Historical fiction novels are a treasure in the classroom. I love books that tell a captivating story and are set in a real, historical period with factual information. Students can read wonderful literature and learn veritable history at the same time. It’s a cross-curricular celebration! Let’s dive into 10 historical fiction novels for upper elementary and middle school students that captivate the attention of even the most reluctant readers.
History, in and of itself, can be mundane to students. It can be set within the backdrop of an enthralling plot line; this once tedious subject comes alive. Exploring the emotions of characters similar to students’ ages, within an intense historical time period, puts history into perspective. It also makes books feel authentic, and authentic literature makes reading motivating and engaging. By walking in the shoes of characters, students experience history firsthand: its struggles, triumphs, and everyday realities.
#1 The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Ten-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn’t waste a minute—she sneaks out to join him. So begins a new adventure for Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take the two kids in.
As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan—and Susan begins to love Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel hands of their mother? This masterful work of historical fiction is equal parts adventure and a moving tale of family and identity—a classic in the making.
Glimpse into the History Explored in the Novel:
- WWII
- Children’s Evacuation (Operation Pied Piper) The London Blitz – Germany’s bombing campaign over London and other major cities.
- Rationing and Shortages/Victory Gardens – Families dealt with limited food, clothing, and supplies.
- Class Divides in England – Wealthy families contrasted sharply with poor, working-class families.
- WWII Bomb Shelters
Want to make history come alive even more, through genuine projects?
Explore our project-based learning unit for The War that Saved My Life. From scrapbooks to Vlogs, from Victory garden projects to Shoebox Shelter dioramas, we have more than enough for your students to dive into history and literature!
#2. Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
Publisher’s Synopsis:
During the summer of 1793, Mattie Cook lives above the family coffee shop with her widowed mother and grandfather. Mattie spends her days avoiding chores and making plans to turn the family business into the finest Philadelphia has ever seen. But then the fever breaks out. Disease sweeps the streets, destroying everything in its path and turning Mattie’s world upside down. At her feverish mother’s insistence, Mattie flees the city with her grandfather. But she soon discovers that the sickness is everywhere, and Mattie must learn quickly how to survive in a city turned frantic with disease.
Glimpse into the History Explored in the Novel:
- The Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 – A real outbreak that killed thousands in Philadelphia.
- Role of the Free African Society – A group that risked their lives helping care for the sick and burying the dead.
- Medical Practices of the Time – Including bloodletting and ineffective treatments.
- Philadelphia as the U.S. Capital – The city was the nation’s capital during the epidemic.
- Impact on Economy & Daily Life – Businesses closed, food shortages spread, and many fled the city.
#3 The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Deza is the smartest girl in her class, singled out by teachers for a special path in life. But the Great Depression hit Gary, Indiana hard, and there are no jobs for Black men. When her beloved father leaves to find work, Deza, Mother, and her older brother Jimmie go in search of him, and end up in a Hooverville outside Flint, Michigan. While Jimmie’s beautiful voice inspires him to leave the camp to be a performer, Deza and Mother continue on, clinging to the hope that they will find Father. The twists and turns of the Malone’s journey reveal not only the devastation of the Depression but also the enduring strength of family bonds and the mighty heart of young Deza Malone.
Glimpse into the History Explored in the Novel:
- The Great Depression – Widespread poverty, unemployment, and economic hardship in the 1930s.
- Hoovervilles – Makeshift shantytowns where homeless families lived after losing jobs and homes.
- Racial Inequality & Segregation – African American families faced systemic racism in housing, jobs, and education.
- Labor Struggles & Unemployment – Factories closing, strikes, and difficulty finding steady work.
- Migration for Work – Families (especially African Americans) moved in search of jobs, often traveling long distances. (Riding the rails.)
Want to guide your students through history and literature with confidence and ease?
#4 The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Kit Tyler is marked by suspicion and disapproval from the moment she arrives on the unfamiliar shores of colonial Connecticut in 1687. Alone and desperate, she has been forced to leave her beloved home on the island of Barbados and join a family she has never met. Torn between her quest for belonging and her desire to be true to herself, Kit struggles to survive in a hostile place. Just when it seems she must give up, she finds a kindred spirit. But Kit’s friendship with Hannah Tupper, believed by the colonists to be a witch, proves more taboo than she could have imagined and ultimately forces Kit to choose between her heart and her duty.
Glimpse into the History Explored in the Novel:
- Puritan Beliefs and Society – Strict religious expectations shaped daily life, laws, and community behavior.
