Historical Fiction - Exodus Books

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The best way to learn history is not always in a textbook. (That's probably the worst way, really, but more on that elsewhere.) While learning history through novels can be taken too far (it is fiction after all), there's much to be said for getting a feel for the Civil War through books like The Red Badge of Courage or Across Five Aprils, or learning about the deep rifts between Saxons and Normans in Medieval England through Scott's Ivanhoe.

A well-researched historical novel imparts something no list of names and dates can—a picture of life among a particular people at a particular time, the way they thought, the way they ate, who they admired, how they traveled. Sometimes readers are introduced to real historical figures and events from an intimate perspective, not the stale cardboard presentations common in schools.

There's plenty of nonsense available, of course, and just because the cover says a book takes place in Renaissance Italy or ancient Egypt doesn't mean it's a good book, or even that it's historical fiction in the true sense. A writer who simply transposes stories on different time periods isn't really saying anything about that time period, they're just trying to inflate sales with an appeal to the exotic and unfamiliar.

Such bogus historical fiction is really just fantasy. The good stuff is real and bright and dusty and loud, just like an old Roman city or a battle between Roundheads and Cavaliers. It reflects the religious sentiments of the characters as they would have been, such as in Lilli Thal's brilliant Medieval epic Mimus. It shows how one small action can lead to many much larger events, as happens frequently in C.S. Forester's Hornblower series.

Whether you're into the technical descriptions of battles found in Henty's boy-versus-the-world stories, or prefer the romance of The Scarlet Pimpernel, or like to break your heart over and over with books like Amos Fortune, Free Man, historical fiction is above all fiction of the present—not to be kept in the annals of the past, it shows us that the people of long ago (or not so long ago) are not so different than the people of today.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

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Parent Categories

Fiction & Literature

Fiction by Genre

Historical Fiction

Subcategories by Grade

4th grade (Ages 9-10)

5th grade (Ages 10-11)

6th grade (Ages 11-12)

7th grade (Ages 12-13)

