I think constraining the story to historical figures did this story a disservice - or maybe this is not the story for this particular setting. Having to include Actual Events felt like shoe-horning in plot points that didn't need to be there (or play out that way), and the timescale gives the story breadth at the cost of depth. The lack of depth (and the age of the characters when the story begins) gives the novel a solid YA vibe. Readable but really nothing to sink your teeth into.