history and politics book recs for 13-15 year olds

[Anonymous]

Red Notice

Dream City - this is a book written in the 80s or 90s about Washington DC's history by Tom Sherwood

All the President's Men

Pete Souza's books of photography from the Obama administration

From Cold War to Hot Peace

[Anonymous]

At that age historical fiction is a little tough. If they are good readers though the Shaara books are okay - I liked the civil war ones best -- I think they were the best researched.

I think McCollough is a bit of a slog although I did really enjoy his book on the Wright Brothers and would highly recommend that to anyone.

I would also recommendreally the Hornblower and Aubrey/Maturin series for historical fiction, but I think they are better for high school. Nothing that a middle schooler really could not read, but the whole thing is too detailed to hold their interest really.

You could also try some alternative universe science fiction. The Modesitte books in the Recluse series are good. If you are not familiar with alternative universe stuff its not space ships. More like middle ages, but that series while eventually repetitive, does not have much in the way of sex or overly descriptive violence. Not as heavy as the Lord of the Rings for example.

[Anonymous]

I loved 13 days (memoir by RFK about the Cuban Missile Crisis) at that age. I also read a lot by Jon Meacham, especially his books about early American history.

[Anonymous]

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
John Lewis series - March

[Anonymous]

I think all 14 year olds should read HOward Zinn People's History of the US

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
John Lewis series - March

Yes yes yes, warmth of other suns!

[Anonymous]

Joy Hakim has a series on US History that is written for that age group.

(She also has a great science series: The Story of Science).

[Anonymous]

Russell Friedman wries for middle grade students and has some great books on hisory.

[Anonymous]

I’m reading and enjoying A World on Fire, about the Civil War.

[Anonymous]

Robert K. Massie's Nicholas and Alexandra is a seminal work and a pretty accessible read. I think I read it around that age after finding my mother's old copy in the basement. The ending is predictably brutal, though.

[Anonymous]

Pillars of the Earth
To say nothing of the dog

[Anonymous]

The Great Big Book of Horrible Things - clever adult book, but very digestible for a young adult who’s a good reader. My 7th grader has read it a couple of times.

[Anonymous]

Bill Bryson - A Short History of Nearly Everything
https://www.amazon.com/Short-History-Nearly-Everything/dp/076790818X

[Anonymous]

I am assuming he's a rather advanced reader. I have LOVED Jill Lepore's new history of the U.S. called These Truths. It's dense, though.

My teen boy has loved Rocket Boys (history of Space program).

He also might like 11/22/63 - Stephen King time-travel trying to stop assassination of JFK. Lots of history in that one.

In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson is also a very good one - especially if he wants some perspective on current politics and what has happened before when authoritarians gain power.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bill O'Reilly's "Killing" books are good for that age (Killing Kennedy, Killing Lincoln, etc).

They are historical based and have positive reviews from people on both sides of the aisle.

He used to be a history teacher and those books reflect his love of history.

Nope, not even a little. Leaving aside the author's moral depravity, the books are awful.