Chapter 9: Historical Fiction

Summary

Depending on the reader, historical fiction can be viewed very differently. What one reader considers historical fiction may not be the same for another reader. This happens because historical fiction is any story that is set in the past. Older readers might consider 100 years to be the past but younger children might think of a few hours being the past. It’s very important that we take students ages into account when we label our books that are set it a different time. Another important thing to remember is that when children read historical fiction they are able to live through the experience of another and imagine what life was like to live in another time.

Adapted from Charlotte Huck's Children's Literature: A Brief Guide we are better able to understand what criteria is used when evaluating historical fiction. The criteria includes:

·         Does the book tell a good story that effortlessly blends the history in the story itself? Like the story Dash by Kirby Larson.

• Are the facts in the story of the historical period accurate? How can you be sure if these facts are accurate, use reviews to determine and verify the authenticity and accuracy of the story. Another great resource is CBC.
• How are the value of the time brought to life? Readers should be able to identify the difference between our modern values and those of the past.
• In the story everything is consistent and matches with the social milieu?. For instance, the clothes the characters are wearing, the music they might sing or listen to, and the use of transportation.
• Is the theme universal in nature? Does it relate to contemporary readers? Students must be able to relate to what they are reading. All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren is an example of a historical novel that deals with the theme of how men use power in the political arena—a universal and eternal problem.
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Reflection

Historical has been personally one of my favorite sub-genres. I have always been interested in the past and love to learn about it. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry is the reason I became addicted to WWII/holocaust literature/history at such a young age. I believe as a future librarian it is important to expose students to this type of literature because they are able to really live vicariously through these books and not only learn how others live in a different time but they are able to learn about universal issues and can relate to these issues. I believe that with this information and using the criteria to help recommended historical fiction books is a great resource to have as a librarian.