Please welcome author Deborah Hopkinton who is guest posting with her favorite historical fiction books for kids. She also has a new book out, A Bandit’s Tale, and we’re doing a giveaway too below!
My new book, A Bandit’s Tale, is historical fiction, a genre I’ve loved since childhood. I like being transported into a different time and place and seeing how other writers play with history.
In A Bandit’s Tale, we decided to use historical photographs as part of the design to help convey the setting for young readers. I got the idea for another historical fiction title, The Great Trouble, by reading a nonfiction title, The Ghost Map, about the 1854 cholera epidemic in London.
Perhaps because I also write nonfiction, I have to try hard not to go overboard in weighing the reader down with historical details that don’t pertain to the story. But I do tend to pack a lot into my back matter and author’s notes for those readers curious to know more.
It’s not easy to narrow down my own favorites in this genre. I chose these ten historical fiction titles for young readers (in alphabetical order by author) in part because of my personal connections to them.
Top 10 Best Historical Fiction Books for Kids
1. The Watsons Go to Birmingham- 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
The story of Kenny and his family’s trip from Flint, Michigan to Birmingham, AL and the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church on September 15, 1963 remains one of the most important civil rights novels ever written for children. When I had the chance to teach children’s literature at Whitman College, where I worked in administration, I chose this book. [chapter book, ages 9 and up]
2. The Year Money Grew on Trees by Aaron Hawkins
This delightful debut novel chronicles the story of a boy and his friends in 1980s New Mexico who turn an abandoned apple orchard into a paying proposition. A perfect read-aloud and great for STEM connections, this is a personal favorite. [chapter book, ages 10 and up]
3. Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
Another classic, this novel in free verse set in the Dust Bowl won the Newbery Medal in 1998. At author visits, I routinely show students photos of a museum hearth that inspired one of James Ransome’s illustrations for our first book together, Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt. Whenever I do, I think about the tragic kitchen accident at the heart of Hesse’s moving novel. [novel in verse, ages 12 and up]
4. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
Set in 1899 Texas, this novel follows the trials and tribulations of Calpurnia Tate, the only girl in a family of six brothers. My favorite parts are her natural history explorations with her grandfather, a follower of Charles Darwin, and the Darwin quotes that grace each chapter. (And yes, I’ve written about Darwin myself, including a nonfiction biography in the Who Was series: Who Was Charles Darwin?) [chapter book, ages 9 and up]
5. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
This Newbery-winning fictionalized account of the Danish resistance was one of my daughter’s favorite books as a child. I had the chance to explore some of the real people who inspired several of the characters when writing my nonfiction title, Courage & Defiance, about the same time period. [chapter book, ages 10 and up]
6. Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
This classic novel about a mail-order bride from Maine, which won the 1986 Newbery Medal, will always claim a place in my heart. As a girl, I grew up in New England, and we sometimes went to the Maine coast. This book came out just as I was beginning my own career as a writer, and it remains an inspiration. [chapter book, ages 8 and up]
7. A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck
This “novel in stories” about two children who visit their grandmother during the summer in rural Illinois won a Newbery honor in 1999. We lived in rural eastern Washington for a time while my two children were growing up, and I have a vivid memory of driving across Washington State with my son while listening to this humorous, heartfelt book. [chapter book, ages 9 and up]
8. Shadow on the Mountain by Margi Preus
Margi Preus won a Newbery honor for her book, Heart of a Samurai, another riveting historical fiction work. Here she takes readers into the World War II occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany. I loved this dramatic story and am reading all I can about this period. In addition to my WWII nonfiction, I’m planning to write an espionage novel set in 1944. [young adult, ages 12 and up]
9. Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein
This searing young adult World War II novel set, in part, in Ravensbrück concentration camp, is another title I had the opportunity to review in galley form for Bookpage. Wein combines compelling storytelling with well-researched details to make an unforgettable reading experience. [young adult, ages 14 and up]
10. Revolution by Deborah Wiles
The second novel in Wiles’s award-winning Sixties Trilogy takes place in 1964 in Greenwood, Mississippi. I love all of Debbie’s work, especially how she has broken new ground with documentary novels that seamlessly combine historical artifacts with amazing and compassionate storytelling. [chapter book, ages 10 and up]
Award-winning master of historical fiction for children Deborah Hopkinson takes readers back to nineteenth-century New York City in her new middle-grade novel. Published in April 2016 for the 150th Anniversary of the ASPCA, A BANDIT’S TALE is a Junior Library Guild selection exploring 19th century New York City immigrant life and social reform movements.
A Bandit’s Tale: The Muddled Misadventures of a Pickpocket by Deborah Hopkinson
Eleven-year-old Rocco finds himself alone in New York City after he’s sold to a padrone by his poverty-stricken parents and forced to leave his small Italian village. While working as a street musician, he meets the boys of the infamous Bandits’ Roost, who teach him the art of pickpocketing, which he finds more lucrative than banging a triangle on the street corner. But when he meets Meddlin’ Mary, an Irish immigrant who has a strong heart and a fierce commitment to helping the city’s horses, he begins to reexamine his life—and take his future into his own hands. (chapter book, ages 8 and up)
Visit Deborah at www.deborahhopkinson.com and follow her @deborahopkinson.
A Bandit’s Tale Giveaway
To enter to win a copy of A Bandit’s Tale, please enter the Rafflecopter below.
To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book.
I am an Amazon affiliate which means if you buy anything through my blog, I get a very small kickback at no cost to you. I use this money to pay for postage and handling for my giveaways.
