Historical Fiction
A classification of literature containing stories that the setting and time period are true to the events in the story
The Butterfly by Patricia Polacco
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/6/8/23684543/959562607.jpg?175)
Ever since the Nazis marched into Monique’s small French village, terrorizing it, nothing surprises her, until the night Monique encounters the little ghost sitting at the end of her bed. She turns out to be a girl named Sevrine, who has been hiding from the Nazis in Monique’s basement. Playing after dark, the two become friends, until, in a terrifying moment, they are discovered, sending both of their families into a nighttime flight.
Coming to America: Story of Immigration by Betsy Maestro
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/6/8/23684543/459886696.jpg?161)
The book, Coming to America: The Story of Immigration, provides a historical overview of U.S immigrants from the 1400’s to the year 2000. It includes almost every major nationality that has immigrated to the United States. The book describes in simple and reader friendly manner narrative reasons for immigration, the struggles that are endured, and how the people adjust to their new life and become part of America’s melting pot.
Dreaming of America: An Ellis Island Story by Eve Bunting
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/6/8/23684543/436994611.jpg?212)
This is based on the true story of Annie Moore, begins as the fifteen-year-old girl leaves Ireland with her younger brothers on a ship bound for America. As they cross the Atlantic, hoping to be reunited with their parents in New York, Annie is filled with sadness for the family she left behind and trepidation about the strange new country she's headed for. She goes with along with her brothers in search of her family and her new life.
Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/6/8/23684543/312351721.jpg?199)
There are two boys who are best friends. One of them is black and the other is white. The ones mom is the others boss. Their sons are always together in the summer playing everywhere. John henry however is not allowed to do all the things his friend is allowed to do. They are very similar and want to do everything the same, but some things Joe is the only one who can do them. One day they heard that black people are going to be allowed to do the same thing as white people and go into places with them too. This excites them, and the first thing they want to do is go to the pool. They get there the next day and they see people filling it in with asphalt. This is because they don’t want races to mix. The boys walk home later on in the day and John Henry is very upset, he wants to do everything that Joe can. The two of them walk around and get ice pops, where they both go in the store and get their own.
Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine and Kadir Nelson
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/6/8/23684543/966302344.jpg?207)
Henry's Freedom box is a very powerful book. It starts out with Henry as a child. He is with his mom and she is scared that he will be taken away from her. One day their slave owner told them that he is giving Henry to his son. Henry works in a tobacco place and they are mean to everyone there. Henry finds a girl and they fall in love and get married. They are so happy because they get to live together even though they have different owners. They have a few kids together. One day Henry went to work and someone told him that his family was sold. Henry was so sad. Henry decided to take matters into his own hands to become free. So he has a white friend who thinks that slavery is bad that helps him. He climbs into a box and he gets shipped to Philadelphia. He finally gets a birthday.
How Many Days to America? A Thanksgiving Story by Eve Bunting
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/6/8/23684543/958699193.jpg?198)
How Many Days to America? is a book based on the hardships and triumphs of immigrants coming to America. Eve Bunting created a realistic, sometimes depressing story about the journey that many people must make in order to escape oppression and gain their freedom. It depicts the immigrants sailing on a boat, packed tightly like sardines and battling gunfire, thieves and a broken engine. While the mood of the story seems hopeless and sad, the story concludes with the immigrants arriving in America and be welcomed with open arms on Thanksgiving day.
I Survived the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863 by Lauren Tarshis
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/6/8/23684543/385044114.gif?156)
It's 1863, and Thomas and his little sister, Birdie, have fled the farm where they were born and raised as slaves. Following the North Star, looking for freedom, they soon cross paths with a Union soldier. Everything changes: Corporal Henry Green brings Thomas and Birdie back to his regiment, and suddenly it feels like they've found a new home. Best of all, they don't have to find their way north alone-they're marching with the army. After all this time they have gotten notice that he is being sent out to the Battle of Gettysburg, and is unsure if he can make it that far, and even come back home after that.
