Top Ten Tuesday, a concept started by The Broke and the Bookish, is a themed post that connects bloggers to bloggers, bloggers to readers, and readers to readers. Every Tuesday has a special topic, and this Tuesday is Top Ten FREEBIE. So what did I choose? Top Ten YA Historical Fiction on my TBR, mostly because I’ve recently acquired quite a lot of YA historical fiction.
Take a journey to . . . Tudor England.
I stumbled upon The Lacey Chronicles while browsing Book Outlet, and asked a couple historical fiction bloggers if they’ve read or heard of it. This trilogy came out a few years ago, all set during Elizabeth I’s reign, and each with intriguing heroines and good romances. Sounds about right for a Tudor court!
Katherine Longshore was the reigning Tudor writer in my eyes, but I think that’s only because her books were more recently published. Of them all, I’m most interested in Brazen, set during Henry VIII’s reign and around the time of the marriage to Anne Boleyn.
Take a journey to . . . France and Denmark.
Belle Epoque is a repoussoir, a book about a girl who’s not just a companion but the person who stands by her mistress’s side in order for the mistress to appear more interesting and beautiful. A far more serious version of a DUFF, in a way, and a true trick used in history among the aristocracy.
For all those Shakespeare lovers out there, Ophelia is a historical retelling of Hamlet, and it sounds epic. I’m all for Shakespeare retellings, and Ophelia’s character is quite possibly one of the most haunting of all.
Take a journey to . . . the early- to mid-1900s.
From a gilded age murder mystery to WWI spy networks, WWII codes and spies and torture to 1950s Southern mystery, I’m bound to sink my teeth into something with all the secrecy!
Honorable mentions: The Forbidden Orchid by Sharon Biggs Waller, Unsinkable Mercy Wong by Stacey Lee, Beastly Bones by William Ritter, A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis
Who says YA historical fiction doesn’t sell? Clearly these books are showing them who’s boss!
What are some of your favorite YA historicals? What did you choose for your TTT this week?
Scribbles & Wanderlust 
12 thoughts on “Top Ten Tuesday: YA Historical Fiction TBR”
Alison Doherty
I love the way you organized your list!
Laura
Thank you! The books did it themselves, really. Once I found what I wanted for the post, I noticed a pattern in the books.
Renee Travis (@damianarose)
Ophelia was good but very political and serious.
My ttt
http://hauntedgravebooks.blogspot.com/2015/05/top-ten-tuesday-freebie-top-ten-ya.html
Danya
Seconding the Ophelia recommendation! From what I recall (it’s been years since I read it) it’s a bit of a darker and perhaps more “real” take on Hamlet than some of the other retellings out there. It definitely takes some liberties with the original story though.
Laura
Ooo, looking forward to it, then.
iloveheartlandx
Wow the tudor ones sound good! I might have to check those out!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2015/05/19/top-ten-tuesdays-5/
alyssatheliteraturenerd
Historical fiction has a very special place heart, but I don’t really read enough of them at all. This was very helpful.
Maryanne (mfantaliswrites)
I love Katherine Longshore! You should also check out Cat Winters for a look at America around the turn off the 20th century, with a supernatural twist. Her new book, A Cure For Dreaming, is fantastic!
Laura
I’ve heard nothing but good things about Cat Winters! Her books have been on my radar for a while now.
Alexa S. (@alexalovesbooks)
I 100% love this list, Laura! I definitely need to check out the ones I’ve only read. The three I have read – Code Name Verity, Out of the Easy and Belle Epoque – were all pretty good, with Out of the Easy definitely being my favorite.
Laura
I’ve heard great things about Out of the Easy! Vastly different from Sepetys’s last book, but still great in its own right. I can’t wait to read it!
Wendy @ Book Scents
The only one I’ve read on this list is Code Name Verity! which I really loved!! I’ll have to check out some of the others on this list too!