Historical Fiction

Meet Kirsten: An American Girl
Written By: Janet Beeler Shaw
Illustrated By: Renee Graef and Paul Lackner

Summary:

This book of historical fiction is the first in a series about the life a a girl named Kirsten, a girl who traveled with her family from Sweden to the fronteir of Minnesota. It takes place on the pioneer in the 1850's and begins with the trip overseas on a ship from Sweden to America with her Papa, Mama, older brother, Lars, younger brother, Peter, and baby sister, Britta. Once the family safely arrives they face the task of living in a new country and on the fronteir. Kirsten's father always offers hope to the family, while her mother always keeps their Swedish traditions aliveas they begin to make this country their home.

Application:

This book takes the student and allows them to experience a piece of history from the eyes of a child their age. It takes struggles and triumphs that they would relate to and allows them to experience those along with the story teller, Kirsten. This is a great book in that it is a part of a series and that students can grow right along side of the characters. I would use this as an option to introduce the 1850's and this stage of history to the class, allowing them to do some creative writing to go along with their reading about how they would feel during this time.