Historical Fiction
Organized by time period
Reading
Levels
Book
Armstrong, Alan.
2007.
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Raleigh’s Page.
New York: Random House,
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J YOLEN
An intriguing book for children, it tells the story of the Lost Colony in a narrative
format. Each page has drawn post-its and a notepad to define words and provide extra
information. At the end of the book, there is a timeline for the events of 1587 (when the
colony at Roanoke was first set-up) and a list of theories of what happened to the colonists
of Roanoke Island.
DRA: 38
Scieszka, Jon. The Not-So-Jolly Roger. New York: Puffin Guided
J SCIESZKA
Reading: P
Books, 1991.
Lexile: 650L
Part of the Time Warp Trio series, this book does not provide very much historical
information, but it is a fun read that would be of high-interest to fourth graders. It
would be a great book to read after researching the life of Edward Teach. The author does
include a historical afterward and details the demise of Blackbeard.
Leppard, Lois Gladys. Mandie and the Cherokee Legend.
Minneapolis, MN: Bethany Press International, 1983.
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J ARMSTRONG
This is a fictional account of a young boy who accompanies Raleigh on his expedition to
Roanoke Island and then to Virginia, where they encounter Native Americans. It is great
novel that highlights the spirit of exploration during that time, the conflict between the
explorers and Native Americans, and it also gives information on Sir Walter Raleigh.
Yolen, Jane. Roanoke: The Lost Colony: An Unsolved
Mystery From History. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2003.
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Call
Number
Lexile: 680L
J LEPPARD
This novel is the second book in the Mandie series* and it is set in the Smoky Mountains in
western North Carolina during frontier times. Mandie meets her Cherokee family for the
first time and searches for lost gold. The author has based the adventures of Mandie on her
own mother’s life and also included a map in the beginning of the book to illustrate the
location of the story.
*There are over 30 titles in the Mandie series by Lois Gladys Leppard, most of which take
place in North Carolina. While only one is included on this list, there are more books in
the series that illustrate historical life in North Carolina.
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DRA: 40
Guided
J AMERICAN
Reading: Q
Lexile: 700L
While there is no direct reference to life in North Carolina in this book, the setting is
supposed to be North Carolina during the Civil War. This would provide a lot of information
on what life was like during that time period. There is a section in the back of the book
that provides factual information on slave life and the Civil War.
Forrester, Sandra. Sound the Jubilee. New York: Puffin
J
Lexile: 790 L
FORRESTER
Books, 1995.
Although this book is more advanced, it would be a great book for higher readers or for the
teacher to read aloud to the entire class. It tells the story of a slave family that takes
refuge on Roanoke Island during the Civil War.
Porter, Connie. Meet Addy: an American Girl.
WI: Pleasant Company Publications, 1993.
Middleton,
Edwards, Pamela Duncan. The Wright Brothers.
Hyperion Books for Children, 2003.
New York:
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JB WRIGHT
This book has been cataloged as a biography in the library but I have included it on the
historical fiction list because of the format. This is a cumulative tale written in the
fashion of “The House That Jack Built.” It details the invention process the Wright
brothers took, from printing press to bicycles to planes. Mice appear on each page making
funny comments and also giving factual information. This is an entertaining book that would
be great for a read aloud.
Yolen, Jane. My Brothers’ Flying Machine: Wilbur,
Orville, and Me. New York: Little, Brown and Company,
2003.
N/A
JB WRIGHT
Told from the point of view of the Wright brothers’ sister, Katherine, this book explains
how the boys grew up to be inventors with beautiful illustrations. As with the previous
book, it is included on the historical fiction list because of the format.
Hostetter, Joyce Moyer.
Creek Books, 2006.
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Blue. Homesdale, PA: Calkins
J
HOSTETTER
This novel is set in Hickory, North Carolina during World War II. It discusses the polio
epidemic of that time as well as race issues, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and World War
II. At the end of the book, the author included a note on what is based on truth in the
story. She also included a resource list with books about polio, Franklin D. Roosevelt and
World War II, videos on the same topics, and additional fiction books.
DRA: 30-34
Weatherford, Carole Boston. Freedom on the Menu: the
Guiding
E
Greensboro Sit-Ins. New York: Dial Books for Young
Reading: N
WEATHERFOR
Readers, 2005.
Lexile: 660L
This picture book is told from the point of view of a young Southern black girl. It
explains the sit-ins and also mentions the role Martin Luther King played in the civil
rights movement. There is also an author’s note at the end that gives more historical
information on the event. This book would be great to use as a read-aloud to introduce the
events and start a discussion.
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