Historical Fiction Reading Packet
Name____________________________________________
Period___________
Date______________________
Book Title ________________________________________
Author ____________________________
# Pages_____
BEFORE READING: Historical Context – 20 Points
What is the historical context/setting of your novel? Explain how you came to this conclusion.
Find and read an encyclopedia or other academic article (either print or online) about the time period of your
novel. Record the name of the article and its location here.
List the key events, ideas and details from the article (at least five, in your own words).
Using the above list, summarize the article in one paragraph (with your own words).
DURING READING: Vocabulary Squares – 20 Points
Directions: Find 4 unknown or unfamiliar words in your book and fill out a vocabulary square for each.
Word:
Synonym (word that means
the same):
Word:
Synonym (word that means the
same):
Part of Speech (noun, verb,
adjective, etc.):
Antonym (word that means
the opposite):
Part of Speech (noun, verb,
adjective, etc.):
Antonym (word that means the
opposite):
Picture:
Definition (should match the
word’s use in your book):
Picture:
Definition (should match the
word’s use in your book):
Sentence in which you found it:
Sentence in which you found it:
Word:
Synonym (word that means
the same):
Word:
Synonym (word that means the
same):
Part of Speech (noun, verb,
adjective, etc.):
Antonym (word that means
the opposite):
Part of Speech (noun, verb,
adjective, etc.):
Antonym (word that means the
opposite):
Picture:
Definition (should match the
word’s use in your book):
Picture:
Definition (should match the
word’s use in your book):
Sentence in which you found it:
Sentence in which you found it:
Directions: Complete the following tasks on the back of this page.
1) For all FOUR of the words, create a sentence using the word accurately.
2) For TWO of the words, explain how the context (the sentence or paragraph where you found the unknown
word) would have helped you understand the word without using the dictionary.
3) For ONE of the words, compare and contrast the word with its synonym. How are these two words different?
How are they alike?
DURING READING: Reading Log – 20 Points
Question #
Page #
Directions: While you are reading your book, stop every 10 pages to respond to what you have read. If you are reading a book
over 300 pages, you may stop every 20 pages. If you are reading a book under 70 pages, you must stop every 5 pages. For each
section, choose one of the questions below to answer, providing evidence from the text. Keep the questions in mind while
reading so you know what to look for. Try to answer a different question each time.
1. Describe the setting of this part of the story.
2. Describe how the main character is developed in this section.
3. Identify the point of view the story is written in.
4. Discuss what the main character wants in this story.
5. Explain how the setting reflects the historical context.
6. Explain how the events of the story reflect the historical context.
7. Explain how a character reflects the historical context.
8. Explain the most important event from this section.
9. Compare and contrast two major characters.
10. Explain why an author might have included an event from this section.
11. Examine how the author uses dialogue to develop a character.
12. Examine how the author uses description to develop the setting.
13. Explain how the context helped you figure out an unknown or confusing word.
14. Imagine how an element of this story (setting, character, events) would be different if it was taking place today.
15. Evaluate the conclusion of the novel.
Evidence from Text
Include a specific quote or a summary of an event
or detail to support your answer to the question.
Answer
Combine the evidence from the text with your own
thoughts (inferences) to answer the question in 2-3
complete sentences.
AFTER READING: Historical Context – 20 Points
Compare and contrast the article that you read with the novel, including specific details from each.
Using specific details from the text, explain how the time period affected the main character(s).
Using evidence and analysis from your novel and the historical context article, answer the Unit’s essential question:
What makes characters in historical fiction believable?
AFTER READING: Plot and Theme – 20 Points
Complete the following two activities on your own sheets of paper.
1) PLOT: Create a plot diagram of your historical fiction novel. You may use the typical “mountain” diagram, or you
may create any other graphic organizer of your choice. Be creative, but be sure to show the relationship
between the plot elements. Using your notes from class, identify each of the following:
a. EXPOSITION: Character(s) and Setting
b. RISING ACTION
c. CONFLICT
d. CLIMAX
e. FALLING ACTION
f. RESOLUTION
2) THEME: Using your reading log, choose ONE of the following activities to complete.
a. Letter to Great, Great, Great, Great, Great (you get the idea) Grandchild
Pretending to be the main character from your novel, write a letter to the character’s great, great, great,
great grandchild explaining what he/she learned from the events in the novel. If you choose this task, be
sure to follow these guidelines:
i. Written in letter format
ii. At least three paragraphs long
iii. Directly reference the lesson learned
iv. Support this theme with at least three IMPORTANT, RELEVANT details from the
novel (underline these details).
b. Theme Song
Compose a song that reflects the message or theme of your novel. Set it to a familiar song (such as The
Alphabet Song or an Adele tune). If you choose this task, be sure to follow these guidelines:
i. Written in verse format (include the title of the familiar tune at the top)
ii. At least two verses and one chorus long
iii. Directly reference the lesson learned (double-underline the lesson or theme
statement).
iv. Support this theme with at least three IMPORTANT, RELEVANT details from the
novel (underline these details).