Teachers know that encouraging children to read is one of the best things you can do for them. It improves vocabulary, increases knowledge, and exercises the brain. But there are so many genres—mystery, action, romance, science fiction, fantasy—how do you choose the right book for a class or individual child? If you are looking for something that will be enjoyable to read while at the same time providing educational value, historical fiction is a great choice.
The historical fiction genre consists of books that tell fictional stories in a real historical setting. A thrilling murder mystery set in bombed-out London during World War II, a passionate romance during the reign of Augustus in the Roman Empire, and an action-packed adventure during the First Crusade would all be part of this genre. A good historical fiction novel is a finely crafted blend of interesting historical detail, an exciting plot, and believable characters that make the journey into the past memorable. It will both engage your students’ interest and teach them about history. Consider the following advantages of the genre.
Historical fiction provides immersive learning about other cultures and times.
Some approaches to teaching history can be dull—lists of names, dates, and events are challenging to connect with and understand. But an excellent historical fiction novel is like a time machine that transports us to a distant place in our past and fully immerses us in a new world where history comes alive. We aren’t just told about events—we watch them unfold through the eyes of the characters who become our tour guides to a different land and time. We are shown what people of the time ate and wore, how they lived their daily lives, and what they believed. We can visit the crowded Roman forum and hear orators dressed in togas shouting from the rostrum. We can cross the deck of an 18th-century British sailing vessel and hear the wind in its sails and the waves splashing against the hull as it slices through the waters of the Caribbean. We can live among Indigenous people as their lives evolve. With historical fiction, the sounds, the sights, and the smells of the past all come alive.
Historical fiction teaches the significance of the past.
In our modern-day world with computers, cars, planes, and spacecraft, students may question the reasons to read a book about events that took place in the past. But the world did not arrive at its current place magically. Instead, thousands of years of invention, discovery, struggle, and warfare created scientific breakthroughs, defined political borders, and shaped today’s world. Through historical fiction, we can not only learn about the people and events that shaped the modern world but also gain insight into the factors that drove people to challenge the norms of their time, fight oppression, win freedom, right wrongs, or make bold discoveries. And we can also learn about the great failures of the past and, hopefully, learn from the mistakes of others.
Historical fiction helps teach about the harsher parts of history.
Unfortunately, not all history is pleasant. The last few thousand years have seen wars, plagues, slavery, genocide, and humans generally not being kind to one another. It is not easy to explain these darker parts of our shared history. However, historical fiction allows students to read and feel the struggles of different people, races, and cultures and better understand their own place in the world. And, in cases where a family member has experienced personal struggles, historical fiction can be a gateway for children to understand what previous generations have gone through.
Historical fiction can teach values.
Historical fiction can reveal the courage, endurance, determination, and teamwork that make people persevere against tremendous odds. It can teach the truth about the past. It can lead to empathy for others who have suffered injustice or been wrongfully persecuted. It allows us to understand viewpoints different from our own or discover alternative ways to handle our problems.
So, why not try historical fiction when thinking about your next novel study? The right book will spark your students’ curiosity and send them off on a lifelong journey through the past, which can make them better prepared for their role in the future.
Andrew Varga
Andrew Varga is a historian, educator, and author of The Last Saxon King: A Jump in Time Novel, releasing March 7, 2023. He is based in Ontario.
This article is featured in Canadian Teacher Magazine’s Spring 2023 issue.