Historical Fiction Booksharing +85 points
By reading historical fiction, children experience life in the past vicariously, gain
opportunities for critical thinking, make judgments about the past with insights from a
historical perspective, see the interdependence of humankind, and develop a feeling for
the continuity of life.
ORAL Booksharing Activity Session: (25 pts) SEE the example evaluation form on
class website to plan your ORAL bookshare.
Objective of the booksharing session: Group members will become better
acquainted with and better able to evaluate books categorized as Historical Fiction for
children.
 You will need to share the following information in 8 to 10 minutes with
the members of your group. Be sure to use text quotes/examples:
1. Title, author/illustrator, copyright date, # of pages, targeted age/grade level with a
scholarly source that agrees, any awards won (+6 for written evaluation)
Describe the time period and time span and location(s) of the
setting of the story. Explain the importance of and the effects that
these have on the plot/action of the story. What happens in this
setting that would probably not happen in a different time and
place and why? Give some specific examples of time and place
events, objects, situations, real people mentioned, every day life
for the setting’s time period. (+5)
2.
3. Describe the main character—name, age, at least TWO major
personality trait(s) with adjectives and text examples to support,
major problem/conflict s/he encounters, and how the problem is
resolved. How does the character change/mature through the
story? What does s/he learn or do in order to solve or cope with
the conflict/problem?
(+7)
4. Characterize the child who would enjoy this book—what particular emotional needs
or interests does the book satisfy? (+3)
5. How might the book be used as a supplement to social studies (historical
information—events, people, lifestyle, time period,etc.)? Be specific in your answer and
Explain WHY you believe this about this book.
(+4)
6. Using the guidelines for evaluating Historical Fiction on page 222 of your textbook,
share your thorough evaluation of these questions for the book you have chosen: (+12)
 Does the book tell a good story and is fact blended with fiction in such a way that
the historical background is secondary/subordinate to the story’s plot? Why do
you believe this?
 How does the dialogue convey a feeling of the period without seeming artificial?
Why do you think this? Quote some words or lines of dialogue that make the
dialogue seem authentic to the time and place and not set in 2012.
 What is the THEME statement—express as a complete sentence without YOU
nor as a cliche-- of this novel? What idea does the author hope the reader will
learn/use/think about? How does the theme provide insight and understanding for
today’s SPECIFIC problems children might experience as well as those of the
past? Explain your answer.
Written Evaluation +60 points
Using the Oral Booksharing guidelines above, complete a written evaluation of
the book. TEXT SUPPORT/EXAMPLES/QUOTES create A-quality work.
Format: Number your information to correspond with the criteria as it is listed on
this assignment sheet. (Rather than write in essay format, treat each criterion as a
question that you answer in paragraph form.)
7. For written evaluation only: Quote two scholarly reviews of the book.
Identify the critic by name (do not use anonymous quotes) and the scholarly source. Go
to the Kent Library Home Page (library.semo.edu) and use the scholarly databases. No
other sources for reviews will be accepted as these are Newberry Award books. (+6)
8. Create a list of resources using correct MLA
format. Include the book you are sharing. (+8)
Quality of Writing (+9). Print and use the editing checklist found on
the class website. If I do NOT receive this checklist, I will not give any
points for writing quality, 10% of this assignment = one letter grade!