Fall 2025 OLLI Digital Catalog 

Middle Grade Historical Fiction (H332)

H – Literature

It’s fascinating to learn about historical events by reading middle-grade fiction. The authors do extensive research, working hard to write a compelling tale that is both informative and easy to read. We read and discuss five historical novels that won the Newbery Medal as we travel from 14th-century England to 1934 Oklahoma.

Required text: The Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen Cushman; Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes; Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson; Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse; and Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis.

This offering meets for a total of 5 session(s).

INSTRUCTOR: Emily Ginder

GINDER, EMILY — B.A., sociology, University of South Florida. Former homeschooling mom who brings her enthusiasm for history and literature to class. Teaches lifelong learners at Bergen Community College and the Institute of New Dimensions (IND). Moderates a book club on Goodreads, an online discussion site. (H332)

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