History

Sofia’s YA Book Nook: Author Recommendation! Ruta Sepetys

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Sofia is a 13-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select weeks, Sofia shares her favorite books with other young people her age! She is one of the most well-read youth that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role!

Dear readers,

 

Hi and welcome to another book review, except this time, I will be recommending an author, and reviewing some of her books! Let me introduce you to Ruta Sepetys, an amazing YA historical fiction author whose books are sure to captivate any reader! She has won the Carnegie Medal for Writing, which is a prestigious award only given to one author per year. While reading her books, I have noticed a common theme of her focusing on lesser known parts of history, for example Romanian communism in the late 80’s, or enigma codebreakers during WWII. I find it fascinating to learn about these important parts of history that I would have otherwise overlooked, and having the main characters be children my age makes her books more relatable and engaging. The way Sepetys sheds light on forgotten pieces of the past is captivating and it is why I am recommending her work to you. In this review, I will share my thoughts on a few of her books, including I Must Betray You, The Fountains of Silence, Salt to the Sea and Between Shades of Gray. I have also already reviewed another amazing book by her, called The Bletchley Riddle (review linked in title), which is an enthralling tale about two kids uncovering the secrets of a code-breaking hub in England during WWII.

If you are looking for a similar type of author but for slightly younger kids, I would highly recommend Jennifer A. Nielsen, who is a historical fiction author that I loved as a kid (around 8-12 years old)! I would specifically recommend Words on Fire, which is about a Lithuanian girl who joins an undercover ring of book smugglers during the Russian-Lithuanian revolution to try and keep her country’s history preserved. I also loved A Night Divided, a story about a girl escaping East Germany during WWII, and the struggles that came along with that!

I Must Betray You

I Must Betray You is a powerful book that will keep you on the edge of your seat! The main character is a boy named Cristian who is living in communist Romania (1989). You follow Cristian as you learn all about the horrible quality of living and the ways that the “dictator,” Ceaușescu, controlled Romanians. As you read the book, you will realize how Romanians were never truly alone, even in their own homes as there were listening devices installed to keep them in check. Romanians couldn’t trust anybody, because it was very common for civilians to be informers for the Securitate, Ceaușescu’s spy organization, tasked with keeping tabs on citizens and punishing them if they are doing anything illegal. In the Author’s Note of I Must Betray You, Sepetys even says “it’s estimated that one in every ten citizens provided information” (Sepetys 307). It was heartbreaking to see how people were always suspicious of one another, and couldn’t really form true friendships or talk about their problems, which came from the fear of being in serious trouble, or even getting killed because they said the wrong thing.

In this tale of survival, you experience the world through Cristian’s eyes, how he must bribe people with Kent cigarettes to pay for medicine or even get anesthesia at the dentist, stand in line for hours in the cold to get measly rations, and live in a literal closet. When he gets caught with an American Dollar, which is highly illegal, he is blackmailed and forced to turn on the people he loves. He becomes an informer for the Securitate, and his mission is to spy on an American diplomatic family. He must keep his job a secret or else his family would kill him, as they hate the Romanian government and try to keep to themselves. The only problem is that if his family or friends find out he has betrayed them, it would destroy whatever relationships he had, while breaking him in the process… 

If you enjoy I Must Betray You, I would highly recommend reading The Lost Year (review linked in title) by Katherine Marsh, which talks about the Ukrainian Holodomor and how kids view the hardship in their country. While reading I Must Betray You, I often found myself thinking back to The Lost Year and how these two different events had similar effects on children.

