Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks

Geraldine Brooks, a Pulitzer-Prize winning author has carved out quite a name for herself in the realm of historical fiction. With Caleb's Crossing, she solidifies her reputation for bringing historical events to vivid life.

Caleb Cheeshahteaumauck, the first Native American to graduate from Harvard (in 1665,) grew up on the island of Martha's Vineyard, off the coast of Massachusetts. That is the fact that Brooks bases her story on, imagining the world in great detail during the 1660's Puritanical era. The story is narrated by Bethia, a lively and smart young woman who resides with her father, brother and baby sister following the deaths of her mother and twin brother.

Bethia, enjoying her brief moments of freedom while she can first encounters Caleb in the woods at the age of 12. They form a tentative if forbidden friendship, sharing the same inquisitive nature and love of learning. Eventually, Caleb comes to fall under the tutelage of Bethia's minister father, where he excels in preparation for his admission to Harvard.

Brooks does a masterful job of creating the world of the Puritans in the 1660's, and unfolds a rich and intelligent story of friendship, culture clash and honor. The research done for this book is self-evident, as Brooks even utilizes vocabulary of the day to lend an air of authenticity. As with most stories involving natives and their interactions with their white brethren, the book has a heartbreaking ending...but one worth the reading nonetheless.

Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell

I've said it before and I will say it again: I cannot get enough of this author! In this particular book, her most recent, she takes on the history of Hawaii from it's first known contact with white men through the annexation of Hawaii as a United States territory. Part of Vowell's brilliance lies in her ability to take a topic that I never realized I was interested in and present it in a fun yet educational manner.

Focusing primarily on the effect that New England missionaries and their prodigies had on the islands and their people, Vowell examines the implications of the culture clashes on both the ancient and contemporary Hawaii. Her irreverent style of writing and ability to see beyond the black and white history in order to present a subject through her very unique perspective are gifts that not many non-fiction writers possess. If you are even a little bit interested in history, Hawaii, or just looking for a quick way to feel smarter, give Sarah Vowell a try.