Well, 'The Red Tent' is a historical realistic fiction book that reimagines the story of Dinah from the Bible in a more feminist way, set in an ancient Near East context. 'All the Light We Cannot See' is set during World War II and follows the lives of a blind French girl and a German boy. It beautifully weaves historical events with the personal stories of the characters.
Sure. 'Cold Mountain' is an excellent choice. It's about a Confederate soldier's journey back home during the American Civil War. The characters and their struggles feel very real within the historical context. Then there's 'The Help' which focuses on the lives of African - American maids in the 1960s Mississippi. It gives a vivid picture of the racial and social situation at that time.
One great historical realistic fiction book is 'The Book Thief' by Markus Zusak. It's set during World War II and tells the story from the perspective of Death. Another is 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee, which deals with racial injustice in the American South in the 1930s. 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens is also a classic, depicting the French Revolution.