The Fountains of Silence

The Fountains of Silence is a shocking story told in many perspectives, showing a new lens on Franco’s dictatorship in Spain. I loved the many angles this novel was told from since it allowed me to get a deeper understanding of life in late 50’s Madrid. The perspectives range from a wealthy oil-investor’s son, a poor anti-Franco hotel servant, to a devoted orphanage worker, but they were all told from the youth’s eyes. The differences in each of the views lets the reader get a fuller picture of what life in Spain was like. The only downside to the many perspectives is that it makes the story quite complicated to follow, especially since each new chapter did not explicitly say whose perspective it was written in. For the first quarter of the book I was just trying to understand who Sepetys was talking about and if you can’t handle more convoluted stories, I would recommend sitting this one out. Other than that though, I loved the constant cloud of secrets that followed the characters around, because I was always trying to uncover them. You can really tell how much research Sepetys has done, as each of the people have their own way of coping with Franco’s dictatorship, some deciding to stay silent while others showing their rebellion.

Daniel, the wealthy oil-investor’s son who is visiting Madrid, is curious and empathetic, wanting to understand and help the Spanish people, especially when he meets Ana, who works at the hotel he is staying at, the Castellana Hilton. Ana is a rule follower who doesn’t dare step out of line, in fear of losing her job at the prestigious hotel she works at. Her sister Julia has always told her, we are prettier with our mouths shut, but when Daniel takes an interest in her and visits her house in Vallecas, she slowly warms up to him and provides insight into her life in Spain. 

Their affection for each other grows but they must keep it a secret from the Guardia Civil, Franco’s violent military, or Ana risks getting fired or even killed. While this is happening, Ana’s cousin Puri, who is a “good Spaniard” and orphanage worker discovers things she shouldn’t have while peeking through the adoption files of her workplace. Ana’s brother Rafa talks about his work at the city slaughterhouse, where many young men like him work, even though there is a lot of blood. All of these perspectives are artfully woven together to create a tale of immense depth and importance.

Salt to the Sea

Salt to the Sea is a heartbreaking story that follows regular people trying to flee East Prussia during WWII. You see the dangers of trying to escape from the Red Army, also known as the Soviet Army, while also not being able to be seen by German soldiers because official evacuation orders had not been given yet. People of all ages had to make the decision; try to make a run for Germany, through the freezing winter, a journey which would take many lives, or stay in their house and face certain death from the Soviets. People often traveled in groups so they could help each other, and that is exactly how we are introduced to our characters. The story is told from four different perspectives, three of the characters are fleeing and cross paths along the way, while the other is a devout Nazi officer, who is stationed on a ship that will take refugees to safety. Each of the characters have their own unique quirks and secrets! There is Joana, who is a legal refugee in East Prussia (originally from Lithuania) and is in her twenties. She is educated as a nurse and occasionally has flashbacks to her past. She meets paths with Florian and Emilia, both also fleeing towards safety. Florian is a Prussian soldier, who is very secretive and untrustworthy. Emilia is a Polish illegal refugee, whose past is shrouded in mystery. 

Everybody who is running away from the Red Army has one destination, a ship that will take them into Germany, and therefore into safety. During their journeys, Albert is on the Wilhelm Gustloff, preparing the ship for its voyage that will take over 8,000 fleeing Germans to safety. We first experience his delusional personality through letters he sends his lover, Hannelore, but later we actually see his actions. At the end, these stories merge to tell the story of the Wilhelm Gustloff, the deadliest maritime tragedy in history. Yes, it was much deadlier than the Titanic or Lusitania, the only difference is that the Gustloff was full of refugees, causing it to get buried in the history books. Salt to the Sea really kept me on the edge of my seat, while also bringing me to tears at some parts. It is a beautiful book that rips the veil off of this important, but often forgotten piece of history. 

Between Shades of Gray

Between Shades of Gray tells the story of a Lithuanian family that was taken from their home and forced on a long journey of loss and fear by the Soviet Union. 16 year old Lina is squished in a train car with her mom, younger brother, and countless other innocent deportees. They aren’t told where they are going, or how long they will be with these people for. The NKVD, which is a type of Soviet police, kill anyone who dares to step out of their assigned train car, instilling fear in everybody. On the train, people get measly rations that barely keep them alive, causing many to be malnourished and get sick. Lina describes the car smelling of urine and sweat, very uncomfortable, especially since they were in it for a long time. It is told solely from 16 year old Lina’s perspective, as she copes with the uncertainty and fear of being abducted from home and taken from her father.

