5 Fresh Takes on Historical Fiction

The Time-Traveling Fashionista series, by Bianca Turetsky
Fashion (in particular vintage fashion) and writing have always been my two great passions. One afternoon, several years ago, I had a visceral experience while trying on a pink vintage party dress at a thrift shop in CT. The shop’s owner informed me that the dress had belonged to a woman named Miss Baxter. I couldn’t help but wonder what her life was like and what she was doing the last time she wore the dress. Was she happy? In love? On the Titanic?…What if you could really go back in time to the last instance the dress was worn and explore that era? Through writing The Time-Traveling Fashionista books I got to do just that. I learned what it was like to be a first class passenger on board the Titanic, how brilliant of a leader Cleopatra actually was, and how a fashion-obsessed queen named Marie Antoinette somehow contributed to the beginning of a bloody revolution. All of this came through the lens of a pretty party dress. And hopefully when the young readers close the last page of my book they’ll open a different one—their history textbook—with new eyes.

The American Girl series, by various authors
As a kid I was so obsessed with my Samantha doll that I hardly realized that not only was she fun to play with and dress up, but a) she was also encouraging me to read and b) by reading the books about her I was learning about the life and times of a girl from 1904 and class struggles of the era. My friends and I liked to collect all of the dolls, and create our own stories and adventures around them (our stories were probably a LOT less historically accurate, but still fun nonetheless!). Other books in the series are from different eras, so you can choose the ones that interest you. Today I’d probably pick Rebecca, an aspiring actress from 1914 New York.

The Magic Tree House series, by Mary Pope Osborne
This prolific series (over 50 books, translated into over 30 languages!) has become a classroom and library staple for a reason—it’s fast-paced fun that’s also educational! So fast paced, and so fun, your kids may not even realize that they’re learning in the process. Follow siblings Jack and Annie as they have historical and fantastical adventures through their magical tree house. Something I particularly like about these books is that Mary Pope Osborne takes things one step further by writing additional Fact Tracker non-fiction supplements to accompany the books, which answer once and for all—did that really happen?

The I Survived series, by Lauren Tarshis
This compelling middle grade series details and explores historical events through the eyes of a child living through them. The series starts with 10-year old George, who is traveling with his younger sister Phoebe and Aunt Daisy on a luxurious ocean liner called the Titanic (The Titanic seems to be a particularly popular destination for historical fiction authors, myself included!), as well as recent events ranging from Hurricane Katrina to the attacks of September 11th. You won’t be able to stop reading as you see just how these incredible kids manage to survive some of history’s biggest and most terrifying events.

The Dear America series, by various authors
For every girl who’s ever kept a diary (okay is that every girl?), this is the series for you. Told in the unique and informal style of a journal entry, rather than a traditional narrative, these books span the American Revolution, Civil War, World War 1, Salem Witch trials, and of course, the ever-popular and infamous Titanic (and so many more!) Pick an era that excites you, and get ready to be transported back in time through the old-fashioned language and style of these remarkable books. (“October 1, 1620. 1150 Miles Sailed…We are journeying to the New World. It is the Mayflower that be getting us there, slowly.”) And who knows, maybe the book will ultimately inspire your young reader to keep a journal of their own!
What are your favorite middle grade forays into historical fiction?