Chapter 8: Historical Fiction

   What is historical fiction?  Well in short it is when we combine some fact and some fiction.  Not just any facts, but maybe some events that took place.  For example if I were to write a story about 911,  I could incorporate some real facts like dates and times, and places that things occurred and combine those with some fiction, like characters that I could use to bring to life the tragedy of the event.  Or I could take a real person like Albert Einstein and incorporate some of his discoveries or creation ns and fill in with blanks with believable fluff.
   Some of the books that I have read that are historical fiction are: Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine, Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis, Meet Kaya, An American Girl Kaya 1764 (American Girls Short Stories) by Janet Shaw, and The Watsons go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis.  These books again take some fiction and some historical events and combine them to create a story.  Christopher Paul Curtis is my favorite!  His characters are so funny!  Kenny in The Watsons go to Birmingham is a middle child that is growing up during the Civil Rights Movement.  Although this subject is sensitive and painful it is important that we bring these events to light, and Curtis does a wonderful job doing that through Kenny.  Kenny acts like a normal boy trying to avoid the wrath of his big brother. 
   The best things about historical fiction is that our students are learning history without even trying.  We don't have to stand in front of a board and say "Blah, blah, blah!"  We can read a story that peeks their interest and make our students want us to explain what the civil rights movement is and why it started.  Why weren't blacks and whites treated equally? Reading stories that interest our class on historical figures and events is the ultimate hook!