Allison Cook Rachel Hodges

 How much time must pass for a book to be considered historical fiction?  Does the book need to be about a specific historical event?  Do the characters need to represent a famous person from history?

 Form of fiction  Based on historical events or events that are accurate for the time period  Authentic setting  Characters portrayed in realistic manner  Some characters may be actual people from history, but the story is fictional  Artistic mix of fiction and historical fact

 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 (Johnson)

ElementCriteria SettingAre authentic details provided to bring the setting to life? PlotAre the conflicts in the story appropriate for the time period in which the story is set? CharactersAre the characters believable for the time period in which they lived? StyleDo historically authentic language patterns keep with the mood and characterization of the story? ThemeAre the themes representational of larger historical concerns? Historical Accuracy and Cultural Authenticity Does the story accurately present historical information and cultural details? Does the story authentically reflect the culture depicted? AuthorityIs the author an insider who is writing about his or her own culture or an outsider? (Johnson)

 Piques kids curiosity  Levels the playing field  Presents a personal side to history  Offers multiple viewpoints (Scholastic)

 Authors of historical fiction and teachers must take into consideration the maturity of the child.  Ensure the child can understand and cope with the meaning of the story.  “The past can not be ‘tidied up’ in such a way as to mask the truth, accuracy, and importance of historical events.” (Johnson, 215)

TextbooksHistorical Fiction Important sources of background information Dramatic elements engage children Broad coverageHelps to develop historical empathy Can be more accurateEasier to relate to

Great Depression Grades A twelve-year-old boy named Moose moves to Alcatraz Island in 1935 when guards' families were housed there, and has to contend with his extraordinary new environment in addition to life with his autistic sister.

World War II Grade 9 and up 2006 Trying to make sense of the horrors of World War II, Death relates the story of Liesel--a young German girl whose book-stealing and story-telling talents help sustain her family and the Jewish man they are hiding, as well as their neighbors.

Turn of 20th Century Grade 8 and up 2003 In 1906, sixteen-year-old Mattie, determined to attend college and be a writer against the wishes of her father and fiancé, takes a job at a summer inn where she discovers the truth about the death of a guest. Based on a true story.

Seventeenth Century Grade 9 and up 1850 This tale of an adulterous entanglement that results in an illegitimate birth, reveals concerns with the tension within society.

Revolutionary War Grade 7 and up 1974 Recounts the tragedy that strikes the Meeker family during the Revolution when one son joins the rebel forces while the rest of the family tries to stay neutral in a Tory town.

Civil War Grade 6 and up 1990 During his service in the Civil War a young Union soldier matures to manhood and finds peace of mind as he comes to grips with his conflicting emotions about war.

Discussion What role do you think historical fiction should play in education - specifically the social studies, world cultures, and history classroom?

Johnson, D. (2009). The joy of children's literature. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Lindquist, T. (n.d.). Retrieved from historical-fiction. historical-fiction Teen historical fiction. (2013). Retrieved from torical_Fiction. torical_Fiction