2011-2012
HISTORICAL FICTION
Integrating Language Arts with 8th Grade Social Studies
A LIST COMPILED
BY
Marcia K. Vinyard
Bret Harte Middle School
Grade 8 Social Studies covers United States history from exploration and
settlement through the Civil War. I have compiled a list of historical fiction novels
that deal with: .
 Colonial Life/the Revolutionary War
 Native Americans
 The Civil War
 Frontier/Pioneer Life
 Slavery/The Civil Rights Movement
Key:









ALA Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Notable Book
Newberry Honor Book
Runner-up Newberry Medal
Newberry Medal Winner
Harper Trophy
Pulitzer Prize
Troll Medallion
Parents' Choice Award
1
COLONIAL LIFE/THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
The Flying Machine: A Stagecoach Journey In 1774 by John Loeper. This book gives a good
picture of colonial life as young David travels from Philadelphia to New York City.
The Witch Of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
Orphaned Kit Tyler knows, as she gazes for the first time at the cold, bleak shores of Connecticut
Colony, that her new home will never be like the shimmering Caribbean islands she left behind.
In her relatives’ stern Puritan community, she feels like a tropical bird that flown to the wrong part
of the world, a bird that is now caged and lonely. The only place where Kit feels completely free
is in the meadows, where she enjoys the company of the old Quaker woman known as the Witch
of Blackbird Pond, and on occasion, her young sailor fiend Nat. But when Kit’s friendship with the
“witch” is discovered, Kit is faced with suspicion, fear, and anger. She herself is accused of
witchcraft! RL: 6.1 
My Brother Sam Is Dead by Collier, James and Christopher. A story set during the
Revolutionary War shows the anguish of a family divided between the American and British
sides. RL: 5.0 
John Tremain by Ester Forbes
A boy participates in events in Boston that lead to the outbreak of the Revolutionary War.
Historical fiction at its best! Johnny boldly joins the Revolution in old Boston. RL: 5.5 
The Fighting Ground by Avi
Readers experience, minute by minute, what it’s like to be involved in war. Jonathan, 13, knows
he’s ready to fight the British. He can handle a gun. And he yearns to don a uniform and battle
for glory, just like his brother and cousin. RL: 5.0
April Morning by Howard Fast
This is a novel about one of the most glorious days in American history: the men and women, the
hours and minutes, the fears, love, cries, shots, and turmoil of The Battle of Lexington. RL: 5.0
Time Enough for Drums by Ann Rinaldi
Fifteen-year old Jemina Emerson can’t believe her Rebel father is allowing John Reid to tutor her!
Jemina resents her strict tutor. But as the Revolutionary War drags on, Jem discovers the
shocking and dangerous truth about John. RL: 6.5
Freelon Starbird by Richard Snow
An American soldier describes the miseries of military life in 1775.
Zenas and the Shaving Mill by Ferdinand Monjo
A Quaker living on Nantucket Island tells of persecution of islanders by both the British and the
Americans during the Revolutionary War.
Diary of an Early American Boy by Eric Sloane
This book—part diary of Noah Blake, who was 15 in 1805, part recreation of the life that a
youngster in his circumstances would have lived—is a loving tribute to a vanished way of life.
Illustrated with the author’s pen-and-ink drawings, it will give its readers a sense of participation in
the past that is all too rare in conventional histories.
The Witchcraft of Salem Village by Shirley Jackson
Describes the social and religious conditions surrounding the Salem witch-hunts, the extensive
trials and executions, and the aftermath of the hysteria. RL: 5.0
2
Beyond the Burning time by Kathryn Lasky
They say something very strange is happening to some of the people of Salem. That some of the
young girls have become—troubled. And the fear is beginning to spread. Mary and her mother
don’t hear about the rumors right away. They don’t know that many of the villagers believe that
some of Mary’s friends have had spells cast on them—by witches. Or that one of the accused is
Mary’s mother. RL: 5.0
The Calico Bush by Rachel Field
Left orphaned and alone shortly after her French family arrives in the New World, young
Marguerite Ledoux has promised to serve the Sargent family for six long years in return for
shelter, food, and clothing. Life a “Maggie the Bound-out Girl” is hard, with the danger of Indians,
the bitter, hungry winter of 1743, and people of Maine treating her with suspicion because she’s a
“foreigner.” RL: 6.1
Sarah Bishop by Scott O’Dell
Sarah Bishop isn’t a Tory. She isn’t a Patriot. Sarah Bishop is a fifteen-year-old girl. The
Revolutionary War has come to her village, and the Patriots have made her an orphan without a
home. Now the British army is after her for a crime she didn’t commit. RL: 5.0
The Bloody Country by James Lincoln Collier & Christopher Collier
Ben Buck and his family spend four years clearing the wilderness to build a new home in
Pennsylvania. They fought the Indians and the British, and made sacrifices most people wouldn’t
have been strong enough to make. All so they could be independent and free.
Night Journey By Avi
The year is 1768. In eight years, the American Revolution will begin. Newly orphaned, Peter York
has been adopted by a deeply religious Quaker fame. Peter chafes under his new guardian's
strict and unyielding views and vows to break away. He sees his chance when two runaway
indentured servants are reported to be fleeing through his community. If he catches one, there
will be a reward -- and freedom. But capturing the runaways leads to consequences -- and
choices -- Peter cannot foresee.
Saturnalia by Paul Fleischman
Despite human obstacles and the “tombstone-cracking cold” of colonial Boston, William—a gifted
fourteen-year-old Narraganset Indian indentured to a kindly printer—searches for the twin
brother and the heritage he has lost during the Puritans’ Indians wars. Grades 6-8
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
Until the day his father returns to their cabin in the Maine wilderness, twelve-year-old Matt must
try to survive on his own. Although Matt is brave, he’s not prepared for an attack by swarming
bees, and he’s astonished when he’s rescued by an Indian chief and his grandson, Attean. As
the boys come to know each other, Attean learns to speak English while Matt becomes a skilled
hunter. Though many months have passed, there’s no sign of Matt’s family. Then Attean asks
Matt to join the Beaver tribe and move north. Should Matt abandon his hopes of ever seeing his
family again on to a new life?
The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter
Once upon a time, his name had been John Cameron Butler, but now it was True Son. His
adopted father, a great Lenni Lenape Indian warrior, had renamed him and reared him as his
own. True Son grew up to think, feel, and fight like an Indian. But now, at fifteen, True Son was
ordered to go back to the white man. The Indians had made a treaty and agreed to return all their
white captives. It was an impossible situation for True Son. He couldn’t understand that his
people were white and not Indian. He had learned to hate the white man. And now he learned to
hate his new father, his new house, and his new family. He hated the name John Butler. Where
did he belong now—and where could he go?
