Historical Fiction

The Lottie Project TOP BOOK CHOICE

Jacqueline Wilson (Doubleday, 1997)

This excellent book contains the stories of two Charlottes. Charlotte, usually known as Charlie, is a Year 6 pupil who lives with her single mum Jo. She is struggling to come to terms with the changes in her life. First there is her new teacher Miss Beckworth. "There are some teachers – just a few – who have YOU'D BETTER NOT MESS WITH ME! tattooed right across their foreheads". But Miss Beckworth is not what she seems. Then there is her new neighbour in class, James Edwards, "The most revolting stuck-up boring boy in the whole class", who she finds herself liking almost against her will. Finally there is Jo's new boyfriend Mark and his son Robin who Charlie sees as a threat to her cosy little world with mum.

At the same time Charlie is doing her Victorian project about another Charlotte aged 11 years, this one known as Lottie. Lottie has to go to work as a nursery maid for a Victorian family. She misses her own family and she too has to come to terms with change. The two stories alternate throughout the book. In the present the reader finds himself or herself caring about what happens to the very real characters and in the Victorian period the reader gets to understand what it was like to live then. As the formidable Miss Beckworth concludes, the project "… tells us what it feels like to be a Victorian".

The use of different type faces helps to separate the two narratives and the illustrations by Nick Sharratt add to the characterisation. The narratives are both accessible and interesting. This has potential as a school library book but also as a class reader. The issues of change and growing up are relevant to modern readers. In a history classroom context there is potential for pupils to try and predict what will happen next to Victorian Lottie or what rooms like the kitchen or nursery might have looked like. Another fruitful area would be for pupils to use the life of Victorian Lottie as a template for writing their own diary of a Victorian stable boy, footman, street-seller, miner and so on.

Time Rangers: 4. A Ghost of a Chance

Rob Childs (Scholastic, 1997)

The boys who play for the Tanfield Rangers football team are staying in a Peak District hostel next to a derelict Victorian mill complete with water wheel. They travel back in time and meet the mill owner and his pauper child workers and play a game of football with them. The 'time gate' is the wall of a tunnel linking the hostel and mill.

Once back in time the historical detail is kept to a minimum and avoids the stereotypical dark, satanic mill. Yes the mill is noisy, hot and dusty, and the children dressed in "…tattered, ill fitting clothes and caps" but the mill owner is portrayed as a benevolent employer concerned for the health and education of his work force. The boys introduce football to the child workers and then travel back in time, less convincingly in a spell of nausea. Back in the present they play yet another game of football against a school team and there is a nice link back to their stay in Victorian times.

The author certainly conveys a spirit of maleness in the speech and actions of his protagonists that rings true. The history is limited so as a reader you do not feel yourself being instructed. At one point the author almost threatens the reader that that is what he will do. "The Master granted permission, delighted to think they were showing such an interest in his mill. For a horrible moment, the travellers feared he was even going to offer them a personal tour." What history there is is unobtrusive. For example the story is dated to circa 1837 by the phrase, "…. Now that we have a new queen on the throne".

Boys within the age range 7 to 11 will enjoy the simple story and who knows, some may well be stimulated to find out a little more about Victorian children.