8 Unforgettable Middle Grade Books About World War II

Snow Treasure, by Marie McSwigan and Mary Reardon
When the Nazis camp right outside a village in Norway one winter, the townspeople must find a way to protect and secure a store of gold worth millions. Peter and his friends Helga, Louisa, and Michael find an ingenious way to smuggle the treasure out right under the noses of the Nazi guards. Based on a true story, this novel weaves historical facts into a tight, fast-moving plot that will captivate readers.

The War That Saved My Life, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
This award-winning book gives readers a glimpse of wartime from the perspective of a unique ten-year old girl. Ada was born with a clubfoot, and her mother has long forced her to stay inside their London flat. With the war approaching, her brother Jamie is sent away for his own protection and Ada runs away with him. A woman named Susan takes them in at her home in Kent and Ada slowly opens up, and ventures out—forging a bond with a pony named Butter. World War II looms as a character of its own and provides distinctive details of the era.

When My Name Was Keoko, by Linda Sue Park
World War II books often focus on the events that unfolded in Europe, but this story provides an important portrait of the life of a young girl in Japanese-occupied Korea. Sun-hee and her brother are forced to learn Japanese in school and give up traces of their Korean heritage and culture. Her father chooses a new name for their family, and the war becomes personal when Sun-hee’s brother joins the battle efforts on behalf of the Japanese.

The Upstairs Room, by Johanna Reiss
Author Reiss grew up in Holland during World War II and has drawn from her own experience to tell the story of Annie and Sini—Jewish sisters separated from their parents and forced to hide in a cramped upstairs room of a farmhouse. Annie is just ten years old, and knows that hiding is her only option for survival. The Oosterveld family provides safety and helps Annie and Sini endure, maintain faith, and occasionally laugh during their years in hiding. The winner of numerous awards and accolades, this book is an important work that reveals what the war was like for Jewish children who spent much of the war hidden away.

Milkweed, by Jerry Spinelli
A Polish orphan living on the streets of Warsaw, the nameless protagonist of this lyrical yet brutal story must steal and connive to thrive. Called everything from a Jew to a Gypsy, at first he desperately wants to be a Nazi, with shiny boots and a crisp uniform. Then one day, trains arrive at the ghetto and all the Jewish children are ushered away. It is at that moment he realizes it is best to be a nobody. An innocent, uncomprehending child, Milkweed‘s narrator bears witness to some of the worst horrors of the Holocaust, and his chilling account will stay with young readers.

Lily’s Crossing, by Patricia Reilly Giff
Lily typically spends the summers in Rockaway, but during World War II, her trip to the seaside town is not like past vacations. Her best friend has moved to a factory town, her father has gone overseas to war, and there are no other children in town. Until one day, Albert arrives. He is a refugee from Hungary and he is hiding a secret. He and Lily become fast friends, but the secrets they keep threaten to destroy their friendship and Albert’s safety. Set in 1944, this novel is an admirable portrayal of life during the Second World War for children in America.

An Elephant in the Garden, by Michael Morpurgo
When the war approaches Belfast, the zoo is forced to kill many of its animals to avoid them running wild should the area be bombed. 16-year old Lizzie’s mother is a zookeeper and has decided to save an elephant named Marlene, moving her to the garden of their home. The elephant walks on a leash and leaves an impression wherever she goes. But when Dresden is bombed, Lizzie and her family is forced to run. However, being on the run with an elephant in tow is not an easy task. As they journey across Germany, they encounter unexpected allies as the war rages on around them.

The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Rey, by Louise Borden and Allan Drummond
For lovers of Curious George, this is a fascinating non-fiction account of how the creators of the lovable monkey fled Paris during World War II. Replete with sketches and snippets of diaries, readers will learn how Hans and Margret Rey left their Paris home as the German army advanced, and biked their way to Southern France. Among their few possessions were manuscripts for a children’s book. Part biography, part travel journal, and part portrayal of wartime in Europe, this is an educational and entertaining book for middle grade readers and young history buffs alike.