3
The Winter Hero by James Lincoln Collier & Christopher Collier
It’s 1787, Justin is fourteen. There’s a war raging—called Shay’s Rebellion. Justin is ready to
fight, even if he has only his father’s sword to protect him. More than anything, he wants to be a
hero. But out there, on the battlefield, war is not what he expected. It’s dangerous and
frightening and nothing makes sense. How will Justin be a hero—when all he really wants to do
is run away”
Standing in the Light – Captive Diary of Catherine Carey Logan by Mary Pope Osborne
Grade 4-7-Set in the Delaware Valley of Pennsylvania in 1763 and written in journal format, this
book tells the story of Caty Logan, a Quaker girl who is upset by news of Indian raids on nearby
farms. Although her father explains that these attacks are in retaliation for promises broken by the
settlers and the English government, she is still frightened. While on their way to school several
weeks later, Caty and her brother are captured by a group of Lenape. Although she fears that
they will both be murdered, they are not harmed and are given to two members of the tribe who
had lost children to measles, a disease brought by white traders. Through her friendship with
Snow Hunter, a young man who had been captured nine years earlier, Caty gains an
understanding of these people and their beliefs. She also begins to fall in love with him.
Eventually, English soldiers rescue the girl and her brother. Caty's return to Quaker life is very
difficult; she feels estranged from her mother and her old friends and yearns for Snow Hunter and
her Indian family. Osborne successfully sustains readers' attention with a strong story line while
informing them about American history. Through Caty's experiences, they will gain a clearer
understanding of the Quaker religion and the beliefs of the Lenape. Complete with background
information and illustrations depicting life during this era, this is a solid piece of historical fiction.
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
During the summer of 1793, Mattie Cook lives above the family coffee shop with her widowed
mother and grandfather. Mattie spends her days avoiding chores and making plans to turn the
family business into the finest Philadelphia has ever seen. But then the fever breaks out.
Disease sweeps the streets, destroying everything in its path and turning Mattie's world upside
down. At her feverish mother's insistence, Mattie flees the city with her grandfather. But she soon
discovers that the sickness is everywhere, and Mattie must learn quickly how to survive in a city
turned frantic with disease. (Ages 12 and older)
The Fifth of March by Ann Rinaldi
Rachel Marsh is a servant in the Boston household of John Adams. But her loyalty to the Adams
family is tested by her friendship with Matthew Kilroy, a British private who leads his soldiers in
firing upon a mob of Boston citizens.
Witch Child by Celia Rees
Welcome to the world of young Mary Newbury, a world where simply being different can cost a
person her life. Hidden until now in the pages of her diary, Mary’s startling story begins in 1659,
the year her beloved grandmother is hanged in the public square as a witch. Mary narrowly
escapes a similar fate, only to face intolerance and new danger among the Puritans in the New
World. How long can she hide her true identity? Will she ever find a place where her healing
powers will not be feared?
Blood on the River By Eliza Carbone
Twelve-year-old Samuel Collier is a lowly commoner on the streets of London. So when he
becomes the page of Captain John Smith and boards the Susan Constant, bound for the New
World, he can’t believe his good fortune. He’s heard that gold washes ashore with every tide. But
beginning with the stormy journey and his first contact with the native people, he realizes that the
New World is nothing like he imagined. The lush Virginia shore where they establish the colony of
James Town is both beautiful and forbidding, and it’s hard to know who’s a friend or foe. As he
learns the language of the Algonquian Indians and observes Captain Smith’s wise diplomacy,
Samuel begins to see that he can be whomever he wants to be in this new land.
4
Dear America: Winter of Red Snow by Kristiana Gregory
Eleven-year-old Abigail Jane Stewart's fictionalized diary about her life, family, friends, and
neighbors, and the sides they have to choose in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, during the height of
the Revolutionary War, renders a vivid portrayal of one of the most memorable and crucial
winters in American history.
Abby's life with her family is quickly upended when they are awakened by the unfamiliar sound of
drums. General George Washington is leading the Continental soldiers into their winter
encampment at Valley Forge, PA.
Hardship is a constant companion for soldiers and citizens alike throughout the winter, and in her
diary, Abby pieces together the beauty, pain, and blessings of this long, revolutionary winter.
(Ages 8 – 12).
5
Native Americans
Calico Captive by Elizabeth George Speare
In August, 1754, on the brink of the French & Indian War, James Johnson, his wife and their
children were captured in an Indian raid. They were taken from their home, forced to march
through the wilderness to the north, and sold to the French in Montreal. Years later, when she
was seventy years old, Susanna Johnson wrote an account of this journey, and it is from her
narrative that the main events of this story are taken. RL:6.3
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
An Indian girl is stranded for 18 years on a rocky island off the coast of California in the early
1800’s. RL; 6.0 
Flying with the Eagle, Racing the Great Bear told by Joseph Bruchac
Could you survive a vision quest? Join a master storyteller as he weaves traditional Native
American adventure tales. The author focuses on the transition from boyhood to manhood. RL;:
6. 
The Primrose Way by Jackie French Koller
A story about a missionary family and the Pawtucket tribe is an exciting glimpse of North
American history in the 1630’s. Rebekah’s attraction to Pawtucket ways, as well as to
Mishannock, forces her choice between two cultures. RL: 7.5
The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper
. . .contains the classic portrait of the man of moral courage who severs all connections with a
society whose values he can no longer accept. Despite his chosen exile, Hawk-eye (Natty
Bumppo- the frontier scout, risks his life to escort two sisters through hostile Indian country. On
the dangerous journey he enlists the aid of the Mohican Chingachgook. And in the challenging
ordeal that follows, in their encounters with deception, brutality, and the deaths of loved ones, the
friendship between the two men deepens- - the scout and the Indian.
Indian Captive by Lois Lenski
One spring day in 1758, Mary Jemison’s life changed forever. Captured by members of the
Seneca tribe, separated from her family, Mary began a voyage that was to lead her into the heart
of the Iroquois way of life. Lenski’s novel has won much praise for its carefully researched
portrayal of Native American culture. RL: 6.0. 
Sing Down the Moon by Scott O’Dell
A 14-year old Native American girl is captured by Spanish slave traders. The book tells about the
forced migration of Navahos from their original homeland in Arizona to Fort Sumner, New Mexico.
This is the exciting story of her daring escape. RL: 5.3. 
Thunder Rolling in the Mountains by Scott O’Dell and Elizabeth Hall
A Native American girl and her tribe are told to leave their land. Will they go or stay and fight for
their freedom? It is spring of 1877 when fourteen-year-old Sound of Running Feet, daughter of
Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce, sees white people panning gold in the little creek that feeds the
Wallowa River. It is Sound of Running Feet who narrates the story of her tribe’s fate. RL: 5.6
Racing the Sun by Paul Pitts
For 12-year-old Brandon, being different was painful. . .until he learned that being Indian was
being proud . RL: 5.0. 
6
Truth is a Bright Star by Joan Price
The true Native American coming-of-age story, set in 1832, deals with the courage and
understanding of people from two different cultures. Twelve-year-old Loma is one of the thirteen
Hopi children kidnapped by Spanish soldiers, taken five hundred miles from their peaceful desert
village, and sold into slavery. RL: 5.0
The Second Bend in the River by Ann Rinaldi
Rebecca would do anything for her friend, Shawnee chief Tecumseh. But would she marry him?
