Catherine Jinks in Australia, Karen Cushman in the United States and Henrietta Branfield from England represent the best of current writing in this genre. Consider the popularity of clubs whose members dress up in medieval European costume, organise tournaments and fairs, and those who do detailed study to recreate medieval and renaissance European music and dance in Australia today. Some books convey the idea that there are 'eternal and universal' qualities common to all human beings, others imply that we can avoid repeating the mistakes of the past by learning about them. You have only to dig into good histories and archives to discover a treasure trove of 'ripping yarns' waiting to be told. Some authors of historical fiction for young people tell stories about the past to contribute towards the construction of a sense of identity for today's youth, perhaps to allow them to experience vicariously the kind of 'rite of passage' to adulthood that may not be possible today.
Some authors write to challenge text-book views of history .
Geoffrey Trease shocked adults in the 1950's and '60's with his alternative views of Robin Hood and the French revolution. Jan Needle's A Fine Boy for Killing critiques the British navy in the early nineteenth century. Giving Silenced People a Voice Other authors complement 'official' history, which is often full of battles and political events involving upper and middle class people. Based on thorough archival research, Katherine Paterson's Lyddie is about the girls who worked in nineteenth century Boston in the textile industry. Lyddie's struggle to keep her family together, to become literate and to maintain her personal integrity makes a moving story.