Books About 1940s · 197 titles considered

The Best 1940s Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about 1940s? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About 1940s

Sale price

$1797

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2011

Between Shades of Gray

By Ruta Sepetys

A girl uses art to survive a Siberian work camp and reunite her family.

Golden Kite Award (2012)

344 pages· 64,129 words· Est. 6 hour read

4.4/5 Goodreads · 285,601 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Fifteen-year-old Lina's life shatters when Soviet officers tear her family apart, sending them to a Siberian work camp. Amidst the harsh conditions, Lina clings to her art, embedding secret messages in her drawings, hoping to reach her imprisoned father. As she battles for survival, Lina's courage and creativity become her lifeline. Will her art be enough to reunite her family and keep hope alive? Discover a gripping tale of resilience and the power of love in the face of unimaginable adversity.

Sale price

$1140

Chapter Book · Ages 14–18 · 1956

Night

By Elie Wiesel, Marion Wiesel (Translator) · Book #1 in the Night Trilogy series

A teenager's harrowing survival in Nazi death camps challenges humanity's darkest depths.

120 pages· 31,141 words· Est. 3 hour read

4.4/5 Goodreads · 1,395,559 ratings

$12.00Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In the chilling memoir 'Night,' a young boy endures the horrors of Nazi concentration camps. As he navigates the brutality of Auschwitz and Buchenwald, he grapples with profound questions about humanity and survival. This powerful account not only recounts the daily terror but also delves into the philosophical implications of the Holocaust. Will his story ensure the world never forgets the depths of man's inhumanity?

Graphic Nov.

Sale price

$1248

Chapter Book · Ages 7–12 · 2012

Catherine's War

By Julia Billet, Claire Fauvel (Illustrator), Ivanka Hahnenberger (Translator)

A young girl hides from the Nazis, capturing her journey through the lens of a camera.

Mildred L. Batchelder Honor (2021)

176 pages· 9,214 words· Est. 1.5 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 3,329 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Rachel Cohen, a budding photographer at a children's home near Paris, must hide from the Nazis as France falls under their control. Adopting a new identity as Catherine Colin, she leaves behind her friends and safety. With her camera, Catherine documents her perilous journey and the bravery of those who risk everything to save lives. Will her passion for photography help her survive the war and preserve the memories of courage and sacrifice? Inspired by true events, this gripping tale explores identity, resilience, and the power of art in the darkest times.

Sale price

$1398

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2005

The Book Thief

By Markus Zusak

In Nazi Germany, a girl steals books to survive and share hope amidst war.

Michael L. Printz Honor (2007)Sydney Taylor Book Award (2007)

552 pages· 118,732 words· Est. 11 hour read

4.4/5 Goodreads · 2,957,592 ratings

$14.99Save 7%

Paperback

Summary: In 1939 Nazi Germany, young Liesel Meminger finds solace in stolen books. As bombs fall, she shares these treasures with neighbors and a hidden Jewish man. With Death narrating, Liesel's story unfolds, revealing the power of words to illuminate even the darkest times. Will her love for books be enough to sustain her through the horrors of war?

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 10–15

The Boy on the Wooden Box

By Leon Leyson

A young boy's journey from a carefree childhood in rural Poland to surviving the Holocaust through resilience, family, and the unlikely protection of Oskar Schindler.

Sydney Taylor Book Honor (2014)

256 pages· 36,884 words· Est. 3.5 hour read

4.4/5 Goodreads · 30,606 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Paperback

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2015

The War That Saved My Life

By Kimberly Brubaker Bradley · The War That Saved My Life series

A girl escapes wartime London, seeking freedom from her mother's cruelty.

Newbery Honor (2016)The E.B. White Read Aloud Honor (2015)Odyssey Award (2016)Schneider Family Book Award (2016)

316 pages· 62,299 words· Est. 8.5 hour read

4.5/5 Goodreads · 119,937 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: During World War II, ten-year-old Ada escapes her abusive mother to join her brother in the countryside. Taken in by Susan, Ada discovers new freedoms, learning to ride a pony and read. As she watches for German spies, Ada's bond with Susan grows. But will this newfound family withstand the war's challenges, or will Ada be forced back into her mother's grasp? A tale of resilience and hope unfolds as Ada fights for a life beyond her one-room prison.

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 11–15

The Diary of a Young Girl

By Anne Frank, Susan Massotty (Translator)

A young girl hides from Nazis, documenting her life in a secret attic, revealing courage and humanity's frailty.

400 pages· 100,270 words· Est. 9.5 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 4,300,275 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Mass Market Paperbound

Summary: In Nazi-occupied Holland, thirteen-year-old Anne Frank hides with her family in a secret attic. Her diary captures the tension, fear, and fleeting moments of joy during their two-year confinement. As Anne navigates adolescence amidst the constant threat of discovery, her words reveal a profound resilience and a poignant glimpse into her inner world. This uncut edition unveils her complex relationship with her mother and her emerging self-awareness, offering a deeper understanding of her indomitable spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity.

Sale price

$1597

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2020

Becoming Muhammad Ali

By James Patterson, Kwame Alexander, Dawud Anyabwile (Illustrator)

Discover how a stolen bike led a young Cassius Clay to become Muhammad Ali.

