Sunfire is a series of young adult historical romance novels published by Scholastic Books in the 1980s. They are currently out of print.
Background The books were written by a group of authors, including Vivian Schurfranz (9), Jane Claypool Miner (6), Candice F. Ransom (6), Mary Francis Shura (6), Jeffie Ross Gordon (2), and Willo Davis Roberts (3).
Structure of the novels The Sunfire books contained two themes: history and romance. Each book featured a teenage girl who experienced a particular period or event in American history. At the same time, with very few exceptions, the girl was torn between two potential lovers. The girl was typically ahead of her time in ideas and actions and the suitor she almost always chose was the one who approved of or accepted her actions. The cover art always featured the main character flanked by her two potential lovers, along with scenes from the historical event or period that was the setting for the book.
Series +Titles in the Sunfire series listed in order of publication#TitleAuthorSettingRef1AmandaCandice F. Ransom1846; Oregon Trail2SusannahCandice F. Ransom1864; American Civil War3ElizabethWillo Davis Roberts1692; Salem Witch Trials4DanielleVivian Schurfranz1814; War of 18125Joanna Jane Claypool Miner1836; Lowell, Massachusetts textile mills.6 Jessica Mary Francis Shura 1873; Kansas.7Caroline Willo Davis Roberts 1852; California Gold Rush.8Kathleen Candice F. Ransom 1847; Great Famine and Irish immigration to the USA.9Marilee Mary Francis Shura 1622; Jamestown Colony.10Laura Vivian Schurfranz 1918; World War I, the suffrage movement, and the 1918 influenza pandemic.11Emily Candice F. Ransom 1900; high society in the Gilded Age.12Jacquelyn Jeffie Ross Gordon 1931; the Great Depression.13Victoria Willo Davis Roberts 1835; the Texas Revolution.14Cassie Vivian Schurfranz 1755; Iroquois Confederacy during the French and Indian War.15Roxanne Jane Claypool Miner 1938; the Golden Age of Hollywood.16Megan Vivian Schurfranz 1867; the Alaska Purchase.17Sabrina Candice F. Ransom 1780; the American Revolutionary War.18Veronica Jane Claypool Miner 1941; the Attack on Pearl Harbor and World War II.19Nicole Candice F. Ransom 1912; Sinking of the RMS Titanic.20Julie Vivian Schurfranz 1868; building of the transcontinental railroad, including the "Last Spike" ceremony.21Rachel Vivian Schurfranz 1910; the Central European migration to the USA and includes the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.22Corey Jane Claypool Miner 1864; American Civil War.23Heather Vivian Schurfranz 1665; the beginning of New York City.24Gabrielle Mary Francis Shura1880; on a Mississippi showboat.25Merrie Vivian Schurfranz1620; Plymouth Colony26Nora Jeffie Ross Gordon1906; 1906 San Francisco earthquake.27Margaret Jane Claypool Miner1886; A midwestern one-room schoolhouse.28Josie Vivian Schurfranz 1861; the 18-month run of the Pony Express.29Diana Mary Francis Shura1803; Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition.30Renee Vivian Schurfranz1888; Great Blizzard of 1888.31Jennie Jane Claypool Miner1889; Johnstown Flood.32Darcy Mary Francis Shura 1900; 1900 Galveston hurricane.
Reception A review by Catherine Bowles, in the journal Children's Book and Media Review of the first 4 books in the series, found the books under researched, formulaic and "of mediocre quality". On the other hand Joyce A. Litton, while conceding that the novels were formulaic, called the series an "ecelent set of historical novels".
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