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Top 10: Best Historical Fiction for Kids
Historical Fiction Awards for Children’s Books
Fun Nonfiction Fact Books for Kids & GIVEAWAY!
Olympic Chapter Books & Non-Fiction For 4th Grade & 2nd Grade
Top 10: Baseball Books for Kids & GIVEAWAY
Great New Chapter Books for Kids GIVEAWAY
Top 100: Best Young Adult (YA) Fiction & Non-Fiction Books
Joy
Sarah Plain & Tall . . . my children are still quite young, so we haven’t entered into a lot of these yet.
Hi Joy,
What a great addition! I need to read that one!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…The Racist Side of Dr. Seuss You Didn’t Know About
Thanks for sharing these. Found a couple that I hadn’t seen.
Hi Barbara Ann,
Me too! She created such a great list and I have a few to read myself!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…The Racist Side of Dr. Seuss You Didn’t Know About
I just love historical fiction!! It’s one of my all-time favorite genres!
I still haven’t read The Watsons Go to Birmingham–I will remedy that ASAP!
I LOVE Karen Hesse’s work, and Out of the Dust is so lyrical and lovely. I also loved Calpurnia Tate, but haven’t gotten around to book II.
I have a TON that I could recommend, but some favorites are:
Paper Wishes by Lois Sepahban (about internment camps during WWII, and a little girl’s journey to find her lost voice)
The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Laurie Halse Anderson’s Seeds of America books, Chains, Forge & I cannot wait for the forthcoming, Ashes!!
Alchemy & Meggy Swann & The Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen Cushman
Inside Out & Back Again by Thanha Lai (verse novel)
OK for Now by Gary Schmidt
I could keep going, but I’ll stop now 😉
Hi Maria,
I just bought Paper Wishes! I need to read it! What great suggestions you always have! Thanks so much for sharing!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…The Racist Side of Dr. Seuss You Didn’t Know About
I love historical fictions, but have only read two of your selections! Thanks!
Patricia Tilton recently posted…This is the Earth
Hi Patricia,
She has a great list! I have a pile to read too!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…The Racist Side of Dr. Seuss You Didn’t Know About
Love historical fiction! One of my favorites is Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson! Great list.
Hi Ramona,
What a great suggestion! Thank you!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…The Racist Side of Dr. Seuss You Didn’t Know About
Cynthia Harnett’s The Woolpack is great!
MaryAnne recently posted…Easy Gluten Free Pizza You Can Make in Minutes
Hi MaryAnne,
I will have to try that one! Adding to my list! Thanks!!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…The Racist Side of Dr. Seuss You Didn’t Know About
These look Great! I’m pinning this post to our history page so I don’t forget them all.
Mother of 3 recently posted…Our Geography Fair
Thanks so much for sharing Mother of 3! I really appreciate it!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…The Racist Side of Dr. Seuss You Didn’t Know About
Great list of books! I love The Watsons Go To Birmingham 1963 and The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. You have several that I still haven’t read yet. Summer’s coming, and so then I’ll have more time to check some of these out.
Hi Jana,
Her list is great! I have several to read from there as well!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…The Racist Side of Dr. Seuss You Didn’t Know About
Hi Jana,
I can’t take credit for this great list but I’m glad that you liked it!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…The Racist Side of Dr. Seuss You Didn’t Know About
Leslie
Thanks for sharing this post and the others with us at the Literacy Musing Mondays Linkup. While as a Creationist, we probably have quite different views on Darwin, you have introduced me to several historical fiction books I can’t wait to try out with my kids. We’re currently reading and enjoying Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, and I would love for your book to be the next we read if I win!
Hi Leslie,
You still might like The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate which is set at the turn of the century. It’s a really old fashioned book and well written. It’s not pushy about Darwin; it’s more about how girls did not have the opportunity to go college and a coming of age story about Calpurnia.
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…The Racist Side of Dr. Seuss You Didn’t Know About
The Evolution of…. looks good..
Matthew Bull recently posted…Como Obtener La Visa a Estados Unidos Fácilmente
Thanks Matthew,
There’s a sequel too! The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate. It’s good too but the first one is better.
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…The Racist Side of Dr. Seuss You Didn’t Know About
I love historical fiction, but unfortunately my son is all fantasy/adventure, but my nephew is a Civil War buff so I gave him Gary Paulsen’s “Soldier’s Heart.”
I really enjoyed this year’s Newbery honor books, “The War That Saved My Life” and “Echo”, which is historical fiction with a little fantasy thrown in. I wish historical fiction circulated better in my library.
Jennifer recently posted…How It Went Down
Hi Jennifer,
My son is fantasy adventure too! He did like The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate though. I can see why kids have to be lead into historical fiction. They don’t always realize how exciting it can be.
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…Kid Lit Blog Hop!
Loving all of your posts I am discovering today! So glad we have connected.
Thank you for sharing 🙂 My kid lit link up is: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=9385
Hi Kellee,
It’s so nice to meet you! Thanks so much for coming by! I’ll link up to your Kid Lit linky too!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…Kid Lit Blog Hop!
Great list and hits on many of my favorites! Loved sharing Number the Stars and Behind Rebel Lines with my fourth graders. Thanks for linking with #KidLitBlogHop too.
Katie The Logonauts recently posted…Featured Illustrator: Demi, part 1: biographies
Hi Katie,
I’m glad you like Deborah’s list!!! I have to read a few on her list!!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…9 People Who Changed The World: Nobel Peace Prize Picture Books