Historical Fiction

Historical Fiction is a genre of literature that creates a relatable fictional story while being accurate to the historical time period.  Someone who reads historical fiction learns something about history and the time period they are reading about as well as relating to the characters and situations the author creates to make his/her story come to life.

Elijah of Buxton

Christopher Paul Curtis

Elijah is the first child born into Freedom in Buxton, Canada a settlement of runaway slaves just over the border in Detroit.   He is eleven years old and is often confused when adults try to say things and he doesn’t understand what they really  mean.   His Mother has been trying to help him not to be so fragile, he tends to cry easily people often trick him with wild stories.  Elijah is a responsible, hard working boy, helps everyone out in the community.  Many of the residents of Buxton have either lost family members due to slavery, or are trying to save money to buy back their family members.  The community has ways of helping runaway slaves and hiding their identities.   As the story progresses, Elijah becomes a key player in discovering a thief and helping save the child of some runaway slaves.   This humor in this story mixed in with the grave situations Elijah faces will make you laugh, cry, and reflect on what it means to be free and to have hope.

Interest Level:  3-6

Reading Level:  5.6

Lexile:  1070

Stephanie Karker

The Convicts

by Ian Lawrence

Tom is a young boy living in London with his parents.  He witnessed his sister drown in the Thames when she was six and Tom was eight.  His Mother lives in constant mourning for his little sister, and is Father is a sailor who is sent away to debtor’s prison.   Tom runs away from home to help his family earn money and ends up finding a priceless jewel.  Tom meets up with a grave robber, and they uncover a body that looks just like Tom.    He is mistaken for another boy called Smasher and is accused of killing a blind man.  He is sentenced to seven years and is held on the Lachesis, a ship used for housing delinquent boys.   He makes a friend named Midgely, who he protects from a brutal gang of prisoners, and they plot their escape.    The end will surprise you, I hope you read this exciting, heart warming story of a young boy’s struggle to survive in a cruel world.

Interest Level:  5-8

Reading Level:  5.2

Lexile:  720

Stephanie Karker

The Boy in Striped Pygamas

 by John Boyne

When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move from their home to a new house far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall fence running alongside stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people he can see in the distance.

Reading level: Young Adult

 Reviewed by Arlette Leyva

Turtle in Paradise
by Jennifer Holm

The story takes place in Key West during the Great Depression in 1935.  Turtle is a young girl that is sent to Key West, FL to live with her aunt, uncle and cousins and discovers some family she never new existed before.  As her boy cousins adjust to her they start to become friends and a mystery and adventure follow.  It is an endearing story of dreams people have and what family means.  Holm's use of details from the time period make the setting realistic with mention of the radio shows, funny cartoons, actors, movies, and authors of the time. Ernest Hemingway, a famous Key West resident, makes a cameo appearance as well.  Another nice feature is the Author's Notes section at the end that explains and provides pictures of the historic information and people the book mentions.

Suggested grade level: 3-6

Reading level: 4.1
Lexile: 610

Jessica Schmitz

Ninth Ward
by Jewel Parker Rhodes

Lanesha lives in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans with Mama Ya-Ya, the woman who birthed her and took her in after her mother died.  Lanesha has the ability to see and talk to ghosts, which is something that makes her an outcast among her peers.  We get to learn a bit about Mama Ya-Ya and Lanesha in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina.  After Katrina hits and Lanesha and Mama Ya-Ya make it through the storm in their house Mama Ya-Ya, who has an intuitive nature feelsl like something is not going to be OK, even though they survived the storm.  Sure enough it begins to flood and Lanesha and Mama Ya-Ya, along with her friend TaShon and his dog need to find a way to survive the flooding.  A work of fiction but portrays the horror that those left in the Ninth Ward must have felt trying to survive the flooding they experienced and the way they felt trapped and helpless, and left to die, after Katrina hit and the flooding began.

Suggested grade level: 5-8

Reading level: 4.2
Lexile: 470

Jessica Schmitz

Henry's Freedom Box
by Ellen Levine

Henry's Freedom Box is the story of Henry Brown, a young slave boy who grows up dreaming of freedom.  His dream seems even more impossible when, as an adult, his wife and children are sold off at the slave market.  Until one day, he decides to mail himself to freedom, to Pennsylvania. After a topsy-turvy journey, Henry arrives to Pennsylvania and declares the date of his arrival, his birthdate.  This was a story of endurance and perseverance.  

Suggested grade level: K-3

Reading level: 1.9
Lexile: 380