What will she do? What would you do?
The Girl who Married the Moon by Joseph Bruchac
Sixteen traditional coming-of-age stories focusing on the role of women in Native American
cultures. RL: 6.0
The Last Warrior by Suzanne Pierson Ellison
Based on the true story of Geronimo’s Chiricalma Apaches, this is the coming-of-age story of
Solito, a teenage brave whose band surrenders to the U.S army before he can complete his
warrior training.
The Moon of Two Dark Horses by Sally M. Keehn
It’s 1776 and the British king want’s the Delaware Indians on his side in the war against the
settlers. How can Coshmoo, and Daniel, a settler , remain best friends?
Only Earth and Sky Last Forever by Nathanel Benchley
A young Sioux joins Crazy Horse at the battle of Little Big Horn in this “well-written story peopled
with convincing characters. Although overcast by tragedy, the novel abounds with warmth,
humor, and details of Native American life. Grades 6-8.
The Birchbark House by Louise Edrich
Omakayas, a seven-year-old Native American girl of the Ojibwa tribe, lives through the joys of
summer and the perils of winter on an island in Lake Superior in 1847. Ages 9 and up.
7
THE CIVIL WAR
Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt
A moving, thought-provoking story about a young boy who comes of age during the Civil War. A
boy in southern Illinois tries to run the family farm amid the dangers of life during the Civil War.
Life was peaceful before the Civil War. Now Jethro’s three brothers are fighting—two for the
North, one for the South. Will his family ever be together again? RL: 5. 
Rifles for Watie by Harold Keith
A young Union soldier during the Civil War tries to discover where an enemy general is getting
rifles. It’s the Civil War and Jeff is a Union soldier. But when he’s sent to spy on the enemy, he
discovers they are people, too. RL: 5.0. 
Charley Skedaddle by Patricia Beatty
Charley Quinn never ran away from a fight in his life. After his older brother is killed in the Civil
War, Charley enlists with the Union Army as a drummer boy and endures the harsh realities of
war. “. . fascinating historical detail.” RL: 5.0
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
In the four most bloody and courageous days of our nation’s history, two armies fought for two
dreams. One dreamed of freedom, the other of a way of life. A superb recreation of the Battle of
Gettysburg, with insight into what the war was about, and what it meant. 
Gods and Generals by Michael Shaara
The story of the Civil War before Gettysburg. Meet the Confederacy’s Lee and Jackson, and the
Union’s Chamberlain and Hancock—then uncover their crucial decisions!
Turn Homeward, Hanalee by Patricia Beatty
An actual historical incident inspired this fast-moving Civil War novel. Twelve-year-old Hannalee,
taken far from her home, risks many dangers to return to her family. RL: 5
Be Ever Hopeful, Hannalee by Patricia Beatty
Hannalee’s family must move to the city and start a new life after the Civil War ends. The story of
their struggles brings America’s past to life in a vivid way. RL: 5.
Red Badge of Courage by Stephan Crane
A young Civil War soldier’s dreams of glory quickly fade as he experiences the pain and terror of
battle. RL: 8
Walt Whitman by Catherine Reef
Catherine Reef's fascinating, in-depth biography explores the life and character of one of
America's greatest poets, incorporating highlights from his writings and photographs of the poet
and the America he experienced. In "Leaves of Grass," first published in 1855, Whitman's
innovative, free poetic style celebrated nineteenth-century America and himself as one of its
citizens. His poems captured the spirit of a time when cities grew rapidly, pioneers and railroads
crossed the Great Plains, and the Civil War nearly tore the nation apart. This book combines
detailed historical information with Whitman's optimism, love for humanity, and pure joy in living.
(Ages 8 – 12)
Clara Barton, Civil War Nurse by Nancy Whitelaw
Traces the life of the Civil War nurse who cared for wounded soldiers and earned the title, "Angel
of the Battlefield."
8
A Ballad of the Civil War by Mary Stolz
Tom and his twin, Jack, share everything—except their beliefs about slaver. Then Tom joins the
union army and Jack joins the Confederacy. Will they have to fight each other? RL: 5.0
Behind the Lines by Isabelle Holland
It’s 1863 and Katie O’Farrell’s father says the Irish men and boys shouldn’t have to fight in the
War Between the States. That slavery is not their problem. But when she meets Jimmy, se
realizes that friendship can transcend race and class. Katie must help Jimmy escape the rage of
an entire city even if she loses her family. RL: 5.0
The Last Silk Dress by Ann Rinaldi
High-spirited, beautiful Susan Chilmark, fourteen, vows to do something meaningful to support
the Confederacy during the Civil War. Despite the wishes of her mother, Susan, and her best
friend collect silk dresses from all the ladies of Richmond to make a balloon that will be used to
spy on the Yankees. She is determined to help the South win the war, until she unlocks some
family secrets in love with a Yankee. RL: 5.0
Bull Run by Paul Fleischman
By the summer of 1861 the hopes, dreams, and beliefs of a divided nation were on a collision
course. Then on Sunday, July 21 the inevitable occurred—a shot was fired and the Civil War’s
first great battle began. The author creates sixteen characters from all walks of life and traces
their thoughts, emotions, and experiences, from their first hopes for a brave, new world, through
the brutal reality of war. RL: 6.0
Shooting Star by Sheila Solomon Klass
During the Civil War, women were supposed to stay home, but Annie’s a sassy, sharp-shooting
hunter! This is the story of a young girl who became the legend known as Annie Oakley
The Dreams of Mairhe Mehan by Jennifer Armstrong
Mairhe, who lives in an Irish slum in Washington D.C., in the 1860’s, struggles to come to grips
with the impact of the Civil War on her family.
In My Father’s House by Ann Rinaldi
Many of the fiercest battles of the Civil War were fought at home. Oscie Mason knows this all too
well. The first shots were fired on her front lawn—a sign of things to come. Oscie’s a proud
daughter of the Old South, but her stepfather, Will McLean, thinks the world of her childhood must
change. Oscie won’t accept anything he has to say. And the tension between them is about to
explode. “..an involving historical novel..readers will find they can’t put it down.”
The Perilous Road by William O. Steele
Chris Brabson hates the Union troops. Yankee raiders in the Tennessee mountains have stolen
his family’s newly harvested crops and their only horse. In spite of this, Chris’s brother joins the
Union Army, and his parents refuse to take either side. But Chris himself has no doubts—he
would fight for the Confederacy. The book powerfully illustrates the senseless waste of war and
the true meaning of courage and tolerance. 
Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
This novel reveals more about the Battle of Gettysburg than any piece of learned nonfiction on
the same subject. Michael Shaara's account of the three most important days of the Civil War
features deft characterizations of all of the main actors, including Lee, Longstreet, Pickett, Buford,
and Hancock. The most inspiring figure in the book, however, is Col. Joshua Lawrence
Chamberlain, whose 20th Maine regiment of volunteers held the Union's left flank on the second
day of the battle. This unit's bravery at Little Round Top helped turned the tide of the war against
the rebels. There are also plenty of maps, which convey a complete sense of what happened July
1-3, 1863. Reading about the past is rarely so much fun as on these pages (Advanced reading)
9
Gods and Generals by Jeff Shaara
In a prequel of sorts to his father Michael Shaara’s 1974 epic novel The Killer Angels Jeff Shaara
explores the lives of Generals Lee, Hancock, Jackson and Chamberlain as the pivotal Battle of
Gettysburg approaches. Shaara captures the disillusionment of both Lee and Hancock early in
their careers, Lee's conflict with loyalty, Jackson's overwhelming Christian ethic and
Chamberlain's total lack of experience, while illustrating how each compensated for shortcomings
and failures when put to the test. The perspectives of the four men, particularly concerning the
battles at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, make vivid the realities of war.
Sarah’s Ground by Ann Rinaldi
Grade 5-8-This Civil War tale is based on a true story. Eighteen-year-old Sarah Tracy, a Yankee
from Troy, NY, is anxious to escape her family's matchmaking schemes. In 1861, when she hears
of an opportunity for employment at Mount Vernon, she jumps at the chance to live and work
there. Soon Miss Cunningham, head of the Association that purchased the property from the
Washington family, is called home to South Carolina, and the teen is left in the company of the
servants-and Mr. Upton Herbert, an eligible bachelor who is the plantation's superintendent.
While refurbishing the estate, the two must confront many challenges in seeing it through the war,
from privations to threats from the armies. Of course, adversity unites them. This gently told story
shows how war impacts noncombatants; it is sure to be popular with Rinaldi fans and lovers of
historical fiction. Grade 5-8.
When will this Cruel War Be Over? Barry Denenberg
A Confederate girl records the hardships of Southern life as the Civil War rages at her doorstep
and tears her family and her country apart. (Grades 5 – 8)
The War Within A Novel of the Civil War by Carol Matas
Hannah Green can't believe what happens to her family after the war breaks out. First, her sister
Joanna falls in love with a Union soldier -- an enemy. Next, the same soldier tells Hannah and her
family about General Grant's General Order #11, which commands all Jews to evacuate the
territory for violating trade regulations. The Greens escape from Holly Springs just before their
home is destroyed. They lose everything -- even their slaves, when Lincoln declares them free.
Now, because she is Jewish, Hannah cannot go home to Mississippi -- a Confederate state that's
dear to her heart. Confusion sets in. Who is on her side, and whose side does she want to be on?
Blood on the Moon by Edward Steers
Winner of the 2001 The Lincoln Group of New York's Award of Achievement A History Book Club
Selection The assassination of Abraham Lincoln is usually told as a tale of a lone deranged actor
who struck from a twisted lust for revenge. This is not only too simple an explanation; Blood on
the Moon reveals that it is completely wrong. John Wilkes Booth was neither mad nor alone in his
act of murder. He received the help of many, not the least of whom was Dr. Samuel Alexander
Mudd, the Charles County physician who has been portrayed as the innocent victim of a vengeful
government. Booth was also aided by the Confederate leadership in Richmond. As he made his
plans to strike at Lincoln, Booth was in contact with key members of the Confederate
underground, and after the assassination these same forces used all of their resources to attempt
his escape. Noted Lincoln authority Edward Steers Jr. introduces the cast of characters in this illfated drama, he explores why they were so willing to help pull the trigger, and corrects the many
misconceptions surrounding this defining moment that changed American history. After
completing an acclaimed career as a research scientist at the National Institutes of Health,
Edward Steers Jr. has turned his research skills to the Lincoln assassination. He is the author of
several books about the president, including The Trial. He lives in Berkeley Springs, West
Virginia. (Advanced Reading Level)
10
The River Between Us by Richard Peck
The year is 1861. Civil war is imminent and Tilly Pruitt's brother, Noah, is eager to go and fight on
the side of the North. With her father long gone, Tilly, her sister, and their mother struggle to
make ends meet and hold the dwindling Pruitt family together. Then one night a mysterious girl
arrives on a steamboat bound for St. Louis. Delphine is unlike anyone the small river town has
even seen. Mrs. Pruitt agrees to take Delphine and her dark, silent traveling companion in as
boarders. No one in town knows what to make of the two strangers, and so the rumors fly. Is
Delphine's companion a slave? Could they be spies for the South? Are the Pruitts traitors? A
masterful tale of mystery and war, and a breathtaking portrait of the lifelong impact one person
can have on another. (Grade 7 – 12)
Juliet’s Moon by Ann Rinaldi
War is turning Juliet Bradshaw's world upside down. Her brother, Seth, rides with William
Quantrill's renegade Confederate army, but he's helpless when the Yankees arrest Juliet along
with the wives and sisters of Quantrill's soldiers as spies. Imprisoned in a dilapidated old house in
Kansas City, Juliet is one of a handful of survivors after the building collapses, killing most of the
young girls inside. When she's reunited with her brother, Juliet finds the life she had previously
known is gone. Surrounded by secrets, lies, murder, and chaos, she must determine just how far
she will go to protect the people and things she holds dear. (Grades 5 – 8)
The Private Captain by Marty Crisp
Searching for his older brother who is off fighting the Civil War, Ben and his dog make their way
to the front lines of the Battle of Gettysburg in this powerful story about the ravages of war and
the unlikely heroes it creates. (Grade Level 5 – 9)
An Unlikely Friendship by Ann Rinaldi
On the night of President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, his frantic wife, Mary, calls for her
best friend and confidante, Elizabeth Keckley. But the woman is mistakenly kept from her side by
guards who were unaware of Mary Todd Lincoln’s close friendship with the black seamstress.
With vivid detail and emotional power, Ann Rinaldi delves into the childhoods of two fascinating
women who became devoted friends amid the turbulent times of the Lincoln administration.
(Grade level 4 – 8)
11
FRONTIER/PIONEER LIFE
Bigger by P. Calvert
Now that the war is over, 12-year-old Tyler is determined to find his father and bring him home.
But only the bond of friendship he forges with a vicious stray dog can help him survive this
dangerous journey. Determined to bring his father home, Tyler endures an 800-mile trek with
only a stray dog as a companion. An extraordinary tale of courage by an award winning author.
RL: 6.7
West Against the Wind by L.K. Murrow
Heading west in a wagon train, Abby is drawn to handsome, mysterious Matthew. The dream of
one-day seeing her father again keeps Abby going during the difficult journey. "Murrow's
characters ,make readers live and share life and concerns on this wagon train travel." RL: 6.0
The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgleish
A girl accompanies her pioneer father in the Connecticut wilderness while he builds a house for
his family. 
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
Left alone on his family's frontier farm, 13-year-old Matt is helped to survive by the Beaver tribe
and learn their ways. But should he stay with them or return to his farm to wait for his family's
return? RL 5.6. 
