Students should read historical fiction alongside primary and secondary materials, and they should also write it using primary and secondary sources. Inquire with students about how they believe their fiction (and the fiction they read) represents the writer and her or his historical study. Help them understand that writers use different techniques to bring life to characters and stories that may not actually exist. Historical fiction can be a great way for students to learn about other times in history because many novels take place in the past but some interesting things still happen. Characters often do things that we would never do today such as fight in wars or go without food because there's no such thing as enough food. By reading about these events, students will get an idea of what people were like back then which can help them understand ourselves a little better. In addition to reading historical fiction, students should also write it. Have them research topics in history and write short stories or essays about what they have learned. This will help them understand how to compose a paper on history that follows a logical structure while giving readers more information about the topic. Finally, teachers should ask students why they think historical fiction is important literature that helps us understand history.