Thank you all for the ideas!

My son was really interested in World War II at that age and we collected the following list. Some may run just a little older but could definitely be enjoyed with adult help. I've starred the ones that I think would be particularly accessible for a young reader.



-The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

-Night by Elie Wiesel

-Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

-Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin * (this may be a little advanced but it's told in a very gripping way--I couldn't put it down)

-Maus by Art Spiegelman *

-They Called Us Enemy by George Takei *

-Allies by Alan Gratz (or Grenade)

-The Last Cherry Blossom by Kathleen Burkinshaw

-The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

-Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

-Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

-Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

-The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley *

-White Rose by Kip Wilson

-Invasion by Walter Dean Myers

-I Survived the Nazi Invasion and I Survived the Battle of D-Day by Lauren Tarshis *

I'd also add a recent picture book to this list--picture books are for everyone!:
-Love in the Library by Maggie Tokuda-Hall *

The March series of graphic novels by John Lewis is a good one about the civil rights movement.

I think by 11 or 12 the Diary of Anne Frank would be good to read.

The Good Night stories for Rebel Girls and its sequel books are made up of interesting vignettes about female trailblazers.

An eclectic mix I’ve listened to or read with my 6th grader:

Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Resistance (About a Japanese POW camp survivor)

I Survived the Nazi Invasion

They Called Us Enemy (graphic novel by George Takei who was interned)

I hadn’t realized we’d covered so many different aspects of the war until I wrote this out!

OP here. I wasn’t originally looking for historical fiction but maybe it’s easier to find quality fiction at this age?

My kids (boy and girl) both like Alan Gratz books, and I think at least one is set in WWII.

Just google historical fiction 5th grade. Number the stars and the war I finally one and the other one from that series are a good start.

Steve Sheinkin books are good.

Historical Fiction: Code Name Verity, The War That Saved My Life, Night Witches. Number the Stars is more 4th grade text level, but it's wonderful and you can pair it with the excellent nonfiction book Darkness Over Denmark.

Any of the Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales, I Survived or History Smashers series books that focus on WWII.

If you go to the Scholastic Parent Store site and search World War 2, there are lots of fiction and nonfiction books that come up.

Anonymous wrote:Honestly I took my kids to the library / bookstore at that age and got them to browse / find the books that interested them.

I ran a search on Amazon for WW2 books for 10 yr old readers and a huge list came up. What wasn't particularly helpful was a lot of titles were "Battle books for Boys" which is the opposite of what you're asking for.

I saw those Battle Books for Boys(!) too and

Honestly I took my kids to the library / bookstore at that age and got them to browse / find the books that interested them.

I ran a search on Amazon for WW2 books for 10 yr old readers and a huge list came up. What wasn't particularly helpful was a lot of titles were "Battle books for Boys" which is the opposite of what you're asking for.

DD is interested in learning more about WWII and I’m hoping it will spark an interest in other parts of history. Do you all have recommendations for easy to digest, interesting kids history books on WWII or other historical events? Anything that is inclusive of women and minorities would be great. TIA.