Another is 'Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH'. It's about a mouse, Mrs. Frisby, and her encounter with some highly intelligent rats. The rats in the story were experimented on in a place called NIMH, and the book combines historical - like the experiments - with the animal world really well.
Well, 'Charlotte's Web' is extremely popular. It's a heartwarming story about a pig named Wilbur and a spider named Charlotte. Set on a farm, it has elements of friendship and the cycle of life which children can easily understand.
One popular one is 'The One and Only Ivan'. It has been well - received for its poignant portrayal of the life of an animal in a human - made environment.
Many of them would likely blend real historical events with fictional characters or storylines. So, you could have a story set during a real war, like the Napoleonic Wars, but the main characters could be fictional people whose lives are intertwined with the events of the war. This creates a more immersive experience for the reader as they get to see the big historical events from a more personal perspective.
One great fiction animal book is 'The Wind in the Willows'. It tells the story of Mole, Rat, Badger and Mr. Toad. Their adventures by the river and in the Wild Wood are full of charm and lessons about friendship. Another is 'Charlotte's Web', which features a pig named Wilbur and a spider named Charlotte. Their relationship is heart - warming as Charlotte tries to save Wilbur from being slaughtered. 'Animal Farm' is also a well - known one, using animals to represent different social classes in a satirical way.
Another theme is the distortion of ideals. The animals initially strive for equality and freedom, but as time goes on, these ideals are twisted by the pigs for their own gain. It reflects how in history, revolutions' original noble intentions can be perverted.
Well, 'The Water Dancer' by Ta - Nehisi Coates is a great pick. It combines historical facts about slavery with a touch of magical realism. The story follows a young slave who discovers he has a special power related to water. It's a powerful exploration of the African - American experience during slavery times. Also, 'Melmoth' by Sarah Perry is interesting. It's inspired by the legend of Melmoth the Wanderer and is set in different historical periods, exploring themes of guilt, redemption, and the power of stories.
Well, 'The Thirteenth Tale' had a lot of fans too. It's a gothic - style historical fiction that weaves a complex web of mystery and family secrets. The atmospheric writing and the way it unfolds the story over different time periods really attracted readers.
Well, 'Homegoing' was also very popular. Its multi - generational and multi - cultural story was very engaging. It was able to connect different historical periods and places in a very seamless way, which made it stand out among the other historical fiction books of 2016.