Historical Fiction For Tweens

Historical Fiction for Tweens LIBR 264 Karen Crow Donna Leaf Kathryn Whitehouse

What is a “tween”, anyway?
For the purposes of this assignment, we combined definitions from several sources to create a “tween” range of between 8-9 years old to 13 – 14 years old, or roughly in grades 4 through 8.

And what about “historical fiction”?
“ Historical fiction is realistic fiction set in a time remote enough from the present to be considered history. Although historical fiction stories are imaginary, it is within the realm of possibility that such events could have occurred. In these stories, historical facts blend with imaginary characters and plot. The facts are actual historic events, authentic period settings, and real historical figures” (Lynch-Brown & Tomlinson, p. 169).
Lynch-Brown, C. & Tomlinson, C.M. (2008). Essentials of children’s literature (6 th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education.

Criteria for Selection
What criteria for selection did you use?
Plot & Setting
Characters
Authority
Historical Accuracy & Cultural Authenticity
Factual & Situational Realism
Emotional & Social Realism

How we approached the project:
Each of us approached the project from a different angle:
Kathryn focused on Young Americans;
Karen researched international, post-Columbus settings;
Donna covered Early Man to Early Modern History.

Long ago . . .

Maroo of the Winter Caves
- by Ann Turnbull
Turnbull, A. (2004). Maroo of the winter caves . New York, NY:
Houghton Mifflin Co..
Set at the end of the last Ice Age, Maroo is a story of survival against the worst odds. Delayed in leaving for the tribe’s winter habitat, Maroo’s family becomes trapped on the Great Ice Plain. It falls to Maroo and her little brother, Otak, to try to cross the treacherous White Mountain and bring back help. But when the two become separated, Maroo is faced with a heartbreaking choice – to stay and try to find her little brother, or to continue alone and hope she reaches the winter camp in time to save her family.

The Sign of the Chrysanthemum
By Katherine Paterson
Paterson, K. (1973). Sign of the chrysanthemum, the . New York, NY:
HarperCollins Publishers.
Orphaned by the death of his mother, Muna finds himself
finally free to go in search of his father, the mysterious
samurai he will recognize by “the sign of the
chrysanthemum”. In his travels, Muna meets the ronin ,
Takanobu, Kawaki the sandamaker and his beautiful
daughter, Akiko, and the swordsmith Fukuji. But when
Takanobu comes to him with a plan to steal the sword being
forged for the samurai Muratani, Muna must choose which path
his life will take.
Time period: Medieval Japan, during the time of the Genji

Crispin: The Cross of Lead
By Avi
Avi. (2002). Crispin: the cross of lead . New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.
The boy known only as Asta’s son has lost the only person he could call kin, his mother. But if that weren’t a great enough blow, he soon discovers that there are things about his origin that have been concealed from him, including the name he was given at birth – Crispin. And now he has been accused of theft – a crime meriting death in 14 th century England -- and must flee for his life.
A Newbery Medal winner
Time period: Medieval England

A Murder for Her Majesty
By Beth Hilgartner
Hilgartner, B. (1986). Murder for her majesty, a . New York, NY:
Houghton Mifflin Co.
Hidden in a tree, Alice Tuckfield bears silent witness to the murder of her father. Fleeing through the cathedral town on her way to seek help from Lady Jenny at Chellisford Hall, she is accidentally knocked over by two of the choir boys, who take her back to the cathedral for a meal to make amends. What begins as a simple effort to give her shelter for the night soon turns into a plan to disguise Alice and hide her amongst the choristers, as a prank on the choirmaster. But when Alice learns that her own life will be in danger if she attempts to reach Chellisford Hall, the deception becomes part of a deadly game.
Time period: during the reign of Elizabeth I of England (1533 – 1603)

Morning Girl – by Michael Dorris
Dorris, M. (1992). Morning girl . New York, NY: Hyperion.
Morning Girl, her parents and her little
brother, called Hungry, live with the
other members of their tribe on an island in
the Caribbean. The two take turns telling
the story of their life on the island, including
how they survive the storm that destroys
their hut, and why Hungry becomes known
as Star Boy. The final narrative is Morning
Girl’s description of the pale strangers she
encounters while swimming – the first
Europeans to arrive.
Winner of the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction

Welcome to America!

