Historical Fiction

Historical Fiction 

Historical fiction is typically a novel or story that is made up in the past and uses characteristics of that time period. There is story line that goes along with the time period.

The American Girl books created by Valerie Tripp, are a good source of historical fiction for young children. Not just for girls, but also boys. This is a great way for children to experience the different events of American culture through the years, as well as the events that take place all told through the perspective of a girl.

In this particular book, Meet Molly, the time is set during WWII, the year is 1943, the beginning of the war. Molly's father is a doctor, but he enlisted into the Army to go to England to help wounded soldiers. There are 6 different books in Molly's collection that enlist and tell all about the different events that take place during WWII.

Not just Meet Molly, but every American Girl book has different features of one girl following events to particular time periods. The first year of an American Girl book was Kaya in 1764, where she was a warrior in the Nez Perce tribe. They showed different elements of their culture in the book as well as being the only American Girl to not show her teeth because of a respect in their culture. 

Events that are included in Molly's series are,

• The shows and broadcasts people would listen to on the radio. 

• The bombing of Pearl Harbor and the reactions of those who felt angry and felt that the war wasn't so far away anymore. 

• Adolf Hitler, a German dictator that had invaded peaceful European countries and who wanted to stretch his power until he and the Nazis controlled the world. 

• Different ways men and women served their country with the armed forces, with women working in offices and hospitals. 

• The censorship of letters written by soldiers, to make sure that enemy spies won't read them and find out where the Americans were ready to fight. 

• American companies "going to war" by producing war equipment and supplies for soldiers, rather than everyday goods and products for consumers. 

• The jobs woman were able to get during the war as the men went away to fight, such as at factories, offices and at businesses. 

• People on the home front having to change how they lived to support the war effort, such as using less gasoline and growing their own food in victory gardens. 

• Families displaying blue stars in their windows for every family member that was away at war, and gold stars for those that had been killed.(http://americangirl.wikia.com/wiki/Meet_Molly) 

I also find that this series serves an important role in the classroom for students. It gives girls a platform that ensures them that they can be leaders. It tells girls that they are just as smart as boys. There are some scenarios in the books that boys can relate to as well.

I particularly chose this book because I would read the American Girl books in 3rd and 4th grade. This is the time where we would do a lot of independent reading and we would do assessments on the books we would choose. I remember going home to tell my mom about what these girls did in the books, I thought they were the best and was always asking my mom if I could go to the American Girl store and get a doll to go with my book.

Each girl serves a purpose through these stories. Each book in the series has great teachable moments. I find these books to be effective in a history classroom, where you simply pick a time period and use this book to be able to relate it to the events during that time.
I especially like these books for young girls in my classroom. These books can provide confidence and leadership roles for girls in my classroom. I want my students to all feel like they have a place in this world and they can through the use of books and stories.