The train ride seemingly lasts forever, and the people are treated like trash, having to use the restroom in a hole in the floor, and being spat on and cursed at by the NKVD officers. To try to find an escape from her horrible life, Lina distracts herself with her art. Even at home, she was an excellent artist, but now she wants to document her journey for her father so that he can find her. She doesn’t know exactly where her father is, other than that he is also on a train away from Lithuania. When the train finally stops and people are ordered out, everybody is relieved, until they find that they are in a secluded town in Siberia where temperatures frequently drop below zero in the winter. People are crammed into already occupied huts, where the people who already live in them sure aren’t happy to share. They soon find out that they are in a kolkhoz, which is a community farm, meaning that whatever crops they grow go to the NKVD officers, or are shipped away for other people to enjoy. They still have to try to survive off of puny rations while working sunrise to sunset, digging up beets or other types of hard manual labor. Between Shades of Gray tells the heartbreaking story of how the NKVD stripped people of their dignity and basic human rights during WWII. Sepetys never fails to blow me away with the way she portrays history and hardship and this book was no different! I loved how Lina’s young perspective meant that she wasn’t afraid to ask questions and be curious, which helped me better understand this crazy point in history. 

Thank you for reading this review, I love all of these books and I hope you enjoy them as well!

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**

Sofia’s YA Book Nook: The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh

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Sofia is a 13-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select weeks, Sofia shares her favorite books with other young people her age! She is one of the most well-read youth that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role!

Dear readers,

Let me introduce you to The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh, an incredibly moving historical tale about the story of three girls during the Ukrainian Holodomor. I picked this book off of the Nutmeg shelf at my local library, which is an award they give to children’s all the way to high school books in Connecticut. There are a few books selected each year in every age category and they tend to be great reads, but this time, I was not ready for the whirlwind of emotions that followed picking this book off the shelf. It is told in three perspectives, Mila, Helen, and Matthew. One day during COVID, Matthew is ordered by his mom to stop playing video games and to help his great grandmother declutter some of the boxes she has in her room. Matthew just wants to play on his Nintendo Switch but after realizing that isn’t an option, he reluctantly agrees to help. His grandmother has never really talked much about her life and all he knows is that she almost starved in some Ukrainian famine but as soon as he opens the first box, he learns much more. The past is told by Mila, who is the daughter of a Ukrainian Oligarch and Helen, who lives in New York as the daughter of Ukrainian immigrants. Both girls are living in the 1930’s while Ukraine was a part of the Soviet Union, which is where Mila lives. It was so exciting and heartbreaking to watch their stories unravel, I hope you read this important historical tale.

Goodreads Summary

A middle-grade survival story that traces a family secret back to the Holodomor, a terrible famine that devastated Soviet Ukraine in the 1930s. Thirteen-year-old Matthew is miserable. His journalist dad is stuck overseas indefinitely, and his mom has moved in his one-hundred-year-old great-grandmother to ride out the pandemic, adding to his stress and isolation. But when Matthew finds a tattered black-and-white photo in his great-grandmother’s belongings, he discovers a clue to a hidden chapter of her past, one that will lead to a life-shattering family secret. Set in alternating timelines that connect the present-day to the 1930s and the US to the USSR, Katherine Marsh’s latest novel sheds fresh light on the Holodomor – the horrific famine that killed millions of Ukrainians, and which the Soviet government covered up for decades. Inspired by Marsh’s own family history.

My Thoughts

Wow, wow, wow, that is all I can say after reading this masterpiece. This is a book about a horrible time but the story is told beautifully. I usually don’t cry when I read a book, even if they are really sad but I shed a few tears at the end of this novel. So many unexpected things happen and you find yourself on the edge of your seat the entire time, hoping that the characters will be okay. Marsh NAILED Mila’s perspective, making us understand how blinded by Soviet propaganda Mila was. Before this book, I had never even heard of the Holodomor, and it is so powerful that The Lost Year brings to light this disgusting period of human history, which everybody should know about.

