Title: Historically Inaccurate
Author: Shay Bravo
Publisher: Wattpad Books
Distributor: Macmillan
Release Date: September 29, 2020
Genre: Teens & YA
Age Range: 12+
Grade Level: 7-9
ISBN Paperback: 978-1989365373
Price: $10.99
 
Synopsis:
It only takes one moment to change your life forever . . .
After her mother’s deportation last year, all Soledad “Sol” Gutierrez wants is for her life to go back to normal. Everything’s changed―new apartment, new school, new family dynamic―and Sol desperately wants to fit in. When she joins her community college’s history club, it comes with an odd initiation process: break into Westray’s oldest house and steal . . . a fork?
There’s just one problem: while the owners of the house aren’t home, their grandson Ethan is, and when he catches Sol with her hand in the kitchen drawer, she barely escapes with the fork intact. This one chance encounter irrevocably alters her life, and Sol soon learns that sometimes fitting in isn’t as important as being yourself―even if that’s the hardest thing she’s ever had to do.


​Review: 
Soledad Gutierrez is joining her community college's History Club, mostly to please her parents and get a social life after a car crash the previous year that resulted in her mother being deported back to Mexico.  However, in order to join the Westray Community College History Club, Sol must go through a strange initiation; her task is to steal a fork from Westray's oldest house. The task doesn't go quite as planned when the grandson of the owners, Ethan, shows up.  Sol escapes the house and suddenly realizes just how tenuous her situation is and how easily she could have been arrested.  Sol's incident follows her around however, as Ethan joins the History Club.  This makes things way more complicated, but also opens Sol up to everything she can be. 

Historically Inaccurate is a contemporary tale of overcoming adversity, family and friendship.  Sol's character goes on a journey of self-acceptance throughout the story.  At first Sol seems to just be going through the motions of life until she is old enough to start the process of getting her mother back into the USA.  While the concept of how the history club functioned is a little far-fetched, I really enjoyed Sol's participation and the diverse range of members.  I appreciated Sol's point of view as the daughter of Mexican immigrants; some of her hardships were expected, and some unexpected.  Sol and Ethan's relationship was sweet and slower paced.  Ethan's personality is a great match for Sol's needs, pushing her just a little bit, but not changing who she is.  The pacing of the story was a bit bumpy at times, going on some unnecessary tangents; however the ending brought it all together with some great unexpected turns. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 


Author Bio:
Shay Bravo is a Mexican born author who has now lived half of her life in the USA. She began sharing her work online through Wattpad when she was fifteen years old and has connected with over 114,000 followers. Historically Inaccurate won the 2019 Watty Awards and is her first novel. Shay currently resides in Houston, Texas.
 
About Wattpad Books:
Wattpad Books, a division of Wattpad, is the leader in data-backed publishing. Leveraging billions of daily insights from Wattpad’s global community of 70 million book lovers, Wattpad Books combines the best of art and science, using human expertise and Story DNA Machine Learning technology to identify the trends, voices, and stories that are the future of publishing. By elevating the stories of diverse communities around the world, Wattpad Books is creating new space for writers and fans of every genre.
Visit books.wattpad.com for more information

HOPE CITY: THE ALASKAN ADVENTURES OF PERCY HOPE

BY NEIL PERRY GORDON
Publication Date: May 31, 2020
Paperback & eBook; 324 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction



Two teenage boys from San Francisco set off in the summer of 1898 into the goldfields of the Alaskan wilderness.
Warned by his father to conceal his Jewish heritage from the ruffians he may encounter, Samuel Rothman changes his name to the less conspicuous Percy Hope. This fateful decision gives a yet-unnamed mining village a new identity and catapults Percy into a world where the good and the righteous must face greedy and ruthless adversaries.
Along a waterway known as Turnagain Arm, the newly named Hope City and the more established Sunrise are like opposite sisters. The good and virtuous Hope, with a Catholic church led by the influential Reverend O’Hara, admonishes residents against committing the seven deadly sins. In Sunrise, villainous saloon owner Magnus Vega tempts prospectors with whiskey, gambling, and women.
Hope City weaves the tale of a young man falling down a rabbit hole of unexpected hardships and struggling to find his way out, amid a wild and unforgiving environment where ambitious men and women seek their fortunes.
This fast-paced adventure is full of unforeseen twists and will delight all readers looking for a rich and dramatic page-turner with a shocking twist.

