I’m sure by now you’ve discovered many of the wonderful places you can travel to just by picking up a book.  You may have sailed the high seas with Robinson Crusoe, swashbuckled pirates alongside Jim Hawkins on the pages of Treasure Island, or maybe you’ve been carried to the land of giants by The BFG (that’s the Big Friendly Giant for those of you who don’t know what a snozzcumber is...).  Have you out-smarted dark wizards with Harry Potter? Chased lightning thieves with Percy Jackson?  Or explored train stations with Hugo Cabret?  If so, then yay!  You must like the written word (a.k.a. books)!  As you’ve probably already experienced, while the literary world can bring your imagination to life, it can also help you travel back in time to experience life in another era (a time in history).  If you’re reading a story that does that, and it also is based on true facts or events, then leapin’ lizards, you’re reading historical fiction!

Check out these two historical fiction books by Christopher Paul Curtis: Bud, Not Buddy and The Watsons Go to Birmingham. To learn even more about the historical parts of this author’s works of fiction, click on the cover of the book you’re reading to continue...

But wait!  What if you’re reading about something that is not true, but it could actually happen?  And maybe even some of the people, places, or events might be real?  Golly!  That means you’re reading realistic fiction!  The story might not be fact, but it really could happen!  Which means you’re learning something real while you’re reading, too.  Whoopee!  Now check out this realistic fiction book by Linda Sue Park: Project Mulberry.  To learn even more about this author’s work of realistic fiction, click on the cover of the book to continue...