The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter
A powerful tale of a young boy adopted by Native American parents who is forced to return to
"civilization." Based on factual records of early frontier life. RL: 4.5
Incident at Hawk's Hill by Alan W. Eckert
At age six, Ben MacDonald has the ability to communicate with animals better than he can with
people. Then one June day in 1870, he wanders away from his family's farm to observe the wild
creatures he loves. In a story that would seem incredible if it were not based on a truce incident,
Ben is found and adopted by a female badger who has recently lost her pups. Ben survives an
extraordinary summer in the wild, learning to live like his badger mother. RL: 6.0
A Gathering of Days by Joan W. Blos
This is the journal of a girl coming of age in nineteenth century New Hampshire. Catherine
records both the hardships of pioneer life and its many joys. She struggles with her mother's
death and father's eventual remarriage. RL: 6.0. 

Daughter of Joyby Joann Levy
With her large, unbound feet, Ah Toy travels to California during the booming Gold Rush days of
the late 1840s with her master, who intends to sell her when they land; however, he dies on
board ship, leaving the young Chinese woman at a loss. "Who will tell me what to do?" she
wonders. When Norman As-Sing, the self-titled head of San Francisco's Chinese community,
assumes ownership, she balks at his lowly merchant status, a cake seller who warrants no claim
to her. With few choices of support, she becomes a prostitute, or a "daughter of joy." Due to her
profession and As-Sing's continual interference, Ah Toy learns firsthand about the U.S. judicial
system. She believes firmly that justice prevails and tries to convince other daughters of joy that
courts here are different from those in China. Levy based this fictional tale on historical
characters, particularly Ah Toy, the first Asian woman to stand up for her rights in a U.S. court.
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Walking up a Rainbow by Theodore Taylor
Orphaned at fourteen, Susan Carlisle is suddenly the owner of her parents' beautiful Iowa home,
two thousand sheep…and a huge debt that puts her at the mercy of a scoundrel determined to
take it all away. With barely a moment of hesitation, Susan heads for California to sell the sheep,
and pay the debt. Along the way she bravely faces the hardships and excitement of the western
trail, and boldly ropes an American cowboy into her scheme…and her heart. RL 5.5
The Young Pioneers by Rose Wilder lane
This tells of a very special time in the history of America, and of two young lovers who withstood
every test of faith and courage necessary to survive in a glorious but often hostile land. They
were married when Molly was sixteen and David eighteen, but their courage far outstripped their
years. Through the hardships and challenges of the Dakota wilderness, their faith in life and each
other was never shaken.
Brothers of the Heart by Joan W. Blos
Fourteen-year-old Shem spends six months in the Michigan wilderness alone with a dying Indian
woman, who helps him, not only to survive, but to mature to the point where he can return to his
family and the difficulties of life as a cripple in a frontier village. RL: 6.3
Dragon's Gate by Laurence Yep
When he accidentally kills a Manchu, a Chinese boy is sent to America to join his father, and
uncle, and other Chinese working to build a tunnel for the transcontinental railroad through the
Sierra Nevada mountains in 1867. A prequel to the Newberry Honor-winning Dragonwings. RL:
5.0
The Rifle by Gary Paulsen
In1768 a gunsmith named Cornish McManus built a rifle of such accuracy that he knew he could
never create another like it. He intended to treasure his masterpiece, but with a new wife to
provide for, he felt pressed to sell it. Soon the rifle was helping John Byam become a legendary
sharpshooter in the American Revolution. After Byam's death, the weapon was passed on to yet
another owner…and then to another and another until the present day. RL: 4.7
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
During the summer of 1832, Charlotte Doyle is accused of murder, brought to trail and found
guilty. The only passenger on the long Atlantic Ocean crossing, she found herself caught
between the madness of a ruthless captain and the rage of a mutinous crew. RL: 7.5. 
The Ballad of Lucy Whipple by Karen Cushman
In 1849, a twelve-year-old girl who calls herself Lucy is distraught when her mother moves the
family from Massachusetts to a small California mining town, where Lucy helps run a rough
boarding house and looks for comfort in books while trying to find a way to get "home." RL: 7
Beyond the Western Sea; The Escape From Home by Avi
Maura O'Connell, 15, and her brother, Patrick, 12, escape Ireland's poverty with only the
belongings in their bundles and tickets for ocean passage. Sir Laurence Kirkle, 11, flees a life of
privilege to seek justice. When fate brings them together, the three join forces in a daring
scheme that may lead to freedom and glory…or dire consequences. RL: 6.7
Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The San Francisco Chronicle called this book "The finest firsthand picture of American pioneer
life ever written for children." While Laura Ingalls grows up in a little house on the western prairie,
Almanzo Wilder is living on a big farm in New York state, where he and his brother and sisters
work at the chores from dawn to dinner most days…no matter what the weather. The Little
House books tell the story of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her pioneer family. RL: 6.4
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Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Wolves and panthers and bears roamed the deep Wisconsin woods in the 1870's. In those same
woods, Laura Ingalls lived with her Pa and Ma, and her sisters, Mary and Baby Carrie, in a snug
little house built of logs. Pa hunted and trapped. Ma made her own cheese and maple sugar. All
night long, the wind howled lonesomely, but Pa played his fiddle and sang keeping the family safe
and cozy. RL: 6.5
The Pioneers Go West by George R. Stewart
"One of the most critically acclaimed, best-selling children's book series ever published."---The
New York Times. Fast moving, dramatic, readable, fun…Landmark Books set the standard for
engrossing profiles of American history. Lively, authoritative accounts by distinguished writers
portray key events and people in our country's past. RL: 7.5
Frontiers by Dunning and Lee
A collections of prose and poetry on the theme of Frontiers. "Frontiers are not just boundary
lines. They are areas of human action. They are areas where the unexplored becomes the
explored, where the wilderness gives way to the settlers, where the unknown is examined until it
is known. Frontiers may be areas of knowledge or of human relations, of the earth's surface or of
outer space. Frontiers are regions where people are up against the new…the different…the
unexpected…the still-to-be-mastered…the still-to-be-understood." Jack Schaefer, Author of
Shane
Prairie Songs by Pam Conrad
Louisa's life in a loving pioneer family on the Nebraska prairie is altered by the arrival of a new
doctor and his beautiful, tragically frail wife. RL: 6.0. 

Lyddie By Katherine Paterson
When ten-year-old Lyddie and her younger brother are hired out as servants to help
pay off their family farm’s debts, Lyddie is determined to find a way to reunite her
family. A story of determination and personal growth, Lyddie has already established
itself as a classic. (Age Level 10 – 14)
Journey to Nowhere by Mary Jane Auch
In the spring of 1815, Remembrance "Mem" Nye and her family set off in a covered wagon from
their farm in Connecticut to the wilderness of western New York. Mem and her mother se it as a
journey to nowhere, since there won't be many houses or neighbors, just endless forest. Their
travels bring the perils of wild animals, raging storms, and cruel strangers. When Mem is
unexpectedly separated from her family, she must face danger alone until she finds them again.