AMAZON | BARNES AND NOBLE | INDIEBOUND


Praise for Hope City

“… Gordon’s beautifully imagined prose has clarity and dimension, and he keeps the pacing relatively quick and does justice to the impressive array of characters. Samuel’s emergence from a typical teenage self-doubt is beautifully imagined. Ripe on unforeseen twists and shocking turns, this fast-paced adventure will delight action-adventure fans as well as lovers of nuanced coming-of-age tales. This is a complete entertainment package.” -The Prairies Book Review
“The hunt for gold was a time of discovery and excitement for many people. Neil Gordon Perry has crafted a story that takes this time period and allows readers to connect with two friends on their journey in Alaska. Hope City is the type of story that will remind people of the beloved stories like Call of the Wild that bring the adventures of the past to a present audience in an engaging way…” -The Nerdy Girl Express
“…But the real treasure in Hope City is to be found in its character development with Gordon once again demonstrating a gift for nuance that vividly brings his characters to life. A rich and dramatic page-turner with a shocking twist, Hope City proves a must-read and is highly recommended.” -Book Viral

​Review: 
Sam Rothman and Liam Kampen are headed for the wilds of Alaska in an attempt to strike it rich and have some adventure.  After a stirring speech by Jack London at their high school graduation, Sam and Liam leave their hometown of San Francisco to venture to the Turnagain Arm region.  Before departure, Sam's father warns him that his Jewish name may not be the best to use in Alaska and Sam decides on the name of Percy Hope.  Upon the boy's arrival, Magnus Vega, a local saloon owner, declares that he will name the neighboring town after the first person off the boat.  Percy becomes the talk of the town before even striking gold.  As Percy and Liam get settled and learn the ways of the land, they see that Hope follows the rules of the Catholic church and Reverend O'Hara while the neighboring town of Sunrise is ruled over by Magnus and his devious ways.  Percy and Liam find out what they are made of as they are captured in the rivalries between towns, enemies and religious groups.


As Jack London tells Sam, every good story needs conflict, danger, a battle between good and evil, a relatable hero as well as twists and turns.  This is exactly what Hope City delivers in a fast-paced and exciting read.  I loved the setting of wild Alaska during the gold rush and the many different settings that Sam and Liam's adventures took them through from the rivers of the Turnagain Arm, to the new towns, the native villages and the open waters.  Both Liam and Sam were great characters who took different paths while in Alaska offering two different views.  The point of view switched between Sam/Percy and Magnus which confused me a little at first, but became clear after the first few chapters.  Through these two different points of view the fight between good and evil was evident; however, what makes a person good or bad was more difficult to tell. The inclusion of the Asatru religion made for many more interesting twists and turns as well.  With a very exciting and unexpected ending, Hope City makes for a wonderful historical adventure. 


This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

About the AuthorBeginning with his debut novel in 2018–A Cobbler’s Tale, followed by Moon Flower, The Righteous One, The Bomb Squad and Hope City, Neil Perry Gordon has established himself as a well-respected and prolific historical fiction novelist. His story telling ability has earned him high editorial praise from the likes of Kirkus, Midwest Book Review and others, including hundreds of four and five star reader reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.
Neil attributes his love of the writing process from his formative education at the Green Meadow Waldorf School, where he learned that subjects such as music, dance and theater, writing, literature, legends and myths, were not simply things to be read about and tested, but lessons to be experienced.
His creative writing methods and inspiration have been described as organic; meaning that he begins his work with a general storyline for his characters, rather than working with a formal, detailed outline. This encourages his writing to offer surprising twists and unexpected outcomes, which readers have celebrated. His novels have the attributes of being driven by an equal balance between character development and face-paced action, which moves his stories along at a swift page-turning pace.
Readers can learn more about Neil Perry Gordon, by visiting his website and blog at: NeilPerryGordon.com. You can also follow Neil on Facebook and Goodreads.

INTO THE UNBOUNDED NIGHT

BY MITCHELL JAMES KAPLAN
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Regal House Publishing
Paperback & eBook; 231 Pages
Genre: Literary/Historical


When her village in Albion is sacked by the Roman general Vespasian, young Aislin is left without home and family. Determined to exact revenge, she travels to Rome, a sprawling city of wealth, decadence, and power. A “barbarian” in a “civilized” world, Aislin struggles to comprehend Roman ways. From a precarious hand-to-mouth existence on the streets, she becomes the mistress of a wealthy senator, but their child Faolan is born with a disability that renders him unworthy of life in the eyes of his father and other Romans.

Imprisoned for her efforts to topple the Roman regime, Aislin learns of an alternate philosophy from her cellmate, the Judean known today as the Apostle St. Paul. As the capital burns in the Great Fire of 64 AD, he bequeaths to her a mission that will take her to Jerusalem. There, Yohanan, son of Zakkai, has been striving to preserve the tradition of Hillel against the Zealots who advocate for a war of independence. Responding to the Judeans’ revolt, the Romans—again under the leadership of Vespasian—besiege Jerusalem, destroying the Second Temple and with it, the brand of Judean monotheism it represents. Yohanan takes on the mission of preserving what can be preserved, and of re-inventing what must be reinvented.

