The best books that right the wrongs of history

Katherine Rothschild Author Of Wider Than the Sky
By Katherine Rothschild

Who am I?

History is full of injustice—and my work is centered around how characters deal with the injustice in their world. As a Lecturer in the Program in Writing and Rhetoric at Stanford University, I’m in a constant conversation about how language reflects social injustice—and social change. In my fiction, I like to struggle more creatively with how we revise history—and how we give some small measure of justice to our characters. In my first novel, Wider than the Sky, that injustice is how people who are bisexual have been treated historically, even within the gay community. In my second book, I’m looking at how teen girls are sexualized unfairly. 

I wrote...

Wider Than the Sky

By Katherine Rothschild,

Book cover of Wider Than the Sky

What is my book about?

Sixteen-year-old Sabine doesn’t have much in common with her twin, Blythe. When their father dies unexpectedly, each copes in her own way—Sabine by “poeting” (a quirk of bursting into poetry) and Blythe by obsessing over getting into MIT. Neither can offer each other support . . . until their emotionally detached mother moves them into a ramshackle mansion owned by Charlie, a stranger.

Soon, the sisters unite to figure out who Charlie is and why he knows everything about them. They quickly make a life-changing discovery: their parents had secret lives. The revelation unravels Sabine’s world, while practical Blythe takes everything in stride. Once again at odds, Sabine must decide if she will run from the truth, or forgive, and embrace her father’s last wish for their family legacy.

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The books I picked & why

My Lady Jane

By Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows

Book cover of My Lady Jane

Why did I love this book?

The history of women in the monarchy is annoying at best—it’s all cut off their heads and use them for heirs then let them die in a tower. My Lady Jane reimagines the life of Lady Jane Grey, known as the “nine days queen” who was a teenager on the throne before her execution (thanks to the next queen, Mary). What a trash fire of a teendom! This story deserved to be re-imagined with a lot more fun, a little bit of feminist magic, and a lot fewer executions. My own book reimagined a sad and dark history into one filled with forgiveness. Sometimes, reading a history made right can make us imagine a more just future!

My Lady Jane

By Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked My Lady Jane as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A clever, hilarious and engaging retelling of the rise to power of Lady Jane Grey.

A comical, fantastical and witty re-imagining of the Tudor world, perfect for fans of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Lady Jane Grey, sixteen, is about to be married to a total stranger - and caught up in an insidious plot to rob her cousin, King Edward, of his throne. But that's the least of Jane's problems. She's about to become Queen of England. Like that could go wrong.

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Dread Nation

By Justina Ireland,

Book cover of Dread Nation

Why did I love this book?

Dread Nation is both a reimagination of the dark days of slavery in America and a gruesomely fun zombie book. Similar to My Lady Jane, there’s a bit of magic (with the zombie situation) that adds to the pleasure of re-imagining a dark and terrible time. Readers get to dive into a new history where the main characters have more agency than they did historically—we experience formerly enslaved Black and Indigenous people who get to zombie-slaughter the bad guys! What could be more satisfying?  

Dread Nation

By Justina Ireland,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Dread Nation as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Trained at Miss Preston's School of Combat for Negro Girls in both weaponry and etiquette, Jane McKeene is poised for a successful career protecting the wealthy from the encroaching plague of walking dead. But when families begin to go missing, Jane uncovers a conspiracy that pits her against some powerful enemies. Sent far from home, Jane will need all her resourcefulness, wit and strength of character to survive.

A powerful, compelling tale of a young girl's journey through a hostile world, Jane McKeene is an unforgettable protagonist, and Dread Nation is an unforgettable book.

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The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy

By Mackenzi Lee,

Book cover of The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy

Why did I love this book?

We often forget that women weren’t educated until very recently. Hundreds of years went by—and women were kept illiterate, barred from schools, barefoot, and making porridge. What utter drivel! The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy attacks the history that kept women from studying and practicing medicine and takes us on pirate adventures. Plus, sapphic love! What more could we ask for? 

The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy

By Mackenzi Lee,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In this highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, Felicity Montague must use all her womanly wits and wiles to achieve her dreams of becoming a doctor-even if she has to scheme her way across Europe to do it. A must-have for fans of Mackenzi Lee's extraordinary and Stonewall Honor-winning novel.

A year after an accidentally whirlwind grand tour with her brother Monty, Felicity Montague has returned to England with two goals in mind-avoid the marriage proposal of a lovestruck suitor from Edinburgh and enroll in medical school. However, her intellect…

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Alex & Eliza

By Melissa de la Cruz,

Book cover of Alex & Eliza

Why did I love this book?

Everyone ships Alex and Eliza. Everyone. Okay, maybe not Angelica. But everyone else. And with the fabulous Hamilton musical, we move a little too quickly to Alex’s affair(s) and his life’s tragedy. Let us linger on the love story, will you? This book hones in on Alex and Eliza’s love story and lets us live through their courtship and loveship, and leaves out all those parts that are a bunch of big downers. While it doesn’t quite right a wrong of history—it does tell the part of the story we all want to linger in. 

Alex & Eliza

By Melissa de la Cruz,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Alex & Eliza as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Witches of East End and the Descendants series comes the love story of young Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler.

1777. Albany, New York.

As battle cries of the American Revolution echo in the distance, servants flutter about preparing for one of New York society's biggest events: the Schuylers' grand ball. Descended from two of the oldest and most distinguished bloodlines in New York, the Schuylers are proud to be one of their fledgling country's founding families, and even prouder still of their three daughters-Angelica, with her razor-sharp wit; Peggy, with…

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Pride and Premeditation

By Tirzah Price,

Book cover of Pride and Premeditation

Why did I love this book?

The one irritant of the Jane Austen books is the (various) sisters’ insufferable lack of agency. They must wait around and do nothing while other people decide their fates. It might have been historically accurate, but it’s a bore. Pride and Premeditation gives our old friend Elizabeth a lot more to do—like solve crimes—than play pianoforte badly. A fun and hilarious love story and a bit of a thrill, too, this book rights another wrong of those classic historical moments and stories we love—and turns a humble story into one full of fun. 

Pride and Premeditation

By Tirzah Price,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Pride and Premeditation as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

One of BuzzFeed's best YA books of 2021!

Perfect for fans of the Lady Janies and Stalking Jack the Ripper, the first book in the Jane Austen Murder Mysteries trilogy is a clever retelling of Pride and Prejudice that reimagines the iconic settings, characters, and romances in a thrilling and high-stakes whodunit.

When a scandalous murder shocks London high society, seventeen-year-old aspiring lawyer Lizzie Bennet seizes the opportunity to prove herself, despite the interference of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, the stern young heir to the prestigious firm Pemberley Associates.

Convinced the authorities have imprisoned the wrong person, Lizzie vows to solve…

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5 book lists we think you will like!

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Interested in murder, murder mystery, and the American Revolution?

9,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about murder, murder mystery, and the American Revolution.

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And, 3 books we think you will enjoy!

We think you will like Cruel Beauty, The Madman's Daughter, and Cress if you like this list.

Book cover of Cruel Beauty Book cover of The Madman's Daughter Book cover of Cress