Tim Grove Brings History To Life Through Engaging Adventures And Intriguing Past Narratives
Tim Grove, Inspiring Historian And Acclaimed Author Of Award-Winning Nonfiction Books For Young Readers
Passion For History And Storytelling | Award-Winning Author Of Nonfiction For Young Readers
Tim Grove discusses his journey as an author and public historian, highlighting his unique approach to writing engaging history-based nonfiction for younger audiences while preserving historical accuracy and depth.
Tim Grove is a name synonymous with passion for history and a remarkable ability to bring the richness of the past to life for audiences young and old. As a distinguished author, historian, and educator, Tim has carved a unique niche in the literary and historical world by demonstrating the profound relevance of history in our daily lives. His books, award-winning and celebrated, explore diverse topics—from breathtaking adventures in aviation to pivotal moments in civil rights—all while balancing rigorous historical accuracy with captivating narrative appeal. It is this artful balance that has made his works invaluable resources for educators and enthralling reads for young learners.
At Mosaic Digest magazine, we celebrate storytellers like Tim Grove who are redefining how history is experienced and understood. Through his career spanning two and a half decades, Tim has not only contributed to major institutions like the Smithsonian, but he has also profoundly impacted the field with his innovative approach to museum education and his ability to uncover the human stories behind historical events. His book First Flight Around the World illuminates the fascinating tale of courage and ambition in the race for global aviation supremacy, while his Yorktown book unearths the intriguing story of an enslaved spy during the American Revolution.
Tim’s work exemplifies the idea that history isn’t just a record of the past—it’s a living narrative that speaks to who we are today. Mosaic Digest magazine is proud to feature an exclusive interview with Tim Grove in this issue, delving into his creative process, his fondest achievements, and his unwavering commitment to making history both accessible and essential for younger audiences. Whether through his engaging writing, his award-winning books, or his trailblazing contributions as a public historian, Tim reminds us that great stories, rooted in historical truth, have the power to inspire generations.
Your background as a public historian has led you to work with institutions like the Smithsonian. How has this experience shaped your approach to writing nonfiction for young readers?
I think that by focusing on projects such as exhibitions and programs for public consumption, I have gained a strong sense of how to make history accessible and engaging to a broad spectrum of people. One aspect of public history shaping my writing is my desire to help people understand the historical process – how historians arrive at their conclusions based on primary evidence. In general I don’t think the history field has done a good job of revealing the process, especially why history interpretations change. I’ve begun to try to shed light on this process in my writing.
My work on exhibitions has definitely generated book ideas. For example, when working on the Pioneers of Flight gallery at the National Air and Space Museum I became acquainted with the Douglas World Cruiser named Chicago, the first airplane around the world in 1924. Most Americans aren’t aware of its story, a terrific adventure story. Obstacles aside, the story is even more captivating because it was a race for first among six nations. When I learned that the museum’s archives held the journal of the plane’s mechanic and many photos from the trip, I realized I was sitting on a treasure trove. It was the kind of story I wanted to read when I was a boy.
That book, “First Flight Around the World,” captures a thrilling historical event. What drew you to this story, and what do you hope young readers take away from it?
As I mentioned above, it was a grand adventure, is well-documented, and was a race. Plus, it took place in a time of great change in the world – radio had just been invented, colonial powers still ruled large sections of the world but their control was diminishing. And airplanes had only been invented twenty-one years earlier. Many people around the world had never seen an airplane. The United States was not an air power and the army, which initiated the flight, wanted to prove to the world that it could compete in the air, especially since Americans invented the airplane. It helped me that my main source, the journal, was written by someone who could write, had a sense of humor, and included incidents such as encounters with new animals, that made the story more enticing for young readers.
From aviation to civil rights, your books cover a wide range of American history. What’s the common thread you look for when choosing a topic to write about?
I choose diverse topics but first, no surprise, the topic must engage me enough to make me want to spend several years on the research and writing process. I don’t necessarily shy away from well-known topics or topics that have been written about before, but there must be a new twist. For my Yorktown book, The World Turned Upside Down, about the last major campaign of the American Revolution, I learned of an enslaved man who became a spy for General Lafayette. I was immediately intrigued because that’s a rare person. Obviously I had to do research to see if I could uncover enough of his story—if source materials existed. Enslaved people and spies were not typically leaving documentary evidence of their activities.
You’ve mentioned your passion for making history accessible and engaging. What techniques do you use to balance historical accuracy with narrative appeal?
For me it comes down to the source materials. Do they provide enough insight into my main characters? Are there quotes from them that I can weave into the narrative to make their voice authentic?
As an author with multiple accolades, including awards from the American Library Association and National Council for the Social Studies, what has been the most memorable moment or recognition in your writing career so far?
I was deeply honored that my first book for young readers, First Flight Around the World, was a finalist for the American Library Association’s YALSA Excellence in nonfiction award.
What advice would you give aspiring nonfiction writers who want to bring history to life for younger audiences?
The more narrative style a nonfiction book can be, the better. What I mean is it should contain a story arc, character development, setting description, etc. — elements of fiction writing. I try to include multiple points of view when possible – let the reader get into the head of several characters. Again it means knowing if the source materials will provide this point of view – is there a diary or court transcript or something else that will offer insight and direct quotes you can use? Since multiple perspectives are a foundation of historical thinking, this supports my desire to give readers some insight into the historical process. How do historians think and research? What questions do they ask? I also try to feature a variety of types of source materials – maps, documents, objects, oral history, photographs – to show the evidence that historians work with.
It’s important to ask questions before you embark on a book project. Why do I think my audience will be attracted to this topic? Is there natural tension within the story? Are the characters likeable? Can I offer something new if the story has been written about before?
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