The young adult historical fiction novels below are prime examples, as they each explore coming of age during a significant time in history. Historical fiction is my favorite genre, and within that, world war ii and the holocaust are my favorite historical events to read about. See the list below for recommended fiction and nonfiction titles for teen audiences. Holocaust set this time in the forests patrolled by the german army during world war ii. Also a list of print resources for further reading. Holocaust the boy in the striped pyjamas 23 feb 2010 kindle ebook. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon kindle store best sellers. On this list youll find historical fiction to give context for the time period and convey what it really felt like for fighters on the front lines, kids and families back home, and jews in hiding or sent to concentration camps.
The series fills a gap in most collections about the holocaust. Youngadult historical fiction is books that are written for ya youngadults and based in a historical time or era e. Sunhee and her brother are forced to learn japanese in school and give up traces of their korean heritage and culture. Trying to make sense of the horrors of world war ii, death relates the story of liesela. Lively discussion about the horrors of which humanity is capable and how people can survive against all odds are. That this gripping story of memory and tragedy won both the 1996 national jewish book award and the national book critics circle award should clue you in to how extraordinary this book is. Best of the best revisited 100 best books for teens. Book cover for the nazi officers wife by edith hahn beer, susan dworkin. Both fiction and nonfiction, these books are thought provoking and heartbreaking, yet hopeful in some cases. Its a time in history of fascinating extremes, a time when people demonstrated amazing courage and selflessness, but also a time when people were consumed by terrible cruelty and evil. The book thief by markus zusak its a book about the holocaust written from a german perspective, a 9yearold girl, liesel meminger.
Though use of the term itself dates only to the 1870s, there is. What begins, familiarly, as the story of a young boy learning about the tragic but mysterious fate of his relatives in the holocaust, ends in a continent. But whether these historical fiction novels tell stories of the frontlines or of those waiting at home, they make one thing very clear. Mar 26, 20 lets face it, even as adults we dont really want to think about one man trying to wipe out an entire race, or that a country went along with him. Books about the holocaust during world war ii, adolf hitler and the nazis attempted to exterminate european jews by forcing them into concentration camps, where both children and adults were sent to their deaths in gas chambers. Lots of pictures and maps help illustrate the true story. How do we even begin to talk to our children about the holocaust. Antisemitism in europe did not begin with adolf hitler. World war ii books often focus on the events that unfolded in europe, but this story provides an important portrait of the life of a young girl in japaneseoccupied korea. In another, a young girl flees nazioccupied franceonly to face other battles in her new bengalese community.
Whether or not you consider yourself a fan of historical fiction, youve heard the names hilary mantel, eleanor catton, anthony doerr and kristin hannah repeatedly over recent years. Whether youre completing an academic assignment, consider yourself a history buff, or just trying to learn something new, reading a novel about the holocaust is an excellent way to gain insight into. Set in nazi germany in 1939 and narrated by death yes, you heard me right, liesel is a foster child who loves reading. Buy products such as the book thief at walmart and save.
A world war ii story from the netherlands in 1941 piet, a young dutch boy from sluis, gets the assignment of a lifetime. Avramik, a young holocaust survivor, has difficulties adjusting to life on a kibbutz in the days before the first arabisraeli war. Often times, historical fiction books capture the mood of an era just as deftly as their nonfiction counterpartsand the following novels are no exception. Written for boys but appealing to all, the tales are based on history and depict values such as courage, heroism, and responsibility. The unimaginable horror of the holocaust is hard for adults to fathom, so how do we talk to our children about it. He must skate along the frozen canals of the netherlands and across the belgian border, in order to guide two neighborhood children to their aunts house in brugge, where the children will remain for the duration of world war ii. Yearling books, an imprint of random house childrens books awards. From the teenage concubine who ruled china for 47 years and the gorilla who lived most of his life in a shopping mall to the borden axe murders, here are 21 of the best books. The stories follow young harry winslow and his friendships with the pilots of the royal air force in world war ii england. Notable social studies trade books for young people, 2007 ncss yalsa popular paperbacks for young adults, 2009. These books will help kids understand the events of one of the most interesting periods of modern history. The best books on the holocaust recommended by steven katz. If you are looking for some of the best books about ww2 for young adults, i highly recommend starting with the book thief.
Every year, jews around the world observe holocaust remembrance day, known as yom hashoah in hebrew, to ensure that the six million jews murdered by the nazis are never forgotten. While antisemitism has been present throughout much of human history, persecution of german jews intensified in 1933 during adolf hitlers rise to power. A list of the best holocaust or world war two books for young adults, both fiction and nonfiction score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Ad adult directed, ncnonconforming, igillustrated guide. Novels bring world war ii to life for a new generation. Home books a quiet genocide the untold holocaust of disabled children in ww2 germany a harrowing ww2 novel a quiet genocide is a compelling historical fiction novel for young adults based on true facts. Books about world war 2 for kids and teens living unabridged. Introducing the topic by using kids books, both picture books and novels, can lead to indepth conversations and a better understanding of the events that occurred. It portrays how the average german citizen viewed the societal norms of the time, such as, the burning of books a. The diary of anne frank 1959 this heartbreaking story is based on the personal diary of young jewish girl, who, together with her family and friends, was forced into hiding in an attic in a nazioccupied amsterdam. Title and description of this listopia clearly say. Six million jewish people were murdered by the nazis. By turns disturbing and heroic, they represent some of the greatest works of world war ii literature, offering a multicultural perspective of the deadliest conflict in human history.