John, Paul, George and Ben by Lane Smith
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/6/8/23684543/397987785.jpg?169)
This is a book about the past leaders in United States. It starts with John Hancock, who wrote too big, and was the first one to sign the declaration of independence very big. The next was Paul Revere who had a job of ringing bells. This took a toll on him and made him speak very loud which was bad during his work. It wasn’t until the midnight where he yelled the red coats are coming that people appreciated him. George Washington couldn’t tell a lie and chopped down his father’s cherry tree, and apple orchard, leveled the barn and made kindling of his carriage. Ben Franklin had a saying for every situation. He told everyone, and everyone liked his generosity they came up with one for him. Last was Thomas Jefferson. He lived by his own rules, and did what he wanted to do, and did not listen to the teachers. He found himself in trouble and in the corner to write his own list of reason to work independently forming the declaration of independence.
Junk Man's Daughter by Sonia Levitin
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/6/8/23684543/634283477.jpg)
Levitin’s tale of a hardworking immigrant family pulling itself up to prosperity through hard times is inspiring. Papa’s claim that America’s streets are made of gold carries the family over from the old country to the big city. Mama’s steady optimism takes over when his enthusiasm wears down, and it’s the eldest daughter who spots the discarded bottles and other rubbish in the snowy street that, industriously collected, sorted and sold, sparks the slow but steady growth of a successful business.
Richard Wright and the Library Card by William Miller
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/6/8/23684543/325945151.jpg?159)
Richard was a black boy who had a tough childhood. His mom worked for white people cooking food and his dad cleaned office buildings. They had little money and they moved around a lot. His grandpa would tell him stories about when he was young or the wars or anything, and Richard couldn’t wait until he was able to read books and have his own adventures. As he got older her found work at a place where he cleaned and did errands for white people. He was scared to work with white people but over time it was okay. As he was working all he wanted was to read a book. He knows how to read more than some white people do, but couldn’t have a library card because he was black. On day he got up the courage to ask a member of the place he worked at to use his library card to get books. As time went on he kept getting books and more workers around him noticed it. He had many adventures and learned more about the white people he was working for. He gained much more education by reading, and when it was time to leave he felt like one of them even getting a handshake by the worker who gave him the card to use.
Rose Blanche by Roberto Innocenti
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/6/8/23684543/164832702.jpg?167)
In wartime Germany, Rose Blanche witnesses the mistreatment of a little boy, and follows the truck that takes him to a camp. Secretly, Rose Blanche brings him and other children food. She travels this way almost every day and takes food from her home to give it to the children. People are losing money and people are getting thinner, except the man in charge he is still fat. She walked into the woods one day where she saw no one except soldiers. Then there was a shot sound. Soldiers were everywhere around the city. Rose’s mom waited for her every day until the spring came.
Sara, Plain, and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/6/8/23684543/921472479.jpg?162)
Sarah, Plain and Tall is a simple story of a family that needs a mother and of the woman who gradually fills this need. It is not a tale of wild action or frightful events. Instead, it emphasizes the humanity of characters who yearn to be loved but fear they may be unworthy of love. The novella focuses on honest emotion and portrays characters attempting to cope with complex feelings. Sarah, Plain and Tall is popular with young readers, who enjoy its vivid recreation of a different era and appreciate MacLachlan's understanding of the universal emotional needs of young people.
The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/6/8/23684543/808945567.jpg?166)
In 1960, Ruby, a young African-American girl, entered a whites-only school in New Orleans. Even though she had to pass through crowds of angry protesters, Ruby bravely walked into the school. Every day for months, Ruby persevered. White parents pulled their children out of the school, and Ruby and her teacher were alone in the classroom. Still, Ruby and her family would not give in.
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/6/8/23684543/188654925.jpg?181)
This story is about a little girl named Ruthie, who lives in the Appalachian mountains with her mother and father. One year, Ruthie’s family gets to pick out the Christmas tree for her town! Ruthie and her father explore the mountainside until they find the perfect tree. To remember which tree they like the best, they wrap Ruthie’s red hair bow around the top of the tree and wait to cut it down so it will grow more before the winter season. However, Ruthie’s father is shipped off to war before he is able to cut it down with her. While Ruthie’s father is gone, Ruthie is chosen to play the angel in the church’s Christmas pageant, but her mother has no money or materials to make Ruthie’s costume. Ruthie and her mother still participate in the Christmas spirit and the best gift of all is brought home to them.