Historical Fiction and Nonfiction

Book TalksHistorical Impact on the Reader

Mrs. Cameron’s 8th grade Reading

Historical Fiction or Nonfiction

These are books set in a time period in the past. This can be in the distant past or the more recent past, but it is not set present day.

Although, some books can have a present day narrator who tells the story through a form of flashbacks or time travel. These types of books usually spans more then one genre, such as historical fiction/fantasy.

Example:

The Devil’s Arithmetic: The main character is a teen in present day who does not appreciate her families religious customs. She is then transported, in a dream, back to the day her family is taken to a concentration camp. She learns the struggles her family went through to survive, and is later transported back to present day with a better understanding and appreication of her heritage.

Historical Impact

• How has the historical elements of the novel impacted your enjoyment and understanding of the text?

• Places to look for historical impact:• Setting

• Characters

• Conflict

Setting

• What is the setting of the story? • Where does it take place?

• In the hull of a ship, on a plantation, on a battlefield, on a freedom riders’ bus…

• What is the time period?

• Middle Ages, during the Civil War, in the 1960’s…

• How does it impact the story plot? How does it drive the story? Do you know your history? Do you know the outcome already as the reader?

Historical Characters

• Do the characters have “period” names?

• Do the characters use language that gives you (the reader) insight to the time period?

• Do the character perform actions or duties that are historical in nature?• Loading a musket, using a butter turn or driving a horse drawn

wagon

Impact on the Reader

• How has the historical setting, characters and conflict impacted your understanding and enjoyment of the story?

• What did you learn?

• What connections did you make?

• Could your story be told during a different time period?

• Did the historical background hinder you from understanding or enjoying the story?

• Did you need more background knowledge or the time period to enjoy the book?

Historical Conflict

• Is the main conflict in the story based on a historical event?• Such as: war, segregation, historical nature disasters, historical

movements or events

• Do real historical facts drive the conflict and the characters’ motives?

Good Historical Teen Reads

Book Reflection Assignment

• Students are to write a five paragraph essay on the historical impact their book had on them as a reader. The essay should include:

• An introduction paragraph that include the title of the book, the author, and the historical period

• A three paragraphs one setting, characters and conflict

• A conclusion paragraph that includes your rating of the book (out of 10) and a suggestion of what type of reader would enjoy this book.

Introduction paragraph

• Include the title of the book, the author and the historical period/where the main setting took place

• Include a sentence summarizing the historical impact of the book

• End the paragraph with a sentence that introduces the three topics of your body paragraphs: the setting, characters and conflict

• The Devil’s Arithmetic written by Jane Yolen is a historical fiction novel set in 1945 Poland.. The historical period of World War II drove the storyline of the novel. The story tells the tale of a teenage girl, Hannah Stern and her grueling and heartbreaking struggle to survive a Jewish concentration camp.

• Through the detailed setting, well done character development and suspenseful conflict building the reader understands what it means to be a Polish, Jewish citizen in 1945 Europe.