RL: 4.8
A Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich
The classic story of Abbie and Will Deal--pioneers who left everything behind for a new life in
America's frontier. After marrying Will and moving to Nebraska, Abbie endures the difficulties of
frontier life and raises her children to pursue the ambitions that were once her own.
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
The adventures of an eleven-year-old tomboy growing up on the Wisconsin frontier in the midnineteenth century. RL: 6.5. 
Thousand Pieces of Gold by RuthAnne Lunn McCunn
Lahu's father calls his thirteen-year-old daughter his treasure, his "thousand pieces of gold," yet
when famine strikes northern China in 1871 he is forced to sell her. Polly Benus, as Lahu is later
called, is sold to a brothel and then to a slave merchant bound for America, auctioned to a
saloonkeeper, and offered as a prize in a poker game. This biographical novel is the story of an
extraordinary woman's struggle for independence and respect in the early American West
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O Pioneers! by Willa Cather
Faithfully conveys both the sharp physical realities and the mythic sweep of the transformation of
the American frontier---and the transformation of the people who settled it. RL: 9.0
Go West, Young Women! by Kathleen Karr
Sleeping under a wagon, eating moldy beans, and driving oxen through a dusty desert…nobody
ever said the Oregon Trail was going to be like this! But just when twelve-year-old Phoebe Brown
is sure she can't stand another day of her father and the other bossy male members of the wagon
train, tragedy strikes. When a disaster claims the men of their wagon train, spunky Phoebe, her
mother, sister, and the other women rely on their own resources to complete the journey to
Oregon in 1846. RL: Ages 10 and up.
The Journal of Sean Sullivan by William Durbin
Grade 5-8-Sean gets a job with his father at the Union Pacific Railroad. In his journal, he tells of
working his way up from the lowest position of "water carrier" to "spiker" and shares plenty of
railroad lingo and information about the boomtowns that he observes along the way. In the first
few pages, he sees his first scalp and his first dead body in two unrelated incidents. The issue of
prejudice is addressed, both in fights among various workers from Ireland, and with the deadly
battles between the employees of the U.P. and the Chinese workers from the Central Pacific line.
The role of the press in the races between the two railroads to lay the most track in the shortest
time and the fact that much of the U.P. track was so poorly set that it was replaced soon after is
noted. Sean is a likable protagonist who notices the small details and reacts to things realistically.
My Brother Abe, Sally Lincoln’s Story by Harry Mazer
Virtually nothing is known about Sarah Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln's older sister. This novel follows
the few known facts of the Lincoln family's early life, starting with the Lincolns' move from
Kentucky to Indiana when Sarah was nine through their years living in a log cabin, the death of
Sarah and Abe's mother when Sarah was eleven and Sarah's new responsibilities as woman of
the cabin, culminate with the arrival of a stepmother a year later. The details of Sarah's character
have been invented, but this novel provides real insight into Abraham Lincoln's childhood, as well
as the role of women on the frontier.
Riding Freedom by Pam Mynoz Ryan
This fictionalized biography of the first woman to vote in the state of California, and perhaps in the
whole United States, is fascinating. Charlotte Parkhurst, known as Charley, spent most of her life
masquerading as a man. Raised in an orphanage where she is the only girl, she is prevented
from being adopted by the staff, who put her to work in the kitchen. Her own predilection is to be
with the horses and the elderly man who cares for them. Vern's tales of escaping slavery are the
seeds of Charlotte's own desperate bid for freedom after her only other friend is adopted. Her
knack with horses soon enables the disguised Charley to pursue her dream of driving a
stagecoach. She does it so well that she is admired and sought after, and is offered the
opportunity to earn a livelihood in the California gold fields. Many trials arise, including the loss of
sight in her left eye, but throughout, Charlotte remembers her friends, works hard and
persistently, and fulfills her ambitions, culminating in her voting in a presidential election. The
author provides a compact and exciting story about real people who exemplify traits that readers
admire. Grade 4-6?
Clems Chances by Sonia Levitin
In 1860, after his mother and baby sister die, fourteen-year-old Clem embarks on a cross-country
trip to find his father, who has set out for the California gold rush. Along the way, Clem earns
money by working at various jobs, including stable boy and rider for the Pony Express. (Ages 8 –
12)
Bound for Oregon by Jean Van Leeuwen
Nine-year-old Mary Ellen Todd, filled with the pioneer spirit, treks cross country in 1852 with her
family in search of a better life. The Todds survive Indians and swollen rivers, but what will
happen when mother has a new baby and winter arrives?( Ages 8 – 12)
15
Mr. Tucket by Gary Paulsen
Fourteen-year-old Francis Tucket is heading west on the Oregon Trail with his family by wagon
train. When he receives a rifle for his birthday, he is thrilled that he is being treated like an adult.
But Francis lags behind to practice shooting and is captured by Pawnees. It will take wild horses,
hostile tribes, and a mysterious one-armed mountain man named Mr. Grimes to help Francis
become the man who will be called Mr. Tucket. (Grades 6 – 9)
By the Great Horn Spoon by Eric Von Schmidt
In this moving tale of love and adventure, Jack's aunt is forced to sell her beloved
mansion to meet her debts. She is still unable to raise enough money to pay her
creditors, and Jack goes to California in search of gold in order to help her. (Grades 4
- 7)
Pioneer Children on the Journey West by Emma E. Werner
Between 1841 and 1865, some forty thousand children participated in the great overland journey
from the banks of the Missouri River to the shores of the Pacific Ocean. In this book, Emmy
Werner gives 120 of these young emigrants, ranging from ages four to seventeen, a chance to
tell the stories of their journeys west.
History of the Donnor Party by C. F. Glashan
After 70 years, McGlashan's account remains the basic version of a tragic episode in the story of
westward migration. This is one of the most important sources of information covering perhaps
the best know, because it is the most sensational and horrifying, episode in western American
history.
Fortune's Journey by Bruce Coville
Fortune Plunkett is only 16, but she's determined to make her late father's dream come true and
lead his acting troupe across the Wild West to San Francisco. But the dream proves harder to
realize than she planned as she runs into the brutal realities of life in a wagon train. An
adventurous look at westward expansion. RL: 6
Treasures in the Dust by Tracy Porter
Annie and Violet have been best friends and neighbors for what seems like forever. Then one
day Violet's family flees their prairie home in search of work, food, and shelter. A heartwarming
story of friendship and courage.
Shane by Jack Schaefer
A tall stranger dressed in black rides into the valley. He has no name. He carries no gun, but
he's the most dangerous man the Wyoming Valley will every know! A reformed gunslinger
intercedes in a range war between cattlemen and homesteaders. A remarkable best seller and
classic movie noted for emotional richness, simplicity, and clarity.