Also, heads up, you should read the Author’s Note because it just makes the story so much more special and important. All in all, I think The Lost Year is a book everybody should read because of the beautiful writing and gripping story. I hope you enjoy this book!

I would recommend this book for ages 13+ because of the difficult topics including death, genocide, the Soviet Union and grief.

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**

Sofia’s YA Book Nook: Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray

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Sofia is a 13-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select weeks, Sofia shares her favorite books with other young people her age! She is one of the most well-read youth that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role!

Dear readers,

Let me introduce you to… Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray! A fantastic historical fiction novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat! This book is told from three locations in time, one in a small town in Germany during WWII, another in West Berlin in the 1980s, and the last one in Brooklyn, during COVID. All of these settings are told in third-person omniscient narration, meaning you get to see these worlds through the eyes of, essentially, an all-knowing cloud, which knows all the characters’ feelings and tells the story that way. I read this book with my mom, in our book club, and it was amazing to discuss all of the important events happening in this book! I would highly recommend finding someone to read Under the Same Stars with, since it helps you dig deeper into the themes and meaning of the story. We loved this book and I hope you do too!

Goodreads Summary

It was said that if you write to the Bridegroom’s Oak, the love of your life will answer back. Now, the tree is giving up its secrets at last.

In 1940s Germany, Sophie is excited to discover a message waiting for her in the Bridegroom’s Oak from a mysterious suitor. Meanwhile, her best friend, Hanna, is sending messages too—but not to find love. As World War II unfolds in their small town of Kleinwald, the oak may hold the key to resistance against the Nazis.

In 1980s West Germany, American teen transplant Jenny feels suffocated by her strict parents and is struggling to fit in. Until she finds herself falling for Lena, a punk-rock girl hell-bent on tearing down the wall separating West Germany from East Germany, and meeting Frau Hermann, a kind old lady with secrets of her own.

In Spring 2020, New York City, best friends Miles and Chloe are slogging through the last few months of senior year when an unexpected package from Chloe’s grandmother leads them to investigate a cold case about two unidentified teenagers who went missing under the Bridegroom’s Oak eighty years ago.

My Thoughts

Under the Same Stars is an amazing novel, which led me to think more deeply about how history connects to our current lives, and what we can learn from it. I love that this novel is told from three different perspectives, since it makes the story a lot more interesting and complex, although at the beginning, my mom found the perspectives a bit difficult to follow; though as we kept on reading, this problem went away, as the storylines became more connected and we began to remember the characters better. I love that this book always kept me and my mom on our toes, we were always making theories about what could happen next, and mostly being surprised when something else happened! Out of all of the characters, I think Jenny was the most fun to talk about with my mom. Her actions were always so irrational that we couldn’t help discussing what we would have done, and what potentially caused her to act that way. Along with its detailed characters, Under the Same Stars is also written beautifully. The way that Libba Bray puts moments into words is spectacular, adding complexity and emotion into the story. My favorite quote is “Don’t die in the waiting room of the future”(Bray 68), which I find very inspirational and motivating.

Under the Same Stars was so good that my mom and I took it on vacation and still finished it on time, which is very unusual for us. This book just kept on getting more exciting so we had to keep on reading! Additionally, if you appreciate when a book has a nice cover, when you take the sleeve off of Under the Same Stars, which we did so it wouldn’t get ripped on the flight, there is a beautiful golden tree on the front! The tree is so detailed, and fits with the gorgeous red tree rings on the unbound edges of the book! This book has received a handful of compliments, which has never happened to another book I have read! I will embed a photo below so you can see! Under the Same Stars is an amazing book that both my mom and I loved, so I hope you will enjoy it too!

