good history books for MS kids

[Anonymous]

Hi DCUM,

DS is starting 7th grade and is on a big history kick. What books/series would you recommend? He read the Magic Tree House stuff when he was younger but is looking for something more substantive. Any thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Alan Gratz writes good history books - usually about WWII.

I used his book “Refugee” with my students last year. They loved it.

[Anonymous]

For nonfiction, I’d recommend anything by Steve Sheinkin.

[Anonymous]

My 5th grader and I are reading Howard Zinn's US History for Young People. We also enjoyed the Middle school version of Stamped. Both would be good for a 7th grader reading alone.

[Anonymous]

Victory by Susan Cooper - highly recommend

The Diary of Anne Frank

All Quiet on the Western Front (warning, very graphic descriptions of war, may be too intense for a 7th grader)

Biographies would probably be good options for him.

He might enjoy classics. King Arthur stories, Three Musketeers, Robert Louis Stevenson, Mark Twain, etc.

A lot of Newberry winners were historic fiction.
http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberyhonors/newberymedal

Here's a separate list of historical fiction
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/middle-grade-historical-fiction

He might like time travel series like (these have supernatural themes):
The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
Green Knowe by Lucy M. Boston

[Anonymous]

Lies My Teacher Told Me for Young Readers. Great book. And despite the catchy title, it doesn't slam teachers (but does slam history books).

[Anonymous]

Recent American history refs:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/898667.page#17703396

[Anonymous]

AJP Taylor. The Struggle for Mastery in Europe

[Anonymous]

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice
12 Days in May: Freedom Ride 1961
The March graphic novel trilogy
Bomb by Steve Sheinkin

[Anonymous]

The Seeds of America Trilogy: Chains; Forge; Ashes
by Laurie Halse Anderson

[Anonymous]

A Different Mirror for Young People: A History of Multicultural America (For Young People Series)

[Anonymous]

Any specific location, time or event types? I mean... Just saying history, it’s a little broad.

I have a kid reading the history of underwear while another wants the environmental movement and a third wants war, any war, but preferably with innovative weapons and/or a change in engagement style. I’ve got tons of suggestions, but without knowing what he wants?

If he wants something broad, look at History Detective, Short History of Nearly Everything, History of the World, and anything labeled History Desk Reference (New York Public Library is the best). You may want to skim through for Christian POV on the textbooks, but they’re engaging.

[Anonymous]

My middle-schooler liked the Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales graphic novels.

[Anonymous]

Russell Friedman is an award winning author for writing historical nonfiction books for middle grade readers. Highly recommend.
School Librarian

[Anonymous]

My son likes Horribles Histories, Nathan Hale and Great Battles for Boys.