- Colonial Government & Charter Disputes – Tension between the Connecticut colonists and the royal governor over control and freedom (Charter Colony debates).
- Indentured Servitude – A common practice in the colonies where people worked for years to pay off debts or passage to America.
- Witchcraft Accusations – Fear of witchcraft and suspicion of outsiders, reflecting real events leading up to later witch trials (like Salem in 1692).
- Colonial Education and Roles for Women – Limited formal education for girls, with strict roles in domestic work and family duties.
#5 Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Esperanza thought she’d always live a privileged life on her family’s ranch in Mexico. She’d always have fancy dresses, a beautiful home filled with servants, and Mama, Papa, and Abuelita to care for her. But a sudden tragedy forces Esperanza and Mama to flee to California and settle in a Mexican farm labor camp. Esperanza isn’t ready for the hard work, financial struggles brought on by the Great Depression, or the lack of acceptance she now faces. When Mama gets sick and a strike for better working conditions threatens to uproot their new life, Esperanza must find a way to rise above her difficult circumstances–because Mama’s life, and her own, depend on it.
Glimpse into the History Explored in the Novel:
- The Great Depression – Economic collapse of the 1930s that caused job loss, poverty, and hardship for families across the U.S.
- Mexican Repatriation – During the 1930s, many Mexican immigrants and Mexican Americans were pressured or forced to return to Mexico, even if they were U.S. citizens.
- Migrant Farmworker Camps – Families lived in crowded labor camps with poor conditions while working seasonally on farms.
- Labor Strikes & Workers’ Rights – Mexican and Filipino farmworkers organized strikes to protest low wages and poor living conditions.
- Dust Bowl Migration – Many families from Oklahoma and other Dust Bowl states also moved west to California, creating tension and competition with Mexican migrant workers.
Go beyond the page with projects that make Esperanza Rising unforgettable.
Are you looking for a fully engaging unit that spans beyond basic comprehension questions to teach the novel, Esperanza Rising? Do you want students to be immersed in self-guided projects, interesting and thought-provoking writing pieces, rigorous assignments that incorporate ELA standards and art, and fun hands-on activities? Our Esperanza Rising 14 Research Projects/Activities Unit is full of incredible project-based learning opportunities to keep your students engaged and connected to this novel.
#6 The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick
Publisher’s Synopsis:
A Newbery Honor Book, this warm, funny, & heart-wrenching Civil War novel introduces readers to the Battle of Gettysburg & “Little Round Top,” one of the most famous feats of bravery in U.S. history! In this emotive Newbery Honor-winning page-turner, 12 year-old orphan Homer runs away from Pine Swamp, Maine, to find his older brother, Harold, who has been sold into the Union Army. With laugh-aloud humor,
Homer outwits and outruns a colorful assortment of Civil War-era thieves, scallywags, and spies as he makes his way south. He follows clues that finally lead him to the Battle of Gettysburg and the dramatic story of the 20th Maine at Little Round Top. Even through a hail of gunfire, Homer never loses heart–but will he find his brother? Or will it be too late? With engaging wit and comical repartee reminiscent of Mark Twain, master storyteller Rodman Philbrick introduces us to the unforgettable character of Homer in this groundbreaking historical novel.
Glimpse into the History Explored in the Novel:
- The American Civil War (1861–1865) – The backdrop of the novel, with battles between the Union and Confederacy.
- The Underground Railroad – Networks that helped enslaved people escape to freedom, referenced in Homer’s journey.
- Conscription (the Draft) – Laws requiring men to serve in the army, which sometimes led to corruption and abuse.
- Civil War Battles & Camps – The novel includes the Battle of Gettysburg (1863) and describes conditions in army camps.
- Abolition and Anti-Slavery Movements – The fight to end slavery is a key theme. Homer encounters people involved in the cause.
#7 Johnny Tremain by Esther Hoskins Forbes
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Fourteen-year-old Johnny Tremain, an apprentice silversmith with a bright future ahead of him, injures his hand in a tragic accident, forcing him to look for other work. In his new job as a horse-boy, riding for the patriotic newspaper the Boston Observer and as a messenger for the Sons of Liberty, he encounters John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Dr. Joseph Warren. Soon Johnny is involved in the pivotal events of the American Revolution, from the Boston Tea Party to the first shots fired at Lexington. Powerful illustrations by artist Michael McCurdy help bring this classic novel for middle graders to life.