I would recommend Under the Same Stars for ages 14+, because of the difficult topics, advanced reading level, and the complex storyline. Some of the more difficult topics in this book include WWII, the COVID pandemic, George Floyd, homophobia, violence, and death.

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**

Sofia’s YA Book Nook: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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Sofia is a 13-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select weeks, Sofia shares her favorite books with other young people her age! She is one of the most well-read youth that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role!

Dear readers,

I am so excited to present to you… Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid! This breathtaking story brings you along the life of one of the first women astronauts to be hired by NASA, and the challenges that come with that. Atmosphere is a historical fiction novel which takes place in the early 1980’s. I found it really interesting and inspiring to learn about how the women astronauts faced sexual discrimination but still fought for a place on spaceships. While the subtitle on the cover, “A Love Story,” suggests that this book is all about love, I found it to have a different meaning than I expected. While this book does have a romantic relationship, I would say it is more about Joan’s love for space, her niece Frances, and the universe in general. There are also a lot of amazing, and thought-provoking quotes in this book, and one of my favorites was, “To look up at the nighttime sky is to become a part of a long line of people throughout human history who looked above at the same set of stars. It is to witness time unfolding”(Jenkins Reid 44).


Goodreads Summary

Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. Thoughtful and reserved, Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University and as aunt to her precocious niece, Frances. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s Space Shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space. Selected from a pool of thousands of applicants in the summer of 1980, Joan begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond and scientist John Griffin, who are kind and easy-going even when the stakes are highest; mission specialist Lydia Danes, who has worked too hard to play nice; warm-hearted Donna Fitzgerald, who is navigating her own secrets; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer, who can fix any engine and fly any plane. As the new astronauts become unlikely friends and prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined. In this new light, Joan begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her place in the observable universe. Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, everything changes in an instant. Fast-paced, thrilling, and emotional, Atmosphere is Taylor Jenkins Reid at her best: transporting readers to iconic times and places, with complex protagonists, telling a passionate and soaring story about the transformative power of love, this time among the stars.

My Thoughts

Wow, this book was so impressive! When I first picked up Atmosphere from my local Free Little Library (on the day it was released, no less!), I was excited, but I did not expect the way that Atmosphere would play with my emotions, making me overjoyed in one moment, and frustrated at the characters in the next. Since I have wanted to read Carrie Soto is Back by her, as soon as I spotted her name, I instantly grabbed the book! I was on a walk with my mom and wanted to check out the newest Free Little Library, which just opened in our neighborhood! This was my first book by Taylor Jenkins Reid, but I assure you, it will not be my last! The space setting of this book made it so interesting, with the historical feature being even more intriguing! Coming along with Joan as she discovers her identity really makes you able to feel what she is going through and enjoy the book more. I love everything about Atmosphere, and I hope you enjoy it as well!

While Atmosphere is technically an Adult book, I believe it just as easily could have been classified under Young Adult, since there wasn’t anything that you wouldn’t find in a Young Adult book. I think the only reason it is an adult book is most likely the fact that it is about an adult, and her struggles. For these reasons, I would recommend this book for ages 14+!

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**

Sofia’s YA Book Nook: The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys

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Sofia is a 13-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select weeks, Sofia shares her favorite books with other young people her age! She is one of the most well-read youth that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role!

 

Dear readers,

Please let me introduce you to this masterpiece of historical fiction, The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Septeys and Steve Sheinkin! This is a two perspective book that takes place in Britain during the Second World War (1940). The two main characters are Lizzie and Jakob, two orphaned siblings. Jakob is older and has already moved away from home and works in “Government Communications”, which really means he is a code breaker in Bletchley Park, deciphering messages from the Germans. On the other hand, Lizzie is still living in their old house in London, being taken care of by a Nanny. This all changes though when her Grandma in Ohio sends her butler to come fetch her and bring her to Cleveland, before the war escalates. Though when the butler takes Lizzie back on a ship to America, she escapes and goes to find her brother, who she hasn’t seen in forever. Once she arrives in Bletchley, she discovers the place is shrouded in mystery, and sets out to explore!

