This lively black and white series aims to make history into an interesting read. Each title is the chatty personal diary of a teenager, set against the background of a specific historical time. The books include details of daily life, relations with family and friends, jokes and humorous events, doubts, hopes and dreams. The storyline of each book employs interesting historical facts designed to give an understanding of the period in line with the National Curriculum; the diary format supports the National Literacy Strategy. To add variety to the mixture there are extras: a recipe, shopping list, sketched map or the sort of ephemera, lists and notes that young people might add to their own private diaries. The black and white illustrations make characters and events come alive and add historical detail. History Diaries build on the success of accessible, humorous history in this format, but takes the genre in a new and appealing direction.