Why Read Historical Fiction?

The category of historical fiction in the field of children’s literature includes stories that are written to illustrate a time period or deliver information about a specific time period or an historical event. Reading historical fiction promotes academic equity and teaches psychology, geography, history, and English literacy.

"A Bird on Water Street" by Elizabeth O. Dulemba

In historical fiction, background is the most important literary element. Because the author is writing about a particular time in history, the information about the time period must be accurate and authentic. In order to achieve that the writer must research the time period comprehensively. He must learn how people lived, what they ate, what kinds of homes they had, and what artifacts were a common part of their lives. Historical fiction novels 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 realistically as if they actually could have happened.

A classic example of historical fiction is “Johnny Tremain”. The primary setting is Boston in 1773. The book contains both real and fictional characters, real and fictional settings, and real and fictional events. The book is successful because of author Esther Forbes’s extensive historical research and knowledge of the time period and her skillful blending of history and fiction into a believable story.

Best Children Historical Fiction Books

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/650.Best_Children_s_Historical_Fiction

https://www.bookworm4kids.com/Historical_Fiction.html

"Johnny Tremain" by Esther Forbes

It is 75 years old book for middle grades but still 

one of the best historical fiction novels about the American Revolution.