https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr Share your recommendations here! en-us 2022-01-18 01:39:45 UTC 2025-10-26 14:17:07 UTC hello@padlet.com heatherpurcell3 https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1996845935 A fictionalized story based on the last Africans brought to the US as slaves, after it was already illegal to do so. Tells the story of their introduction to life as enslaved people, and how they worked to create their own community, African Town, after they gained their freedom post-Civil War. Fascinating story told in verse. Intended for a YA audience. ]]> 2022-01-18 01:48:50 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1996845935 heatherpurcell3 https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1996850870 I couldn't put this book down! While it's not an important book, it was a compelling story about a fictional Hollywood icon, who's essentially been in hiding for a few decades, deciding it was time to finally tell her story of being different in an industry trying to force stars to fit a certain image. ]]> 2022-01-18 01:53:10 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1996850870 heatherpurcell3 https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1996859066 Kristin Hannah weaves compelling historical fiction. The Nightingale tells the story of how differently the members of a family (and a community) cope with the arrival of Nazis in a small French village, as they are all forced to make impossible choices. ]]> 2022-01-18 01:59:37 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1996859066 heatherpurcell3 https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1996873910 While I thought this was good, but not amazing, it was an interesting, fictionalized story based on Estelita Rodriguez, who got her start in Havana, struggled in New York, and then launched a career (and a difficult life) in Hollywood. When I read The Seven Husbands... I thought it might have gotten some inspiration from this tale, as well. ]]> 2022-01-18 02:12:53 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1996873910 heatherpurcell3 https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1996878549 Beyond having a female protagonist, it's all about the women running and suffering in a maternity ward for those who have influenza during the pandemic of 1918 in Ireland. (Could also fit for WWI Era.) It seemed fitting to read last year during another pandemic. Be warned that it's very dark, but I thought it was fascinating (including the lack of knowledge about basic medical protocols like cleanliness and misconceptions about childbirth). ]]> 2022-01-18 02:17:05 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1996878549 heatherpurcell3 https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1998620610 I got a bit tired of literary-themed stories of WWII over the past few years, but this is actually a cool story of the power of stories to transcend tragedy and the importance of community. This is based on a small number of bookstores that actually survived the Blitz. ]]> 2022-01-18 17:57:01 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1998620610 heatherpurcell3 https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1998635393 I'm not sure this officially fits the "Western" category, but it's set in the American West in 1880. Park loved the Little House books as a child, and recognized some of the problems with the stories as an adult. She still loved the spirit of stories of survival and determination. She researched the Asian immigrants trying to make it during this time, despite prejudices and hardship. In this middle grade novel, she reimagined the world of Little House with a main character who is half-Asian. ]]> 2022-01-18 18:03:18 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1998635393 https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1998989164 2022-01-18 20:54:47 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1998989164 https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999024091 2022-01-18 21:19:07 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999024091 https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999024885 2022-01-18 21:19:41 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999024885 https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999027903 2022-01-18 21:21:47 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999027903 https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999035197 A woman travels between the present and the past. It’s a time when slavery was still ok. She face some challenges that may cause her her life. ]]> 2022-01-18 21:27:13 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999035197 https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999037361 2022-01-18 21:28:43 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999037361 https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999047222 Fatherland by Robert Harris ]]> 2022-01-18 21:36:13 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999047222 https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999048583 Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks]]> 2022-01-18 21:37:08 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999048583 https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999049361 War Horse by Michael Morpurgo ]]> 2022-01-18 21:37:46 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999049361 https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999052772
When the Nightingale Sings
Under a Sky on Fire
When we were Brave 
A View Across the Rooftops ]]> 2022-01-18 21:40:30 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999052772 https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999056127 Around the World in 80 Days - Jules Verne]]> 2022-01-18 21:42:57 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999056127 https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999056975 Anything by Jane Austen ]]> 2022-01-18 21:43:40 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999056975 angiemc https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999443896 Witches, vampires and other creatures set in 1500s to present day. ]]> 2022-01-19 03:29:16 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999443896 angiemc https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999445970 Loosely based on PT Barnum’s mermaid. ]]> 2022-01-19 03:30:58 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999445970 angiemc https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999451025 This could go in a few of these categories: feminine protagonists, fantasy, . . . it’s  been one of my top 3 books for the past 7-8 years. Set in biblical times on Masada as the Jews were being persecuted by the Romans. ]]> 2022-01-19 03:35:00 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999451025 angiemc https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999455239 A Polish family is split up and sent to different places during the war. ]]> 2022-01-19 03:38:36 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999455239 angiemc https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999459905 3 kids and 3 storylines: Nazi Germany, 1990s Cuba and present day Syria. Their connection  being children during conflict with another surprise connection in the end. This is a YA book. ]]> 2022-01-19 03:42:29 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999459905 angiemc https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999467679 Set in Port Townsend just following WWII. A woman finds a baby in the water with gills. Lightly addresses domestic abuse, witchcraft and LGBTQ+ in this era. ]]> 2022-01-19 03:49:09 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999467679 angiemc https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999474341 Set during the AIDS epidemic in Chicago and covering a span of about 20 years—following Yale and his friends and Fiona the sister of a young man who recently died from AIDS. ]]> 2022-01-19 03:54:26 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999474341 angiemc https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999486540 The main character is diagnosed with leprosy and exiled to the island of Moloka’i at the age of 5 to be raised in a facility by nuns. She sentenced to live there, away from her family, for life.

Also Daughter of Moloka’i (set in WWII)—Japanese internment. ]]> 2022-01-19 04:04:17 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/1999486540 angiemc https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/2002923898 Set in 19th century China, 2 young girls from very different backgrounds grow up spending time together at the request of their parents and become best friends. As adults, they continue to keep in touch once they are matched and get married. A book about friendship and forgiveness. ]]> 2022-01-20 14:10:20 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/2002923898 pennyriley https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/2009897192 Mini Review under Immigrant Focus in the Category Card.]]> 2022-01-24 22:10:13 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/2009897192 pennyriley https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/2009897719 Mini Review under Immigrant Focus in the Category Card.]]> 2022-01-24 22:10:46 UTC https://padlet.com/heatherpurcell3/1ddmqiea3s3rfmwr/wish/2009897719