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 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 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