Historical Fiction, stories set in times past, relate human experience in the natural world. Factual accounts of actual events serve as a basis for creative writers who weave an imaginative story within the structure of reality. Writers of historical fiction add to our understanding of what life might have been like for the people who lived during a particular historical period.  Scroll down to see the Booklist for this genre.

Criteria for selecting titles in the historical fiction collection began with the most crucial factor in evaluating this genre: setting.  Authenticity of setting goes beyond place to include well-crafted language which reflects the period, characters who behave according to the standards of the times, and worthwhile themes that have universal appeal.  The reader must be able to see the place and recognize accurate geographical and historical detail. Mildred Taylor describes the rural South so vividly that readers can see Cassie Logan walking along the country roads in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. They felt cramped and frightened as they share the crowed attic space with the girls hiding from the Nazis in The Upstairs Room.

Language in high-quality historical fiction reflects the period and the ways of speaking which were widely used at the time of the story. Language changes over time and although writers avoid archaic expressions that contemporary readers would not understand, they retain the flavor of the period’s speech. Dialogue in Rosemary Sutcliffe’s The Light Beyond the Forest reflects the dignity and courtesy of King Arthur’s day.

Characters in historical fiction must be believable; they portray feelings and concerns that the reader would have felt under similar circumstances. For example, when Matt is left alone in a pioneer cabin facing danger and fear in The Sign of the Beaver; the reader shares his pain as he learns to cope with danger and loneliness. Anna and Caleb hope that the mail-order bride, Sarah, Plain and Tall, who comes to the Nebraska prairie, will stay with their family. The reader shares their hope.

Worthwhile themes permeate outstanding historical fiction. Today’s readers need to know that throughout history people believe in the values they fought to defend and that the heritage they have received is to be honored. Perhaps this explains why historical fiction titles have won more institution awards than any other genre. Many of these acclaimed titles are included in the Core Collection.

Recommended Placement Level: The following chart lists the titles by our level designations.   A column is provided for you to indicate placement or grade level based on your student population and your class for a given year.  You can print this page and work with your school librarian and the reading coordinator to identify books that are challenging for your students, easy for your students, or right on grade level.  We also suggest that you have several books available and let your students select a book based on their interest and/or favorite genre.  Oftentimes, your students will stretch to the level of the book because their interest is so high.  To confirm the selection, you might choose to have your student(s) read a page aloud.

Ethnic Group:  Books with Ethnic themes provide numerous opportunities for readers to learn more about themselves as well as children from other ethnic groups. Many of the titles were chosen because they reflect both the cultural traditions and contemporary experiences of the ethnic groups in our multicultural society. These titles are indicated with the following:  As-A for Asian American Af-A for African American; Je-A for Jewish American; Na-A for Native American; Hi-A for Hispanic American.