Children's Historical Fiction
A great list of Historical novels for children. |
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McKissack, Pat As three young cousins explore their grandmother's attic, they find memories that recount her experience as a ten-year-old in Nashville, Tennessee in the 1960's. After being refused service in a restaurant, Abby is humiliated and angered. These emotions inspire her to assist an older cousin who is involved in non-violent lunch counter sit-ins.
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Aksomitis, Linda As an immigrant in a small Canadian community, Linna is horrified at having to live in a sod house and be a part of a community looked down on by the townspeople.
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Morpurgo, Michael Twelve-year-old Lliy and her family are evacuated from their coastal village so that the Allied forces can rehearse for D-Day. When her beloved cat Tips refuses to be evacuated, Lily's efforts to retrieve him from the danger zone bring her into contact with a young African American soldier, Adie, with whom she forms a bond.
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Cannon, A. E. Twelve-year-old Charlotte and her father have left Wales to join other Mormons in settling Utah. When one of the women on the trail dies giving birth, Charlotte offers to care for the baby, a task that proves to be more difficult than she thinks it will be.
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Porter, Pamela Paige Twelve-year-old Emaline must deal with a family that is falling apart. When her beloved dog, Prince, runs into the path of a tractor, Emailine chases after him, and her father accidentally runs over her. Even worse, from Emaline's point of view, is that in his grief and guilt, her father shoots Prince and leaves Emaline and her mother on their own. Pamela Porter, poet, has written this powerful novel in verse. Winner of many awards.
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Avi Accused of a murder he didn't commit, Crispin is an orphan on the run for his life in Medieval England. Helped by a huge man named Bear, Crispin uncovers the truth about his own identity, an identity that puts his own life in constant peril. Look for the sequel Crispin: At the Edge of the World when you have finished this one; both are gripping adventures! |
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Almond, David It's 1962 and the world is on the brink of nuclear destruction. For Bobby Burns though, this is just one of many things on his mind. His father is seriously ill; a cruel schoolmaster is forcing him to take a stand that could ruin his education; and a fire-eating strongman with mystical powers has moved into the neighborhood.
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Erdrich, Louise Omakayas loves her home on an island in Lake Superior, but the arrival of the starved and desperate members of her tribe makes everyone fear for their home. Could the white people break their treaty and force them to move?
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Kinsey-Warnock, Natalie Living in a lighthouse in the 1800's, Quila finds a baby washed ashore shortly after her own mother dies. Celia, the new member of the family, restores love and hope to Quila and her father and draws another stranger to Devil's Rock.
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Nickel, Barbara Although they are born centuries and continents apart, Catarina and Hannah share a passion for music. By reaching out to eachother and connecting, they find the strength to face the challenges in their lives and the courage to be the best they can be. Winner of the Sheila Egoff Book Prize.
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Dickinson, Peter It's two hundred thousand years ago. A small group of children are cut off from their kin, the Moonhawks, when they are driven from their good place by violent strangers. The young Moonhawks are brave, clever and warm-hearted, and all three traits are crucial to their survival.
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Napoli, Donna Jo In 1892, nine-year-old Dom's mother puts him on a ship leaving Italy, bound for America. He is a stowaway, travelling alone with nothing of value except for a new pair of shoes from his mother. In the turbulent world of homeless children in Manhattan, Dom learns street smarts and not only survives, but thrives by starting his own business. |
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McCaughrean, Geraldine |
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Meyer, Carolyn When Kristina was born her father declared that his child be raised as a prince. Upon her father's death, six-year-old Kristina was proclaimed King of Sweden. From the beginning, her life followed her father's plan. She had the finest tutors, learned fencing and horseback riding and studied military tactics. Although Kristina regined for only 10 years, she lived for another 35 and was one of the most influential figures of her time. One of the Royal Diaries series, this novel is set in 1639.
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Going, K. L. Over the summer between fourth and fifth grade in 1976, timid Gabriel and his feisty African American friend Frita, vow to tackle their fears together. While Gabe faces his irrational fear of spiders, among many others, Frita deals with prejudice from the KKK, whose members are active in their small Georgia town.
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Jocelyn, Marthe Mable's small town life in turn of the century Ontario may be humdrum, but she is never dull. She tries to tell her story in proper, writerly language but can't suppress her hilarious views of the small-minded people trying to keep young ladies in their place. Events move fast as Mable is liberated from being stuck in a servant-like role to being an inspired rebel for a good cause. Winner of TD Canadian Children's Literature Award.
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Miles, Victoria Living in the Italian immigrant community of Vancouver at the brink of World War II, Mariangela is eleven years old and longs to play the piano. Imagine her mortification when she receives an accordion as a gift. Worse yet, her humiliation is made public when she hauls her accordion to lessons in a red wagon.
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Lowry, Lois Writing for her grandchildren, Kate remembers her childhood in rural America in the early 1900's. Her moving memories of a friendship with a misunderstood boy with autism and her dream of becoming a doctor are interwoven with details about her family life, the social and class norms, current events and the injustices of that time and place.
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Park, Linda Sue A delightful work of historical fiction set in 12th century Korea. Young Tree Ear's life is changed forever when he accidentally breaks a piece of pottery made by Min. To make amends he begs to work off his debt to the foul-tempered pottery master because Tree Ear's secret desire is to become a potter himself. 2002 Newbery winner. |
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Gilson, Jamie In 17th Century Holland, Lizzie manages to live an adventurous and exciting life in spite of the strict Puritan family who have taken her in. When she befriends the son of the family who employ her as a cook, she sees how life is different for people living outside her insular community of English pilgrims.
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Hesse, Karen
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Yep, Laurence Ursula always wanted to see the circus. That is, until she caught smallpox. Now all she wants to do is hide the scars on her face. But Ah Sam, her parents' Chinese cook, brings a magical circus to town and finds a way to give Ursula the confidence she needs to face her friends again. In return, Ursula finds a way to make Ah Sam happy by creating the first Chinese New Year's celebration that Whistle, Montana, has ever seen.
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Crisp, Marty Twelve-year-old Sam, a passenger on the Titanic, volunteers to help care for the dogs in the ocean liner's kennel and becomes fast friends with the Irish setter who belongs to the ship's owner.
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Giff, Patricia Reilly Meggie Dillon's life has been turned upside down since she has had to leave her home in Rockaway, New York and move to Willow Run, Michigan. It's 1944 and the Second World War is raging. Meggie is missing so much - her grandfather who still lives in Rockaway, her brother who is fighting in the war and her beloved sea and seashore.
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