Recommended Reading
One of the fun ways of getting hooked into history is through reading. Reading novels are a great way for you to explore the wonders of history, whether it's through the fictional and fantasy world of the authors' imagination. Below are some great fictional series with a blend of history for you to enjoy.
eBooks and Kindles
Take your pleasurable reading on the go! Many of these books are available electronically so that you can read them on your iPads or a Kindle. Remember to check and see if the books you're interested are also available in these electronic features!
Take your pleasurable reading on the go! Many of these books are available electronically so that you can read them on your iPads or a Kindle. Remember to check and see if the books you're interested are also available in these electronic features!
The Stravaganza series
Stravaganza (by Mary Hoffman) is a great fantasy series that blends the magic and beauty of Renaissance Italy with our modern 21st century. These books tells the stories of British teenagers in the 21st century London traveling to Renaissance Talia in an alternate world and time that represents their own world's Renaissance Italy. Join them and the other Stravaganti as they sought to protect the dimensional portal from the ambitious Chimici family (based on our world's de Medici family) that is trying to obtain the magic of 21st century for their own ambition to rule all of Talia. These novels are filled with dangers, adventures, romance, history, and culture for readers to enjoy.
You can learn more about these books on the main Stravaganza website here: link
Stravaganza (by Mary Hoffman) is a great fantasy series that blends the magic and beauty of Renaissance Italy with our modern 21st century. These books tells the stories of British teenagers in the 21st century London traveling to Renaissance Talia in an alternate world and time that represents their own world's Renaissance Italy. Join them and the other Stravaganti as they sought to protect the dimensional portal from the ambitious Chimici family (based on our world's de Medici family) that is trying to obtain the magic of 21st century for their own ambition to rule all of Talia. These novels are filled with dangers, adventures, romance, history, and culture for readers to enjoy.
You can learn more about these books on the main Stravaganza website here: link
The Secrets of Immortal Nicolas Flamel
Written by Michael Scott, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicolas Flamel is a wonderful series that not only blends mythological figures, but famous historical figures such as Joan of Arc and Nicolas Flamel themselves into the story. Join twin brother and sister, Josh and Sophie, as they travel around the world, encountering these famous figures, and discovering their destinies to either save the world...or destroying it. If you love action, adventures, history, and mythology, then this is the series for you to enjoy.
To learn more about these books, you can check out the information about them on author Michael Scott's official website here: link
Written by Michael Scott, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicolas Flamel is a wonderful series that not only blends mythological figures, but famous historical figures such as Joan of Arc and Nicolas Flamel themselves into the story. Join twin brother and sister, Josh and Sophie, as they travel around the world, encountering these famous figures, and discovering their destinies to either save the world...or destroying it. If you love action, adventures, history, and mythology, then this is the series for you to enjoy.
To learn more about these books, you can check out the information about them on author Michael Scott's official website here: link
Dragonkeeper series
Written by Australian writer Carole Wilkinson, Dragonkeeper takes place during the Han Dynasty in China. A slave girl named Ping, escaped her brutal master and traveled throughout the Chinese empire with an aging dragon, protecting him and his egg that is ready to hatch to the next generation. This is a story of a young slave girl who believes she is not worthy of a name but finds within herself that the strength and courage to make this perilous journey, and do what must be done. Throughout her journey, she discovered that she is the true Dragonkeeper. If you are looking to learn more about ancient China and the mythology of dragons, then this is the series for you to discover.
Written by Australian writer Carole Wilkinson, Dragonkeeper takes place during the Han Dynasty in China. A slave girl named Ping, escaped her brutal master and traveled throughout the Chinese empire with an aging dragon, protecting him and his egg that is ready to hatch to the next generation. This is a story of a young slave girl who believes she is not worthy of a name but finds within herself that the strength and courage to make this perilous journey, and do what must be done. Throughout her journey, she discovered that she is the true Dragonkeeper. If you are looking to learn more about ancient China and the mythology of dragons, then this is the series for you to discover.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Rick Riordan popularized Greek mythology by blending it with the modern world with his own demi-gods as the half-blood children of ancient Greek deities. Being the son of the sea god Poseidon, it's not easy for Percy Jackson to live out his life normally, especially when he's constantly being chased by Greek monsters...plus he has to save the world and the Olympians from destruction as Kronos and the other Titans returned to extract their revenge. This series is a fun way for you to learn more about not just Greek mythologies, but about ancient Greek societies and culture and how some of them survived in modern day United States as well.
Learn more about the five books, its stories, characters, movie adaptations, and its author here on its official website: link
Rick Riordan popularized Greek mythology by blending it with the modern world with his own demi-gods as the half-blood children of ancient Greek deities. Being the son of the sea god Poseidon, it's not easy for Percy Jackson to live out his life normally, especially when he's constantly being chased by Greek monsters...plus he has to save the world and the Olympians from destruction as Kronos and the other Titans returned to extract their revenge. This series is a fun way for you to learn more about not just Greek mythologies, but about ancient Greek societies and culture and how some of them survived in modern day United States as well.
