Historical Fiction

Historical fiction

Text Book Reflection

Books can be classified as historical fiction if it takes place in the past. Depending on the age of the reader, the definition of “past” could operate on a sliding scale. The most important aspect of what historical fiction shares is giving the reader an opportunity to experience what it might have been like to live in a previous time and place. When evaluating this type of novel, the historical part is important, but the story itself has to stand the test of time. You need to verify that the facts in the story are correct which is where librarians may need to look at review sources or award lists to verify historical accuracy. One of the important roles historical fiction plays is portraying how life, values and freedom were seen in the past. Ideas in the past were not enlightened and life was rough for so many throughout history. Learning how it truly was in the past helps students appreciate the future. While assessing the novel, look to see if the setting and background fit the time period. The author needs to be authentic to the time written about. Finally, the theme of the novel needs to relate to modern readers