Esperanza Rising
By Pam Munoz Ryan
Munoz Ryan, Pam (2000). Esperanza rising. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0-439-12041-1.
This story features a girl fleeing political unrest in
her native Mexico and resettling in the California
Central Valley. Esperanza must come to grips with the
loss of a once privileged life in the years preceding the
Great Depression. The harsh reality of hard work and
harder times ahead resonates especially with the
California Central Valley.
Pam Munoz Ryan is a native of the California Central Valley and has deep roots in its agricultural contributions. This semi biographical tale based on Munoz Ryan’s grandmother has won numerous honors and awards including the Pura Belpre Award.

Under the Blood Red Sun
By Graham Salisbury
Salisbury, Graham (2005). Under the blood red sun. New York: Random House. ISBN: 0-440-41139-4
Young Tomi lives in Oahu with his fisherman father, housekeeper mother, and elderly
grandfather. While grandfather is still loyal to Japan and keeps their heritage
and the family samurai sword sacred, Tomi loves all things American, especially
baseball. When Pearl Harbor is bombed, life becomes exceedingly difficult to Tomi’s
whole family. Native Hawaiians and white people believe there are too many Japanese
in Hawaii and believe all Japanese to be sympathizers with the enemy. When his
father and grandfather are taken in custody, it falls to Tomi to withstand the intense
humiliation and mistreatment at the hands of bullies while maintaining the family
honor.
Winner of the Scott O’Dell Award for historic fiction.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond
By Elizabeth George Speare
Speare, Elizabeth George (1958). The witch of Blackbird Pond . Boston: Houghton Mifflin. LCCN: 58-11063.

Katherine “Kit” Tyler most cope with the upheaval
of trading a pleasant childhood in sunny Barbados
for young adulthood in 1687 Connecticut with her
Puritan aunt, uncle, and cousins. Grieving the loss of
her loved grandfather and missing her comfortable
plantation life, Kat’s upbringing and her own impulsive
behavior immediately put her at odds with her new family.
Embarrassed at being a little different, and a bit
offended that others would presume to judge her and find
her lacking, Kat has little idea her opinions could be
considered so dangerous. Worse, Kat’s friendship with a
neighboring lady derided as the town witch could put her
life in danger.
This title is an ALA Notable Book and a winner of the Newbery Medal

How I Became an American
By Karin Gundisch – translated by James Skofield
Gundisch, Karin (2001). How I became an American / translated by James Skofield. Chicago: Cricket Books. ISBN: 0-8126-4876-7
Ten year old Johann shares his first hand narrative how his parents made the difficult decision to leave their home in Eastern Europe for Ohio. The continuous struggle for a decent living wears on the young family. Despite having a good education Johann’s father still struggled to provide for enough hard cash to pay for things like shoes. But life in the United States brings its own struggles and some losses from which it is difficult to recover. With the resilience of a child, cheerful Johnny deals with culture shock, makes new friends, works to support the family, and learns to speak, read, and write English.

Is It Night Or Day? A Novel of Immigration and Survival 1938 – 1942
By Fern Chapman Schumer
Chapman, Fern Schumer (2010). Is it night or day? A novel of immigration and survival 1938-1942. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux. ISBN: 978-0-374-17744-7
Twelve year old Edith Westerfeld came from a long established and respected family in a small town south of Frankfurt and life was comfortable. The few Jews in their town had always been treated cordially. All that changed when the Third Reich ascended to power and stripped Jews of their citizenship and their civil liberties and encouraged Germans to persecute the people they once called friend. Unable to travel as a family, Edith travels alone to America with a ship of other refuge children. Settling with her Uncle and his wife in Chicago, Edith copes with shock and depression and struggles assimilate to an America that also demonstrates animosity to blameless children and Jews. Trying to make sense of her loss, Edith makes a conscious decision to survive

Elsewhere on the Planet

The Secret Garden by Burnett, Frances Hodgson
When Mary's parents die, she must move from her home in warm, sunny India to live with her uncle, surrounded by the foggy English moors. Here, she finds a house of secrets, a house of the unknown. Who is crying in the darkest hours of the night, when she's too full of grief to do so? Why are there so many locked doors, and furtive glances among the staff? Mary cannot solve these puzzles alone, but how much help can she expect from a half-trained chambermaid and her tales of a garden hidden away on the manor grounds?

Ties That Bind, Ties That Break: a novel. By Namoika, Lensy
Before she can fully understand what is at stake, Ailin rebels against a cultural practice. Her rebellion will change her future, or possibly destroy it: will she follow nearly a thousand years of tradition, and bind her feet? How will she survive, when only the lowest class of women must rely on their own labor to earn a living? How will the death of her father affect the family? Beyond home, family and tradition, Ailin's community and even her government struggle with the same problems in very different ways.