Learn more about the five books, its stories, characters, movie adaptations, and its author here on its official website: link
Heroes of Olympus
In Percy Jackson and the Olympians, you've learned about Greek mythology and ancient Greek culture, philosophies, and history that is blended together with our modern 21st century America. In the Heroes of Olympus, you will learn about the Romans and their great empire and how it ties with the Greeks. Once again, Rick Riordan delivers spellbound action stories about demi-gods, half-blood children of Greek (and Roman) gods in the modern world. After the Titans' defeat, the sleeping Gaea returns to tear both the Greeks and Romans apart. Learn more about Roman military and their amazing city through the eyes of our new heroes in these books.
You can learn more about this thrilling sequel on the official website here: link
In Percy Jackson and the Olympians, you've learned about Greek mythology and ancient Greek culture, philosophies, and history that is blended together with our modern 21st century America. In the Heroes of Olympus, you will learn about the Romans and their great empire and how it ties with the Greeks. Once again, Rick Riordan delivers spellbound action stories about demi-gods, half-blood children of Greek (and Roman) gods in the modern world. After the Titans' defeat, the sleeping Gaea returns to tear both the Greeks and Romans apart. Learn more about Roman military and their amazing city through the eyes of our new heroes in these books.
You can learn more about this thrilling sequel on the official website here: link
The Kane Chronicles
If you're all hyped in learning more about ancient Greek and ancient Roman history, you might be interested in learning about ancient Egypt! Once again, Rick Riordan delivers a blend of ancient and contemporary excitements in the Kane Chronicles. Here, you'll be journeying throughout the world and dive into a special history learning branch called Egyptology!
To learn more about the Kane Chronicles, check out its main website here: link
If you're all hyped in learning more about ancient Greek and ancient Roman history, you might be interested in learning about ancient Egypt! Once again, Rick Riordan delivers a blend of ancient and contemporary excitements in the Kane Chronicles. Here, you'll be journeying throughout the world and dive into a special history learning branch called Egyptology!
To learn more about the Kane Chronicles, check out its main website here: link
Mao's Last Dancer
This is an autobiography book about the author's life. A compelling story on endurance, it tells of Li Cunxin's childhood in extreme poverty in China to fame and stardom in the United States. Reading this book with give you an insight on Communist China during the Cultural Revolution and how Communism ties the art of ballet to promote its political power to the United States. Li Cunxin had a chance and an opportunity to leave his poor childhood behind as he journeyed to the capital to learn ballet and serving under Communist rule. But once selected to represent China by going to the United States, Li Cunxin tasted freedom and independence and wanted to forge his own life. This is a must read book for you!
This is an autobiography book about the author's life. A compelling story on endurance, it tells of Li Cunxin's childhood in extreme poverty in China to fame and stardom in the United States. Reading this book with give you an insight on Communist China during the Cultural Revolution and how Communism ties the art of ballet to promote its political power to the United States. Li Cunxin had a chance and an opportunity to leave his poor childhood behind as he journeyed to the capital to learn ballet and serving under Communist rule. But once selected to represent China by going to the United States, Li Cunxin tasted freedom and independence and wanted to forge his own life. This is a must read book for you!
Dear American and My Name is America
Dear America is a series of historical fictions for girls while My Name is America is for boys. These two series were written in the form of diaries belonging to fictional characters who lived and experienced significant historical events in American history. For example, The Winter of Red Snow is a fictional American Revolutionary War diary of Abigail Jane Stewart while The Journal of Wong Ming-Chung is a fictional journal about a Chinese immigrant during the California Gold Rush.
Reading these fictional diaries and journals will give you a great insight on life during these difficult times of American history.
Dear America is a series of historical fictions for girls while My Name is America is for boys. These two series were written in the form of diaries belonging to fictional characters who lived and experienced significant historical events in American history. For example, The Winter of Red Snow is a fictional American Revolutionary War diary of Abigail Jane Stewart while The Journal of Wong Ming-Chung is a fictional journal about a Chinese immigrant during the California Gold Rush.
Reading these fictional diaries and journals will give you a great insight on life during these difficult times of American history.
The Royal Diaries
Like Dear America and My Name is America, the Royal Diaries is a series of fictional diaries about historical times. Unlike the other series, the Royal Diaries is about real historical royalties. Learn more about the young Princess Elizabeth I before she became queen. Read about Marie Antoinette before her marriage to future French king Louis VI. Discover historical royal princesses you might never heard before such as Queen Seondeok of Korea and Nzinga the warrior queen of Matamba, Angola, Africa. These diaries are a great way for you to discover more about the royal lives of these significant princesses and queens, and many of them lost their stories throughout time.
Like Dear America and My Name is America, the Royal Diaries is a series of fictional diaries about historical times. Unlike the other series, the Royal Diaries is about real historical royalties. Learn more about the young Princess Elizabeth I before she became queen. Read about Marie Antoinette before her marriage to future French king Louis VI. Discover historical royal princesses you might never heard before such as Queen Seondeok of Korea and Nzinga the warrior queen of Matamba, Angola, Africa. These diaries are a great way for you to discover more about the royal lives of these significant princesses and queens, and many of them lost their stories throughout time.