The National Year of Reading’s monthly theme for September is You Are What You Read. It's a great opportunity to explore a whole range of books. As well as factual books about origins and identities, families and communities, the genre of historical fiction can be an introduction to the past, and a way to gain an understanding and develop empathy for people who came before. Suggestions for the month can be seen at: http://www.sla.org.uk/nyr-booklist-september08.php.
Some suggestions:
Websites
For researching family history:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/familyhistory/
Annotated list of historical fiction:
http://www.marysmoffat.co.uk/bibliography/cont.htm
Books in the Library
All about Malorie Blackman by Shaun McCarthy
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne
Coming to England by Floella Benjamin
How the World came to Oxford: Refugee Stories Past and Present by Nikki van der Gaag
Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo
Refugee Boy by Benjamin Zephaniah.
