Historical fiction relates to all realistic stories that are set in the past. Historical fiction novels provide an opportunity for students to experience events that have occurred in days gone by. Stories can be woven around actual people, places, and events, or authors can use the past as a backdrop without mentioning actual people or places. However, the social activities of the characters, the food they eat, the clothes they wear are described using details accurate to the time period. In addition, a story written by an author about events in their own life might be considered historical fiction for younger people. Furthermore, a story may endure through the ages. For example, a book written in the 1940s might have been current at the time, but would now be considered a historical novel.
Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine
Interest Level: K-3
Reading Level: 2.6
“I’m gonna wrap me up in paper, I’m gonna seal myself with glue, stick a stamp on top of my head, I’m gonna mail myself to you!” And that, is exactly what Henry did...
Henry Brown was a young boy born into slavery. He was a loyal slave and a hard worker. Henry grows up in slavery, marries a fellow slave, Nancy, and has children. However, when his family is sold at the slave auction Henry’s grief is too much for him bear and he cannot force himself to remain a slave any longer. He then decides that his best bet to escape from slavery is to mail himself North, where slavery doesn’t exist. Based on a true story of the Underground Railroad, Henry’s Freedom Box tells the story of Henry “Box” Brown who, in a very risky move, attempted to mail himself to freedom.
This is an inspiring tale of historical events brought to life for students through fantastic illustrations. The images in this book really help bring the emotional aspect of slavery to life. I highly recommend sharing this heroic story with students.
Reviewed by: Tiffany L. Braunel
Candlelight for Rebecca by Jacqueline Dembar Greene
Interest Level: 3-6
Reading Level: 4.2
Rebecca Rubin is the daughter of Russian Jewish immigrants. It’s Christmastime in New York in 1914, and Rebecca’s class at school is singing Christmas songs and making Christmas ornaments. Christmas is a Christian holiday, and Rebecca is afraid of what her family will say when they find out she’s been making Christmas decorations. Rebecca also spends time wondering about her neighbor who is a grumpy old man with homing pigeons on his roof. When he comes down with a cold, Rebecca’s mother makes soup for him, and Rebecca volunteers to care for his pigeons and his cat.
Read this book to find out the creative way that Rebecca handles her Christmas ornament dilemma. The storyline makes one think about people who share a school or a town and how their cultures may be very different. They can find ways to co-exist peacefully while still respecting each others’ way life. The colorful illustrations add a lot of meaning to the story.
Reviewed by: Polly J. LaMontagne
Saving Strawberry Farm
by Deborah Hopkinson
Interest Level: K-3
Reading Level: 3.5
In the summer of 1933, Davey and his sister are sent to the general store to fetch ice. While there Davey helps Miss Elsie with her grocery who in turn tips him with a penny. A penny is just what he needs to buy some caramels or red hots or suckers or tootsie rolls. What to purchase with that penny is a tough call. However, Davey learns that Miss Elsie is going to lose her strawberry farm. His penny becomes far more useful as he uses it to tell people to go to the auction for the strawberry farm to create a penny auction. A penny auction would keep the price on the farm low allowing Mrs. Elsie to get her farm back for cheap. This is a great book to generate discussion about the Great Depression.
Reviewed by: Julie Weideman
Crispin: The End of Time by Avi
Interest Level: 5-8
Reading Level: 4.5
After the death of their beloved friend, Bear, Crispin and Troth wander through the French countryside as they make their way toward Iceland. Starving and needing a respite, they seek refuge at a convent. The nuns there value Troth’s knowledge of the healing powers of herbs, and Troth decides to stay at the convent, leaving Crispin to venture to Iceland alone. Crispin, hiking until he is unsure if he can survive any longer, comes upon a troupe of traveling musicians. At first he is grateful for their help, but he soon discovers their sinister plans. Will he be able to escape and save the small servant boy, too?
Even though I missed reading the second book in the series and spent much of the time wondering what had happened to Bear, this book was a page-turner, just like the first book in the Crispin series. Now I’ll have to go back and read the second one!
Reviewed by Polly J. LaMontagne
The Boy Who Dared by
Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Interest Level: 5-8
Reading Level: 4.9
What was it like in Germany during the rise of Nazi power? Helmuth Hubener is a young boy during the rise of Nazi power in Germany. In the beginning, his patriotism is unwavering. As time goes on, Helmuth sees and feels the rights that are being taken away from the citizens. It is considered illegal to listen to radio stations broadcast outside of Germany. Books are being burned so citizens cannot read them. Neighbors must report each other if they see suspicious activity. Everyone is suspect. The worst part, people are being treated inhumanely. Jews are attacked and their businesses are destroyed. Helmuth’s mother tells him that sometimes silence is how you get through, but Helmuth can’t stay silent.
Reviewed by: Julie Weideman
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
Interest Level: 3-6
Reading Level: 5.6
Eleven-year-old Elijah was the first child born free to the settlement in Buxton, Canada. Elijah has grown up free and educated in Canada, just across the border from Michigan where slavery still exists. Most of the children in the settlement have no real concept of slavery and enjoy playing games of “Slavers and Abolitionists” to pass the time. Elijah is a responsible child beyond his years, although his parents are disappointed with how “fragile” he is (overly sensitive). When an unfortunate circumstance forces Elijah to cross into the United States to help another resident of Buxton free his enslaved family, Eli’s freedom becomes at risk. When Elijah is faced with choices not even a grown man could make easily he shows the reader what it means to show extraordinary courage and have hope in humanity.
This is a great story for our students. It really demonstrated how a community can pull together for the common good and what it really means to help each other out. Elijah is brave beyond his years and gives us a glimpse at both the pain and hope of those in slavery.
Reviewed by: Tiffany L. Braunel