What are some good american historical fiction books?

vampbookworm: What are some good american historical fiction books?
i looking for books related to american wars for example revolutionary war, civil war, ww1,ww2
my english teacher forces his students to read, analize, write essays and get tested on his boring and out dated books about america history. he want the books that we read in his class to connect to other classes. his intentions are good but he needs to choose better books and give kids more options.
Please reccomend books are exciting, will apeal to kids age 12-14 and appropriate for class.
can you also reccomend books not relating to war but in the same time period.
any good books related to physcial science are also helpful.

Answers and Views:

Answer by Persiphone_Hellecat
The Red Badge of Courage. Pax = C

Answer by Mr. Good Answers
Ages 12-14? Hmm…about America you say?
“Roger’s Rangers and the French and Indian War”
“Flags of our Fathers” (Note: Might be a bit boring if you’re not into pure history)
“The Hunt for Red October” – Tom Clancy

Hope that helps. =)

Answer by Carolyn M
You should look into the author Ann Rinaldi, she writes excellent historical fiction for young readers both at the middle school and high school level and her books cover all the major events in history. Here are a couple:
The Secret of Sarah Revere (Revolutionary War)
An Acquaintance with Darkness (Civil War)
A Break with Charity- (Salem Witch Trials)

And she has many others. Excellent writer and she is used by a lot of classroom teachers although apparently not yours.

Answer by Greg G
But… that’s a paradox! American’s don’t know how to read. Silly people. Silly.

Answer by Molly R.
Historical Fiction: Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers, about the Vietnam War. Bloody Country (about the Pennamite wars in PA) and My Brother Sam is Dead by the Collier brothers.

Non fiction: Hitler Youth, and Black Potatoes by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, books by Jim Murphy about American disasters (Fire in Chicago, earthquake in San Francisco, Blizzard, etc.), and works by Russell Freeman

Answer by Carnac
James Michener comes to mind. Historical novels was his specialiy and nobody does it better. His books tend to be quite long and may be a bit much for the 12-14 yo crowd to swallow although I think they could handle excerpts. “Chesapeake” deals with the founding of the U.S. Other good ones are “Hawaii” and “Alaska”.

Answer by artful
The Red Badge of Courage is good, A Farewell to Arms for WWI, The Naked and the Dead and/or The Thin Red Line for WWII, The Bridges at Toko Ri for Korea, The Things They Carried for Viet Nam, My Antonia and O Pioneers for the settlement of the midwest White Fang and The Call of the Wild for the wilderness experience in the Yukon.

Answer by irish1
‘Across Five Aprils’, by Irene Hunt – the Civil War

Answer by eri
Catch-22. Might not be all that appropriate at parts though.

Answer by stippy87
Johnny Tremain – Revolutionary

Soldier Boys – WW2

Answer by Robin C
Colonial times: Constance, by Patricia Clapp (actually, the Pilgrims, very well done)
**Sarah on her Own, by Karen Coombs**
Tituba of Salem Village, by Ann Petry
The 13th Floor, by Sid Fleischman
Something Upstairs, by Avi
And, of course, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, a great book.

Revolutionary period, in addition to Johnny Tremain:
Bells of Freedom, by Dorothy Gilman
The Winter Hero, by the Collier brothers
Sarah Bishop, by Scott O’dell
Toliver’s Secret
Rebecca’s war , by Ann Finlayson

Prior to Civil War
Beyond the Western Sea, by Avi ****best book!!!
Jip, His Story, by Katherine Paterson
Lyddie, by Katherine Paterson
Caddie Woodlawn, by Carol Ryrie Brink
Summer of the Monkeys, by Wilson Rawls
The Great Turkey Walk, Kathleen Karr
Dragon’s Gate, by Laurence Yep
The Ballad of Lucy Whipple, by Karen Cushman
Prairie Songs, by Pam Conrad

Civil War:
Shades of Gray, by Carolyn Reeder
Behind Rebel Lines, by Seymour Reit (this is actually a biography of a real person)
Rifles for Watie, Harold Keith
Across Five Aprils, by Irene Hunt,
Charley Skedaddle, by Patricia Beatty
Who Comes with Cannons, Patricia Beatty

1900’s
Harris & Me, by Gary Paulsen, besides the Depression era, it is hilarious
A Long Way From Chicago, by Richard Peck, and it’s sequel, A Year Down Yonder

WWII
Under the Blood Red Sun, Graham Salisbury
Parallel Journeys, by Eleanor H. Ayer With Helen Waterford And Alfons Heck.
In my Hands: Memories Of A Holocaust Rescuer Irene Gut Opdyke, With Jennifer Armstrong.
Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry
The Snow Treasure, McSwigan, Marie.
Journey to Topaz, by Yoshiko Uchida (and sequels)

Island on Bird Street, Uri Orlev
Milkweed, by Jerry Spinelli
The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak

Answer by BlueManticore
American Civil War:
The killer angels- Michael Shaara
Gods and generals- Jeff Shaara
The last full measure- Jeff Shaara
The guns of Shiloh- Joseph A. Altsheler

WW2:
Number the stars- Lois Lowry
Greater than angels- CarolMatas
A coming evil- Vivian Vande Velde