Travel back in time to other places with Historical Fiction
By Erika Kosin

These days, the term historical fiction is not as taboo amongst children, especially girls, due to the popularity of historical fiction series such as American Girls and Dear America. Many youngsters who found a love of these stories set in different time periods usually develop an appreciation for historical fiction that carries through into their late teens. What these lucky few find out is that there are many wonderful stories out there that can be found in history and historical fiction is a great place to start.

Many 4th through 8th grade students, however, will answer with a resounding no when asked if they like historical fiction. On the other hand, if you ask them if they would like to read a book about a boy living on Alcatraz with Al Capone as in Al Capone Does My Shirts, or the book Blue about a girl living in North Carolina during the Polio outbreak, they might be slightly more interested. While the authors of these works may have spent months or years conducting historical research in order to accurately set the time and place, the experiences of the characters have to resonate with the youth of today in order to peak their interest. Some interesting stories that can be found at the Rowan Public Library include:

Black Duck by Janet Taylor Lisle – On the beaches of Newport, RI in 1929, Reuben Hart and his best friend Jeddy find a dead body washed up along the shore. They are certain the man is a bootlegger, trying to smuggle liquor onto shore. Suddenly the two are engrossed in the illegal activities happening in their town and when they meet the charismatic captain of the elusive Black Duck, the legendary rum-running boat that worked off of the coast of New England during the time of prohibition, find they are in too deep.

Historical House Series by various authors – This set of six books takes a look at 6 different girls who all lived at No. 6 Chelsea Walk, England during the years 1764, 1857, 1895, 1914, 1941 and 1969. While each twelve-year-old girl has very different experiences tied to the time-period they grew up in, the house, starting as a girl’s school in 1764 and becoming an apartment building by 1914, and the town they live in also accurately portrays the changes in time. This series are for those who like the American Girls series.

Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznik – Set in Paris, this award winning book takes place in 1931 Paris, as 12-year old Hugo lives in the walls of the train station making sure the clocks are running on time. When he befriends a young girl and her grandfather, a toy maker, he is taken on a journey of self-discovery and science as he unravels the mystery of the automated man that his father left behind. Told through both text and illustrations even reluctant readers may find this one interesting.

Nory Ryans Song by Patricia Reilly Giff – The Irish potato famine that began in 1845 was caused by a blight that attacked the potato crops. When 12-year old Nory Ryan wakes up to the foul smell of rotting potatoes, she can’t shake the works of her Grandmother, that without the potato crop they would all starve. As hunger quickly sets in, Nory refuses to give up and uses her new found strength to try to save her family as her community falls apart as they dream of moving to America where no one goes hungry.

Library Notes
Cathy Brown

Did you know that all the really famous (or should that be infamous?) poisoners in history have names that begin with the letter ‘C’? Eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce does. Thanks to the Victorian-era chemistry laboratory left behind by her uncle, Tar de Luce, Flavia knows a great deal about chemistry—both the kind that will kill and the kind that will just really annoy her older sisters.

In the Flavia de Luce series, Canadian Alan Bradley has created a unique heroine. Flavia lives in the small British village of Bishop’s Lacey, which seems to have more than its fair share of murder and intrigue, in the post-World War II years. While being tormented by her sisters and seemingly never able to please her philatelist father, Flavia dreams of the day she will be recognized as the great chemist she knows she is. To that end, Flavia uses her knowledge to help the local police (whether they want her help or not) in the first three novels of a planned six: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag, and A Red Herring Without Mustard.

One does not have to have Flavia’s knowledge of poisons to enjoy the books, but don’t make the mistake of thinking these are just standard murder mysteries either. With Flavia as the novels’ narrator, Bradley has done a wonderful job of letting the reader see the citizens of Bishop’s Lacey through the eyes of a child. Flavia may be “book smart” beyond her years, but she is not as nearly “street smart,” which leads to her placing herself in a series of dangerous situations in her efforts to find the truth.

Published in 2009, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie involves Flavia in a murder that occurs in her father’s cucumber patch. Through her knowledge of the chemicals, pure stubbornness and riding a bicycle named Gladys, Flavia not only solves that murder, but also solves the twenty-year-old mystery of the suicide of her father’s school headmaster.

Last year, Flavia returned in The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag. When the citizens of Bishop’s Lacey witness the death of a nationally renowned puppeteer during a show, Flavia (and Gladys) once again ride in to bring the killer to justice. In the process, Flavia uses her deductive skills to solve the mysterious eight-year-old death of a local child and find, along with discovering a local drug ring.

This past February, Flavia’s latest adventure, A Red Herring Without Mustard, was published. Due to her guilt over accidentally burning down a gypsy tent, Flavia is tied to one murder attempt, one actual murder, and accidentally solves the mystery of an infant that disappeared several years before.

Those that enjoy a good mystery will definitely take delight in the antics and deductive powers of young Flavia. Contact Rowan Public Library to check out any of the books in the series and to find other great mysteries.

Library Notes
Edward Hirst
If you have been in a grocery store over the last few months it will come as no surprise that prices are rising. One way to ease the crunch from a tight food budget and high prices at the store is to plant a garden. But, what if you live in an apartment or just don’t have much space to create a garden? You can create a small space garden, and at Rowan Public Library we have just the books you need to get started.

My favorite book on this subject is Sugar Snaps and Strawberries by Andrea Bellamy.
Bellamy writes that, “A movement to embrace home-grown edibles, whether propelled by economics or the hope for sustainability, is taking shape around us”.

Her introduction leads to the basics of creating a garden in a small space, in which beauty combines with functionality. Bellamy offers design tips as she discusses assessing space, common site problems, preparing containers, raised beds, and soil; sowing; growing; maintaining plant health; pruning; and harvesting. She highlights edibles from apples to zucchini, with details for the cultivation and enjoyment of each fruit and vegetable, including useful growing tips and information on the most popular varieties. Of particular intrest are Bellamy’s suggestions for “veggie patches” on balconies, patios, and the tiniest of city plots.

Other books at the library that you may find helpful on this subject are Lasagna Gardening for Small Spaces: a Layering System for Big Results in Small Gardens and Containers by Patricia Lanza; Raised-Bed Vegetable Gardening Made Simple: the Three-Module Home Vegetable Garden by Raymond Nones; Beds and Borders: Traditional and Original Garden Designs by Wendy B. Murphy.