Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale is a historical fiction novel that follows two young adults in the midst of World War II. The story shifts between Paris and a small French town, capturing the life of two sisters. Vianne attempts to survive the war and protect her daughter while avoiding trouble from the Nazi regime in Nazi-occupied France. Her younger sister Isabelle refuses to remain silent or complicit and joins the resistance.

Vianne is a very dynamic character – in the start of the book she is characterized as a quiet and passive woman who dreads loss, leading to her protective nature over her young daughter Sophie. Throughout the story and the evolution of World War II, she begins to take on the nature of a more mature woman who no longer keeps her head down but actively fights for survival. 

To contrast Vianne, Isabelle is a valiant character from the beginning, refusing to let the Nazis dictate their lives in France or harm the lives of others. She begins working for the resistance to fight back, adding a sense of tension or urgency to the novel. Despite her boldness, her vulnerability shows through constantly, reminding the audience that she is still a young woman through her incessant struggle with feeling loved. 

The two sisters have a strange but realistic relationship — Vianne constantly pushes Isabelle away from her family while Isabelle pines for the feeling of familial bonds and belonging. This is my favorite part of the book because it demonstrates the effect of war on relationships. Their relationship is strained by past abandonment and fear, creating a realistic dynamic between the characters. This struggle in their connection makes their personal journeys feel more realistic and emotional. The characters speak and act in ways that are authentic, the raw emotions in their dialogue and interactions make them feel almost tangible.

Overall, this is an incredibly good read for those interested in historical fiction novels. It was insightful and introduced me to perspectives in the war that I had not considered while also remaining historically accurate in its portrayal of events. 

Hello, everyone, it’s me again, and today I’ll be sharing with you three of my favorite books of the historical fiction genre. Alongside realistic fiction, fantasy, mystery, and graphic novels, just to name a few, historical fiction is one of my favorite book genres, if not my favorite.

Anyhow, on to the recommendations.

1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Set during the Great Depression in a fictional sleepy old town in Southern Alabama, Lee’s novel covers several years out of the childhood of Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, a little girl living with her elder brother, Jem, Atticus, Scout and Jem’s father as they call him, Calpurnia, the family’s black housekeeper, and later, Alexandra, Atticus’s judgmental and outspoken sister.

The story focuses on several themes, many of which relate to the human condition and similar concepts, such as morality, life and death, empathy, and, most prominently, the social construct of race.

I LOVE this book. I first read this book in my first year of middle school and have been re-reading it ever since then. It gives a beautiful snapshot of life in the American South during the Great Depression. The author does a wonderful job of making the characters come alive through realistic dialogue and relatable experiences. Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

2. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherill

Co-authored by the Netherlands’ first licensed female watchmaker and later itinerant evangelist CorrieTen Boom and the Sherill couple, this book takes place during the WWll era, a time period that I, simply put, have an overinterest in, The novel primarily covers Corrie’s work in the Dutch underground, hiding Jews hunted by the Nazis inside a secret room in her funny-looking home, called the Beje (pronounced bay-yay), with the help of her elder sister and fellow spinster, Betsie, their father, Casper, an elderly watchmaker, and a whole network of underground workers including other members of the Ten Boom family.

As a Christian, I can fully relate to several challenges that Corrie faces even though the circumstances are quite different. Many times during the novel, Corrie’s faith and values are tested, yet she prevails. Another thing that I like about this book is the way it explores how life was during the WWll era in the Netherlands, although predominantly in Haarlem, Corrie’s hometown and where a good chunk of the beginning and the middle of the novel takes place. Overall, I give this novel a complete 10/10. It is written in a beautifully descriptive and informative style and is a wonderful read for Christians and non-Christians alike.

3. Jip, His Story by Katherine Paterson

Written by the author of the Newbery Medal-winning novel Bridge to Terabithia, this book takes place primarily on the poor farm of a small town located in rural Vermont during the 1850s and focuses on Jip, a twelve-year old orphan and resident of the aforementioned town poor farm.

Abandoned as a young child and thought to be of Romani descent (in actuality called the more commonly known racial slur), Jip spends most of his time caring for the animals and doing chores, that is, until one day, when a madman is brought to the farm. While taking care of Putnam “Put” (the aforementioned madman), Jip strikes up a friendship with the man and frequently enjoys Put’s wonderful singing during periods of lucidity.

Honestly, there are a lot of events that take place in this novel, but I feel it would take too long to explain all of them. All in all, I really enjoyed the experience and reading and re-reading this book!

Some books make their impact slowly. The Rent Collector by Camron Wright is one of those stories that doesn’t rely on plot twists or dramatic pacing, but instead settles into you through its ideas. Set in a Cambodian landfill, the novel follows Sang Ly, a mother whose life is defined by survival: finding food, protecting her son, and enduring poverty that feels inescapable. But the heart of the story isn’t just where she lives; it’s how she learns to see herself.

What struck me most while reading was how literacy is treated as something deeply personal, not just practical. Learning to read doesn’t immediately change Sang Ly’s circumstances, but it changes her sense of possibility. In a place where dreaming feels risky, education becomes a quiet form of hope. That idea felt especially meaningful to me, because it reframes learning as more than schoolwork or achievement; it becomes a way of reclaiming dignity.

The most unexpected part of the novel is Sang Ly’s relationship with the rent collector, Sopeap Sin. At first, Sopeap represents fear and control, someone whose power is built on intimidation. But as her love for literature and storytelling is revealed, the novel complicates the idea of good versus evil. Sopeap’s character shows how people can be shaped by trauma and still be capable of beauty. This relationship is uncomfortable at times, but that discomfort is what makes it honest.

For teen readers, The Rent Collector offers a perspective shift. It’s easy to think of education as an obligation or a burden, especially when school feels overwhelming. This novel reminds us that learning is a privilege and one that can become a lifeline. Sang Ly’s determination to learn, despite exhaustion and fear, highlights how access to knowledge can change the way someone imagines their future, even if it doesn’t change their present right away.

By the time I finished the book, I wasn’t thinking about the landfill as much as I was thinking about stories themselves. The Rent Collector suggests that stories preserve humanity when everything else is stripped away. They hold memory, identity, and hope, things that can’t be taken, even in the harshest conditions. This book didn’t leave me feeling devastated or inspired in an obvious way. Instead, it left me more aware of how powerful something as simple as a story can be and how easily we forget that.