Historical Fiction Week

Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderson
 As someone whose entire family is from the South, I have to admit that it was a breath of fresh air to read a book that focused on slavery in the North. Granted, this book concerns the American Revolutionary War, but after teaching an eighth grade class on the War, they seemed to forget that the North also welcomed slavery during this time. But the fact that the North took some heat for our regrettable past is besides the point. This book was very compelling because it gave us a perspective of the cruelty that many young slaves endured from their masters. As a future teacher, I could definitely see using Chains in a social studies or language arts classroom because it combines historical content with literary merit. For the Patriots, the Revolutionary War symbolized their fight for freedom from the British, but meanwhile, they ironically enslaved other human beings.
After teaching the Revolutionary War, I realized how confused the students were when we discussed the fact that not everyone in America was a Patriot and wanted to remain loyal to the British--hence why they were called "Loyalists." This book could definitely help clarify the confusion about the colonists' feelings about the War while providing an insight into the unfortunate life that many slaves endured.

Articles:

"Historical Fiction or Fictionalized History? Problems for Writers of Historical Novels for Young Adults", by Joanne Brown

I think historical fiction can be very powerful in teaching history because while the character (or another aspect) may be fictional, the story can help the reader develop a sense of the time period and/or setting. I do, however, understand that teachers should be cautious when choosing a particular historical fiction work. We should always be asking what parts or elements of the story are fictionalized and how accurate the "historical" components are. As the genre of historical fiction continues to rise in demand, I could see some authors compromising the historical elements in order to sell more copies. Regardless, I do believe this genre can be powerful in the classroom, but we--as teachers--should research how much (or little) it can contribute to a student's historical understanding. 

"What Role Should Fiction Have in the U.S. History Classroom?", by Nicholas J. Aieta

As mentioned above, I definitely think historical fiction can help enhance a student's understanding about a particular time or event in history. As mentioned in the article, many students lose interest with history because they consider it "boring." Historical fiction, however, can help pull in readers with its affective story telling abilities--but it is this aspect that can mislead a student's understanding of what is actual truth. As with many other sources, readers of historical fiction should read it with a critical eye to distinguish truth from fiction.