Great topic! I love this type of book, too, probably because I like both historical novels and fantasy. I think most of these books tend to be MG rather than YA... and if I'm right, I wonder why that is. Going back to the really old classics: one of my favorites is "The Magic Amulet" by E. Nesbitt.
I think you're right, Leah. Coming up with a YA example is challenging. Very good question. Maybe because more librarians support the whole historical fiction genre and maybe support is larger?
It's less well known than the Magic Treehouse books, but Jon Scieska and Lane Smith did a slightier nuttier, comparable series called The Time Warp Trio. And Canadian author KC Dyer wrote the Eagle Glen Trilogy, of which my favorite is Seeds of Light (Leonardo da Vinci makes an appearance).
Not being a huge historical fiction fan, I don't always reach for time travel books, but I do think they're an interesting category, especially since most people think of fantasy as being filled with wizards and dragons. Time travel books are like sandwiches--the bread is fantasy, and the meat (or peanut butter!) is historical fiction. Of course, that's just going back in time; what about going forward into the future?
You're right, Kate! I forgot about the Time Warp Trio. I'm not the hugest historical fiction fan either, and that's why I find this genre so interesting. It is VERY popular. Wonder how publishers feel about it. And yes - traveling forward. Now that is fun!
Thanks for the great TOTW - I know my daughter LOVED THE MAGIC TREEHOUSE series when she was younger. interesting that so many of the titles are MG. And I know there are adult titles that deal with time travel - TIMELINE by Michael Crichton comes to mind. The only YA novel that I can think of is PRADA AND PREJUDICE by Mandy Hubbard. Hmmmm...writers out there - perhaps an unfilled void??
You're welcome, Kiki! I loved TIMELINE but I think too many like it and it would become stale quickly. And yes, PRADA AND PREJUDICE! Great example! (I wonder if it's a bunch of Renn Faire lovers writing the books? - which I happily am)
This is one of my favorite genres. I'm writing a YA novel that definitely owes a lot to the books already mentioned. To the list I would like to add The Children of Green Knowe series, which uses an ancient house and the ghosts of children who died in the Great Plague as a device for the time-travel aspect. Time travel stories combine the best of fanatasy and historical fiction and are perennially popular with children, though not so much with publishers. I think the problem often is that the way in which the protagonist travels back (or forwards) in time has to feel fresh and original, yet believable, and that's hard to do.
Historical Fiction with Time Travelchris_brodienJanuary 18 2010, 18:07:39 UTC
Time travel books were always my favorites!! I adored Edward Eager and was thrilled when his books came back into print: THE TIME GARDEN, HALF MAGIC, MAGIC BY THE LAKE, and so on. I remember in one of the books four children travel back in time and meet four other children who've traveled back in time (who in future will turn out to be their parents)! I always thought that was so cool. What if the past is conjured up and witnessed in the present? Is that considered time travel? I'm thinking of THE WHISPERING KNIGHTS by Penelope Lively which draws on the legends of King Arthur and an ancient battle is re-created.
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Going back to the really old classics: one of my favorites is "The Magic Amulet" by E. Nesbitt.
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Not being a huge historical fiction fan, I don't always reach for time travel books, but I do think they're an interesting category, especially since most people think of fantasy as being filled with wizards and dragons. Time travel books are like sandwiches--the bread is fantasy, and the meat (or peanut butter!) is historical fiction. Of course, that's just going back in time; what about going forward into the future?
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I'm not the hugest historical fiction fan either, and that's why I find this genre so interesting. It is VERY popular. Wonder how publishers feel about it.
And yes - traveling forward. Now that is fun!
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Thanks for the great TOTW - I know my daughter LOVED THE MAGIC TREEHOUSE series when she was younger. interesting that so many of the titles are MG. And I know there are adult titles that deal with time travel - TIMELINE by Michael Crichton comes to mind. The only YA novel that I can think of is PRADA AND PREJUDICE by Mandy Hubbard. Hmmmm...writers out there - perhaps an unfilled void??
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(I wonder if it's a bunch of Renn Faire lovers writing the books? - which I happily am)
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What if the past is conjured up and witnessed in the present? Is that considered time travel? I'm thinking of THE WHISPERING KNIGHTS by Penelope Lively which draws on the legends of King Arthur and an ancient battle is re-created.
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