Historical Fiction to Support the New History National Curriculum
Changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age
Stone Age Boy – Satoshi Time shift picture story of a boy who falls down a
Kitamura (2008)
hole and emerges in the stone age. Good
introduction to general life at the time and suitable
for years 3-6.
The Boy with the
Classis children’s adventure set in the final days of
Bronze Axe – Kathleen
the destruction of Skara Brae in the Orkneys. Very
Fidler (1968)
good historical details based on the archaeological
findings at the village.
Brave – Wendy
Adventure story set in the Stone Age. Conveys a
Constance (2014)
good sense of life at the time and the struggle for
survival in the wild.
Sunset of the
Sabretooth – Mary Pope
Osborne (2000)
First Painter – Kathryn
Lasky (2000)
Nordy Bank – Sheena
Six children camp out on Nordy Bank and become
Porter (1964)
taken over by the Iron Age site.
The Roman Empire and its impact on Britain
I Was There – Boudica’s
Army – Hilary McKay
(2015)
The Mark of the Horse
Lord – Rosemary
Sutcliff (1965)
The Eagle of the Ninth
– Rosemary Sutcliff
(1954)
The Lantern Bearers –
Rosemary Sutcliff
(1959)
A simple story of a young Iceni girl set against the
revolt of the Iceni in AD60. Some general
background details of life in a Celtic village at the
time.
Detailed action story set in Scotland. Complex
story but rich in accurate period details and
suitable for able/older readers in KS2.
The classic Roman fiction of the loss of the ninth
legion in northern Britain and the mystery of the
missing eagle standard. Suitable for able/older
readers in KS2.
Set at the time of the Roman evacuation of Britain.
Suitable for able/older readers in KS2.
Arthur Archer and the
Warrior Queen – Ben
Molyneux (2014)
Time shift novel based around the events of
Boudica’s uprising against the Romans.
Britain’s settlement by Anglo-Saxons and Scots
The Riddle Girl – Sheila
Lane (1996)
Better than Gold –
Theresa Tomlinson
(2014)
The Mercury Cup – T.R.
Burch (1982)
Short story (58 pages) telling the story of a young
girl who has her pigs stolen by the sons of the local
lord. Contains basic details of Saxon village life at
the time which could be cross-checked with images
such as from West Stow.
Set in the time of conflict between the Saxon
kingdoms in the 7th century. The story deals with
the struggle between Christianity and beliefs in
Woden but links in to the Staffordshire hoard in a
very clever way. Good link to the hoard and possible
follow up work on it. Author’s note sets the
historical context very clearly.
This adventure story involving two young boys set in
the south of England at the time of the collapse
and withdrawal of the Roman Empire. Has a dated
feel, but could appeal to older pupils.
The Viking and Anglo-Saxon struggle for the Kingdom of England to the
time of Edward the Confessor
Warrior Heroes – The
Vikings Revenge
Benjamin Hulme-Cross
(2014)
Shield Maiden – Richard
Denning and Gillian
Pearce (2012)
Time shift series. This is an adventure set in
Norway but with good details of Viking life and
customs and some exciting battle scenes. The story
is supported by extracts explaining the background
details to enhance the events. Should appeal
particularly to boys.
Set in Norway and containing good information on
Norse myths and legends but with a twist as the
central character is female which may be a counter
to The Vikings Revenge.
A local history study
Nordy Bank – Sheena
Porter (1964)
Six children camp out on Nordy Bank and become
taken over by the Iron Age site.
A study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’
chronological knowledge beyond 1066
Ancient Sumer
The Story of Gilgamesh
– Yiyun Li and Marco
Lorenzetti (2014)
A retelling of one of the oldest stories ever told. A
classic story of myth and legend from ancient
Sumeria with lovely illustrations.
Lugalbanda: The Boy
Who Got Caught Up in a
War - Kathy Henderson
and Jane Ray (2007)
The Golden Bull Marjorie Cowley (2012)
The Last Quest of
Gilgamesh – Ludmila
Zeman (1995)
Beautifully illustrated story of possibly the oldest
story known – over 5,000 years old. It tells the
story of the little prince who grew up to rule Uruk.
Good historical details at the end give the context
to the story.
Picture book story of the last part of the epic of
Gilgamesh. Lovely illustrations including a final
image of the city of Uruk. Good notes at the end to
set the story in its historical context.
The Indus Valley
Clues in the Desert –
Emmett Davis (1983)
A bilingual (Punjabi/English) story about a young
boy’s journey to Pakistan to meet his aunt and see
the ruins of Mohenjo-Daro. A basic introduction
and simple story.
Ancient Egypt
Setna’s Journey –
Richard Brown (2001)
I Was There –
Tutankhamun’s Tomb
(2015)
Child of Thoth – Ed
Sutter (2012)
A young boy whose father decorates temples meets
a young prince and explores the temples of Luxor.
Very good detail of the buildings at Karnak and
good author’s notes about the historical context of
the story
The discovery of the tomb as told through the eyes
of a local Egyptian boy that recreates the sense of
excitement of the discovery. Written to be
accessible across years 3-6.
Ma’ At’s Feather –
Juliet Desailly (2008)
The story of Qen and his adventures in ancient
Egypt. The book is written for KS2 children and
provides a rich resource for understanding the
everyday life of ordinary people of the time.
Mara, Daughter of the
Nile - Eloise Jarvis
McGraw (1953)
The Shang Dynasty of Ancient China
The Stranger on the
Silk Road: A Story of
Ancient China - Jessica
Gunderson (2008)
Ancient Greece
Children of the Fox –
Jill Paton Walsh (1978)
The Price of Victory –
Stewart Ross (2007)
The Tortoise and the
Dare – Terry Deary
(2007)
Athens is Saved –
Stewart Ross (1997)
Cartoon strip story of athletes from Athens and
Sparta with additional historical information after
the story. Should appeal to boys. (Dorling
Kindersley)
Simple, easy to read story set in Greece in 776BC
and tells the story of a young boy training to be an
athlete for the Olympic Games. Should appeal to
younger KS2 pupils.
The story of Cimon and the Battle of Marathon. An
illustrated story with good details of the
preparation for war at the time and the actual
battle.
Early Islamic civilization, including a study of Baghdad c. AD 900
Tales from the Arabian
Nights - Andrew Lang
(1993)
Not strictly historical fiction but stories that are
set in a clear framework that would help children
get a picture of Arabia at the time, through some
favourites such as Sinbad, Ali Baba and Aladdin.
Mayan civilization c. AD 900
Rain Player – David
Wisniewski (1991)
The Well of Sacrifice –
Chris Eboch (1999)
Heart of a Jaguar –
Marc Talbert (1995)
War Star Rising –
Zoodoc (2008)
Picture story of a young Mayan boy’s attempt to
save his city from starvation in a year of drought.
Images provide powerful pictures of Mayan life.
Illustrated story of a tale set around the glory
days of Mayan civilisation. Good details of Mayan
life.
Balam is a Mayan boy who tries to free his village
from a drought. Good descriptions of Mayan life
but possibly a little gory on some details.
The legend of Toucan Moon woven into a story full
of authentic details of Mayan life and culture.
Benin (West Africa) c. AD 900-1300.