Historical fiction presents stories set in notable time periods of history from the perspective of fictional characters living during that era. It often depicts actual historical events through these characters' eyes. Historical fiction has developed from the romantic movement in the 19th century as a way for readers to escape the present. While earlier works tended to idealize the past, modern historical fiction aims to provide a more authentic understanding of history from ordinary people's point of view. Consistently good writers in the young adult historical fiction genre include Laurie Halse Anderson, Tracy Chevalier, Christopher and James Lincoln Collier, Mildred D. Taylor, Karen Cushman, Jennifer Donnelly, Scott O'Dell, and Ann Rinaldi

1. Historical FictionLisa DoyleLaurie Johnston

2. WhatisHistorical Fiction?

3. Definition:Historical fiction presentsreaderswith a story thattakes place during a notable period in history, and usuallyduring a significantevent in thatperiod. Historical fiction oftenpresentsactualeventsfrom the point of view of fictional people living in that time period.In somehistorical fiction, famouseventsappearfrom points of view not recorded in history, withfictionalcharacterseitherobserving or activelyparticipating in theseactualevents.--fromWikipedia

4. Historicalnovelsoften tell a lively story with a sense ofimpending danger, mystery, suspense, or romance.Historical fiction includesmysteries, comedies,adventures, realisticproblem stories, and manyother genres.(Nilsen, p. 244)Characteristics:tics

5. ‘’Historicalnovelsallow us – attheir best they force us – to make connections and to realizethatdespairis as old and as new as hope, thatloyalty and treachery, love and hatred, compassion and crueltywere and are inherent in humanity, whetheritbe in ancientGreece, ElizabethanEngland, or post-WorldWar I Germany.’’--Nilsen p. 244

6. Development:Historical FictionDeveloped from the romantic movement of the early 19th century. Appeals to the romantic desire to escape from the present. Historical fiction before World War I tended to be idealized and filled with patriotic sentiment. Historical fiction today attempts to reassess and understand the past rather than glorify it. Current trends in historical fiction spotlight ordinary people and give a sense of history from their perspective.(Brown 2000)(Nilsen,p. 276)

7. Common Topics

8. WesternsWill Rogers Medallion Award

9. American Revolution

10. U.S. Civil War

11. World Wars

12. The Holocaust

13. Vietnam War

14. Civil RightsMovement

15. QualityHistorical Fiction tells a good story

16. conveys the flavor of the historical period

17. authentically captures the people of the period, their values, and their habits uses dialogue to make the characters sound authentic but not artificial faithfully uses historical knowledge to avoid distorting history fairly and sensitively portrays different sides of the compelling issues of the period gives us insight into contemporary problems as well as helps us understand the problems of the past --Brown 2000

18. Consistently Good Writers of Young AdultHistorical FictionLaurie Halse AndersonFever 1793 tells the story of 14-year-old Mattie during the yellowfeveroutbreakin Philadelphia. Mattiestruggles to keep thefamily coffee house open, but whenMattie’smotherbecomesill, Mattie tries to escape.Tracy ChevalierGirl with a Pearl Earringis about 16-year-old Griet who must work to support herfamily. Sheishired by the Johannes Vermeer family, but isimmediatelydisliked by the wife and daughter. Vermeer paintsslowly and produces few pieces of work,soheisoften in debt. Griet growscloser to the painter as she mixes and prepareshispaints, and Vermeer uses Griet as a model for hismostfamous painting.

19. Christopher and James Lincoln CollierThesetwobrothersspecialize in historical fiction. Their best-knownnovel, MyBrother Sam is Dead, comesfrom the time of the Civil Warand was a NewberyAward book. The books The Bloody Country and The Winter Hero continue thestory.Mildred D. TaylorTaylor’sownfamilyhistoryprovidedmaterial for herprizewinningseries of books. The Land won the 2002 Coretta Scott King Award. It waswritten as a prequel to the earlier books Song of the Trees, Roll of ThunderHearMyCry, Let the Circle Be Unbroken, and The Road to Memphis. This series of books tells the story of the Logan family, African American landownersnear Vicksburg, Mississippi.

20. Karen CushmanCushman has chosen to write about girls embarking on journeys to discoverthemselves. One of her books, Catherine CalledBirdy, is the diary of a 14-year-old daughter of a knightwhosefeistyand witty observations bringthe 13th century to life. Her book, The Ballad of Lucy Whipple, tells the story of CaliforniaMorning Whipple whoisdragged by hermotherfrom Massachusetts toLucky Diggings, California, whereshestrikesitrich in an unexpectedway.Jennifer DonnellyDonnelly has a single historicalnovel but one of the best. A Northern Light isbased in part on the sensationalmurder of Grace Brown, whose body wasfound in Big Moose Lake in the Adirondack Mountains. Mattie, the main character, takes a job as a waiterat the lakeresort. Hereshemeets Grace Brown, a resortguest. Grace leaves a pack of letterswithMattiebeforeshegoesboatingwithherboyfriend. Grace asksMattie to burn the letters if shedoes not return. Grace, in fact, does not return.

21. Scott O’DellIsland of the Blue Dolphins and Sing Down the Moon bothPresent positive and original portrayals of young NativeAmerican Womenwhosufferat the hands of white settlers inthe middle to late 1800s. O’Dellwas a pioneer in featuringstrongyoungwomen in thesetwo books, and within the last couple of decadesseveral good writers have followedhis lead.**In 1982, the Scott O’DellAward for historical fiction wasestablished.Ann RinaldiRinaldi’snovel, Wolf by the Ears, tells the fictional story of Sally Hemmings’sfamily. Sally was a mulatto slave in Thomas Jefferson’shousehold. Somehistoriansbelievethat Jefferson fatheredseveral of herchildren. Rinaldi’s bookimpliesthisistrue, but the question isneverreallyanswered. Most of Rinaldi’s books focus on the RevolutionaryWar of the Civil War.