Tag Archives: Historical Fiction

A Night Divided

Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen

AR Level: Not Currently AR

Miss Library Lady Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

 

Germany, after World War II, was divided into 4 zones, each controlled by 1 of the 4 Allied powers (US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union).  Berlin, the capital of Germany, was split into 4 sectors as well even though it was located fully in the Soviet zone.  The Berlin Wall was constructed in 1961 to separate East Germany from West Germany; the wall ran right through the middle of Berlin.  People were not allowed to cross from East to West or West to East.  There were watchtowers along the wall as soldiers who patrolled the wall to ensure no one tried to defect to West Germany.  Not only was there a concrete wall, but chain fences, minefields, a large sandy area known as the “death strip” to make any attempt to escape impossible.  The Berlin wall opened in 1989 and demolition was completed in 1992.  During the 28 years the Berlin Wall stood roughly 200 people died in or near Berlin attempting to escape.

 

“A Night Divided” is a work of historical fiction.  It tells the story of Gerta and her family when the Berlin Wall was constructed.  The night the Berlin Wall went up, Gerta’s father and younger brother were in West Berlin while she, her mother and other brother were in East Berlin.  They find themselves separated with no way of contacting one another or being with one another again.  One day Gerta spies her younger brother on a platform on the West Berlin side, then a few days later, she sees her father on the same platform.  He acts out someone digging, could he be sending a message to Gerta to dig her way to West Berlin?  Would he ask that of his daughter, put her in that kind of danger (she could be killed if caught)?

Will Gerta be reunited with her father and younger brother?

The Revelation of Louisa May

Author: Michaela MacColl

AR Level: 4.9

Miss Library Lady rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

15 years old

In charge of taking care of her father and sister

Harboring a fugitive slave

Solving a murder

This is the fictional tale of Luisa May Alcott’s life.  Louisa’s father is an intelligent and handy man; the problem, though, is he no longer provides financially for his family.  This financial burden has left Louisa’s mother no choice but to take a job herself, but in the 1840s, jobs for women were hard to come by.  Louisa’s mom takes a 3 month position, but 150 miles away (that was far back then).  It is up to Louisa to take care of her sister Beth (1 of 3 sisters), who is recovering from fever and her father, who she doesn’t get along.  How can she possibly take care of her family while her mom is away?

Just before Louisa’s mom is to leave, George and fugitive slave shows up to the Alcott house, which is a refuge for slaves until they have a home further North to move along to.  Louisa hope this will change her mom’s mind and stay home, but unfortunately their financial need is much greater.  Can Louisa keep George hidden?  Will the slave catcher, Mr. Finch, find George and take him back to his owner?

On her way to visit her father at a friend’s home, Louisa finds a man dead and her father on the ground disoriented.  Did her father really kill a man?  If he didn’t do it, who did?  Finding clues and figuring out who wanted this man dead, Louisa must now try to prove her father didn’t do it.  Will she be able to clear her father’s name?

Will Louisa survive the next 3 months with her mother gone?