Chris Eboch on Painful Truths in # History and Historical Fiction

A class acts out a Maya sacrifice scene
from The Well of Sacrifice

Every culture throughout history had problematic aspects. No matter how much you may admire or be fascinated by an era of the past, chances are that period had a dark side. The world today is filled with sexism, racism, slavery, and violence, and the past was certainly no different. 

What should an author of historical fiction do? Are such topics suitable for children? Do they belong in the classroom?

I feel we should write and teach the truth as realistically as possible. This includes writing accurately about the horrors of the past – with some adjustments to make subjects suitable for young audiences.

The Well of Sacrifice is set in Mayan culture. The Maya used human sacrifice and bloodletting in their religious ceremonies. I portrayed these things as accurately as I could (given what we think we know), but, since this novel is for middle grade readers:

• I chose to soften the king’s bloodletting ceremony by having him pierce his tongue instead of his penis.
• I tried to show why they did these things – this was religious devotion, not random violence.
• I described the dangers involved in bloodletting, lest anyone be tempted to try it.
• I showed the risks of accepting human sacrifices – the innocent can be victims.
• The violence is disturbing, to Eveningstar (the main character) and to the reader.

The book includes other violent events as well. Eveningstar doesn’t participate in the violence; she fights it, as do other good characters:

• When slaves plan to rebel, her mother finds a peaceful way to help them escape.
• The enslaved character Small is taken into Eveningstar’s family. Some of his people have been killed by hers. Yet he helps Eveningstar, even saving her life. He shows kindness and forgiveness (and gets freedom in the end). Some young readers say he is their favorite character.
• Eveningstar tries to stop Great Skull Zero, the high priest who is trying to take over the city and sacrificing anyone who stands in the way. She notes, “Great Skull Zero had disrupted the patterns of life. He acted for his own glory, not that of the gods. He must not be allowed to become king.” Still, she never hurts anyone. She fights by finding out the truth, by telling the truth, and by staying alive despite his best efforts to destroy her.

Student projects from The Well of Sacrifice

I wasn't sure if the violence would make it too old for middle grade readers. However, the publisher tagged the book as "for ages nine and up." It's been used in many schools in the fourth grade – although I sometimes do get e-mails from teachers who are struggling to get approval from the administration or the PTA. At least I can tell them that it is being used successfully, and with great enthusiasm. In fact, I've had teachers say, "Girls love the strong heroine, and boys love the gory stuff."

Hey, whatever gets kids reading, right?

Chris Eboch taking notes
in Coba, Mexico

Get lesson plans to use with The Well of Sacrifice, The Eyes of Pharaoh, and The Genies Gift at the "For Teachers" tab on my website.

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In The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan girl in ninth-century Guatemala rebels against the High Priest who sacrifices anyone challenging his power. Kirkus Reviews called The Well of Sacrifice, “[An] engrossing first novel….Eboch crafts an exciting narrative with a richly textured depiction of ancient Mayan society….The novel shines not only for a faithful recreation of an unfamiliar, ancient world, but also for the introduction of a brave, likable and determined heroine.”

Chris Eboch’s other novels for ages nine and up include The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery in ancient Egypt; The Genie’s Gift, a middle eastern fantasy; and the Haunted series, about kids who travel with a ghost hunter TV show, which starts with The Ghost on the Stairs. 

Her writing craft books include You Can Write for Children: How to Write Great Stories, Articles, and Books for Kids and Teenagers, and Advanced Plotting. Learn more at www.chriseboch.com or her Amazon page, 

Solstice - Hope, Light, and Change

by Suzanne Morgan Williams

Today is Solstice and cultures and people around the world welcome the return of longer days, or in the Southern Hemisphere the change to shorter ones. Today marks change, and hope.

These days communications are instant, reading competes with streaming video and online games, and facts are questioned for their political overtones, yet we continue to read and write historical fiction. Some people would say historical fiction is out of touch or old fashioned. Literary agents often tell writers it’s a hard sell. But to me, understanding and connecting with the past is necessary and writing historical fiction is hopeful. I hope young readers will be touched by something that might have happened hundreds of years ago but rings true to them today. I hope that children will develop a taste for, even a passion for history. Knowing our past can inform our future.

“Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” – Winston Churchill and George Santayana

In order to ignore or fail to learn from history you must first know something about it. Since “No Child Left Behind” days, the push toward educational basics and skills assessment has shrunk the time dedicated to teaching history in the middle grades. With the advent of “Common Core,” one could imagine an emphasis on nonfiction historical works, but teachers were often bogged down in analysis of details and themes rather than talking about what history actually  meant to the people who lived it. The shift to nonfiction texts and primary resources, in many classrooms, made reading historical novels a luxury.

It is, indeed, time for a change. Let's see Civics, Citizenship, and History (not just U.S.) taught in every school. Our children need to understand the workings of our government, our Constitution, the free press, popular movements, and their role in these. They need to know that even at ages 9, 10, or 11 they are affected by history and politics. They deserve the truth - our democracy has been hard won and they, as citizens, can support it, change it, or let it shrivel away. They need history. As historical fiction authors it’s our job to hook them on MG history.

We keep writing. We keep reading and sharing. On this Solstice that gives me hope.