Afrikaaner woodcutters and the extermination of elephants. 
Saul Barnard, a proud woodcutter, stands alone, trying to stop the destruction of the forest by woodcutters and gold prospectors. What is so compelling about the book is the passion and love for the forest expressed by the author. We know so much about the mistreatment of Africans by whites, but not about the adversity faced by hardworking Afrikaaners. It is ironic that later on the world condemned them for their treatment of blacks.

By Karen Hesse

An inspiring story of a 14 year old girl Billie Jo who lives in constant dust storms during the Depression, faces poverty, the death of her mother, the deterioration of her father, and her own physical pain. Billie Jo is a survivor who still has hopes in spite of her hardships. 
Being a foreign born, I never knew about the  "Dust Bowl" and learning about it from a perspective of a young girl, was a great historical lesson.

Book by Irene Hunt

This novel set during the Civil War describes the realities of war and the pain that tore whole families apart. Through the loving eyes of a young boy who cares for his brothers and other family members, we see the dilemmas of choosing sides, the shame in desertion, and the loss of life.  When we think about wars, we concentrate on the winners, losers, heroes, and outcomes, but we forget the individuals’ conflicts and anguish. 

If you want to view clips from the movie click HERE

By Karen Cushman
A hilarious diary of Catherine, a young girl in 1290 who describes the daily life in Medieval England. It is a great lesson about the rites, religious customs, the superstitions, and the political events of the era. Catherine resents the arrange marriages and the boring life of women that are filled with sewing, cooking and other household chores. The diary is delightful and funny. 

Did you find this novel humorous ?