On Oct. 26, Lakeview Elementary School fifth-graders participated in a live webcast called “Dear America: History Speaks,” featuring three authors, Lois Lowry, Andrea Davis Pinkney and Kirby Larson. The fifth-graders joined with them as they explored the art of writing historical fiction, including how to research, develop characters and craft a story told in diary form. The authors’ message to the students was that the most exciting stories have roots in real events.