Historical Realism 

Some historical fiction that really makes you question the ways of the world.

My Heart is on the Ground 

Rinaldi, Ann. My Heart is on the Ground. Scholastic, 1999. $14.92. 206 pages. ISBN 0590149229.

Nannie Little Rose finds herself away from home on the reservation and in a school meant to help natives become closer to white civilization. Although feared, she overcomes many struggles for learning English, to being bullied, and to literally try to learn what life is like outside the reservation. With a lot on her plate for a young girl, she looks for guidance everywhere she can and hopes to do something that would bring honor to her family. In her beautifully written diary, we get to see how Nannie Little Rose navigates her new world. We see her learn and grow from each page she writes and our heart aches for her to be happy somehow. Not only is this story extremely powerful, but it is also one that provides a perspective that many have not gotten the chance to see. Being so long ago, many do not know of these ways and it opens a door into a world we should all know about.

Finding Langston 

Cline-Ransome, Lesa. Finding Langston. Holiday House, 2018. $6.79. 112 pages. ISBN 0823445828. 

Cline-Ransome writes a heart-warming story about a boy named Langston who has just moved to Chicago with his father after his mother’s passing. City life is not exactly for Langston, but things change when he discovers the  library. Fighting battles with boys at school and hiding his true feelings from his dad, Langston finds refuge in the library, especially in books written by black poets like Langston Hughes. Not only was this a fast and accessible read, but it was beautifully written and all the details made you want the book to slow down and hear more about each character. An important piece of historical fiction that wows the audience with detailed descriptions and extremely realistic snippets of Chicago. 

Soul Lanterns 

Kuzki, Shaw. Soul Lanterns. Penguin Random House, 2021. $7.49. 176 pages. ISBN 0593174372. 

In this powerful story with many lines to trace, we get to learn about the life of those in Japan right after the atomic bomb. Centered around three different characters, we find that their relatives all have something in common: they have suffered from some kind of loss. Kuzki makes a masterpiece that draws in the reader with wonder, and pulls at our heartstrings with their stories. Although easy to get it all twisted, the end comes to a clear and beautiful ending, celebrating the lives of those who are lost, or may still be alive.