Glimpse into the History Explored in the Novel:
- The Boston Tea Party (1773) – Colonists protested British taxation by dumping tea into Boston Harbor.
- The Sons of Liberty – A group of patriots (including Sam Adams, Paul Revere, and John Hancock) who organized resistance to British rule.
- The Boston Massacre (1770) – A deadly confrontation between British soldiers and colonists that fueled revolutionary sentiment.
- The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere (1775) – The warning to colonial militias that the British were marching toward Lexington and Concord.
- Colonial Apprenticeship System – Young men like Johnny trained under masters to learn trades, reflecting how society and work functioned in pre-Revolutionary Boston.
#8 Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Despite growing up in the shadows cast by two world wars, Annabelle has lived a mostly quiet, steady life in her small Pennsylvania town. Until the day new student Betty Glengarry walks into her class. Betty quickly reveals herself to be cruel and manipulative, and though her bullying seems isolated at first, it quickly escalates. Toby, a reclusive World War I veteran, soon becomes the target of Betty’s attacks. While others see Toby’s strangeness, Annabelle knows only kindness. And as tensions mount in their small community, Annabelle must find the courage to stand as a lone voice for justice. The brilliantly crafted debut of Newbery Honor– and Scott O’Dell Award–winning author Lauren Wolk (Beyond the Bright Sea, Echo Mountain), Wolf Hollow is a haunting tale of America at a crossroads and a time when one girl’s resilience, strength, and compassion help to illuminate the darkest corners of history.
Glimpse into the History Explored in the Novel:
- World War II Home Front – The story takes place in 1943, showing how life in small American towns was shaped by the war abroad.
- Rationing & Scarcity – Families dealt with limited access to food, shoes, and supplies because goods were redirected to support the war effort.
- Soldiers & War Casualties – References to local men serving overseas, including those who were injured or killed.
- Anti-German Sentiment – Prejudice and suspicion toward people of German heritage during WWII, even if they were loyal Americans.
- Rural Life in the 1940s – Daily routines such as farming, walking long distances to school, and living in tight-knit communities without modern conveniences.
#9 Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Eleven-year-old Elijah lives in Buxton, Canada, a settlement of runaway slaves near the American border. Elijah’s the first child in town to be born free. He ought to be famous just for that. Not to mention for being the best at chunking rocks and catching fish. Unfortunately, all that most people see is a “fra-gile” boy who’s scared of snakes and tends to talk too much. But everything changes when a former slave steals money from Elijah’s friend, who has been saving to buy his family out of captivity in the South. Now it’s up to Elijah to track down the thief — and his dangerous journey just might make a hero out of him, if only he can find the courage to get back home.
Glimpse into the History Explored in the Novel:
- The Underground Railroad – Escaped slaves traveled north to freedom in Canada, including settlements like Buxton.
- Life in a Free Black Settlement – Buxton was a real community where formerly enslaved people built schools, churches, and farms.
- Slavery in the United States – The novel contrasts life in freedom with the hardships of enslaved people in the U.S.
- Abolitionist Movement – The broader historical movement to end slavery and support the freedom of enslaved people.
- Education & Self-Determination – Freed communities placed strong emphasis on literacy, schooling, and training for trades.
#10 The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak
(Recommended for Middle School)
Publisher’s Synopsis:
When Death has a story to tell, you listen. It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still. Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak, author of I Am the Messenger, has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.
Glimpse into the History Explored in the Novel:
- Life under Nazi Rule – The story shows how ordinary Germans lived under the oppressive policies of the Nazi regime. It includes censorship, propaganda, and fear of persecution.
- The Holocaust – The novel depicts the persecution of Jews and others targeted by the Nazis, including hiding people to save them from deportation.
- World War II Home Front – The hardships of daily life in Germany during wartime, such as food shortages, bombings, and rationing.
- Resistance and Moral Courage – Characters risk their lives to resist the regime by hiding Jewish refugees or preserving knowledge through books.
- Censorship and the Power of Words – The Nazi regime’s control over literature and information, contrasted with Liesel’s love of reading and storytelling.
Conclusion:
Historical fiction novels open a window into the past in a way that textbooks alone simply can’t. These novels not only strengthen reading skills but also deepen historical understanding, empathy, and critical thinking. Incorporating historical fiction into your classroom is more than just a literacy activity. It’s a bridge between literature and history, making both subjects richer, more engaging, and unforgettable for students. So pick up a book, step back in time, and watch your students’ curiosity and love of reading and history flourish.