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US History

Jane

Veteran

Dear Fabbers, DS (15) is studying American history, and having not done so well in the summer exams has a resit coming up. I have helped him out bit with a few notes. By chance I have been reading Barkskins by Annie Proulx, and Days Without End by Sebastian Barry. Both great reads.

The exam notes have really been helpful in filling in gaps in my knowledge and the fiction has been great to read at the same time. I am fascinated by it, and I am grateful for the opportunity it has presented in a little more understanding of USA.

If by chance anyone had any recommendations on young adult fiction for DS based on US history from 1789 to 1900, they would be very much appreciated.

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16 replies

Latest reply was from Stagiaire Fash

JAileen

Veteran

I read these when I was your son's age or younger. I think they fit in the time frame.

Margaret Mitchell - Gone With the Wind - Civil War
Jack London - Call of the Wild - Klondike Gold Rush
Mark Twain - Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer - pre Civil War
Upton Sinclair - The Jungle - immigrants and the Chicago meatpacking business

Anonymous

My DDs read the American Girl Doll books that were all historical fiction. That wouldn't appeal to boys, though. I'd suggest searching on Amazon.

"Gone with the Wind" is a very good one, as are all of the Mark Twain books.

rachylou

Veteran

The Benjamin January Free Man of Colour mystery series, by Barbara Hambly. That's the root of the modern US right there.

Laurie

Roots - Alex Haley (Slavery)
The Red Badge of Courage - Stephen Crane (Civil War)
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee - An Indian History of the American West - Dee Brown

Jane

Veteran

Thank you so much for your suggestions, much appreciated and helpful.

Gigi

Veteran

Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. The book is fiction but was based on true stories told to the author.

Anonymous

http://bookriot.com/2017/07/07.....l-fiction/

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston.

Beloved by Toni Morrison.

Jane

Veteran

Thank you all, really super suggestions. Bookriot looks an excellent source especially, thank you BC.

rachylou

Veteran

I have to come back and plug the Benjamin January series some more. Good stories to keep things interesting and they bring the time to life, with clever, well researched details. Benjamin is a doctor that earns a living playing piano. He lives in French New Orleans, was trained in France, and goes to the Wild West in one of the stories. They talk about how the cotton growing Americans move into Louisiana, and how that changes things. How young men are put in separate sleeping quarters away from the rest of the family. Just all sorts of funny little things like that.

Laura G

Veteran

A fascinating book that covers 200 years in the life of a fictional Lakota (Sioux) family is Hanta Yo by Ruth Beebe Hill. It won't teach you the European-American history that's on the exam, but it's a book that every American (at least) should read.

Anonymous

The "North and South" Civil War trilogy by John Jakes:
https://g.co/kgs/YTpgnP
"North and South," "Love and War," and "Heaven and Hell"

SandyG

Veteran

My teens gobbled up Michael Shaara's Civil War Trilogy: Gods and Generals / The Killer Angels / The Last Full Measure. And any Ken Burns documentary, from the Civil War to baseball, is worth watching for the whole family.

Anonymous

Not historical fiction, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Sherman's March" by Burke Davis (available at Amazon.com).

Jane

Veteran

Thank you all so much. I have just started and nearly finished The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins, I am on holiday, so lots of time for reading.

But I am missing US history! So I am going back into it, with Golden Hill, Francis Spurford.

I am going to have a splurge on Amazon. As a start I think I will order - Benjamin January is a definite, thank you Rachylou; and Hanta Yo, thank you Laura G and Michael Shaara's civil war, thank you Sandy G. Hopefully, my son might read it. Sherman's March sounds good thank you BC. Toni Morrison is a really good call, as is Uncle Tom's Cabin.

So much to look forward to, thank you all so much! I will let you know how it goes.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Splurging on Amazon physical books or downloads? If you have Amazon Prime, there are lots of books you can download for "free" (included in the price of Prime).