These books are fiction which contain some historical element/s

1.  Upon the Head of the Goat by Aranka Siegal (7th - 12th grades)

    WWII theme. About tolerance, Jewish faith, oppression, religious persecution and strong women's role models. Can be used to teach in conjunction with The Diary of Anne Frank.

2.  Farewell to Manzanar by J. Wakasuki & James Huston (6th-12th grades)

    WWII theme from a Japanese 7 yr. old female perspective. Oppression in America during the war, Japanese internment camps. Good for Social Studies.

3.  Lyddie by Katherine Patterson (7th - 12th grade)

    Sacrifice, slaves, debt, strong women role models.

4.  My Brother Sam is Dead by Christopher and James Collier (8th - 12th grade)

    Fictionalized history, Revolutionary War theme in small town Connecticut as told from a 12 yr. old viewpoint. Historical characters, accurate, hardships of people during the war. Great for History or Social Studies.

5.  A Gathering of Days by Joan W. Blos (7th/8th grades)

    Journal format, 1830's. Young girl takes the role of the mother when her mother dies, pre-civil war era, runaway slave issue, historical point of view.

6.  A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Haven Peck (7th grade)

    Vermont, Shakers, Coolidge era.  Farm life, 7th grade boy, doing things for the right reasons, a boys growing up.

7.  The Fighting Game by Avi (7th-8th grade)

    Revolutionary war. 13 yr. old boy who goes off to fight, 1778.  Story takes place all on one day. Very descriptive, good for Social Studies or History.

8.  Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman (7th-8th grade)

    Middle Ages, journal type. Carnival/fair, mistreatment of animals, lots of little stories of altruism, packed with teaching lessons about the middle ages. Happy ending. Also included is an author's note about the middle ages.

9.  Johnny Tremain (author to come) (8th grade)

    Teenage boy in Boston, pre-revolutionary war, political turmoil, historical fiction. Gives good account of this era from a young boy's point of view. Good teaching tool.

10. Letters From a Slave Girl by Mary Lyons (8th-12th)

    Story of a slave, journal entry type, published after she becomes free, slavery/freedom, ethics.

11. Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell (8th - 12th)

    Descriptions of working class in Paris and London, poverty, cultural perspectives.

12. Middle Passage by Charles Johnson (8th-12th)

    Freed slave who is running from trouble, becomes a cook on a ship dealing in slave trade, relationships, dilemmas.

13.  A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck (6th-8th)

    Newberry Award Winner, depression era, 9 separate short stories all intertwined, brother/sister relationships, small town life, easy read.

14. Riversong by Craig Lesley (12th)

    About Warm Springs culture, Native American male perspective, codes and customs, stories, sophisticated writing.

15.  I Heard the Owl Call My Name by Margaret Craven (6th-8th)

    Native American culture, religion, relationships and coping with natures disasters, dwindling Native American heritage.

16.  The Captain's Dog by Roland Smith (8th-12th)

    The story as told by the Newfoundland dog, "Seaman" who follows Lewis and Clark on their famous adventure. Excellent for teaching Science/History.

17. Fallon by Louis L'Amour (7th-8th)

    Old West story, very descriptive, love, relationships, hardened gambler trying to cheat and hustle folks, irony, bad cowboy turns good, good ending.

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