Historical Fiction

Books that fall into the category of historical fiction are neither fantasy nor nonfiction, but they are realistic in the sense that they could happen. The setting, characters could have or do exist, and the plot is believable. However it is important to remember that historical information can be gained, a book of historical fiction is first and foremost a story.

Authors achieve a sense of realism in a variety of ways:

• The use of a distinctive narrative format, such as a journal or diary entries.
• An authentic setting and dialogue of the time period
• The characters responses to historical events 

I think that it is important for children to learn the variety of ways that an author creates a sense of realism in historical fiction. By a child knowing this they are ultimately able to write their own piece of literature in historical literature.  Knowing the difference between real and fictional history is important as well. Children need to know if they are reading a non fiction piece of history or historical fiction. Once they have archived what they are reading they can start to figure out what parts in the historical fiction are based upon a true event and what are made up.

There are benefits to consider when using historical fiction in a classroom such as the following:

• Conveys a sense of life as it was lived
• Happens to ordinary people 
• Broadens perspectives 
• Helps children understand the present and future are linked to actions of the past

I find it exciting that students learn what life was like in a diffident time period or how an event took place and what the people who experienced it felt. It is important for people to know history so it does not repeat itself, but even more so to really understand what the people of that history had to go through. There are so many neat things that could be done in a classroom with historical fictions, from acting out or going on field trips. 

Some categories of historical fiction are the following:

• Ancient Times 
• Medieval times 
• Colonial Times
• Revolutionary Era
• Early Frontier Era
• Civil War
• Post-Civil War
• World War I
• Great Depression 
• World War II
• Post World War II
• Civil Rights Movement 

These different categories are all covered throughout grade school, some more focused on than others, however  they are all covered. What I focus on though is how effective were students taught about these different times. I believe students are more likely going to be able to retain the information of history if they do a hands on activity. A field trip to Salem, a medieval bazaar, or a trip to a battle ground if time permits. Students are going to remember the past better this way than reading out of a textbook and being lectured on.

Top Ten Read Alouds: Historical Fiction 

1. Blood on the River:Jamestown 1607 by Elisa Carbone (2006, Viking)
2. Catherine, Called Birdy, by Karen Cushman (1994, Houghton Mifflin) 
3. Fever, 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson (2000, Simon & Schuster)
4. Esperanza Rising by Pam Munzo Ryan (2000, Scholastic) 
5. I Am the Mummy Heb-Nefert by Eve Bunting (1997, Harcourt) 
6. The Ledgend of Bass Reeves:Being the Ture Ficional Account of the Most Valiant Marshal in the West by Gary Paulsen (2006, Random House) 
7. The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick (2009, Scholastic) 
8. One Crazy Summer by Rita Garcia Williams (2010, HarperCollins) 
9. Whittington by Alan Armstrong (2005, Random House) 
10. Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy (2006, Cavendish)