• Categories

  • Pages

  • Tags

  • Archives

  • Meta

  • What are some good american historical fiction books?

    Posted by admin on March 1st, 2010 and filed under books | 12 Comments »

    i looking for books related to american wars for example revolutionary war, civil war, ww1,ww2
    my english teacher forces his students to read, analize, write essays and get tested on his boring and out dated books about america history. he want the books that we read in his class to connect to other classes. his intentions are good but he needs to choose better books and give kids more options.
    Please reccomend books are exciting, will apeal to kids age 12-14 and appropriate for class.
    can you also reccomend books not relating to war but in the same time period.
    any good books related to physcial science are also helpful.

    You should look into the author Ann Rinaldi, she writes excellent historical fiction for young readers both at the middle school and high school level and her books cover all the major events in history. Here are a couple:
    The Secret of Sarah Revere (Revolutionary War)
    An Acquaintance with Darkness (Civil War)
    A Break with Charity- (Salem Witch Trials)

    And she has many others. Excellent writer and she is used by a lot of classroom teachers although apparently not yours.

    12 Responses

    1. Persiphone_Hellecat Says:

      The Red Badge of Courage. Pax = C
      References :

    2. Mr. Good Answers Says:

      Ages 12-14? Hmm…about America you say?
      "Roger’s Rangers and the French and Indian War"
      "Flags of our Fathers" (Note: Might be a bit boring if you’re not into pure history)
      "The Hunt for Red October" – Tom Clancy

      Hope that helps. =)
      References :

    3. Carolyn M Says:

      You should look into the author Ann Rinaldi, she writes excellent historical fiction for young readers both at the middle school and high school level and her books cover all the major events in history. Here are a couple:
      The Secret of Sarah Revere (Revolutionary War)
      An Acquaintance with Darkness (Civil War)
      A Break with Charity- (Salem Witch Trials)

      And she has many others. Excellent writer and she is used by a lot of classroom teachers although apparently not yours.
      References :

    4. Greg G Says:

      But… that’s a paradox! American’s don’t know how to read. Silly people. Silly.
      References :
      Proven by Wikipedia.

    5. Molly R. Says:

      Historical Fiction: Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers, about the Vietnam War. Bloody Country (about the Pennamite wars in PA) and My Brother Sam is Dead by the Collier brothers.

      Non fiction: Hitler Youth, and Black Potatoes by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, books by Jim Murphy about American disasters (Fire in Chicago, earthquake in San Francisco, Blizzard, etc.), and works by Russell Freeman
      References :
      http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/0590409433.asp

    6. Carnac Says:

      James Michener comes to mind. Historical novels was his specialiy and nobody does it better. His books tend to be quite long and may be a bit much for the 12-14 yo crowd to swallow although I think they could handle excerpts. "Chesapeake" deals with the founding of the U.S. Other good ones are "Hawaii" and "Alaska".
      References :

    7. artful Says:

      The Red Badge of Courage is good, A Farewell to Arms for WWI, The Naked and the Dead and/or The Thin Red Line for WWII, The Bridges at Toko Ri for Korea, The Things They Carried for Viet Nam, My Antonia and O Pioneers for the settlement of the midwest White Fang and The Call of the Wild for the wilderness experience in the Yukon.
      References :

    8. irish1 Says:

      ‘Across Five Aprils’, by Irene Hunt – the Civil War
      References :

    9. eri Says:

      Catch-22. Might not be all that appropriate at parts though.
      References :

    10. stippy87 Says:

      Johnny Tremain – Revolutionary

      Soldier Boys – WW2
      References :

    11. Robin C Says:

      Colonial times: Constance, by Patricia Clapp (actually, the Pilgrims, very well done)
      **Sarah on her Own, by Karen Coombs**
      Tituba of Salem Village, by Ann Petry
      The 13th Floor, by Sid Fleischman
      Something Upstairs, by Avi
      And, of course, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, a great book.

      Revolutionary period, in addition to Johnny Tremain:
      Bells of Freedom, by Dorothy Gilman
      The Winter Hero, by the Collier brothers
      Sarah Bishop, by Scott O’dell
      Toliver’s Secret
      Rebecca’s war , by Ann Finlayson

      Prior to Civil War
      Beyond the Western Sea, by Avi ****best book!!!
      Jip, His Story, by Katherine Paterson
      Lyddie, by Katherine Paterson
      Caddie Woodlawn, by Carol Ryrie Brink
      Summer of the Monkeys, by Wilson Rawls
      The Great Turkey Walk, Kathleen Karr
      Dragon’s Gate, by Laurence Yep
      The Ballad of Lucy Whipple, by Karen Cushman
      Prairie Songs, by Pam Conrad

      Civil War:
      Shades of Gray, by Carolyn Reeder
      Behind Rebel Lines, by Seymour Reit (this is actually a biography of a real person)
      Rifles for Watie, Harold Keith
      Across Five Aprils, by Irene Hunt,
      Charley Skedaddle, by Patricia Beatty
      Who Comes with Cannons, Patricia Beatty

      1900’s
      Harris & Me, by Gary Paulsen, besides the Depression era, it is hilarious
      A Long Way From Chicago, by Richard Peck, and it’s sequel, A Year Down Yonder

      WWII
      Under the Blood Red Sun, Graham Salisbury
      Parallel Journeys, by Eleanor H. Ayer With Helen Waterford And Alfons Heck.
      In my Hands: Memories Of A Holocaust Rescuer Irene Gut Opdyke, With Jennifer Armstrong.
      Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry
      The Snow Treasure, McSwigan, Marie.
      Journey to Topaz, by Yoshiko Uchida (and sequels)

      Island on Bird Street, Uri Orlev
      Milkweed, by Jerry Spinelli
      The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak
      References :

    12. BlueManticore Says:

      American Civil War:
      The killer angels- Michael Shaara
      Gods and generals- Jeff Shaara
      The last full measure- Jeff Shaara
      The guns of Shiloh- Joseph A. Altsheler

      WW2:
      Number the stars- Lois Lowry
      Greater than angels- CarolMatas
      A coming evil- Vivian Vande Velde
      References :

    Leave a Comment

    Please note: Comment moderation is enabled and may delay your comment. There is no need to resubmit your comment.