Showing titles in Historical Fiction

Fly By Night, read by actress Lesley Sharp, is a breathtaking adventure story, set in reimagined eighteenth-century England, and is the stunning debut novel from Frances Hardinge, author of the Costa Award winning The Lie Tree. As the realm struggles to maintain an uneasy peace after years of...

Morgan is a young orphan who lives off scavenging - until he finds a cosy home at a famous London publishing house. Over time, he learns a trade - and soon becomes the very best book cat in the business. Then the Blitz begins. Morgan finds himself training up 20 odd kittens to be book cats, and then there is the small matter of secretly evacuating them out of London. Happily, Morgan has a plan.

In 1985 southern Sudan is ravaged by war. Rebels and government forces battle for control, with ordinary people…people like the boy, Salva Dut…caught in the middle. When Salva's village is attacked, he must embark on a harrowing journey that will propel him through horror and heartbreak, across a harsh desert, and into a strange new life. Years later, in contemporary South Sudan, a girl named Nya must walk eight hours a day to fetch water. The walk is grueling, but there is unexpected hope.

In the first of three books about their adventures, Daddy has just gone off to World War II. One of his final words to his daughter Joan is, "No dogs!" She would dearly love such a pet, but life is full and so many new friends - pets as well as people - join the Mitchells, so she hardly has time to think about dogs. The children form a club to do their part for the war-effort - first and foremost helping Mother, of course.

Born in a South Africa divided by racism and hatred, little six-year-old Peekay learns that small can beat big. Armed with this knowledge, he resolves to take on the injustices of his country, and sets his heart on becoming the welterweight champion of the world. Peekay starts to take boxing lessons, makes new friends, collects cacti, and plays the piano. Above all, he learns to think with his head and then with his heart. Peekay discovers that nothing can defeat the determination to be true to yourself: This is the power of one.

Bloomsbury presents Terrible True Tales: Saxons written and read by Terry Deary. Featuring exciting activities for listeners to enjoy alongside the stories! From the author of the blockbuster Horrible Histories series, also a TV show and movie, who has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide...

Vita longs to write plays and poetry - but as a high-born girl in Roman Londinium, her fate is sealed: marriage and children. Then her father is murdered, her mother and brother disappear, and Vita flees from a shadowy enemy. Disguised as a slave at the gladiators' arena, she forges an unlikely bond with Brea, a native Briton gladiatrix - and her wolf. Together, they resolve to discover and bring the killer to justice before Vita's identity is revealed.

The next compelling chapter in the life of Felix, hero of the award-winning Once, Then, After, Soon and Now. 1946. Europe is in ruins. Millions of people dream of finding happiness somewhere else. Fourteen-year-old Felix is one of them. When he's offered a journey to Australia, he seizes the opportunity. So does someone very dear to him, even though she wasn't actually invited.

Best Loved Irish Legends brings together some of Ireland’s most loved folk stories for a younger audience. Stories from long, long ago, part of an ancient oral tradition, handed down from generation to generation and written down by the Christian monks of medieval Ireland.

Bloomsbury presents The Cursed Tomb, written and read by Iszi Lawrence A thrilling adventure of curses, myths and legends set in ancient Egypt, perfect for fans of Emma Carroll and Horrible Histories. It’s 1249 BCE in ancient Egypt and eleven-year-old Henut is sceptical of just about...

Bloomsbury presents Terrible True Tales: The Stone Age written and read by Terry Deary. Featuring exciting activities for listeners to enjoy alongside the stories! 'Deary's storytelling is simple, historically accurate and compelling.' – The i newspaper on The Silver Hand From the author of...

"Graham Halstead’s narration contains layers of emotion..." — Kirkus “Lucas DuBois is proof that a mere kitten can be the bravest of lions by always standing up for what's right.” —Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee The acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author...

A quirky, warm and exciting story about family, friendship and time-travel – from legendary author Jean Ure. When twelve-year-old Lily is walking to school one day, a very unusual girl appears out of nowhere! It is 1953 and this stranger is dressed in a green sparkly dress, purple tights with...

In this delightful historical mystery, seven boys in Ancient Rome solve strange crimes . . . thanks to some help from their cranky teacher, a little bit of logic, and a lot of amusing misadventure. Yes, Rufus wrote CAIUS IS A DUMBBELL on his tablet at school, but no, he did not break into the...

When the Germans march into Poland in 1941, the Balickis’ happy family life is shattered. With their parents taken away by Nazis, Ruth, Edek and Bronia are forced to fend for themselves in the dangerous, war-ravaged city of Warsaw. When Edek is captured too, the girls are desperate. Then they meet orphaned street urchin Jan, who carries with him a talisman of hope: a silver sword paperknife that they recognise as having belonged to their mother. Realising that their parents may still be alive, Ruth and Bronia set off on an epic journey to Switzerland to search for them. 

Charlie never meant to travel back in time–but now he's trapped in wartime Devon. Living with a strict farming family, waking before dawn, and trying not to get pecked by broody hens is only the beginning. As air raids, rationing and hard farm work become part of everyday life, Charlie must rely on new friendships and a mysterious family diary to uncover the truth about his great-grandad's past–and find a way home. Charlie, the Evacuee is a heartwarming timeslip adventure that brings the Second World War vividly to life through the eyes of an eleven-year-old boy.

A gripping new Bletchley Park Mystery novel, from Rhian Tracey, author of I, SPY and HIDE AND SEEK. Mary has a gift for languages and codes that has brought her to the attention of the adults working at Bletchley Park. She finds herself drawn into their undercover operations, learning Japanese...

When Esperanza and Mama are forced to flee to the bountiful region of Aguascalientes, Mexico, to a Mexican farm labor camp in California, they must adjust to a life without fancy dresses and servants they were accustomed to on Rancho de las Rosas. Now they must confront the challenges of hard...

This latest instalment in the popular series sees Lily finally on her way to realising her dream of becoming a teacher. Nellie's older sister, Johanna, starts walking out with Harry the footman, and is extremely worried when he enlists and goes off to fight in World War I. He send letters to the girls from the front and tells them all about the Christmas Day truce in 1914...but then a telegram comes. Harry is missing, presumed dead. Will he return to Lissadell, safe and sound?

Bloomsbury presents The Time Machine Next Door: Inventors and Dinosaurs written and read by Iszi Lawrence A page-turning, laugh-out-loud historical adventure by comedian and broadcaster Iszi Lawrence (as seen on Netflix and Sky History), perfect for fans of Horrible Histories. Sunil and his...