Trouble River by Betsy Byars
When Indians raid his family's homestead, Dewey puts his ornery grandmother on his homemade
raft and sets out on a dangerous downriver journey to reach his parents and safety. "An original,
suspenseful story of pioneer life., enlivened by touches of humor and vivid characterizations."
RL: 4.
The Bread Sister of Sinking Creek by Robin Moore
When her parents die in 1776, fourteen-year-old Maggie travels with a pack train to the central
Pennsylvania mountains to join her aunt. Though her aunt has moved, the spook yeast, or starter
dough, she gave to Maggie on the last visit helps her to survive. Grades 4-7. 
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A Heart for Any Fate by Linda Crew
Seventeen-year-old Lovisa King leaves Missouri for the Oregon Territory in 1845. A Heart for Any
Fate, based on the history of a company of real pioneers, tells the story of the King family, whose
careful plans are challenged by the harsh, unforeseen realities of overland travel. The family
makes the unfortunate decision to follow guide Stephen Meek, who leads them into blistering
weather, drought, and treacherous river crossings along a shortcut that becomes known as the
Terrible Trail.
Children’s Blizzard by David Lanski
Thousands of impoverished Northern European immigrants were promised that the prairie offered
"land, freedom, and hope." The disastrous blizzard of 1888 revealed that their free homestead
was not a paradise but a hard, unforgiving place governed by natural forces they neither
understood nor controlled, and America’s heartland would never be the same.
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SLAVERY/THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
To Be A Slave by Julius Lester
Imagine not being able to think for yourself, being forced to do whatever you were told to do, and
not being allowed to read and write. A powerful story of America's slaves. RL 5.9. 
M.C. Higgins, The Great by Virginia Hamilton
Freedom---that's all M.C. wants. Now two strangers have arrived. Will this mean the freedom
that M.C, has dreamed about? Coal mining is cutting an ugly gash through once green hills,
threatening Mayo's home. How can he and his family escape its destruction. RL: 5
The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox
A boy witnesses the horrors of the slave trade while serving on a ship transporting slaves in 1840.
This book puts you in touch with what it might have been like to be an African kidnapped from his
or her homeland, stuffed in a cargo hold like an animal going to slaughter, and forced on deck to
exercise to the tune of a fife, played by a boy who is deeply touched by the sorrow of it all. RL:
6.0. 
I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borton de trevino
A young black slave describes how he served the famous painter Diego Valazquez in Spain
during the 1600's. 
Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates
Amos Fortune was captured and sold by slave traders when he was 15. Although his freedom
was taken away, he never lost his pride, courage, or desire to regain his freedom. RL 5.5. 
Nightjohn by Gary Paulsen
After Nightjohn escaped slavery and learned to read he resolved to teach other slaves to read,
despite the harsh penalty of death. Will 12-year-old Sarny risk death to learn to read? RL: 4.6
Sarny, A Life Remembered by Gary Paulsen
Sequel to Nightjohn---continues the adventures of Sarny the slave girl Nightjohn taught to read,
through the aftermath of the Civil War, during which time she taught other blacks and lived a full
life until age ninety-four.
The Glory Field by Walter Dean Myers
This is the story of one family. A family whose history saw its first ancestor captured, shackled,
and brought to the country from Africa. A family who can still see remnants of the psychological
shackles that hold some of its members slaves--even today. It is a story of pride, determination,
struggle, and love. And of the piece of land that holds them together through it all.
Trouble Don’t Last by Shelley Pearsall
Eleven-year-old Samuel was born as Master Hackler’s slave, and working the Kentucky farm is
the only life he’s ever known—until one dark night in 1859, that is. With no warning, cranky old
Harrison, a fellow slave, pulls Samuel from his bed and, together, they run.
The journey north seems much more frightening than Master Hackler ever was, and Samuel’s not
sure what freedom means aside from running, hiding, and starving. But as they move from one
refuge to the next on the Underground Railroad, Samuel uncovers the secret of his own past—
and future. And old Harrison begins to see past a whole lifetime of hurt to the promise of a new
life—and a poignant reunion—in Canada. (Age level 9 – 13)
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Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry by Mildren Taylor
This is the story of physical survival, but more important, it is a story of the survival of the human
spirit. This is Cassie's story--Cassie Logan, a girl raised by a family determined not to surrender
their independence or their humanity simply because they are black. Cassie has grown up
protected, strong, and so far, unaware that any white person could consider her inferior--or force
her to be untrue to herself. It takes the events of one turbulent year to turn her safe world upside
down. RL: 4.0
Freedom Songs by Yvette Moore
In the Sixties, when Sheryl's Uncle Pete joins the Freedom Riders down South, she organizes a
gospel concert in Brooklyn to help him. RL: 6.0
Freedom's Children by Ellen Levine
In this inspiring collection of true stories, 30 African-Americans who were children or teenagers in
the 1950's and 1960's talk about what it was like for them to fight segregation in the South--to sit
in an all-white restaurant and demand to be served, to refuse to give up a seat at the front of the
bus, to be among the first to integrate the public schools, and to face violence, arrest, and even
death for the cause of freedom. RL: 6.5
War Comes to Willy Freeman by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
Willie Freeman's life changes forever when she witnesses her fathers death at the hands of the
Redcoats and returns home to find that the British have taken her mother as a prisoner to New
York City. Willy, disguised as a boy, begins her long search for her mother and luckily finds a
haven at the famous Fraunces Tavern. But even with the help of Sam Fraunces and her fellow
worker, Horace, Willy knows that to be black, female, and free leaves her open to danger at every
turn. What will tomorrow bring? RL; 4.8
Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
Young Daniel Arabus and his mother are slaves in the house of captain Ivers of Stratford,
Connecticut. By law they should be free, since Daniel's father fought in the Revolutionary army
and earned enough in soldier's notes to buy his family's freedom. But now Daniel's father is
dead, and Mrs. Ivers has taken the notes from his mother. When Daniel bravely steals the notes
back, a furious Captain Ivers forces him aboard a ship bound for the West Indies--and certain
slavery. RL: 5.4
Who is Carrie? by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
Carrie has been a kitchen slave in Sam Fraunces's tavern in New York City for as long as she
can remember. But after she narrowly escapes a kidnapper, Carrie becomes more curious about
her mysterious past. After all, she doesn't even know her own last name. RL: 5.8
Sojourner Truth and the Struggle for Freedom by Edward Beecher Claflin
This book is one of a series of biographies of famous Americans, written under the direction of
distinguished historian Henry Steel Commager for young reader, ages 10 - 13.
Freedom Train, The Story of Harriet Tubman by Dorothy Sterling
Born into slavery, young Harriet Tubman knew only hard work and hunger. Escape seemed
impossible--certainly dangerous. Yet, Harriet was strong-willed and courageous. "Some day,"
she said, "I'm going to be free." When finally she did escape North, by the secret route called the
"underground Railroad," Harriet didn't forget her people. Again and again she risked her life to
lead them on the same secret, dangerous journey. RL: 5.
