Most of the literature curriculum for the upper elementary school students includes at least one historical novel.
Historical novels play an important part in the literature that students are exposed to.
Historical novels bring to life a period in history that students might otherwise find dull and lifeless. Reading a historical novel gives students a taste of the culture, customs and lifestyle of the people who lived during that period. History comes alive when the students can relate to the story. Students who have been heavily exposed to a historical viewpoint through television and movies may have trouble differentiating between fact and fiction. After reading a historical novel or viewing a movie dealing with a certain period in history, students need to be able to separate what is real and what is made-up.