Historical Fiction

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE historical fiction, especially historical fiction that is set during the Revolutionary War days.  On my bucket list of things to do in my lifetime is to write a children's book set during the Revolution.  We shall see! :)

I wanted to share a few of my favorite historical fiction books that I feel boys would especially enjoy.  Now, remember, I am a girl, surprise, surprise, :) and I still LOVE these books.  They are not only for boys.  I just realize that there are some books that boys can enjoy that girls can also, but there are books that girls would enjoy that boys would not; a.k.a  Anne of Green Gables! :)

So, here's a list of some of my all time favorite historical fiction that I feel your boys would enjoy.  If I had to put an age on them, I would say mostly between 3rd grade and up.  Third grade if he is a really good reader.

I just recently read these two books, Silver for General Washington and By Wagon and Flatboat written by Enid LaMonte Meadowcroft.  They are amazing books!! Full of adventure, not at all boring history, and suspense.  Any boy would enjoy the fast paced action of soldiers, Indians, war, river rapids on the flatboat, etc.  Check these out! They are awesome.  Could easily be used as a read aloud in the classroom because both boys and girls would enjoy them!

I recently read from cover to cover, (started it when I was younger and never finished) Johnny Tremaine by Esther Forbes.  It is an excellent book for the older reader.  I would say around 6th-7th grade and older.  It's a longer book, but very, very good.  Again, it's written during the Revolutionary time period!

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare makes me excited just typing the title! It is so very good and I could not put it down. Every boy should definitely read it!!

Ben and Me and Mr. Revere and I are two books written by Robert Lawson.  He is an amazing author with a knack for taking American History and making it enjoyable for the young reader to enjoy.  Both Ben Franklin and Paul Revere have their own sidekick who tells his side of the story which makes their American Hero famous! Of course, the sidekicks, in their words, are the ones who should really be famous. Great books!

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham, tells the story of young Nat who wants to be a seaman but he is too small of build to be able to make it as a sailor.  He instead changes the world of sailing with his talent for charts and maps.  Great story of how a young man pursues his dream in spite of difficulties.

Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan is the exciting story of children who help their country of Norway smuggle gold across the border to keep it out of the hands of the Nazi regime.  Such excitement and adventure is found on almost every page.  A must read for every boy!

The Chestry Oak by Kate Seredy, in my opinion, needs to be read by every single boy!! It is the amazing story of a Hungarian Prince during WWII, Michael, who finds himself in the face of danger many times.  This story will grip you on every page.  It is my personal favorite book right now! I absolutely adore it!

The Buffalo Knife by William O. Steele
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry

All of these are great books and must reads for every boy!  I hope you and your son will have the opportunity to sit down together and either read it out loud or talk about what he has read.  These books have character lessons, history lessons, and are full of adventure to satisfy every young boy's need for excitement!  Happy Reading!