The Watsons go to Birmingham--1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
Enter the hilarious world of ten-year-old Kenny and his family, the Weird Watsons of Flint,
Michigan. When Momma and Dad decide it's time for a visit to Grandma, Dad comes home with
the amazing Ultra-Glide, and the Watsons set out on a trip like no other. They're heading South.
They're going to Birmingham, Alabama, toward one of the darkest moments in America' history.
RL: 6.1. 
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Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals
A Memoir of the battle to integrate Little Rock's Central High School. In 1957, Melba Pattillo
turned sixteen. That was also the year she became a warrior on the front lines of a civil rights
firestorm.
Run Away Home by Patricia C. McKissack
It's 1888 in Alabama, and Sarah Jane has witnessed an escape. An Apache boy has jumped off
a train headed for Indian reservation--and a life he doesn't want. Sarah Jane hopes he'll run far
away. After all, people deserve to be free. But instead, she finds him hiding in her barn, dying of
swamp fever. Sarah Jane and her mother work hard to nurse the boy back to life. And Sarah
Jane realizes they'll have to turn him over to the authorities. But how can a family turn a boy
away who just wants his freedom--a boy who has run away…home? RL: 4.0
Wolf by the Ears by Ann Rinaldi
Harriet Hemmings has always been happy in the comfortable, protect world that is Monticello.
She's been well treated there; no one has ever called her a slave. But that is what she is, a slave
of a man who wrote the Declaration of Independence. And there are rumors that she might be
more than Thomas Jefferson's slave---she might be his daughter. Now Harriet has to make a
choice---to run to freedom or to stay. If she stays, she'll remain a slave. But how can she choose
freedom if it means leaving behind her family, her race, and the only home she's ever known? 
True North by Kathryn Lasky
This is a novel of the Underground Railroad. Fourteen-year-old Lucy, who would rather go fishing
with her grandfather Pap than participate in her sister's high-society wedding, is aware that
crucial elements in her life are not as they seem. Hundreds of miles south, a girl name Afrika is
fleeing from a cruel world. And Afrika is willing to face death for a chance at freedom. When
Lucy stumbles on a well-kept secret, that people close to her are actually workers on the
Underground Railroad, she herself is called into its ranks. The lives of Lucy and Afrika draw
closer and closer; together they will make a break for freedom and fight to keep each other on the
right course: true north.
Steal Away Home by Lois Ruby
When twelve-year-old Dana Shannon starts to strip away wallpaper in her family's old house,
she's unprepared for the surprise that awaits her. A hidden room--containing a human skeleton!
With the help of a diary found in the room, Dana learns her house was once a station on the
Underground Railroad.
At Her Majesty's Request An African Princess in Victorian England by Walter Dean Myers
Sarah Forbes Bonetta was an African Princess whose parents were murdered by enemy
warriors. She was held in captivity for nearly two years. Then a British naval officer rescued her
and brought her to England, where she became to protégé of Queen Victoria herself.
Dangerous Skies by Suzanne Fisher
Buck, who is white, and Tunes, an African American, face racial prejudice when Tunes is
accused of murder.
Freedom Crossing by Margaret Gogg Clark
Laura is furious when she overhears her brother, Bert, and an old friend talking about her as if
she were a stranger. When her mother died, Laura went to live with an aunt and uncle in Virginia.
Now she is back home and she discovers that her brother and father are helping runaway slaves
escape into Canada. Her house is a stopover on the Underground Railroad. Laura believes that
anyone helping a fugitive salve is breaking the law. Then she meets Martin Paige, a 12-year-old
runaway slave who would rather die than be sent back to the South. RL: 5
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Roots by Alex Haley
The moving history of Alex Haley's family, from its origin in Africa to its modern-day triumphs.
RL: 7
The Letter Writer by Ann Rinaldi
Eleven-year-old Harriet Whitehead is an outsider in her own family. She feels accepted and
important only when she is entrusted to write letters for her blind stepmother. Then Nat Turner, a
slave preacher, arrives on her family’s plantation and Harriet befriends him, entranced by his
gentle manner and eloquent sermons about an all-forgiving God. When Nat asks Harriet for a
map of the county to help him spread the word, she draws it for him—wanting to be part of
something important. But the map turns out to be the missing piece that sets Nat’s secret plan in
motion and makes Harriet an unwitting accomplice to the bloodiest slave uprising in U.S. history.
Grades 6 – 9
Taking Liberty by Ann Rinaldi
Oney Judge is a slave. But on the plantation of Mount Vernon, the beautiful home of George and
Martha Washington, she is not called a slave. She is referred to as a servant, and a house
servant at that -- a position of influence and respect. When she rises to the position of personal
servant to Martha Washington, her status among the household staff -- black or white -- is second
to none. She is Lady Washington's closest confidante and for all intents and purposes, a member
of the family -- or so she thinks.
Slowly, Oney's perception of her life with the Washingtons begins to crack as she realizes the
truth: No matter what it's called, it's still slavery and she's still a slave.
Oney must make a choice. Does she stay where she is -- comfortable, with this family that has
loved her and nourished her and owned her since the day she was born? Or does she take her
liberty -- her life -- into her own hands, and like her father, become one of the Gone?
Told with immense power and compassion, Taking Liberty is the extraordinary true story of one
young woman's struggle to take what is rightfully hers. (ages 12 and up)
Black Angels by Linda Beatrice Brown
The compelling story of three young orphans who must survive on their own during the Civil War.
Beyond the River by Ann Hagedorn
The remarkable story of the participants in the Ripley line of the Underground Railroad, bringing
to life the struggles of the men and women, black and white, who fought "the war before the war"
along the Ohio River. Determined in their cause, Rankin, his family, and his fellow abolitionists -some of them former slaves themselves -- risked their lives to guide thousands of runaways
safely across the river into the free state of Ohio, even when a sensational trial in Kentucky
threatened to expose the Ripley "conductors." Rankin, the leader of the Ripley line and one of the
early leaders of the antislavery movement, became nationally renowned after the publication of
his Letters on American Slavery, a collection of letters he wrote to persuade his brother in Virginia
to renounce slavery.
A vivid narrative about memorable people, Beyond the River is an inspiring story of courage and
heroism that transports us to another era and deepens our understanding of the great social
movement known as the Underground Railroad.
An Acquaintance with Darkness by Ann Rinaldi
Fourteen-year-old Emily Pigbush suspects that her uncle is involved in body snatching.
Meanwhile, her best friend's family is accused of plotting to kill Abraham Lincoln, and Emily is left
unsure of whom she can trust.
21
Time Pieces by Virginia Hamilton
A quietly beautiful coming-of-age story from a master storyteller. Eleven-year-old Valena lives in
both the present and the past as she struggles with racism in her daily life and listens to and
learns from her mother’s tales of her family's proud history. Moving backward and forward in time,
these pieces of Valena's life blend to form an extraordinary portrait of the ties that bind her family
together over generations. Virginia Hamilton has deftly woven together moments in one family's
history into a seamless and poignant masterpiece. (Age level 9 – 12)
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