Goodreads Summary

This middle grade historical adventure follows two siblings at Bletchley Park, the home of WWII codebreakers, as they try to unravel a mystery surrounding their mother’s death. Remember, you are bound by the Official Secrets Act… Summer, 1940. Nineteen-year-old Jakob Novis and his quirky younger sister Lizzie share a love of riddles and puzzles. And now they’re living inside of one. The quarrelsome siblings find themselves amidst one of the greatest secrets of World War II-Britain’s eccentric codebreaking factory at Bletchley Park. As Jakob joins Bletchley’s top minds to crack the Nazi’s Enigma cipher, fourteen-year-old Lizzie embarks on a mission to solve the mysterious disappearance of their mother. The Battle of Britain rages and Hitler’s invasion creeps closer. And at the same time, baffling messages and codes arrive on their doorstep while a menacing inspector lurks outside the gates of the Bletchley mansion. Are the messages truly for them, or are they a trap? Could the riddles of Enigma and their mother’s disappearance be somehow connected? Jakob and Lizzie must find a way to work together as they race to decipher clues which unravel a shocking puzzle that presents the ultimate challenge: How long must a secret be kept?

My Thoughts

Wow, I must say, The Bletchley Riddle is an amazing book! I found it really interesting to learn about top secret code breaking in England during the Second World War while also being entertained by Lizzie and Jakob’s shenanigans. Over the course of the story, you can see the two siblings growing together and caring about each other, even though Jakob’s protective nature always remains. While Jakob is working on the enigmas, Lizzie is trying to find their mother, who she believes is still alive even though she was proclaimed dead when the Nazis invaded Poland, where she was at the time. With both of the siblings making breakthroughs in their own right, this book is very fun!

On Amazon, this book is recommended for ages 11+ and I agree with that rating.

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**

The Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Newton Fusco

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The Secret of Honeycake
Author: Kimberly Newton Fusco
Published January 21st, 2025 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Summary: Hurricane is quiet while her Aunt Clare is a force of nature with very particular ideas–and a host of Latin sayings to back them up. When Hurricane gets stuck living with her, she retreats into herself…until a series of unexpected friends, including a mangy cat, help her find her voice in a whole new way.

With a name like Hurricane, you’d think this girl would take the world by storm. But instead, she’s almost invisible. And when her sister gets tuberculosis, Hurricane is sent to live in the city with her Aunt Claire, an intimidating and disapproving presence surrounded by stodgy furniture and stodgier ideas. Like no dirty stray cats in the house. And certainly not as pets!

But Aunt Claire doesn’t know quite what she’s up against–Hurricane may be quiet, but she’s about to discover that she’s also strong. Before long a shy cat, a gentle chauffeur and a friendly boy (who may smell a little of fish) teach Hurricane to find her voice. And just maybe, Aunt Claire knows a thing or two she can teach Hurricane as well.

It turns out that that you don’t always have to be loud to be heard.

About the Author: Kimberly Newton Fusco is the acclaimed author of four other books for young readers: Chasing Augustus, Beholding Bee, The Wonder of Charlie Anne, and Tending to Grace, all of which received starred reviews and many accolades, including the Schneider Family Book Award. As a child, Kim was shy and stuttered and wanted to be a writer more than anything, and now she is!  She was a national-award-winning education journalist before becoming a novelist.  The mother of four grown children, she lives with her family, a lolloping golden retriever, and a very old cat in a house in rural Rhode Island surrounded by woods and fields where her pet sheep, Huck and Finn, graze.

