Historical Fiction 4 Review

Schlitz, L., & Byrd, R. (2007). Good masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a medieval village. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press.

The setting for this book takes you back to 1255, during the Medieval Era, and is filled with various characters that capture the flavor of this age in time.  This story is rich with 22 characters such as the lord’s nephew, Hugo, who is forced to prove his manhood, or the singing shepherdess, Alice, and many more characters that portray historical accuracy.  It contains ample dialogues and monologues for these characters that the author used to fit the style of her book. Another important detail is, the illustration that vividly gives the reader a beautiful picture to fit the setting of this book.

Bartoletti, S. (2005). Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler's shadow. New York: Scholastic Nonfiction.

 

Hitler Youth takes the most profound time in World History and is told in a whole new perspective. Telling the stories of various German youth, Bartoletti brings to light how these young children were manipulated to believe in the Nazi movement. Filled with characters like Herbert Norkus, a fifteen year old gives his life to this Nazi cause, which created a national day of commemoration declared by Hitler. Also, there's the portrayal of a young 14-year-old Sophie Scholl, who became deeply sensitive with the changes in the education system due to National Socialist ideas and the Nazi movement. Then there’s Karl Schnibbe a member of the Hitler Youth program and beginning to have a change of heart when he is told that physically and mentally disabled German’s were costing the government too much money. The photographs of the children and other events give the reader a definite picture attached to the horrific events that these young adults endured.

 

Curtis, C. (1995). The Watsons go to Birmingham--1963. New York: 

 Delacorte Press.

In this novel a family known as the Watsons go back to their roots in Alabama at a more pristine time in America. At this time in the United States, southern states were still under a segregated civilization, which is not something the “Weird Watsons” were used to having growing up in Flint, Michigan.  For Kenny and his siblings, it becomes a hard adjustment, but brings to light that change is coming and is not going to be easy.  However, ten-year-old Kenny makes this incredible dark moment in Americas History into a world filled with entertaining characters. Depicted in this book are hilarious stories of his “juvenile delinquent” brother, Byron, little sister Joetta, his father Daniel, who makes every moment with family a memorable one by making fun of his mother Wilona, who is everything a good mother, should be. A wonderful book to can help young students learn about the Civil Rights Movement and the importance of family values.

 

  Nelson, K. (2008). We are the ship: The story of Negro League baseball. New York: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children.

  

  This book is filled with stories of the up roar and down fall of the Negro League. Along with the detailed explanation of the league are the illustrations of player cards, and real time moments in time during the 1900’s.  Read about talented unknown players that made history, and read about famous players, like Jackie Robinson, and Josh Gibson. Enter a world filled with a love for baseball, and the struggles of segregation for the professional baseball league.  No matter what trials the league endured they never gave up on America’s pastime. Economy downfalls, hatred, horrible traveling conditions, are all stories from these unknown players of the game that can be found in this book and all it’s illustrations.