Mid-Grade Historical Fiction
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Anonymous
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DS (age 10) is suprisingly into the Hamilton Soundtrack. Some of it's the music, but some of it's the history and storytelling.
Any ideas for interesting and accessible middle-grade novels about American History? Maybe with a kid in the lead role? |
Anonymous
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There are lots of good books in this category:
Carry on, Mr. Bowditch Johnny Tremaine Mr. Revere and I That's just a few I can think of off the top of my head. I can get more later. Reading historical fiction is a great way for kids to learn history because it emphasizes the story aspect of it so it makes sense and is way more memorable. |
Anonymous
| I remember loving "the witch of blackbird pond" which occurs during the revolutionary war, I believe. Your local library will probably have some readers advisory books or databases and the librarian will be able to give you some titles. |
Anonymous
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Forge or Chains by this author: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416961453/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1416961453&linkCode=as2&tag=wdwdad-20&linkId=2NE2NTGDQVNMRFWR
This also is a good list of historical novels by grade many about the Revolution: http://www.cincinnatilibrary.org/booklists/?id=teachingamericanhistory |
Anonymous
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I have to mention that some of the adult books might interest your DS. My 11 y.o. DD is reading Hamilton now (swiped it from DH), and I can't remember what else, but both my kids (13 and 11) have read some his history books for a while now. Actually the worst thing that's happened to our house is when we bought DH a Kindle because a book isn't just laying there waiting to be swiped.
On another note, a fun historical novel is Mutiny on the Bounty (I recall there are three books) |
Anonymous
Chains is great. A little scary at times (slavery after all). So it depends how sensitive he is. |
Anonymous
| There are a few series of books about different times in US History. They are written as if they are diaries of kids during that time. Dear America is a series with girls as lead characters, and I think My America is the one with boys as the lead character. DD loved these books in 4th and 5th grade. |
Anonymous
| Wow! Thanks for all the great suggestions. Keep 'em coming! |
Anonymous
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These are some books I have read to my child but a child a little older (say 5th grade) would be able to read them.
"Bud, Not Buddy" circa 1930 "The Sign Of the Beaver" circa 1770 "Island of Blue Dolphins" circa 1835 |
Anonymous
Fabulous book, but Colonial period. The American Girl books are also pretty good. The Felicity series is the Revolutionary War, and staged in Williamsburg so great it you are going for a weekend visit. My son also has a book about the Revolution that is non-fiction, but written sort of like fiction ... something like "Wacky True Stories from the American Revolution." I'll try to find the actual title. |
Anonymous
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Fever
The War That Saved My Life (WW2) |
Anonymous
| Avi writes a ton of high quality historical fiction. |
Anonymous
| It's not a book but Liberty Kids is a good cartoon series where the kids meet various historical characters. |
Anonymous
The War That Saved My Life is outstanding and has children as the protagonists. By the same author, Jefferson's Sons is one of the best books for any age/genre I have read recently and has boys as the main characters and is the same era/many of the same characters as Hamilton, thought not Hamilton himself. There is a series called Dear America where each book takes place in a different era. They are all written in diary form. I think they are all girls and the companion series, My Name is America, has boys as the main characters. Other books; Snow Treasure King George: What Was His Problem? Number the Stars Pushcart War Little House books Moccasin Trail Brady The Battlefield Ghost |