Review: This cast of characters are one of my favorites in any book that I have ever read:

  • Hurricane is such a fantastic narrator. She may be quiet, but she has so much to say. Through the book, she finds her spoken voice with the help of others who show her that they love her no matter what.
  • Aunt Claire needs Hurricane as much as Hurricane needs her. Aunt Claire has so much to say, but through the book, she learns to listen which truly makes for a forever better Claire.
  • Mr. Keats shows us the trauma of war and the power of a kind heart. Mr. Keats is the barrier between Aunt Claire and Hurricane when they need it, but also a catalyst of so much of the change in the book.
  • Theo. Sweet Theo. He is Hurricane’s first true friend and just a special kid.
  • And, of course, the pets. They were obviously part of the family and the story would not have been the same without them. They both give comfort to all that need them which is so special.

On top of the characters, the story is quiet but shows us the world during the Great Depression and as women’s place in society was changing. Oh, it also makes me even more fascinated in reading John Green’s upcoming book about TB.

Discussion Questions: 

  • How did Aunt Claire help Hurricane throughout the book? Mr. Keats? Theo? Which character do you think helped her be her true self the most?
  • How did Hurricane help Aunt Claire throughout the book? Mr. Keats? Theo? Which character do you think helped her be her true self the most?
  • How has women’s place in society different now than during The Secret of Honeycake?
  • How did Miss Witherspoon emotionally scar Hurricane? How could she have acted differently and changed how Hurricane felt about herself and school?
  • How does baking play a role in the book?
  • Mr. Keats suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. How does Aunt Claire support him and his mental health?
  • How does MoonPie affect the trajectory of the story?

Flagged Passages: This book had some amazing lines that I highlighted while reading:

  • “We’re like pieces of a puzzle that fit together because we’re different.” (Kindle Locations 170-171)
  • “Chin up, Mr. Keats,” my aunt says softly as the fire snaps. “We must keep stepping forward into the future meant for us…” (Kindle Location 1560)
  • “No one looks at a quiet person and says, ‘Wow, I want to be just like her.’ They always want to change you.” (Kindle Location 2122)
  • “I realize: I’m the one in charge of my attributes. I get to decide.” (Kindle Locations 2656-2657)
  • “When someone really understands you, it makes you feel less lonely, like light is passing through, and you’re more filled up than you were before.” (Kindle Locations 3053-3054)
  • “There’s a pain around my heart seeing it, which is what happens when you lose somebody. The heartache finds you again.” (Kindle Locations 3079-3080)
  • “Life is so beautiful, Mr. Keats,” my aunt says after a while. “More and more each day.” “We must keep marching forward.” “That’s a fact, ma’am. That’s a fact.” “Omnia vincit amor. Love conquers all.” “No truer words were ever said, ma’am.” (Kindle Locations 3270-3273)

You can also view an excerpt and listen to part of the audio on the Penguin Random House page for The Secret of Honeycake.

Read This If You Love: Middle grade historical fiction with strong female protagonists

Recommended For: 

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**Thank you to Blue Sky Media for providing a copy for review!**

Author Guest Post: “Connecting the Past and the Present for Students” by Sarah Raughley, Author of The Queen’s Spade

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“Connecting the Past and the Present for Students”

How do you teach your students about Sarah Forbes Bonetta?

Well, that’s a tricky question. First of all, who the heck is Sarah and what does she have to do with North American students in the 21st century? Making that link, I think, is key to helping students understand why learning about buried Black histories matters to us today.

Sarah Forbes Bonetta was actually originally named Omoba Ina (though some literature spells her last name as Aina). She was an African Princess, heir of the Egbado Clan, part of the Yoruba Tribe which can be found in present-day Nigeria. After being kidnapped by the Dahomey, a neighboring African Kingdom, she was taken by an English military man Captain Forbes as part of an exchange with Dahomey’s King. Sailing across the Atlantic Ocean on his ship, the HMS Bonetta, she was then presented to Queen Victoria as a ‘gift.’ She was whimsically renamed Sarah Forbes Bonetta, ‘Forbes’ after the Captain who took her from Africa and ‘Bonetta’ after his ship. Queen Victoria made Sarah her goddaughter and thus began Sarah’s new life in England as proof of the Queen and by extension Britain’s benevolence across the world.

