Historical Fiction
"Historical fiction books—whether they are picture books, transitional books, or novels—may have characters who are either imaginary or who actually lived during the time period. Settings also may be real or imaginary. The plot events may be documented historical events or they may be fictional. If they are fictional, it means that the author created the events for the telling of the story. The fictional characters, settings, and plot events must be portrayed authentically as if they actually could have happened." ReadWriteThink
The History Channel
Amelia and Eleanor Go For a Ride
by Pam Munoz Ryan
"On a brisk and cloudless evening in April 1933, Amelia and Eleanor did the unprecedented: They stole away from a White House dinner, commandeered an Eastern Air Transport jet, and took off on a glorious adventure--while still dressed in their glamorous evening gowns!" Amazon
Read Aloud
Boys of Wartime Series - Daniel Boone
by Laurie Calkhoven
"Twelve-year-old Daniel cheered when American colonists dumped English tea into Boston Harbor to protest taxes. But King George sends soldiers to punish the rebellious colonists, and friends turn on one another to protect themselves. Daniel soon learns how to slip vital information across British lines to his father and General Washington. He must face his fear and put his life in danger. But, to a Patriot, liberty is well worth any risk.!" Amazon
by Patricia Polacco
"The two boys were putting her in danger, two Union soldiers in Confederate territory! They had to get back to their outfits. Scared and uncertain, the boys were faced with a hard decision, and then marauding Confederate troops rode in. This is a Civil War story passed from great-grandfather to grandmother, to son." Amazon
Books
The Boy from Ellis Island
Letters from Rifka
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Number the Stars
Blast from the Past
The Trail of Tears
18 Penny Goose
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Historical Fiction Books
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
The Book of the Maidservant by Rebecca Barnhouse
Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party by Ying Chang Compestine
A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story by Linda Sue Park
A Drowned Maiden’s Hair: A Melodrama by Laura Amy Schlitz
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth Speare
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
A True and Faithful Narrative by Katherine Sturtevant
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
Jefferson’s Sons by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
The Magician’s Fire - The Case of the Missing Moonstone by Simon Nicholson
The Detective’s Assistant Kate Hannigan’s
Holocast Books - Young Adult
The Nazi Officer's Wife by Edith Hahn Beer - autobiography and events from Edith's Hahn's life - non-graphic and suitable for young adult readers.
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* The Soldier with the Golden Buttons by Miriam Steiner-Aveizer - use caution for sensitive readers
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* The Final Journey (Reise Im August) by Gudrun Pausewang - educating without overwhelming.
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* Briar Rose by Jane Yolen - "reconstructing the truth from odd snippets of information is not only intriguing and appealing, it also honors Gemma's inability to tell her own tale".
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* A Past Without a Shadow (1999) by Zohar Shavit - "pleading for understanding from a younger generation of Germans: the generation that has been forced to bear what Gillian Lathey describes as 'The Impossible Legacy' of 'inherited responsibility'.
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* I Have Lived a Thousand Years: Growing Up in the Holocaust (1997) by Livia Bitton-Jackson- "present the victim as perfect results in problems in portraying the events truthfully".
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* I am David by Anne Holm - "novel is historically inaccurate"
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Read Aloud
Check These Out
Authenticating Number the Stars Using Nonfiction Resources
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Grades: 3rd - 8th
"As German troops begin their campaign to "relocate" all the Jews of Denmark, 10-year-old Annemarie Johansen's family takes in Annemarie's best friend, Ellen Rosen, and conceals her by pretending she's part of the family. Then, through Annemarie's eyes, readers watch as the Danish Resistance smuggles almost the entire Jewish population of Denmark — nearly 7,000 people — across the sea to Sweden". Goodreads