Subcategories

G. A. Henty Books

- Henty Audio Books

Louise Vernon Historical Fiction

We Were There Series

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	Balloon Boy of San Francisco by Dorothy Kupcha Leland from Tomato Enterprises for 7th-9th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $9.95
	Battle of Seattle by Douglas Bond from P&R Publishing for 4th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $11.99
	Beckoning Road by Caroline Dale Snedeker from American Home-School Publishing American Historical Fiction for 7th-12th Grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Book Thief by Markus Zusak from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. for 8th-12th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $14.99
	Boy in the Alamo We Were There at the Battle of the Alamo by Margaret Cousins from Corona Publishing Co. Historical fiction for 4th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Boy in the Alamo We Were There at the Battle of the Alamo by Margaret Cousins from Veritas Press Historical fiction for 4th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $19.00
	Boys in the Boat adapted for Young Readers Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown, adapted by Gregory Mone from Penguin Putnam for 6th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $11.99
	By Right of Conquest With Cortez in Mexico by G. A. Henty from Robinson Curriculum Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade in G. A. Henty Books (Location: FIC-HEN)
	Calico Captive by Elizabeth George Speare from Houghton Mifflin Historical Fiction for 6th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.99
	Captain Bayley's Heir A Tale of the Gold Fields of California by G. A. Henty from Robinson Curriculum Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade in G. A. Henty Books (Location: FIC-HEN)
	Captain, My Captain by Deborah Meroff from Inheritance Publications Historical Fiction for 8th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $14.95
	Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham from Houghton Mifflin Biography for 5th-9th grade 1956 Newbery Medal winner in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99
	Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein from Hyperion/Madison Press for 9th-12th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $10.99
	Come On, Seabiscuit! by Ralph Moody from University of Nebraska Biography for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $14.95 $10.00 (1 in stock)
	Day of Pleasure by Isaac Bashevis Singer from Farrar, Straus and Giroux for 7th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $10.99
	Faith and Freedom Trilogy Faith and Freedom by Douglas Bond from P&R Publishing for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $33.97
	Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston from Houghton Mifflin for 7th-11th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $10.99
	Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson from Simon and Schuster for 4th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	Fiddler's Gun by A. S. Peterson 1^st edition from Rabbit Room Press for 7th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.99
	Fortune of War Aubrey/Maturin #6 by Patrick O'Brian from W. W. Norton and Co. Nautical Fiction for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $6.50 (1 in stock)
	God's Mountain Man The Story of Jedediah Strong Smith by Esther Vogt from Gospel Publishing Biography for 9th-Adult in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	Gunner's Run by Rick Barry from Bob Jones University Press for 7th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $6.99
	Guns of Thunder Faith and Freedom Trilogy #1 by Doug Bond from P&R Publishing Historical Fiction for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $14.99
	In the Hands of the Cave Dwellers by G. A. Henty from Robinson Curriculum for 6th-10th grade in G. A. Henty Books (Location: FIC-HEN)
	In the Heart of the Rockies A Story of Adventure in Colorado by G. A. Henty from Robinson Curriculum Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade in G. A. Henty Books (Location: FIC-HEN)
	In This Hour A Story of World War II and the Floods of 1953 by Rudolf Van Reest from Inheritance Publications Historical Fiction for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $15.95
	Jar of Dreams by Yoshiko Uchida 2^nd edition from Aladdin Paperbacks for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $6.99
	John Treegate's Musket Treegate Series Book 1 by Leonard Wibberly from Bethlehem Books Historical fiction for 7th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Journey Through the Night by Anne De Vries from Inheritance Publications Historical fiction for 8th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $29.95
	Journeyman by Elizabeth Yates from Bob Jones University Press Realistic Fiction for 6th-9th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.99
	Letter Writer by Ann Rinaldi Reprint from HMH Books for Young Readers for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	List by C. D. Baker from Preston Speed Historical Fiction for 8th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $10.00 (1 in stock)
	Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt from Clarion Books for 7th-9th grade 2005 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.99
	Midshipman Bolitho by Alexander Kent from McBooks Press for 8th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool from Yearling for 6th-10th grade 2011 Newbery Medal Winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	My Name Is Not Angelica by Scott O'Dell from Yearling for 7th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Ocean-Born Mary by Lois Lenski 1st Edition Thus from Purple House Press for 3rd-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $17.99
	Out on the Pampas The Young Settlers by G. A. Henty from Robinson Curriculum Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade in G. A. Henty Books (Location: FIC-HEN)
	Patterns on the Wall by Elizabeth Yates, with updated grammar and spelling by Jenny Phillips from The Good and the Beautiful for 9th-12th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Peter Treegate's War Treegate Series Book 2 by Leonard Wibberley from Bethlehem Books for 7th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Redskin and Cowboy Tale of the Western Plains by G. A. Henty from Robinson Curriculum Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade in G. A. Henty Books (Location: FIC-HEN)
	Remember the Alamo! Adventures in History Series by Amelia E. Barr from A Beka Books Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade in A Beka Book Report books (Location: REA-ABK)
	Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen from Scholastic Inc. for 6th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Rising Tide A Novel of World War II by Jeff Shaara from Ballantine Books Historical Non-fiction for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
	Roger the Ranger A Story of Border Life Among the Indians by Eliza F. Pollard from Inheritance Publications for 6th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $14.95
	Sea Captain from Salem Treegate Series Book 3 by Leonard Wibberley Reprint from Bethlehem Books for 9th-12th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Sea of Glory - A Novel Based on the True Story of the Four Chaplains and the U.S.A.T. Dorchester by David Poling, Ken Wales from B&H Books for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
	Slopes of War A Novel of Gettysburg by N. A. Perez from Houghton Mifflin Historical Fiction for 6th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $11.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Soldier of Virginia A Novel on George Washington by Marjorie Bowen from Inheritance Publications Biography for 9th-12th grade in Inheritance Fiction (Location: FIC-WH03) $12.95
	Spice and the Devil's Cave by Agnes Hewes, illustrated by Lynd Ward from Dover Publications for 4th-10th grade 1931 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Squalls Before War His Majesty's Schooner Sultana by Ned Bustard from Veritas Press Nautical Fiction for 7th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $15.00 $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Stonewall A Novel by John J. Dwyer from Broadman & Holman Biography for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
	Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp from HarperCollins Biography for 7th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.99
	Stout-Hearted Seven Orphaned on the Oregon Trail Sterling Point by Neta Lohnes Frazier from Sterling Publishing Co. Non-fiction/Biography for 5th-9th grade in Oregon Trail (Location: HISA-19OR)
	Treegate's Raiders Treegate Series Book 4 by Leonard Wibberly from Bethlehem Books Historical fiction for 7th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Treegate's Raiders Treegate Series Book 4 by Leonard Wibberly from Bethlehem Books Historical fiction for 7th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	True to the Old Flag A Tale of the American War of Independence by G. A. Henty from Robinson Curriculum Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade in G. A. Henty Books (Location: FIC-HEN)
	Under Drake's Flag A Tale of the Spanish Main by G. A. Henty from Dover Publications for 6th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $6.99
	Under Drake's Flag A Tale of the Spanish Main by G. A. Henty from Robinson Curriculum Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade in G. A. Henty Books (Location: FIC-HEN)
	Upon the Head of the Goat A Childhood in Hungary 1939-1944 by Aranka Siegal First Square Fish: Aug.2012 from Farrar, Straus and Giroux for 5th-9th grade 1982 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99
	Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix from Simon and Schuster for 6th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $12.99
	Walk the World's Rim by Betty Baker from Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd. Historical fiction for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.00 (5 in stock)
	War in the Wasteland by Douglas Bond from Inkblots Press for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals Reprint from Washington Square Press in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $15.99
	We Were There at the Battle of Gettysburg by Alida Sims Malkus Reprint from Dover Publications for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $6.99
	We Were There at the Boston Tea Party by Robert N. Webb from Dover Publications for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99
	We Were There at the Driving of the Golden Spike by David Shepherd, William K. Plummer Reprint from Dover Publications for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.99
	We Were There at the First Airplane Flight by Felix Sutton, illustrated by Lazlo Matulay Reprint from Dover Publications for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $6.99
	Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley from Beautiful Feet Books Historical Fiction for 9th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Where Eagles Dare by Alistair MacLean from Thunder's Mouth Press Action/Adventure (Espionage) for 8th-10th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
	Where Eagles Dare by Alistair MacLean from Sterling Publishing Co. Action/Adventure (Espionage) for 7th-10th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
	White Seneca by William W. Canfield from Salem Ridge Press for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $10.50
	With Lee in Virginia A Story of the American Civil War by G. A. Henty from Dover Publications Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.95
	With Lee in Virginia A Story of the American Civil War by G. A. Henty from Robinson Curriculum Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade in G. A. Henty Books (Location: FIC-HEN)
	With Pipe, Paddle and Song A Story of the French-Canadian Voyageurs Bethlehem Books Young Adult Bookshelf by Elizabeth Yates 2^nd edition from Bethlehem Books Historical Fiction for 7th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $23.95 $12.00 (1 in stock)
	With Wolfe in Canada The Winning of a Continent by G. A. Henty from Robinson Curriculum Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade in G. A. Henty Books (Location: FIC-HEN)
	Year of the Hangman by Gary Blackwood from Speak for 7th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $3.50 (1 in stock)

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