While summer beach reads can be light, twisty or inspire travel, we find that some of the best books establish a sense of place that can whisk readers away to another generation. Historical fiction can immerse readers into another culture, country or point in time that is based on real events. These are the books that stay with us, long after we turn the last page. Here, some of our favorites.
The Island of Sea Women, By Lisa See
In The Island of Sea Women, author Lisa See introduces readers to the complex world of the haenyeo. All-female diving collectives on South Korea’s island of Jeju, the haenyeo live in a matriarchal society where the physical demands of their work are unfathomable in a modern world.
The complexities of Japanese colonialism in the 1930s and 1940s, combined with World War II and the Korean War make for a compelling intergenerational read about a little understood subculture and the long-term impact on future generations. We love a good story about strong women, interesting cultures and untold stories, making this one of the best books we’ve read lately.
Salt to the Sea, By Ruta Sepetys
The sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff is likely the greatest maritime disaster in history, but its story is relatively unknown. The reported death toll was up to 9,000 (more than the Titanic and Lusitania combined), so why do so little people know about it?
It was part of Operation Hannibal, a massive effort to evacuate German soldiers and civilians as well as East Prussian refugees fleeing the Soviet advance in 1945 during the fall of the Third Reich. Told through the perspectives of four refugees, Ruta Sepetys’ Salt to the Sea evokes many emotions as she unravels the tragic history of the ship and its passengers, giving their voices a place in history.
The Paris Library, By Janet Skeslien Charles
Based on the true story of the librarians who stood up to the Nazi “Book Protector” during WWII, author Janet Skeslien Charles draws from her firsthand knowledge working at the American Library in Paris for The Paris Library. Established in 1920 with a core collection of books donated by American libraries to U.S. Armed Forces personnel serving their allies in WWI, the library served as a haven for English speaking expats.
During the Nazi occupation of France in WWII, the library director, along with her staff and volunteers provided heroic service by operating an underground book-lending service to Jewish members barred from libraries. Charles paints a vivid picture of life under occupation and the significance of literature as a means to resist.
Remember Me, By Mario Escobar
There’s no lack of historical fiction around WWI and WWII, but few novels delve into the Spanish Civil War. In Remember Me, Mario Escobar chronicles the haunting history of the nearly 500 Children of Morelia.
A 1937 government initiative promoted as a way to safely transport Spanish children to the Mexican city of Morelia for safekeeping until the war ended, it was not as virtuous as it appeared. A story as much about cultural identity as wartime sacrifices, the novel is a heartbreaking read for anyone who has children.
Forty Autumns, By Nina Willner
What’s incredible about Forty Autumns is that it reads like a historical fiction novel, yet it is actually a very intimate family memoir. Author Nina Willner was (impressively) the first female U.S. Army intelligence officer to lead sensitive intelligence collection operations in East Berlin at the height of the Cold War.
Ironically, she is of German ancestry and her mother had fled the communist state as a young woman, leaving her parents and eight siblings behind. This gripping novel details life on both sides of the wall with a personal lens that describes layers of hardship, censorship and family heartache in captivating detail. Meticulously compiled historical notes make this one of the best books on the Berlin Wall era.
