Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Love, Perseverance, Grief, Race, War
Tags Historical Fiction, World War II, Holocaust, Jewish Literature, Military & War, World History
World War II
This carefully curated selection of titles examines the history, politics, and social impacts of World War II and its indelible mark on the world. The Collection highlights global perspectives through historical fiction, memoirs and biographies, and nonfiction titles that discuss topics including the Holocaust, the atomic bombings of Japan, and the effects of conflict.
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Love, Perseverance, Grief, Race, War
Tags Historical Fiction, World War II, Holocaust, Jewish Literature, Military & War, World History
Publication year 1940
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Hope, Perseverance
Tags Military & War, Inspirational, World War II
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Family, Music
Tags Historical Fiction, World War II, Military & War, World History
We Were the Lucky Ones, written by Georgia Hunter and published in 2017, is a historical novel based on the actual experiences of the author’s family during World War II. Hunter’s grandfather, Addy Kurc, came from a family of Jews in Radom, Poland. The book follows the story of Addy, his parents Nechuma and Sol, and his siblings Genek, Mila, Jakob, and Halina, along with their spouses, as they struggle to survive the Holocaust and... Read We Were the Lucky Ones Summary
Publication year 1971
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Perseverance, Race, Childhood & Youth, Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Life-Inspired Fiction, Coming of Age, World War II, Holocaust, Immigration & Refugeeism, Children`s Literature, Military & War, World History, Classic Fiction
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit (1971) is a children’s novel by Judith Kerr. The novel is set between 1933 and 1936, and traces the life of protagonist Anna, who is nine years old at the novel’s opening, as her family flees Germany for Switzerland, France, and, finally, England. Although the novel is a work of fiction, it is semi-autobiographical. Kerr is of German-Jewish heritage, and her family left Germany once Hitler rose to power in... Read When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit Summary
Publication year 2002
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Community
Tags Historical Fiction, Asian Literature, Korean Literature, Children`s Literature, World War II, Military & War, World History, Japanese Literature
When My Name Was Keoko (2002) is a young adult work of historical fiction by Linda Sue Park about the Japanese occupation of Korea during World War II. Many praise the novel for how it exposes this often overlooked topic in history, authentically portraying Korean life, culture, and perspective in the 1940s. Park wrote the narrative in alternating chapters from the first-person perspective voices of two Korean siblings: 10-year-old Sun-hee (aka Keoko) and 13-year-old Tae-yul... Read When My Name Was Keoko Summary
Publication year 2002
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Family
Tags World War II, Military & War, Asian Literature, World History, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism
When the Elephants Dance is Filipino-American writer Tess Uriza Holthe’s first novel. Published in 2002, it is based on Holthe’s father’s experiences growing up in the Philippines during World War II. The novel centers around a group of friends and neighbors seeking shelter in a cellar and sharing traditional moralistic Filipino legends that illustrate their resilience and the importance of stories for survival. The title is taken from a saying offered by one of the... Read When the Elephants Dance Summary
Publication year 2002
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Japanese Literature, Asian Literature, Historical Fiction, Education, Education, World War II, Military & War, World History
Japanese-American author Julie Otsuka’s historical fiction novel, When the Emperor Was Divine, was published in 2002. It is a short book, falling at the boundary between a novel and a novella, chronicling the experience of one Japanese family at an internment camp during World War II. The book is broken into five uneven sections: “Evacuation Order No. 19,” “Train,” “When the Emperor Was Divine,” “In a Stranger’s Backyard,” and “Confession.” The first three sections are... Read When the Emperor Was Divine Summary
Publication year 2008
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Grief, Hate & Anger, The Past, Family, Friendship, War, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Children`s Literature, World War II, Military & War, World History, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2019
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Disability, Death, Safety & Danger, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Friendship, Memory, The Past, Fear, Family, War, Grief, Conflict, Fathers, Justice, Good & Evil, Power & Greed, Politics & Government, Trust & Doubt, Hope, Gratitude, Loneliness, Loyalty & Betrayal, Appearance & Reality, Nation
Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Dramatic Literature, World War II, Holocaust, Military & War, World History
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Death, War
Tags Holocaust, Historical Fiction, World War II, Social Justice
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes War, Family, Mothers, Memory, The Past, Grief, Perseverance
Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, World War II, Russian Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, World History
Publication year 1981
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes War
Tags World War II, Military & War, US History, World History, Biography
E.B. Sledge’s memoir recounts his experiences fighting in the South Pacific during World War II. Serving in the First Marine Division, he was present at the some of the deadliest battles of that war. The book begins with the author’s experiences being trained as a new marine recruit, enduring boot camp and mortar man training. He then vividly describes his participation in two seminal conflicts of the Pacific campaign: Peleliu and Okinawa. Written in a... Read With the Old Breed Summary
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, World War II, World History, Fantasy, Action & Adventure
Wolf by Wolf (2015) is the first title in an alternative history series by young adult author Ryan Graudin. The first book in the series was named an Amazon Book of the Year and also made the list of Huffington Post’s Top Ten Young Adult Books of the Year. The sequel, entitled Blood for Blood (2016), covers events that take place shortly after the end of Wolf by Wolf. The short fiction title Iron to... Read Wolf by Wolf Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Art, Memory, Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, World War II, Modern Classic Fiction, World History, Arts & Culture
Publication year 2006
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes War, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Guilt, Childhood & Youth, Death, Safety & Danger
Tags Historical Fiction, Holocaust, World War II, Children`s Literature, Military & War, World History