Carrie’s War By Bawden, Nina
When Carrie and her brother Nick are evacuated from London to the Welsh countryside during World War II, they are put in the care of the strict and authoritarian Mr. Evans, and his younger sister, "Aunty Lou". Carrie and Nick escape the grim world in brief visits to Albert, a refugee taken in by Mr. Evan's estranged elder sister. In the Gotobed house at Druid’s Bottom, she finds warmth, love, whimsy... and the legend of the screaming skull. Eventually, Carrie chooses a side in the family feud, but it costs her everything. Thirty years later, she returns to the village, and the feud she has never forgotten.

When My Name Was Keoko By Park, Linda Sue
War. Oppression. Subversion. Identity. What do they mean? To Keoko, a girl in Korea of 1940, they mean secrets. Even her name is a secret, because the ruling Japanese enforce laws banning Korean language, dress, and culture. As Keoko grows up, she and her brother must find their own paths through a labyrinth of conformity and resistance in a landscape shaped by thirty years of systematic destruction. When will Keoko be able to tell her secrets, and to whom?

Passage To Freedom: The Sugihara Story By Mochizuki, Ken
Five-year-old Hirogi has no concept of war, or desperation, until he wakes to find the consulate where he and his family live, surrounded by Polish Jews desperate to escape Lithuania. His father is the Japanese vice consul, and it is his father who explains the existence of the crowd... and the risks they pose to Hirogi and his family. A simple family meeting will change the fate of those living inside the consulate, and more than six thousand others.

Chantrea Conway’s Story: A Voyage From Cambodia In 1975 By Pastore, Claire
Chantrea Conway lives a typically urban life with her Cambodian mother and photographer father, who happens to be an American. When the Khmer Rouge liberate Phnom Pehn her father is away on a short assignment, so her mother hides her in her grandparents' home, but the safety is ephemeral. Totally unprepared for the agrarian life expected -and brutally enforced- in the 'education camp' she and her grandparents are sent to, Chantrea struggles to survive the brutality and near-starvation diet while keeping her education and heritage secret. When she and her family are slated for death, they must escape and make the arduous walk to Thailand with only one hope left... Is Chantra's American father still alive, and can he help them obtain American visas in order to reach safety?

Kiss The Dust By Laird, Elizabeth
At first, Tara feels lonely but safe in her family's new home in the Zagrosh mountains; she is far from her old school, her best friend Leila... and the soldiers who murdered a teenaged boy in the street for reading a Kurdish newspaper.
The war did not seem real to her before she saw the boy murdered, but soon afterward, she learned that her family is deeply involved with the pesh murgas , the Kurdish freedom fighters. It is for this reason that they had to flee their home.
With Iraqi fighter pilots bombing their own people, the mountain village is no longer safe for the family. Iran promises only a hard life in refugee camps and cultural norms enforced by religious fanatics. Where will they go now that the village is no longer safe from bombs and soldiers?

Hot links
Adamson, Lynda G. A reference guide to historical fiction for children and young adults Publisher, Date.
Bowker (2009). Books in Print Professional [Internet database]. New Providence NJ: http://www.booksinprint.com/bip/default.asp
CA Dept of Ed Website: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/rl/ll/ap/litsearch.asp

The CLCD Company, LLC (2009). Children's Literature Comprehensive Database [Internet database] . Bethesda, MD: http://clcd.odyssi.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/member/csearch.htm
LOS ANGELES PL KIDS LIT LIST: http://www.lapl.org/kidspath/books/genre/historical.php

Print resources
Cole, Pam B. Young Adult Literature in the 21 st Century. Publisher, date. Chapter 6: Historical Fiction. Pp 237-278
Lesesne, T. (2006). Naked reading. Uncovering what tweens need to become lifelong learners. Portland, Maine: Stenhouse Publishers.
Lynch-Brown, C. & Tomlinson, C.M. (2008). Essentials of children’s literature (6 th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education.

For More on Historical Fiction
Visit us on the Web –
Donna: Books and More For Tweens
https://sites.google.com/site/booksandmorefortweens/
Karen: Auntie Karen’s Tween Book Corner
https://sites.google.com/site/264crowstweenbookcorner/
Kathryn: Cats On My Books
http://catsonmybooks.wordpress.com/

Historical Fiction For Tweens

by Donna Leaf

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