Reading Between the Lines: Historical Fiction in Secondary School Classrooms

This small-scale qualitative research study explores the role and use of historical fiction as an interdisciplinary tool in secondary school classrooms. Data was collected for this study using purposeful sampling to recruit three Ontario teachers who had either personal or professional experience with historical fiction. Their insights and experiences were incorporated and analyzed alongside a literature review of existing research on historical fiction as an interdisciplinary tool. The responses from participants alongside the literature review have answered not only the overarching research question but have also shed light on how historical fiction can be used to enrich student understanding of historical themes and concepts, how historical fiction can be used to introduce new (and not normally addressed) perspectives to students, as well as how teachers and students might overcome the challenges they may face with regards to the use of historical fiction in classrooms. The evidence points toward there being more benefits than challenges to the use of historical fiction in the classroom. Even though there are and will be challenges to be faced, they are of the sort that can be overcome by good teaching practice and a sense of adventure for learning on the part of both students and teachers