Throughout Into the Unbounded Night, Aislin’s, Faolan’s, Vespasian’s, and Yohanan’s lives intertwine in unexpected ways that shed light on colonization and its discontents, the relative values of dominant and tyrannized cultures, and the holiness of life itself—even the weakest of lives.
​

REGAL HOUSE PUBLISHING | AMAZON | BARNES AND NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | INDIEBOUND



Praise for Into the Unbounded Night
“In Into the Unbounded Night, Mitchell Kaplan offers a rich rendering of war and humanity in first century Rome — of tradition and loss, and the transformative power of healing and collective memory to find one’s way home.” – Nichole Bernier, Boston Globe Bestselling author of The Unfinished Work Of Elizabeth D

“Mitchell James Kaplan is the gloriously talented writer of this dramatic, intense story of conflicting emperors, slaves, priests and exiles in a first century world whose roots and traditions are increasingly torn apart by the brutal rule of Rome. Men and women search for belief and reason, out of which will emerge a new Judaism after the destruction of Jerusalem’s Temple as well as the early beginnings of Christianity. A writer of enormous scope, compassion and poetry, Kaplan has written several of the most compelling characters you will meet in the pages of a book. Into the Unbounded Night sweeps over you like a succession of huge waves. It is truly a major novel.” – Stephanie Cowell, American Book Award recipient, author of Claude And Camille: A Novel Of Monet

“Kaplan’s prose is so rich and agile I felt I was breathing the air of these ancient places, and his evocation of character is no less palpable. Fully embodied and driven by ambition, grief, the clear-eyed desire for truth, and fierce maternal love, these characters plunge, march, and stumble toward their fascinating and entangled destinies.” – Marisa de los Santos, New York Times bestselling novelist of I’ll Be Your Blue Sky and award-winning poet

“I’m a big fan of historical fiction when it’s as good as Mitchell Kaplan’s Into the Unbounded Night. Vividly imagined, Into the Unbounded Night pulls the reader along with beautiful prose, strong characters and a wonderfully realized story.” – Heidi W. Durrow, New York Times best-selling author of The Girl Who Fell From The Sky, winner of the PEN/Bellwether Prize

“A beautiful, informative book. It was gripping throughout, the research never overwhelms the story, but is always part of it. [The] writing is lyrical and evocative of time and place. All the characters are real and interesting. Loved it!” – Martin Fletcher, National Jewish Book Award winner, author of Promised Land

“From the mystical lore of Albion to the Roman siege and destruction of Jerusalem, Kaplan’s meticulous research and evocative writing meld seamlessly to create a vivid, textured, and richly imagined story.” —Beth Hoffman, New York Times and International bestselling author of Saving Ceecee Honeycutt and Looking for Me

“Set in Rome and Judea after the crucifixion of Jesus, Mitchell James Kaplan’s finely crafted and intense second novel delves into the minds and hearts of truly captivating characters. An excellent read.” – Eva Stachniak, winner of the Canadian First Novel Award, author of The Chosen Maiden

“Sensually provocative, verbally sharp and critically witted, Mitchell James Kaplan’s Into the Unbounded Night brings to life the tumultuous birth of Judeo-Christian monotheism in this intimately woven narrative brimming with righteous and riotous characters striving for survival and transcendence across the ravished landscapes of Judea, the Roman Empire, and Britannia.”
​
– Jessica Maria Tuccelli, an Okra Pick winner of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance for her debut novel, Glow
“Kaplan weaves an intricate literary tapestry to create a poetic exploration of early Judeo-Christian and Roman history. He builds a diverse yet connected cast of characters whose encounters inspire timeless self-examination and advance the course of history. An engrossing work not easily forgotten.” – Therese Walsh, critically acclaimed author of The Last Will Of Moira Leahy and The Moon Sisters, founder of the literary blog, Writer Unboxed

Review: 
In the year 40 C.E. Aislin lives a hardworking but honest life with her aunt Muirgheal.  They live in Albion on what is known as Britannia.  When Albion is conquered by the Roman General Vespasian, Aislin is taken hostage and her aunt dies for her village.  Used by Vespasian and discarded, Aislin vows vengeance.  While wandering, Aislin meets disgraced Roman soldier Septimus.  They become travelling companions and Septimus introduces Aislin to the city of Rome.  Aislin's introduction is brief as she is thrown on the streets and picked up by Pallas, a wealthy patrician who uses Aislin to beget a son.  Aislin delivers a boy, Faolan, who is disabled.  Rather than kill her son, Aislin flees with Faolan.  While raising Faolan on the streets of Rome, Aislin learns of the best and worst of humanity while finding a true partner in Yohanan.

Into the Unbounded Night is a beautifully told story of the lives of several people during the precarious time period of the formation of monotheistic belief systems in the Roman Empire.  I haven't read a lot about this period of time and was very impressed by the historical detail that managed to not derail the storyline and characters.  The story follows six very different characters through this time. I was most drawn to Aislin's story and found it a little difficult to keep all of the characters in line at points.  Aislin was easy for me to relate to despite living so long ago and her life managed to tie together many of the important elements on her own. I was constantly amazed by the ups and downs of her journey, her ability to survive and how she managed to prevail over all those who sought to destroy who she is and the people she came from.  I did enjoy the inclusion of Azazel and wish that story would have been expanded upon. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

About the Author

Mitchell James Kaplan graduated with honors from Yale University, where he won the Paine Memorial Prize for Best Long-Form Senior Essay submitted to the English Department. His first mentor was the author William Styron.
After college, Kaplan lived in Paris, France, where he worked as a translator, then in Southern California, where he worked as a screenwriter and in film production.

He lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with his family and two cats.
​
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS