1600-1700

1600

The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood (1998)
A young orphan boy is ordered by his master to infiltrate Shakespeare's acting troupe in order to steal the script of "Hamlet", but he discovers instead the meaning of friendship and loyalty. (J BLACKWO)

1600

The True Prince by J.B. Cheaney (2002)
Newly apprenticed to Shakespeare's theater company, Richard and Kit are drawn into a series of crimes involving the members of Queen Elizabeth's court. (Y CHEANEY)

1601

The Leopard Dagger by Constance Fecher (1973)
In London, a thirteen year old boy, abandoned as a baby, has a chance to help the struggling Globe Theater and look for clues to his identity. (J FECHER)

1602

Shakespeare's Scribe by Gary Blackwood (2000)
In plague-ridden 1602 England, a fifteen year old orphan boy, who has become an apprentice actor, goes on the road with Shakespeare's troupe, and finds out more about his parents along the way. Sequel to The Shakespeare Stealer. (J BLACKWO)

1609

Our Strange New Land: Elizabeth's Diary, Jamestown, Virginia, 1609 by Patricia Hermes (2000)
Nine year old Elizabeth keeps a journal of her experiences in the New World as she encounters Indians, suffers hunger and the death of friends, and helps her father build their first home. (J HERMES)

1609

The Serpent Never Sleeps: A Novel of Jamestown and Pocahontas by Scott O'Dell (1987)
In the early 17th century, Serena Lynn, determined to be with the man she has loved since childhood, travels to the New World and comes to know the hardships of colonial life and the extraordinary Princess Pocahontas. (Y ODELL)

1609

Surviving Jamestown: The Adventures of Young Sam Collier by Gail Langer Karwoski (2001)
Sam Collier, a twelve-year-old, serves as page to John Smith during the relentless hardship experienced by the founders at the first permanent English settlement in the New World. (J KARWOSK)

1609-1610

A Lion to Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla (1981)
Left on their own in 17th century London, three impoverished children draw upon all their resources to stay together and make their way to the Virginia colony in search of their father. (J BULLA)

1610

The Untold Tale by Erik Christian Haugaard (1971)
In 17th century Denmark a young orphan seeks his fortune during the wars with Sweden. (J HAUGAAR)

1611

Season of Promise by Patricia Hermes (2002)
In 1611, ten-year-old Elizabeth continues a journal of her experiences living in Jamestown, as her brother Caleb rejoins the family, a new strict governor comes to the colony, and her father considers remarriage.
(J HERMES)

1613

Burning Issy by Melvin Burgess (1994)
In 17th century England, twelve year old Issy is accused of being a witch and struggles with the belief that she actually does have strange powers. (J BURGESS)

1614

Stink Alley by Jamie Gilson (2002)
Living in Holland in 1614 with the harsh Puritan leader, William Brewster, and working for the family of a mischievous Dutch boy named Rembrandt, a spirited twelve-year-old orphan girl struggles to do what is right. (J GILSON)

1619

The House on Stink Alley: A Story about the Pilgrims in Holland by F. N. Monjo (1977)
Young Love Brewster describes the experiences of his family and other Pilgrims living in Leyden in the years before the Mayflower sailed for the New World. (J MONJO)

1620

Constance: A Story of Early Plymouth by Patricia Clapp (1968)
Fourteen year old Constance does not share her father's enthusiasm for their new life in Plymouth, but in keeping a journal finds an appreciation for the New World. ( J CLAPP)

1620

The Dangerous Voyage by Gilbert Morris (1995)
Trapped in the year 1620 after a trip in an experimental time machine, fourteen year old twins Danny and Dixie set sail for the New World on the Mayflower and discover some surprising things about the faith and life of the pilgrims. (J MORRIS)

1620

The Journal of Jasper Jonathan Pierce, a Pilgrim Boy, Plimoth Plantation, 1620 by Ann Rinaldi (2000)
A fourteen year old indentured servant keeps a journal of his experiences on the Mayflower and during the building of Plimoth Plantation in 1620 and 1621. (J RINALDI)

1620

A Journey to the New World: The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple by Kathryn Lasky (1996)
Twelve year old Mem presents a diary account of the trip she and her family made on the Mayflower in 1620 and their first year in the New World. (J LASKY)

1620

On the Mayflower: Voyage of the Ship's Apprentice and a Passenger Girl by Kate Waters (1996)
A twelve year old apprentice and a seven year old passenger experience the first voyage of the Mayflower. (J WATERS)

1620

This New Land by G. Clifton Wisler (1987)
Ten year old Richard Woodley describes his trip to the New World aboard the Mayflower and tells about the first year spent by the Pilgrims at Plymouth. (J WISLER)

1620

Three Young Pilgrims by Cheryl Harness (1992)
Mary, Remember, and Bartholomew are among the pilgrims who survive the harsh early years in America and see New Plymouth grow into a prosperous colony. (J HARNESS)

1621

Guests by Michael Dorris (1994)
Moss and Trouble, an Algonquin boy and girl, struggle with the problems of growing up in the Massachusetts area during the time of the first Thanksgiving. (J DORRIS)

1621

Shadows in the Glasshouse by Megan McDonald (2000)
While working as an indentured servant for a Jamestown glassmaker in 1621, twelve-year-old Merry uncovers a case of sabotage. (J MCDONAL)

1625

A Boy and His Bear by Harriet Graham (1996)
Dickon rescues his bear cub friend from certain death at the hand of bear catchers in Elizabethan England. (J GRAHAM)

1627

Jahanara: Princess of Princesses by Kathryn Lasky (2002)
Beginning in 1627, Princess Jahanara, first daughter of Shah Jahan of India's Mogul Dynasty, writes in her diary about political intrigues, weddings, battles, and other experiences of her life. Includes historical notes on Jahanara's later life and on the Mogul Empire. (J LASKY)

1628

Two Chimneys by Mary Z. Holmes (1992)
Katherine does not want to leave her family's tobacco plantation in Virginia after learning of her betrothment to an English heir. (J HOLMES)

1630

The Dark Frigate: Wherein is Told the Story of Philip Marsham… by Charles Boardman Hawes (1934)
A young man dares not return to England, in the time of King Charles and Oliver Cromwell, after his ship is taken over by pirates and he becomes a member of their crew. (J HAWES)

1630

I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino (1965)
Born a slave, Juan mixes colors and prepares canvases for the artist Velasquez and becomes his assistant, companion and lifelong friend. (J TREVINO)

1630

Voyage to a Free Land, 1630 by Laurie Lawlor (1999)
Based on the true story of the ship the Arbella which left England in 1630 as part of one of the largest migrations of Puritans seeking religious freedom in the New World. (J LAWLOR)

1633

The Primrose Way by Jackie French Koller (1992)
Sixteen year old Rebeka joins her missionary father in the New World in the 1630's. She befriends the Pawtucket chief's niece and begins to wonder why her friend's people need the Puritan's idea of salvation and civilization. (Y KOLLER)

1640s

Harrow and Harvest by Barbara Willard (1974)
The Medley family and their ancestral home, Mantlemass, are drawn into the conflict of the English Civil War. (J WILLARD)

1641

A Messenger for Parliament by Erik Christian Haugaard (1976)
A young boy becomes involved in the early events of the English Civil War that unseated Charles I bringing Cromwell and the Puritans to power. (J HAUGAAR)

1646

Kate Crackernuts by K.M. Briggs (1979)
A high-spirited girl tries to shield her innocent stepsister from a witch's wrath during the turbulence caused by the 17th century wars between the Scots and the English. (J BRIGGS)

1647

On the Day Peter Stuyvesant Sailed into Town by Arnold Lobel (1971)
Finding the appearance of New Amsterdam a total disgrace, Peter Stuyvesant begins issuing no-nonsense proclamations to rectify the situation. (E LOBEL)

1654

One Foot Ashore by Jacqueline Dembar Greene (1994)
Arriving alone and destitute in Amsterdam, sixteen year old Maria Ben Lazar finds refuge and friendship in the household of the artist Rembrandt and continues to pursue her desperate search for her parents and younger sister. Sequel to Out of Many Waters. (J GREENE)

1654

Out of Many Waters by Jacqueline Dembar Greene (1988)
Kidnapped from their parents during the Portuguese Inquisition and sent to work as slaves at a monastery in Brazil, two Jewish sisters attempt to make their way back to Europe to find their parents, but instead become part of a group founding the first Jewish settlement in the United States. (J GREENE)

1659

Witch Child by Celia Rees (2001)
In 1659, fourteen-year-old Mary Newbury keeps a journal of her voyage from England to the New World and her experiences living as a witch in a community of Puritans near Salem, Massachusetts. (Y REES)

1665

Nell of Branford Hall by William Wise (1999)
Nell Bullen recounts the horror of the Great London Plague of 1665 and how the "Circle of Death" was drawn around her village to keep the disease from spreading to neighboring towns. (J WISE)

1665

A Parcel of Patterns by Jill Paton Walsh (1983)
Mall Percival tells how the plague came to her Derbyshire village of Eyam, how the villagers determined to isolate themselves to prevent further spread of the disease and how three-fourths of them died before the end of the following year. (Y PATON W)

1677

At the Sign of the Star by Katherine Sturtevant (2000)
In 17th century London, Meg, who has little interest in cooking, needlework, or other homemaking skills, dreams of becoming a bookseller and someday inheriting her widowed father's book store. (J STURTEV)

1683

Molly Bannaky by Alice McGill (1999)
Relates how Benjamin Banneker's grandmother journeyed from England to Maryland in the late 17th century, worked as an indentured servant, began a farm of her own, and married a freed slave. (E MCGILL)

1687

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare (1958)
Kit Tyler left her luxurious home in Barbados to visit her Puritan aunt in colonial Connecticut. While there, she became friendly with Hannah, the witch of Blackbird Pond. (J SPEARE)

1689

Bonnie Dundee by Rosemary Sutcliff (1983)
In exile in Holland, Hugh Herriot recalls the exploits of his youth as a follower of John Graham Dundee who tried to win back Scotland for the Catholic King James and whose death during a victorious battle proved to be a final blow for the Jacobite cause. (Y SUTCLIF)

1692

Beyond the Burning Time by Kathryn Lasky (1994)
When accusations of witchcraft surface in her small New England village, twelve year old Mary Chase fights to save her mother from execution. (Y LASKY)

1692

A Break with Charity: A Story about the Salem Witch Trials by Ann Rinaldi (1992)
While waiting for a church meeting, Susanna English, daughter of a wealthy Salem merchant, recalls the malice, fear, and accusations of witchcraft that tore her village apart in 1692. (Y RINALDI)

1692

The Ghosts of Glencoe by Mollie Hunter (1966)
Caught up in the struggle between Highland clansmen and the King's soldiers in 17th century Scotland, a young officer gives an account of the Massacre of Glencoe during which he chooses between protecting his own life and career or saving the lives of five hundred people. (J HUNTER)

1692

Hester Bidgood: Investigatrix of Evill Deedes by E.W. Hildick (1994)
Thirteen year old Hester Bidgood and her friend, Rob Macgregor, investigate the stoning and branding of a kitten in a New England town caught in the grip of witchcraft rumors. (J HILDICK)

1692

Tituba of Salem Village by Ann Petry (1964)
Tituba, taken from her own land to be a slave in New England, finds herself at the center of the Salem Witch Trials where she is condemned for consorting with the devil. (J PETRY)

1692

Witches' Children: A Story of Salem by Patricia Clapp (1982)
During the winter of 1692, when the young girls of Salem suddenly find themselves subject to fits of screaming and strange visions, some believe that they have seen the devil and are victims of witches. (J CLAPP)