Best Historical Fiction

 The Hundred Flowers Campaign, also termed the Hundred Flowers Movement, a period which begun in May 1956 in the People’s Republic of China during which the Communist Party of China encouraged its citizens to express openly their opinions of the communist regime. It was to lift the restrictions imposed upon Chinese intellectuals and thus grant greater freedom of thought of speech. This story begins in 1957 with Sheng’s family. Sheng, a headstrong teacher, is suspicious of such campaign as many other intellectuals fearing that it is a trap. He makes a promise to his family to keep his opinions to himself, thus keeping his family safe. But with his strong character, he does write a letter criticizing the Communist Party and as a result he is sent to a labor camp to be ‘reeducated.’ His wife, Kai Ying, returns full-time to her work as an herbalist to support the family. His seven-year old son, Tao, everyday awaits a return of his father. One day, he climbs a tree in hope o

 Annie Clements (1888-1956), known as “American Joan of Arc” – the courageous woman who started a rebellion by leading a strike against the largest copper mining company in the world. A fight for a good life, not just a better life, comes vividly in this story. The nice city of Calumet built by one of the most profitable companies of its time is just a façade. What hides behind it, is the meager wages hardly making ends meet and the dangerous conditions under the ground. Every week someone dies or gets injured. The injustice sparks major union strike. Houghton, Michigan: Anna Klobuchar, daughter of tall Slovenian parents, at 15 years old she already tops 6 feet. This causes her to be a subject of ridicule. “Boys laughed and pointed, calling out familiar taunts (…). Freak. Giant. Monster.” But her father encourages her, “Stand up, straight, Anna. Hold your head high. (…) That’s your strength. You are tall for a reason. When your head is high, you can see farther than anyone else.”

 The story spans for over sixty years. Through the story of Rajkumar, his children and grandchild, the history of India and Burma comes alive involving the British invasion and natives fight for independence. The story begins in 1885 with British invasion of Burma over teak wood.  Eleven year old Rajkumar works on a boat which takes him from India to the city of Mandalay in Burma. He is sent to a lady named Ma Cho, who is half-Indian and owns a food stall. Her stall is close to the walls of the fort belonging to Burma’s kings, currently to King Thebaw and Queen Supayalat. At the center of the fort, “there is a vast hall that is like a great shaft of light, with shining crystal walls and mirrored ceilings. People call it the Glass Palace.” No matter what Ma Cho says Rajkumar knows he will find a way in to see it. Soon there are rumors of war as English want all the teak wood in Burma and the king won’t let them have it. On November 14, 1885 the imperial fleet crosses the bor

 Pope Joan is seen by some as pure legend and some argue that “history provides many examples of deliberate falsification of records” in order to cover such historical figure as female Pope. Nevertheless, what this book offers is a vivid portrait of the harsh reality for women in the Middle Ages and some went into such measures as to disguise themselves as men to achieve something they would have never had a chance to do as women. 814, Hrotrud, the village midwife of Ingelheim, Frankland, goes to canon’s house to deliver his wife’s third child. The canon doesn’t hide his distaste, when he sees it’s a girl. He names her Joan. From early age, Joan is a curious child, full of questions. At the age of 6, she asks her oldest brother to teach her to write. Hesitant at first, as education was strictly for men and their father wouldn’t like it, but at her persistence he relinquish. Her pestering continues, now she wants him to teach he tor read, “her eagerness spoke directly to his heart