The Rhino Keeper Named a 2025 Kansas Notable Book!

Written By Colin Mustful

We’re thrilled to announce that The Rhino Keeper by Jillian Forsberg has been named one of the 2025 Kansas Notable Books! Selected by the State Library of Kansas, this prestigious list honors 15 outstanding titles written by Kansans or focused on Kansas-related topics.

Published by History Through Fiction in 2024, The Rhino Keeper is Jillian Forsberg’s powerful debut novel, based on the incredible true story of a Dutch sea captain and a rhinoceros named Clara who toured 18th-century Europe. Blending past and present, fact and imagination, the novel explores themes of discovery, devotion, and the many forms love can take.

“We couldn’t be more proud of Jillian and her novel for being named among the 2025 Kansas Notable Books,” said Colin Mustful, founder of History Through Fiction. “It’s a well-deserved honor that acknowledges both Jillian’s brilliant storytelling and her unwavering dedication to the craft.”

This recognition adds to the novel’s growing acclaim. The Rhino Keeper is also a finalist for cover design in the Midwest Book Awards and took silver for cover design in the IBPA Book Awards.

Jillian’s second novel, The Porcelain Menagerie, will be released by History Through Fiction on October 21, 2025, with a cover reveal and pre-order campaign launching June 1.

Learn more about The Rhino Keeper, Jillian Forsberg, and our full catalog of titles at historythroughfiction.com/titles.

📚 Congratulations, Jillian!

Colin Mustful

Colin Mustful is the founder and editor of History Through Fiction, an independent press dedicated to publishing historical narratives rooted in factual events and compelling characters. A celebrated author and historian whose novel “Reclaiming Mni Sota” recently won the Midwest Book Award for Literary/Contemporary/Historical Fiction, Mustful has penned five historical novels that delve into the complex eras of settler-colonialism and Native American displacement. Combining his interests in history and writing, Mustful holds a Master of Arts in history and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing. Residing in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he enjoys running, playing soccer, and believes deeply in the power of understanding history to shape a just and sustainable future.

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