"Whose Story?" Program Plan
“Whose Story?” is a middle school library program designed to introduce students to the historical fiction genre, increase their interest in reading these novels, and teach some basic information literacy lessons. By taking a genre that students in the school are required to read for class but dread, I was able to plan a number of lessons that may entice them to view historical fiction in a new and more favorable light. Historical fiction can be difficult for students because they do not always see the relevance of the books to their lives, and some do not even know what the characteristics of this type of novel are. If students understand a genre and its background, they are more likely to tolerate or even enjoy it. Changed attitudes toward the genre may increase student motivation and relieve teachers of the battle this reading requirement sometimes becomes. These lesson plans are designed to create a better understanding of historical fiction, and increase student motivation and enjoyment. They are centered on the needs of the students for whom they are designed.