Reflection
This unit, on historical fiction, was great. The reading in Huck’s Teaching Children’s Literature provided a brief overview of what historical fiction is, and the important aspects to take into consideration. One of the most important things to consider (in my opinion) when deciding on a historical fiction book to introduce to the class is the authenticity of the story. It is important that the book does not have any contradictions of the known events of history, provides accurate information, reflects the time period (language/values), and provides an afterword or authors note (refer to “Guidelines: Evaluating Historical Fiction) (Kiefer, 2014, p.239). The author’s notes or afterword is especially interesting, it provides the exact historical context of the story, and gives the reader the opportunity to see the author’s thoughts while creating the story.
The literary analysis for this unit was not my favorite because I was not familiar with the resource used. However, after completing the assignment, it defiantly helped me better understand the importance of evaluating historical fiction. And that it is important to be open to new resources/devices.
Overall, I think that historical fiction is a great way to get the students that are not interested in history to enjoy it more. Student will be learning without even realizing it! I defiantly plan on utilizing this genre of literature in the future not only because it is interesting, but also because it is a good opportunity to cross content within the classroom.
References
Kiefer, B., & Tyson, C. (n.d.). Charlotte Huck's children's literature: A brief guide (Second ed.).