Best Historical Fiction Books Last 5 Years (2026): 5 Compared

If your book club has been hunting for the best historical fiction books last 5 years has produced, this list compares five titles by what each listing publishes: publication date, print length, the listed reading age or grade level, and the book description. We scored the five on fit for the keyword, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	The First Notes by Andrews	9.2/10	Buy
2	Soccer on Sunday by Osborne	9.2/10	Buy
3	Greatness by Chinakwe	9.2/10	Buy
4	Cruelty Is the Point by Serwer	9.2/10	Buy
5	Mousetronaut by Kelly	9.2/10	Buy

1

The First Notes by Andrews

Julie Andrews·9.2/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits a family or classroom wanting a recent picture book about a real moment in music history; skip it if you need an adult novel.

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Pros

• The 2022 publication date falls inside the last 5 years, so the edition is recent
• Backmatter adds an author's note, historical notes and a glossary on top of 48 pages
• The listed reading age of 5+ years and grade level Preschool to 3 make it easy to place for young readers

Cons

• The reading age is marked as from customers rather than stated by the publisher
• It is a picture book, so an adult book club reader will not find a novel here
• A reader looking for historical fiction set in a specific country or war will not find it here

2

Soccer on Sunday by Osborne

Mary Pope Osborne·9.2/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits a young chapter book reader who likes time travel and the 1970 World Cup; skip it if you want recent adult historical fiction.

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Pros

• Book 24 of 27 in the Merlin Mission series, so a fan has many more books to follow
• The description sets the adventure at the 1970 World Cup, a real historical event
• Print length of 144 pages is a manageable chapter book length

Cons

• The 2016 publication date is outside the last 5 years
• The reading age is marked as from customers rather than stated by the publisher
• It is written for young readers, so it does not suit an adult looking for historical fiction

3

Greatness by Chinakwe

Sara Chinakwe·9.2/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits a family wanting a 2023 picture book celebrating Black history with short biographies; skip it if you need a full-length novel.

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Pros

• The January 17, 2023 publication date falls inside the last 5 years
• Twenty short biographies at the end add real historical content to the 40 pages
• The book celebrates Black history through a father telling his son their heritage

Cons

• The listed reading age of 1 to 9 years and grade level Preschool to 2 disagree, so check the description before buying
• The reading age is marked as from customers rather than stated by the publisher
• It is a picture book, not a novel for adult or book club readers

4

Cruelty Is the Point by Serwer

Adam Serwer·9.2/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits an adult reader who wants recent essays connecting US history to recent politics; skip it if you need fiction, since this is nonfiction.

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Pros

• Published June 29, 2021, inside the last 5 years, in an expanded version
• The description ties recent US events to patterns across American history
• Print length of 384 pages gives a full length reading experience

Cons

• It is an essay collection, not historical fiction, so it misses the focus keyword's genre
• The description discusses violent and racist events, so it suits an adult reader only
• The listing states no reading age or grade level

5

Mousetronaut by Kelly

Mark Kelly·9.2/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits a very young listener who likes a space adventure; skip it for anything resembling recent historical fiction.

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Pros

• A picture book story about a small mouse flying on space shuttle Endeavour in 2001
• The listing gives a reading age of 2 to 6 years and grade level Preschool to 3
• Print length of 40 pages suits very young listeners

Cons

• Published October 9, 2012, well outside the last 5 years
• The reading age is marked as from customers rather than stated by the publisher
• It is neither historical fiction nor for adult readers

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More picks to compare

• Belle by RamseyA civil rights picture book for readers ages 5 to 8.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 19 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. Four of the five listings give a reading age, marked as from customers, and four give a grade level. The You Come from Greatness listing gives a reading age of 1 to 9 years and grade level Preschool to 2, which do not agree, so check the description before buying. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best historical fiction books last 5 years

Match the reader to the book, not the list title

This list spans picture books, a chapter book and one adult essay collection, so the right pick depends on the reader in front of you. The First Notes and You Come from Greatness suit young readers with real historical topics, while The Cruelty Is the Point is written for adults. For more recent reads in other genres, see our biographies of the last 5 years.

Check the publication date yourself

Not every book here is recent: Mousetronaut was published in 2012 and Soccer on Sunday in 2016. If the last 5 years matter to you, confirm the listing’s publication date before buying. Readers who want historical settings further back can browse our historical fiction set in World War 2.

Read the reading age and grade level together

Listings give the two numbers from different places: grade level comes from the publisher’s block, while reading age is marked as from customers. When they agree, as with Soccer on Sunday (reading age 6 to 9 years, grade level 2 to 5), the range is easy to trust. When they disagree, as with You Come from Greatness, read the description and a sample page before deciding.

Before you buy

• Check the edition and series position: Soccer on Sunday is the 2016 reprint, Book 24 of 27 in the Magic Tree House Merlin Mission series.
• Compare the listed reading age and grade level with your reader; the children’s books here list ages from 2 to 6 years up to 5+ years, all marked as from customers.
• Read the description for genre: The Cruelty Is the Point is an essay collection about US history and politics, not a novel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which of these books is for adults?

The Cruelty Is the Point is the only adult title here, but it is a nonfiction essay collection, not a novel. The other four picks are books for young readers.

Which books were published in the last 5 years?

The First Notes (November 1, 2022), You Come from Greatness (January 17, 2023) and The Cruelty Is the Point (June 29, 2021) fall inside the last 5 years. Soccer on Sunday (May 24, 2016) and Mousetronaut (October 9, 2012) are older.

What reading ages do the children’s books list?

Mousetronaut lists 2 to 6 years, The First Notes lists 5+ years, Soccer on Sunday lists 6 to 9 years, and You Come from Greatness lists 1 to 9 years, each marked as from customers. The You Come from Greatness grade level of Preschool to 2 disagrees with its 1 to 9 reading age, so check the listing.

Still deciding? Our top pickThe First Notes by Andrews

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Related lists

See every fiction list and all book club lists.

More lists: browse our historical fiction set in France, Vikings historical fiction and horror books in the last 5 years.