Historical Fiction/Biography

Voyage on the Great Titanic: The Diary of Margaret Ann Brady (1998)
Part of the Dear America series
Monday, 15 April 1912
It was after midnight, and I could still hear people moving about in the passageway. Before I had time to go out and join them, there was a sharp knock on my door. I opened it to see Robert. He was smiling, but his eyes looked urgent.

“Good evening, Miss Brady,” he said. “You need to put on something warm, and report to the Boat Deck with your life belt.”

Miss Brady? When I heard that, I felt alarmed for the first time, but I was also startled…

“A routine drill,” he said. “No need to fret.”

I knew he needed to get on with his duties, so I found a smile for him and nodded…Robert started for the next stateroom, but then stopped.

“You not want to take your time, Margaret,” he said in a very quiet voice.

It did not seem possible — but maybe this was not a drill.
 
Kaiulani: The People’s Princess, Hawaii, 1889(2001)
Part of the Royal Diaries series
In their hope to restore Hawaii’s toppled monarchy – and the Hawaiian way of life – the people of Hawaii turn to Princess Kaiulani, who is only a young girl. This compelling narrative tells of the tumultuous years following Hawaii’s forced annexation to the United States, skillfully rendering the voice of the young princess and the unrest of a people.

At Iolani Palace, Father and I met with Papa Moi and Mama Moi in the throne room. Papa Moi was solemn, as he reminded me that it will be my responsibility to do as well as possible, and in that way, further the hopes of our nation. I was glad that I have never admitted to him how fearful I am about leaving. I think he would find that petty, as I go off not for myself, but for all of the Hawaiians I will someday lead.

“I will not fail, Papa, will I?” I asked Father once we were on the way back to Ainahau.

“It was not even a possibility,” he said, his voice full of confidence.

I wish I could feel that same confidence.
 
The Journal of Patrick Seamus Flaherty: United States Marine Corps Khe Sanh, Vietnam, 1968 (2002)
Part of the My Name Is Americaseries
This is the harrowing journal of an American Marine fighting in Vietnam. Scared but brave, Patrick must deal with all of the dangers and emotions of life in a war zone.

February 9, 1968
A lot of guys were feeling really down today, because two of our gunny sergeants got killed today. One mortar took out both of them. They did everything right – heard the pop, ducked, and ran for the nearest hole, but a round landed right on top of them. Nothing you can do to prevent it. Bad luck, Vietnam-style. Those two men had more time combined in the Marines than most of the rest of us put together, so I guess that makes us all feel extra shook-up about it.

And the cloud cover is so heavy that no one’s even going to fly up here to take them away today. Maybe tomorrow, they said. Or the next day. If nothing more important comes up in the meantime.

Shows the respect you get for devoting your whole adult life to serving your country.

All I want to do is go home – and I’ve got eleven months to go.

 
Where Have All the Flowers Gone?: The Diary of Molly Mackenzie Flaherty (2002)
Part of the Dear America series
In this comparison diary to The Journal of Patrick Seamus Flaherty, Patrick’s little sister, Molly, brings the tumult of the American homefront to life. She witnesses war protests, fights racial prejudice, and even volunteers in a veteran’s hospital in this poignant diary that captures the spirit of a conflicted girl, scared both for her brother and for her country.

February 2, 1968

We’ve had the television on almost constantly for the past few days. Suddenly, there are huge battles going on all over Vietnam at the same time. A truce had been set up for the Vietnamese holiday, Tet (it’s supposed to be as big as Christmas, Easter, and the 4th of July combined). But in the middle of the night, while everyone’s guard was down, the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army – VC and NVA – attacked military bases and cities all over South Vietnam. They even took over the American Embassy in Saigon for about six hours. If they can get into our embassy like that, then there can’t be any place in South Vietnam that’s safe. So, as far as I can tell, the war is just spinning out of control.

The list of towns and bases they attacked seems to go on forever. Saigon, Tay Ninh, Bien Hoa, Cam Ranh Bay, Nha Trang, Tuy Hoa, Qui Nhon, Chu Lai, Danang,Quang Tri, Dong Ha, Phu Bai… they’re all on my map, and they’re spread out all over the country. And if any on the reporters mention Khe Sanh, most of them say something vague like, oh, yeah, Khe Sanh is still getting hit by rockets and mortars every day, too.