Children's Books: What's Hot Now: Historical Fiction

Children's Books: What's Hot Now These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week

Historical Fiction Jul 29th 2011, 10:03 All of these works of historical fiction for middle grade readers have been recognized with awards recently, ranging from the 2011 John Newbery Medal to the 2011 Scott O’Dell Prize for Historical Fiction. They represent time periods from the turn of the century to the 1960s. These books will appeal to kids somewhere within the upper elementary and middle school range.  According to reviewer Jean Hatfield, "Historical fiction allows young people to experience history in an entertaining way, to meet people, including some their own age, from the past and to learn about other times and places." 1. Countdown, Book 1 The Sixties Trilogy: 3 Novels of the 1960s for Young Readers Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Title:  Countdown, Book 1 The Sixties Trilogy: 3 Novels of the 1960s for Young Readers Author: Deborah Wiles Overview: The first in a trilogy, this novel is about an 11-year-old girl and her family in 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Photos and other artifacts from the time period add to teh book's appeal. Awards:  Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of the Year, 2010 Publisher:  Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic, Inc., 2010 Publication Date:  2010 ISBN:  9780545106054 Read theRead the review of Countdown, Book 1 The Sixties Trilogy. 2. Castle Diary: The Journal of Tobias Burgess, Page Candlewick Press Title: Castle Diary: The Journal of Tobias Burgess, Page Author:  Richard Platt Illustrator:  Chris Riddell Overview:  With an oversize format and wonderfully detailed illustrations, young readers get a firsthand view of daily life in a medieval castle in 1285 as Tobias Burgess, who is 11 years old, recounts his experiences as a new page in the castle of his uncle, John Burgess, who is Baron of Strandborough. Awards: Parents’ Choice Awards, Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Publisher: Candlewick Press Publication Date:  1999, PB 2001 ISBN: 9780763604899 Read my review of Castle Diary: The Journal of Tobias Burgess, Page. 3. Moon Over Manifest Random House Title: Moon Over Manifest Author: Clare Vanderpool Overview:  The story, which is set in southeast Kansas during the Depression, moves between 1936 when 12-year-old Abilene Tucker comes to Manifest, Kansas, to 1918 during her father's time there and includes mysteries and the search for home. Awards:  2011 John Newbery Medal, 2011 Spur Award for Best Western Juvenile Fiction from the Western Writers of America Publisher:  Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc. Publication Date:  2010 ISBN:  9780385738835 Read the review of Moon Over Manifest and my interview with author Clare Vanderpool. 4. One Crazy Summer Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Title: One Crazy Summer Author: Rita Williams-Garcia Overview:  Set in the 1960s, this novel is unusual in that it focuses on the Black Panther movement in the context of one African American family and the summer three sisters, who have been raised by their father and grandmother, visit their mother in California where she is involved in the Black Panther movement. Awards:  2011 Scott O’Dell Prize for Historical Fiction, 2011 Coretta Scott King Author Award, 2011 Newbery Honor Book Publisher:  Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Publication Date:  2010 ISBN:  9780060760885 Read the review of One Crazy Summer. Read Review 5. Zora and Me Candlewick Press Title: Zora and Me Author: Victoria Bond and T.R. Simon Overview: This novel is based on the childhood of author and folklorist Zora Neale Hurston. It takes place around 1900, during the year Hurston was in the fourth grade and living (and telling stories) in Eatonville, an all-black community in Florida. Awards: 2011 Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent; also endorsed by the Zora Neale Hurston Trust Publisher: Candlewick Press Publication Date: 2010 ISBN: 97800763643003 Read the review of Zora and Me. 6. The Dreamer Title:  The Dreamer Author:  Pam Munoz Ryan Overview:  This novel by Pam Munoz Ryan is based on the life of poet Pablo Neruda from Chile and tells how a sickly boy whose fsther wants him to go into business becomes, instead, a belovd poet. Awards:  2011 Pura Belpre Author Award Publisher:  Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic, Inc. Publication Date:  2010 ISBN:  9780439269704  Read the review of The Dreamer. 7. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate Henry Holt Title: The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate Author: Jacqueline Kelly Overview:  Set in Texas in 1899, this is the story of spunky Calpurnia Tate who is more interested in science and nature than in learning to be a lady and her life with her family, which includes six brothers. Awards:  Newbery Honor Book, several state awards Publisher:  Henry Holt Publication Date:  2009 ISBN:  9780805088410 Read the review of The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate.

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