History can be a little dry, but historical fiction books can really bring it to life for kids. Here are 15 books that engaged, entertained, and taught my kids about life in different eras and cultures.
One of the best parts about homeschooling is saying goodbye to textbooks. Even someone who likes book learning as much as I do can get a little frustrated with the dry recitation of facts found in many of these texts.
People need stories to really connect with details. Memorization might be good for remembering names and dates, but to understand history and culture, we need to connect to the whys and hows, as much as the whens and whos.
Historical fiction books are a great opportunity to give kids a taste of a life they have never lived. It add color to the black-and-white outlines made from all those names and dates they’ve been hearing.
I like teaching from actual books, fiction and non-fiction. Historical fiction novels are a great mix of the two. Making sure to choose researched novels that are both age-appropriate and historically accurate can at times be a challenge though.
I’ve listed 15 historical fiction books that my kids really loved, and ones that adhered to reality as closely as possible (or note when they don’t for the sake of the story).
These books shouldn’t take the place of primary sources for learning, but they add a fun and engaging element to learning that can fan a child’s interest until it burns on its own.
So here are some suggestions, in no particular order, that might bring history, famous figures, and different cultures into sharper focus for your young learners.
For more great books for kids, check out these reading lists…
In case you need other recommendations for your younger readers, here are some popular reading lists to try:
- The Best Books for 4th Grade Girls
- Summer Reading List for Elementary School Kids
- 20 Books that Kids at Home Will Love (& Learn from!)
- 20 Best Book Series for 2nd Grade Boys & Girls
15 Historical Fiction Books that Kids Love
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Nory Ryan’s Song by Patricia Reilly Giff
This suspenseful story of a poor farming family in Ireland during the Potato Famine had us all on the edge of our seats, and sometimes in tears. You’ll love Nory’s courage and persistence as she works to keep her family alive and together. My kids were begging for the sequel, Maggie’s Door, which was also amazing.
Quake! by Gail Langer Karwoski
This historical fiction book is set during the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco. Follow Jacob as he searches for his family and makes friends with people from all walks of life and nationalities. This book touches on racial discrimination, especially toward the Asian community.
War Horse by Michael Morpurgo
Told from the perspective of a horse named Joey, he is sent to the Western Front in 1914, captured, and dreams of reuniting with his original owner. It’s a touching story about the soldiers, hardships, and hope they all share. This is best for older children, 5th grade and up.
A Lion to Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla
This story follows a girl who flees with her siblings to Jamestown to find her father after her servant mother dies. It’s not graphic, but very honest about the hardship, sickness, and danger of their travels, as well as the reality of being poor in the 1600s.
Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan
This fantastic story of three children in different times and places connected by a single harmonica leads back to a forbidden forest and a boy named Otto. The stories are exciting and suspenseful, full of courage and triumph. This is best for slightly older children, 3rd grade and up. I highly recommend the audiobook as well for the music.
Surviving Jamestown by Gail Langer Karwoski
Sam Collier is the page of John Smith and this historical fiction novel takes kids on his voyage from England, through the Starving Time, and watches him puzzle out the morality of their relationship with the local Native American tribes. This book shows a lot of the struggles, fears, and difficult relationships among the settlers.
The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee
Set in Atlanta during the Gilded Age, Jo Kuan is a 17-year-old lady’s maid who lives secretly under the local newspaper owner’s house. She begins anonymously writing advice columns to try to change the way people think while navigating her own family’s struggles, blackmail, and racism. This is best for middle grades and above.
Johnny Tremain by Esther Hoskins Forbes
Johnny is a 14-year-old apprentice who is injured and lands up working for a patriotic newspaper and delivering messages for the Sons of Liberty during the Revolutionary War. He meets many famous figures as well as witnesses battles and pivotal moments in history. Exciting and action-packed, this novel is great for 5th grade and up.
The Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Although much of these books is written about Laura Ingalls Wilder’s own life as a pioneer girl living on the frontier, she wrote them as historical fiction because she sometimes altered events or couldn’t remember specifics from her childhood. But these books are a fascinating glimpse of pioneer life that has inspired generations. Note: there are some derogatory references to Native Americans that will likely require explanation and discussion.
Roman Diary by Richard Platt
This book follows Iliona, a Greek girl who is put into slavery in ancient Rome when her ship is taken. There are so many facts about everyday life as a Roman, both free and slave, but the details are interestingly portrayed. Kept my kids fascinated as they watched her adjust to her new life while still dreaming of freedom.
The Perfect Sword by Scott Goto
Michio is a swordsmith apprentice in Japan during the Tokugawa Period. When he and Sensei make the perfect sword, they search for the samurai worthy of it. This book gives great details about sword-making at this time, as well as insights into morality and the elements of Bushido, the samurai code of honor.
Allen Jay and the Underground Railroad by Marlene Targ Brill
This book tells the true story of Allen Jay, whose family’s farm was a stop on the Underground Railroad in Ohio in the 1840s. This exciting story follows Allen as he bravely helps Henry James, an escaped slave, find freedom. More historical than fiction, but I had to include this awesome book on the list.
Sweet Home Alaska by Carole Estby Dagg
In a bit of an ode to Laura Ingalls Wilder, this historical fiction novel follows a family as they head up to be pioneers in Alaska in 1934. Trip, inspired by Laura and Farmer Boy‘s pumpkin-growing advice, works to make her family’s own pioneer life a success and convince even her mother that Alaska is right for them. Funny, sweet, and exciting.
Snow in Israel by Deborah De Costa
This historical fiction book shows how a stray cat in Jerusalem brings Jewish Avi and Muslim Hamudi together. Separated into different areas of the Old City, their friendship is born as the cat leads them across boundaries and throughout the city quarters.
The Year of Impossible Goodbyes by
I loved this book as a child and couldn’t wait to share it with my kids. This historical fiction is set in 1945 Korea, as Sookyan and her family endure first the occupation of Japan and then the Russians after WWII. This suspenseful, poignant, and incredible story unfolds as they make the decision to escape to American-controlled South Korea and freedom.
Great books to check for reading lists…
- The Read Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie
- Give Your Child the World by Jaime C. Martin
- Books to Build On edited by E.D. Hirsch Jr.
- Book Girl by Sarah Clarkson
- The Read-Aloud Handbook Jim Trelease
Looking for more on kids’ books and suggested reading lists? Check out these posts:
10 Best Book Series for 2nd Grade Girls
Best Back-to-School Books for Elementary Grades
10 Best Books for 3rd Grade Boys
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