Classics, Nonfiction, and Children's Literature
The Dark Star of Itza: The Story of a Pagan Princess by Alida Malkus (published 1930) is a 1931 Newbery honor novel featuring ancient Mayan traditions in a story of the city of Chicken Itza. Nicté is the only daughter of the high priest and has visionary abilities as she gazes into a dark stone.
Meggy MacIntosh: A Highland Girl in the Carolina Colony by Elizabeth Janet Gray (published 1930) is a middle grade novel awarded a Newbery Honor in 1931. As the subtitle suggests, it focuses on Scottish immigrants to South Carolina, specifically during the Revolutionary War. Meggy comes from a long line of highland wealth, but upon becoming
The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer (published 1951) is almost more mystery than romance. In this story, it seems like the new Earl of St. Erth is being targeted by his younger half brother, Martin, who would inherit all if not for Gervase. With the help of the others in residence at Stanyon, including the
The Talisman Ring by Georgette Heyer (published 1936) is a mix of mystery and a Georgian-era romance story, with a huge dose of humor. The main characters try to solve a mystery of who killed the cardsharp who had won Ludovic’s heirloom ring (the titular “Talisman ring”). Ludovic has fled the country to avoid trial
Max in the Land of Lies by Adam Gidwitz (published 2025) is a continuation of Max in the House of Spies. Now Max must fulfill his spy mission in Berlin while also secretly searching for his parents. His story is surprisingly partially educational but foremost it is an action-packed historical fiction story about a clever
The Foundling by Georgette Heyer (published 1948) is another satisfying romp set during Regency England, with a light romance and a whole list of adventures for our main character, the Duke of Sale. I really could only read/listen to it by renaming it The Duke in my mind. It irritates me that the “foundling” is
The Teacher of Nomad Land by Daniel Nayeri (published 2025) is a historical fiction middle grade book about two orphans in Iran trying to find their place in a world confused by war and occupation. As a “World War II” novel (as the subtitle states), The Teacher of Nomad Land provides a unique look at
The Convenient Marriage by George Heyer (published 1934) features the very languid and lazy Lord Rule’s marriage to the very young 17-year-old Horatia Winwood, the youngest daughter who seeks to financial save the family while allowing her older sisters to marry as they please. Stuttering Horatia wants a life an exciting life of wealth, while
James Michener is known for his very long (1000+ pages) historical fiction novels that are sweeping epics over generations. The Source (published 1965) is one such book. It follows the story of a specific hill in the Holy Land (Palestine/Israel) from antiquity to “modern” (1960s) times while archeologists are performing a dig to learn more
Will’s Race for Home: A Western by Jewell Parker Rhodes (Little, Brown and Company for Young Readers, 2025) captures the excitement of the Kansas land rush in 1889 from the perspective of a young Black boy and his father. Sharecropping in Texas doesn’t feel any different from slavery for the family, so now Will and
Our titular hero in Sylvester (Or, The Wicked Uncle) by Georgette Heyer (published 1957) has only one flaw: his monstrously large and memorable eyebrows. So although he’s a wealthy and kind gentleman and a caring uncle to his deceased twin’s son, it’s unfortunate that Phoebe Marlow used his most distinctive feature as the defining characteristic
If The Nonesuch in Georgette Heyer’s novel (reviewed here) introduced the perfect Regency era love interest, than the scandalous Lord Damerel in Venetia (published 1958) represents the least virtuous. Venetia Lanyon is the 25-year-old beauty who has always lived in Yorkshire, and her sensibility means she will never marry the boring suitors from her neighborhood:
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