Stylish, simple site, featuring background on 11 books on the holocaust and links to ten other websites to help learn about the holocaust. A biography by peter longerich, the book thief by markus zusak, night by elie wiesel, the diary of a young. Browse the recommended book list for stories about children who experienced the events of world war 2 and the holocaust. What are some good books about the holocaust for young adults. Some of my favorite holocaust books for high schoolers include the book thief, anything by ruta sepetys, and the boy in the striped pajamas. Jewish book council, founded in 1944, is the longest running. It occurred during world war ii when hitler was leader of germany. Leanne lieberman the romance reader by pearl abraham 1995.
The various titles address many aspects of the holocaust often overlooked in fiction titlesthe books are designed to look like newspapers, scrap albums, etc. While dealing with specific historical events the authors utilize the stories of the young people who were there. He was a tank commander and served in the 601st tank. Yiddishspeaking jews and survivors in the years immediately. Steven katz, professor of jewish holocaust studies at boston university and former director of the elie wiesel center for jewish studies, introduces the best. These novels have been written for a young adult audience. As with any historical event that you yourself did not bear witness to, its all too easy to think of the holocaust in terms of history lectures. Three world war 2 books for young adults and middle schoolers that are on my toberead list include. Books and websites about the holocaust for young adults karen l. Twenty school children hide ten jewish children from the nazis occupying france during world war ii. Whether fiction or nonfiction, these books stick with you long after you have put them down, and with each tale, you see how important it is that this period of history is not forgotten. Novels bring world war ii to life for a new generation the. Sep 14, 2018 books based on true stories are ideal for when facts leave off and a little imagination and outright speculation is needed to fill the gaps in a story or a reading list. The movie takes a complex look at wwii and the holocaust, skilfully balancing dark humor and horror at different moments throughout.
The gripping true story of the only women to fly in combat in world war iifrom elizabeth wein, awardwinning author of code name veritythis nonfiction book is an excellent choice for accelerated tween readers. This awardwinning young adult novel is more than just a book for children. Jan 23, 2019 whittling all historical fiction books into one manageable list is impossible, truly. May 14, 20 well, if youre like me and youve had it with holocaust tales, here are my top ten jewish books in no particular order for teens and young adults, and the young at heart. Starting around age 11, children are emotionally and intellectually ready to learn the truth found in both fiction and nonfiction about this horrendous period in human history. In the years immediately after world war ii, the holocaust was little studied. The holocaust is one of the most terrible events in human history. The most popular items in historical holocaust fiction for young adults. Jewish holocaust fiction the book tango of death based on true events from world w. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers.
World war iiteen fiction, historical fiction teen fiction. Heres 14 historical fiction titles, focused on world war ii andor the. Excellence in nonfiction for young adults finalist. The holocaust was the systematic murder of six million jews in nazi germany during world war ii. The untold story of alaskas wwii invasion by samantha seiple. Novels bring world war ii to life for a new generation by alexandra alter june, 2016 historical fiction is having a renaissance, and publishers of young adult novels say. Candid and propaganda photographs from the period heighten the impact of this chilling, absorbing work horn book fanfare. Ageappropriate middle grade and ya books about the holocaust.
What are the best books about world war ii andor the. Tells the stories of eight young survivors of the holocaust, focusing on their experiences after the war, and includes excerpts from interviews, and personal and archival photographs. Told from the perspective of a german girl whose foster family agrees to hide a young jewish boy and narrated by the everpresent death the book thief explores all of the same themes that you expect from a book about the holocaust morality, love, and identity. Apr 28, 2014 the romantic story of a young, hungarianjewish architect student takes on darker significance amidst the historical backdrop of the holocaust. But these 10 books provide personal perspectives into the realities of the holocaust and will all leave you more rattled and informed than a textbook ever could. Jewish themed young adult books, not about the holocaust. A quiet genocide the untold holocaust of disabled children in ww2 germany. History is important for societal and personal growth, and book clubs will find that these selections will challenge not only their perceptions, but also their beliefs. When i did a search for holocaust picture books at my library it came up with over 30 books for me to check out. The complete maus by art spiegelman as a graphic novel and pulitzer prize winner, maus tells the story of vladek spiegelman, who survived the holocaust along with his cartoonist son. Oct 24, 2017 world war ii books often focus on the events that unfolded in europe, but this story provides an important portrait of the life of a young girl in japaneseoccupied korea. Annemarie johansen is a 10 yr old living in denmark in 1943, at a time when the nazis invaded her country. This included as many as 1 million jewish children. Scrupulously sourced, bartolettis pageturning history seamlessly meshes personal accounts of hitler youth and resistance members with the larger story of young people s role in world war ii and the holocaust.
The germans called this the final solution to the jewish question. Holocaust fiction and nonfiction young adult booklists. Best sellers in historical holocaust fiction for young adults. A history of the major events of world war ii, includes personal accounts from soldiers in the field. An introduction to the holocaust must include some history of antisemitism. Plus, there are now more graphic novels and what i consider to be more relatableor at least understandablebooks about ww2 for young adults. Instead of putting together a list of the 223,546 best historical fiction books, i opted instead for adult historical fiction showstoppers that present a wide array of time periods, places, characters, and more. Apr 10, 2018 the holocaust in a few pictures, 19391945 an emaciated 18yearold russian girl looks into the camera lens during the liberation of dachau concentration camp in 1945. Jun, 2016 historical fiction is having a renaissance, and publishers of young adult novels say they are seeing special interest in books set during this period.
Dachau was the first german concentration camp, opened in 1933. But at its heart, it is a majestic, sweeping tale of. Feb 24, 2020 the best historical novels are ones where fact and fiction complement each other, blending so seamlessly that its hard to distinguish between the two. Four young adults trek toward the baltic sea during world war ii, hoping.
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