Historical fiction
allows us to see into experiences from people and events of the past while also
getting to see the author’s personal spin or understanding of it. These pieces
of literature tell a story of the past where the characters could have or did
exist, the setting is authentic, and the plot is believable. Historical fiction
is also when an author writes about their own experiences that can be beneficial
for students as well. These are generally firsthand accounts even thought they
are written in a fictional format. Both help a reader to understand and connect
with history and historical events.
Textbooks
are not always effective in making connection between people and the past. Historical
fiction consists of imaginative stories grounded in the facts of the past. The benefits
of exposing students to historical fiction literature are that historical
information is presented in a way that engages students to a sense of realism
which they can understand. Historical fiction books can teach any portion of
history. Although
textbooks provide a sequential highlighting of history over time, historical
fiction books provide more insight to specific events.
I
was never a great fan of history, much less reading historical fiction books. I
could never really relate to the time or people in history, so it was difficult
to understand anything to do with history. One thing I did become interested in
was reading and learning on the Holocaust. I became interested when we were
given historical fiction books to read on the Holocaust. We didn’t only read
textbooks but I had the opportunity to read a book that I could relate to more
and learn at the same time. I think it is great to use historical fiction as an
addition to history lessons as it brings
history to life and to some it brings it to life in a more engaging way. When
using this type of literature in the classroom, I think a lot of discussion is
beneficial. It helps create a deeper comprehension and also allows students to
present their personal feelings regarding it.
Historical Fiction Books for your Classroom Library