My Top 10 Books- Historical Fiction

While growing up sci-fi/fantasy was always my go to category for reading. Being a history teacher has changed that a bit. Now I’m constantly on the hunt for new material to incorporate into the classroom. I have always been a sucker for the classics. The Jungle and Uncle Tom’s Cabin were mainstays of my student reading list for a long time. I’m starting to second guess them now. Teaching reading isn’t the same as it was 10 years ago. This is a topic I could go on and on about. I’m pretty sure I explored it in detail in my various Ed Media discussions. The bottom line is that I need a fresh approach, and I think rediscovering YA literature has some valuable lessons for me.

I was very impressed with Avi’s 2002 (and Newberry medalist) Crispin: The Cross of Lead (Hyperion). Crispin, as a work of historical fiction, explores some often neglected themes of life in the Middle Ages. Too many times authors dwell on knights and warfare while examinations of daily life are often ignored. Crispin gives us a marvelous look at life in the period. The book is recommended for readers age 9-11, but contains a ton of historical material that is relevant to the 9th grade history curriculum.

Without giving away any spoilers (I hate spoilers)- the story involves the adventures of the peasant boy Crispin. Crispin’s life is in constant peril. He has been declared a wolf’s head, an outlaw, by his village’s steward for a crime he didn’t commit. His survival will then depend on the help of an unlikely ally. It is truly a fun read.

Links of interest
http://www.avi-writer.com/

http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/bookreviews/reviewcrispin.htm

M Donlevy