2. Historical Fiction Characteristics –Good story –Accurate historical setting –Re-creation of the past: events occurred or could have possibly occurred –Plot deals with themes: loyalty, revenge, love, hate, good, evil, life, death, honorable causes –Characters portray the impact of the time period on their lives –Often main character is a young person involved in a cause related to that time period and faces challenges similar to those faced by young people today

3. What to look for! Excellent research Genuine historical information An interesting story with an accurate description of what it was like to live during that time period Authentic descriptions of clothing, food, transportation, customs, language, manners Reader should develop a sense of history

4. Henry’s Freedom Box Caldecott Honor Book Ellen Levine(author) Kadir Nelson(Illustrator) Daring Escape from slavery Based on the story of Henry “Box” Brown

5. Bud Not Buddy Newbery Award winning historical fiction Christopher Paul Curtis-also wrote The Watsons go to Birmingham Set at the height of the Great Depression 1930s Orphan searching for his father Rules for survival

6. Johnny Tremain -Esther Forbes –Setting Boston 1773-1775 –Apprentice to silversmith-seriously injured –Becomes a heroic revolutionary –Paul Revere, John Adams, John Hancock

7. The Challenges of Historical Fiction Reading Rockets http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interv iews/avi/http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interv iews/avi/

8. Titles/Authors Number the Stars –Lois Lowry (Holocaust, WWII Little House in the Big Woods- Laura Ingalls Wilder (Pioneer Life) A Family Apart -Joan Lowery Nixon (Orphan Trains-Late 1800s) Crispin: The Cross of Lead- Avi (Middle Ages)