Comments on: The Perils of Historical Fiction http://kidlithistory.com/2010/01/08/the-perils-of-historical-fiction/ Everything I need to know about history, I learned through children's literature Tue, 15 May 2012 03:00:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Story first, history second « KidLit History http://kidlithistory.com/2010/01/08/the-perils-of-historical-fiction/#comment-738 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:35:59 +0000 http://kidlithistory.com/?p=104#comment-738 [...] very rarely works, and usually annoys folks that have any knowledge about the period in question (The Hope Chest springs to mind).  But very, very rarely does a book inspire me to scurry over to google to check facts in the [...]

]]> By: A new kind of historical fiction? « KidLit History http://kidlithistory.com/2010/01/08/the-perils-of-historical-fiction/#comment-580 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 03:03:55 +0000 http://kidlithistory.com/?p=104#comment-580 [...] I do agree that those books aren’t the best to inspire a long-lasting love of history.  My feelings about historical fiction are complicated–there’s so much more bad than good.  But I don’t think calling [...]

]]> By: A few more like her. . . « KidLit History http://kidlithistory.com/2010/01/08/the-perils-of-historical-fiction/#comment-296 Wed, 13 Oct 2010 03:11:42 +0000 http://kidlithistory.com/?p=104#comment-296 [...] I have a lot of issues with most modern historical fiction, there are a few authors that I just trust.  Richard Peck.  [...]

]]> By: Let me count the ways. . . In love with Calpurnia Tate « KidLit History http://kidlithistory.com/2010/01/08/the-perils-of-historical-fiction/#comment-93 Wed, 03 Feb 2010 04:41:20 +0000 http://kidlithistory.com/?p=104#comment-93 [...] But will it actually be any good?  There are so many pitfalls in historical fiction.  So many ways in which I could be disappointed.    But I had heard good things from people I trusted.  It became our museum book club’s [...]

]]> By: LaurieA-B http://kidlithistory.com/2010/01/08/the-perils-of-historical-fiction/#comment-74 Sat, 09 Jan 2010 14:07:12 +0000 http://kidlithistory.com/?p=104#comment-74 There was this episode of Gossip Girl (I don’t like the books, but love the TV show) that flashed back to depict the life of a mom, back in the 1980s. Every possible ’80s fad was included (Rubik’s cube there, leg warmers over here), and I remember my husband commenting, “It’s like having the ’80s shot at you with a cannon.” Sometimes, well-intentioned historical fiction shoots the history with a cannon, and readers, I think especially young readers, can feel knocked over.

Your comment, “Often, you don’t even realize that you’re learning about history. It’s just a good story,” reflects my experience with the Betsy-Tacy books; I’m ambivalent about all the biographical information in the more recent editions. Actually, I’m not ambivalent: I don’t like it. But I’m glad the books are in print, so I don’t complain.

]]> By: Barb http://kidlithistory.com/2010/01/08/the-perils-of-historical-fiction/#comment-73 Sat, 09 Jan 2010 13:51:59 +0000 http://kidlithistory.com/?p=104#comment-73 I have never been able to articulate why some historical kidlit really annoys me and you have managed to put your finger right on the old ever-too-convenient button! Well done…

]]> By: Wendy http://kidlithistory.com/2010/01/08/the-perils-of-historical-fiction/#comment-72 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:05:24 +0000 http://kidlithistory.com/?p=104#comment-72 Ah, historical fiction Forrest-Gump-style. I don’t think I’ll read The Hope Chest, but your summary made me laugh!

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