Historical Fiction to Support the New History National Curriculum

Changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age

Stone Age Boy – Satoshi Kitamura (2008) / Time shift picture story of a boy who falls down a hole and emerges in the stone age. Good introduction to general life at the time and suitable for years 3-6.
The Boy with the Bronze Axe – Kathleen Fidler(1968) / Classis children’s adventure set in the final days of the destruction of Skara Brae in the Orkneys. Very good historical details based on the archaeological findings at the village.
Brave – Wendy Constance (2014) / Adventure story set in the Stone Age. Conveys a good sense of life at the time and the struggle for survival in the wild.
Sunset of the Sabretooth – Mary Pope Osborne (2000)
First Painter – Kathryn Lasky (2000)
Nordy Bank – Sheena Porter (1964) / Six children camp out on Nordy Bank and become taken over by the Iron Age site.

The Roman Empire and its impact on Britain

I Was There – Boudica’s Army – Hilary McKay (2015) / A simple story of a young Iceni girl set against the revolt of the Iceni in AD60. Some general background details of life in a Celtic village at the time.
The Mark of the Horse Lord – Rosemary Sutcliff (1965) / Detailed action story set in Scotland. Complex story but rich in accurate period details and suitable for able/older readers in KS2.
The Eagle of the Ninth – Rosemary Sutcliff (1954) / The classic Roman fiction of the loss of the ninth legion in northern Britain and the mystery of the missing eagle standard. Suitable for able/older readers in KS2.
The Lantern Bearers –
Rosemary Sutcliff (1959) / Set at the time of the Roman evacuation of Britain. Suitable for able/older readers in KS2.
Arthur Archer and the Warrior Queen – Ben Molyneux (2014) / Time shift novel based around the events of Boudica’s uprising against the Romans.

Britain’s settlement by Anglo-Saxons and Scots

The Riddle Girl – Sheila Lane (1996) / Short story (58 pages) telling the story of a young girl who has her pigs stolen by the sons of the local lord. Contains basic details of Saxon village life at the time which could be cross-checked with images such as from West Stow.
Better than Gold – Theresa Tomlinson (2014) / Set in the time of conflict between the Saxon kingdoms in the 7th century. The story deals with the struggle between Christianity and beliefs in Woden but links in to the Staffordshire hoard in a very clever way. Good link to the hoard and possible follow up work on it. Author’s note sets the historical context very clearly.
The Mercury Cup – T.R. Burch (1982) / This adventure story involving two young boys set in the south of England at the time of the collapse and withdrawal of the Roman Empire. Has a dated feel, but could appeal to older pupils.

The Viking and Anglo-Saxon struggle for the Kingdom of England to the time of Edward the Confessor

Warrior Heroes – The Vikings Revenge Benjamin Hulme-Cross
(2014) / Time shift series. This is an adventure set in Norway but with good details of Viking life and customs and some exciting battle scenes. The story is supported by extracts explaining the background details to enhance the events. Should appeal particularly to boys.
Shield Maiden – Richard Denning and Gillian Pearce (2012) / Set in Norway and containing good information on Norse myths and legends but with a twist as the central character is female which may be a counter to The Vikings Revenge.

A local history study

Nordy Bank –Sheena Porter (1964) / Six children camp out on Nordy Bank and become taken over by the Iron Age site.

A study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066

Ancient Sumer

The Story of Gilgamesh – Yiyun Li and Marco Lorenzetti (2014) / A retelling of one of the oldest stories ever told. A classic story of myth and legend from ancient Sumeria with lovely illustrations.
Lugalbanda: The Boy Who Got Caught Up in a War - Kathy Henderson and Jane Ray (2007) / Beautifully illustrated story of possibly the oldest story known – over 5,000 years old. It tells the story of the little prince who grew up to rule Uruk. Good historical details at the end give the context to the story.
The Golden Bull - Marjorie Cowley (2012)
The Last Quest of Gilgamesh – LudmilaZeman (1995) / Picture book story of the last part of the epic of Gilgamesh. Lovely illustrations including a final image of the city of Uruk. Good notes at the end to set the story in its historical context.

The Indus Valley

Clues in the Desert – Emmett Davis (1983) / A bilingual (Punjabi/English) story about a young boy’s journey to Pakistan to meet his aunt and see the ruins of Mohenjo-Daro. A basic introduction and simple story.

Ancient Egypt

Setna’s Journey – Richard Brown (2001) / A young boy whose father decorates temples meets a young prince and explores the temples of Luxor. Very good detail of the buildings at Karnak and good author’s notes about the historical context of the story
I Was There – Tutankhamun’s Tomb (2015) / The discovery of the tomb as told through the eyes of a local Egyptian boy that recreates the sense of excitement of the discovery. Written to be accessible across years 3-6.
Child of Thoth – Ed Sutter (2012)
Ma’ At’s Feather – Juliet Desailly (2008) / The story of Qen and his adventures in ancient Egypt. The book is written for KS2 children and provides a rich resource for understanding the everyday life of ordinary people of the time.
Mara, Daughter of the Nile - Eloise Jarvis McGraw (1953)

The Shang Dynasty of Ancient China

The Stranger on the Silk Road: A Story of Ancient China - Jessica Gunderson (2008)

Ancient Greece

Children of the Fox – Jill Paton Walsh (1978)
The Price of Victory – Stewart Ross (2007) / Cartoon strip story of athletes from Athens and Sparta with additional historical information after the story. Should appeal to boys. (Dorling Kindersley)
The Tortoise and the Dare – Terry Deary (2007) / Simple, easy to read story set in Greece in 776BC and tells the story of a young boy training to be an athlete for the Olympic Games. Should appeal to younger KS2 pupils.
Athens is Saved – Stewart Ross (1997) / The story of Cimon and the Battle of Marathon. An illustrated story with good details of the preparation for war at the time and the actual battle.

Early Islamic civilization, including a study of Baghdad c. AD 900

Tales from the Arabian Nights - Andrew Lang (1993) / Not strictly historical fiction but stories that are set in a clear framework that would help children get a picture of Arabia at the time, through some favourites such as Sinbad, Ali Baba and Aladdin.

Mayan civilization c. AD 900

Rain Player – David Wisniewski (1991) / Picture story of a young Mayan boy’s attempt to save his city from starvation in a year of drought. Images provide powerful pictures of Mayan life.
The Well of Sacrifice – Chris Eboch (1999) / Illustrated story of a tale set around the glory days of Mayan civilisation. Good details of Mayan life.
Heart of a Jaguar – Marc Talbert (1995) / Balam is a Mayan boy who tries to free his village from a drought. Good descriptions of Mayan life but possibly a little gory on some details.
War Star Rising – Zoodoc (2008) / The legend of Toucan Moon woven into a story full of authentic details of Mayan life and culture.

Benin (West Africa) c. AD 900-1300.