Military Reads

Our Military Reads Collection features works that examine military service, conflict, and peace. Representing global perspectives and a broad range of literary genres, these selections explore the impacts of wars both real and imagined on civilians and service members alike.

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger

Tags Historical Fiction, Korean War, Post-War Era, Korean Literature, Asian Literature, Military / War, Asian Literature, History: World

The Island of Sea Woman (March 2019) is the most recent title by New York Times bestselling author Lisa See. It is classified in the categories of Historical Asian Fiction and Asian American Literature. Many of See’s books discuss the Chinese immigrant experience in America; her paternal great-grandfather was Chinese, and this family history has had a great influence on her historical fiction. See’s books have been published in 39 languages, and she has been... Read The Island of Sea Women Summary


Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Teams, Society: War

Tags Historical Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Romance, Military / War, American Civil War


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Femininity

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World, French Literature


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Community, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Music

Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World


Publication year 1974

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Society: Nation

Tags Historical Fiction, Military / War, American Civil War, Education, Education, History: U.S., History: World, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Food, Society: War

Tags Historical Fiction, Food, WWII / World War II, British Literature, Military / War, History: World


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: War, Society: Community

Tags Historical Fiction, Military / War, WWII / World War II, British Literature, History: World, Romance


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Gender, Society: War

Tags Military / War, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance, WWII / World War II, British Literature


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Survival Fiction, WWII / World War II, Russian Literature, Military / War, History: World


Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Masculinity

Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, British Literature, Military / War, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, History: World, Fantasy

The Last Kingdom, published in 2004, was the first volume in what would become a series of 12 historical adventure novels, set in Britain in the late-ninth and early 10th centuries. The novels chronicle the bloody territorial wars between the English armies of the island’s then four kingdoms and the invading Danish armies, fierce Northern warriors known in contemporary pop culture as the Vikings. Bernard Cornwell was already an established and prolific writer of historical... Read The Last Kingdom Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage

Tags Romance, Military / War, New Adult, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1826

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: War, Society: Colonialism

Tags Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Military / War, American Literature, History: World

James Fenimore Cooper’s The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757 (1826) is the second in a series of historical novels known as the Leatherstocking Tales that describe the adventures of 18th-century American frontiersman Natty Bumppo. The Last of the Mohicans is set in 1757, in upstate New York during the French and Indian War. The book follows the attempts of Bumppo, his Mohican friends Chingachgook and Uncas, and other followers as they escort... Read The Last of the Mohicans Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, WWII / World War II, Asian Literature, Military / War, Asian Literature, History: World, Chinese Literature


Publication year 2006

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship

Tags Religion / Spirituality, History: Middle Eastern, Immigration / Refugee, Military / War, History: World, Biography, Politics / Government

The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East is a biography and work of historical nonfiction written by Sandy Tolan and published in 2006. Against the backdrop of the first Arab-Israeli War’s 50th anniversary, American journalist Sandy Tolan traveled to the Middle East to research his assignment. Through the biography, Tolan aims to highlight how two families on opposite sides of the conflict—the Khairis and the Eshkenazis—are connected on... Read The Lemon Tree Summary


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Music

Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World

Henry Holt and Company published Antonio Iturbe’s novel, The Librarian of Auschwitz, in America on September 18, 2012. Before the English Language version, Iturbe’s novel appeared in Spain as La bibliotecaria de Auschwitz. Antonio Iturbe is a Spanish journalist, writer, and professor who has taught postgraduate courses in journalism at universities in Madrid and Barcelona and is the President of the Association of Cultural Journalists of Catalonia. Iturbe wrote The Librarian of Auschwitz when he... Read The Librarian of Auschwitz Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Historical Fiction, Military / War, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, History: World, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Jewish Literature, Military / War, History: World


Publication year 1980

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Relationships: Siblings

Tags Military / War, Southern Literature, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction

The Lords of Discipline, Pat Conroy’s 1980 novel set at a military college, chronicles four years in the life of a cadet in training. Conroy, who attended a military college himself, does not shy away from describing the darker side of military training, including relentless, brutal hazing and racism. The novel is divided into four parts, with a brief opening note preceding the story. Before the plot gets underway, protagonist and narrator Will McLean explains... Read The Lords of Discipline Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, WWII / World War II, Military / War, French Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction