It’s time to get hooked on historical fiction. Hold up though: We’re not talking about a stack of extra reading your World History teacher gave you to prepare for the final. We mean hidden histories – they’re stories that unearth parts of the past that you probably never learned about in class, and give you a whole new perspective of the world. Read on for 6 of our favorites that will keep your turning pages long into the night!

1. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Ruta Sepetys’ instant New York Times bestseller follows the intersecting lives of four young people at the end of WWII and pulls back the curtain on the greatest maritime disaster in the history of the world. If you thought you weren’t a historical fiction reader, this book is the one that will change your mind.

2. The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry

We had no idea that Medieval France was this intense. Dolssa, a branded heretic, meets matchmaker and tavern-keeper Botille when she’s on the run. But how long can they avoid the wrath of the church?

3. Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee

Andy and Sammy are headed to the California Gold Rush by way of the Oregon trail…except Andy and Sammy are actually Annamae and Samantha, girls in disguise who’ll find out it’s not easy to hide on the open trail.

4. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

This tale of strength, love, and survival follows the journey of 15-year-old Lina after one night in 1941 when Soviet officers force her family apart and into Siberian work camps.

5. The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

Discover what happened at the 1936 Olympics when nine working-class boys from the American West challenged the German rowing team.

6. The Forbidden Orchid by Sharon Biggs Waller

When disaster strikes and the fate of her family becomes thrown into question, Elodie ventures from Britain to China in 1861 to find an extremely rare orchid that may save them all.

Ready to unearth these stories? Start reading each of them in the sampler below!

Want more hidden histories? See our full list in this infographic!

And check out some of our favorite historical fiction novels here!