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Historical fiction is a story set in the past and often around a specific event in time. The setting (the time and place) is a key component in historical fiction.

Writers of historical fiction usually research to find out what things were like during the specific time period they are writing about. They will find out what people wore, ate, how they spoke, what kind of traditions they had, etc.

The characters can be based on real people who lived during that time period or the author can create their own characters. The plot often reflects real events that happened in history.

An example is the book Rachel by Canadian writer Lynne Kositsky.

Set in the 18^th Century, Rachel and her family escaped slavery in America and are now making a life in Nova Scotia. But living in Canada is not as easy as they hoped. The land is barren, the winters are harsh and many people are racist toward her family. Rachel and her family are determined to keep on trying their best, despite the challenges.