320 pages· 20,312 words· Est. 3 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 5,099 ratings

$16.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Before he became Muhammad Ali, Cassius Clay was a young boy facing everyday struggles. In Louisville, Kentucky, a stolen bike set him on a path to boxing greatness. At twelve, he began training, soon winning his first Golden Gloves bout. This vivid portrayal by Kwame Alexander and James Patterson captures his early life, friendships, and the racism he faced, revealing the budding charisma of a future icon. How did these experiences shape the legend we know today?

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2003

For Freedom

By Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

A young opera singer becomes a daring spy in Nazi-occupied France.

192 pages

4.1/5 Goodreads · 2,165 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Mass Market Paperback

Summary: In 1940 Cherbourg, Suzanne's life is upended by war. As German forces seize her home, she clings to her passion for singing. But when her talent leads her into the world of espionage, Suzanne becomes a secret courier for the French Resistance. With each mission, she risks everything for freedom. Can she outsmart the enemy and survive the perilous path of a spy?

Sale price

$1697

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2016

Paper Wishes

By Lois Sepahban

A girl clings to hope as her family is uprooted during wartime.

192 pages· 28,265 words· Est. 3 hour read

4.0/5 Goodreads · 3,566 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: In 1942, young Manami's world shatters when her Japanese American family is forced from their home to a desert internment camp. Heartbroken over leaving her dog, Yujiin, behind, Manami secretly hopes for his return. As she grapples with loss and guilt, can she find a way to heal and reunite her fractured family?

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1940s Picture Books

Illustrated read-alouds about 1940s for preschool and elementary-age readers.

Sale price

$1799

Diana's White House Garden

Ages 5–8 · 2016

A young girl living in the White House during World War II wants to do her part to help with the war effort

Sale price

$1699

Lumber Jills

Ages 3–5 · 2019

Women take up axes to save Britain during WWII.

Sale price

$1799

The United States v. Jackie Robinson

Ages 4–8 · 2018

A soldier defies segregation, facing trial for standing up for justice.

Sale price

$899

Dad, Jackie, and Me

Ages 4–8 · 2005

A boy and his deaf father bond over baseball, rooting for Jackie Robinson's historic season.

Series

Sale price

$1599

Anne Frank

Ages 4–7 · 2018

A young girl hides during war, her diary revealing hope amidst darkness.

Sale price

$1999

Boxes for Katje

Ages 4–8 · 2003

A mysterious box from America sparks a life-changing exchange in post-war Holland.

Sale price

$2199

Christmas from Heaven

Ages 5–+ · 2013

A pilot's candy drops bring hope to children in blockaded Berlin.

Sale price

$1799

A Scarf for Keiko

Ages 5–10 · 2019

In 1942, can Sam prove his friendship to Keiko as war divides them?

Sale price

$1895

Separate Is Never Equal

Ages 6–9 · 2014

A family challenges school segregation, changing history.

Sale price

$2199

Infinite Hope

Ages 10–13 · 2019

A black soldier's art and hope defy the horrors of WWII's segregated army.

Sale price

$1795

The Brave Cyclist

Ages 9–12 · 2019

A cycling champion risks everything to save lives during WWII.

Sale price

$1799

Martin & Anne

Ages 8–11 · 2019

Two lives, one year: hope and dreams defy prejudice and violence.

View all 1940s picture books

Browse by age

1940s Chapter Books & Middle Grade

Longer stories about 1940s for developing and independent readers.

Sale price

$799

The Devil's Arithmetic

Ages 10–15 · 1988

A girl is transported to the past, facing horrors only she foresees.

#1 in Series

Sale price

$1500

Code Name Verity

Ages 14–18 · 2012

A mission goes awry; captured, she must decide between truth and survival.

Sale price

$2080

Code Talker

Ages 12–18 · 2005

A Navajo youth becomes a secret weapon in WWII, using an unbreakable code.

Sale price

$899

Lily's Crossing

Ages 9–12 · 1997

A summer friendship hides secrets that could change lives during World War II.

#1 in Series

Sale price

$799

The Cay

Ages 11–15 · 1969

Stranded at sea, a boy must rely on an unlikely ally to survive and see beyond prejudice.

#1 in Series

Sale price

$799

Summer of My German Soldier

Ages 11–15 · 1973

A young girl befriends a German escapee, risking everything during WWII.

Sale price

$1299

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Ages 12–18 · 2006

Two boys form a forbidden friendship across a fence, leading to unforeseen consequences.

Sale price

$1199

Chinese Cinderella

Ages 12–+ · 1999

An unloved daughter battles family disdain in 1940s China, seeking love and triumph.

Sale price

$999

The Day the World Stopped Turning

Ages 10–14 · 2019

A boy's peaceful world is shattered by war, threatening everything he loves.

Sale price

$1895

Candy Bomber

Ages 9–12 · 2010

A pilot drops candy to lift spirits in blockaded Berlin.

Sale price

$899

The Children of Willesden Lane

Ages 8–12 · 2002

A young pianist's music becomes her lifeline amid war's chaos.

Sale price

$1799

Dive!

Ages 8–12 · 2016

Submariners fight a hidden war in the Pacific, battling against overwhelming odds after Pearl Harbor.

View all 1940s chapter books

Keep exploring

Books about the Holocaust Books about survival stories Books about World War II Books about prejudice and racism Books about books and reading Books about boxing Books about connecting with others Books about drawing

Our 10 Favorite Books About 1940s

Great books, picked for their age.

1940s Picture Books

1940s Chapter Books & Middle Grade

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