By the age of eight, Ina went from princess to kidnaped to gift to a propaganda tool. For all the press and hoopla she got in England for being an African princess in England, Sarah Forbes Bonetta’s actual life was quickly forgotten or rather erased, after she married at age 19 and moved back to Africa. What happened to being the goddaughter of a European Queen? What happened to symbolizing Europe’s hopes for the civilization of so-called ‘savages’ of the world?

I think the racism underlying this very sentiment can offer us a clue. Ina was a vessel for other people’s interests, but never quite allowed to be herself. Archives of letters are the only clues we have as to how Sarah truly felt about her predicament – the violent disruptions in her life, the removal from her home, and her forced assimilation into a British culture that didn’t truly care for her or respect her. And although she did seem to care for the Queen – she named her first daughter after Queen Victoria after all – we’ll never know just how deep the psychological costs of Britain’s actions ran. My book, The Queen’s Spade, tries to answer this. Are you really accepted by a group of people if their love for you is conditional upon you behaving exactly as they need you to for their own purposes? Are you really accepted if even after dancing to their tune they dismiss and erase you so easily as if you never mattered to begin with?

There are many such students who may feel like they have to pretend to belong. They know how much it hurts. The personal is often a gateway through which we can understand the historical, the social, and the political. Learning and teaching Ina’s story in a way that takes seriously her inner self may be exactly the way to make her story legible and relatable to people of today and get them thinking of not only the politics of 19th century Britain but how it’s not so different from the politics of today.

Published January 14th, 2025 by HarperCollins

About the Book: In this riveting historical thriller that’s loosely inspired by true life events, The Count of Monte Cristo meets Bridgerton as revenge, romance, and twisted secrets take center stage in Victorian England’s royal court when Sally, a kidnapped African princess and goddaughter to Queen Victoria, plots her way to take down the monarchy that stole her from her homeland.

A young lady can take only so many injuries before humiliation and insult forge a vow of revenge . . .

The year is 1862, and murderous desires are simmering in England. Nineteen-year-old Sarah Bonetta Forbes (Sally), once a princess of the Egbado Clan, desires one thing above all else: revenge against the British Crown and its system of colonial “humanitarianism,” which stole her dignity and transformed her into royal property. From military men to political leaders, she’s vowed to ruin all who’ve had a hand in her afflictions. The top of her list? Her godmother, Britain’s mighty monarch, Queen Victoria herself.

Taking down the Crown means entering into a twisted game of court politics and manipulating the Queen’s inner circle—even if that means aligning with a dangerous yet alluring crime lord in London’s underworld and exploiting the affections of Queen Victoria’s own son, Prince Albert, as a means to an end. But when Queen Victoria begins to suspect Sally’s true intentions, she plays the only card in Victorian society that could possibly cage Sally once again: marriage. Because if there’s one thing Sally desires more than revenge, it’s her freedom. With time running out and her wedding day looming, Sally’s vengeful game of cat and mouse turns deadly as she’s faced with the striking revelation that that the price for vengeance isn’t just paid in blood. It means sacrificing your heart.

Loosely inspired by the true story of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, Queen Victoria’s African goddaughter, The Queen’s Spade is a lush and riveting historical thriller perfect for fans of A Dowry of Blood and Grave Mercy.

About the Author: Sarah Raughley is the Nigerian-Canadian author of the Effigies series and the Bones of Ruin trilogy. An AuroraAward finalist, Raughley is also an English pro-fessor and public intellectual who has written for journals such as the Walrus, CBC, and Teen Vogue. Her creative work is inspired by a messy confluence of experiences, from being a huge fan girl blerd to being a postcolonial researcher and academic. You can find out more about her work at sarahraughley.com.

Thank you, Sarah, for this candid look at how the past truly inspires the present!