Books About Displacement

The Best Displacement Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about displacement? 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.

Graphic Nov.

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Displacement

Sale price

$1976

Chapter Book · Ages 14–18 · 2004

How I Live Now

By Meg Rosoff

A girl and her cousins navigate a war-torn world, forging bonds amidst chaos and isolation.

Michael L. Printz Award (2005)

194 pages· 44,264 words· Est. 4 hour read

3.6/5 Goodreads · 47,491 ratings

$20.80Save 5%

Library Binding

Summary: Fifteen-year-old Daisy is sent from Manhattan to rural England, where she meets her cousins just as war erupts. With their aunt gone and society crumbling, Daisy and her cousins find themselves in a world without rules. As they form deep connections, they must confront the encroaching dangers of a war-torn landscape. Can they preserve their newfound Eden, or will the chaos consume them? This gripping tale explores the resilience of youth and the power of unexpected bonds in the face of an unknown enemy.

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2021

Samira Surfs

By Rukhsanna Guidroz, Fahmida Azim (Illustrator)

A refugee girl finds hope and courage in a surf club.

Golden Kite Award (2022)

416 pages· 31,980 words· Est. 4.5 hour read

6.3/7 Bookroo·3.8/5 Goodreads · 472 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Samira, an eleven-year-old Rohingya refugee in Bangladesh, grapples with a past of violence and loss. Amidst rebuilding her life, she discovers a surf club for girls. Can the waves of Cox's Bazar help her find strength and sisterhood, transforming fear into empowerment? Dive into Samira's journey from isolation to courage.

Sale price

$1248

Chapter Book · Ages 13–17 · 2020

They Went Left

By Monica Hesse

In post-war chaos, a girl searches for her lost brother, uncovering secrets that could heal or destroy her.

Sydney Taylor Book Honor (2021)

400 pages· 84,331 words· Est. 8 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 20,540 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: In 1945 Germany, Zofia Lederman, an eighteen-year-old Holocaust survivor, embarks on a desperate quest to find her missing brother, Abek. Haunted by a promise and surrounded by others seeking lost loved ones, Zofia navigates a world of secrets and shattered lives. As she delves deeper into the mystery, she encounters Miriam, searching for her twin, and Josef, a man cloaked in enigma. Each step brings her closer to the truth but also to the brink of despair. Can Zofia fulfill her vow in a landscape of loss, or will the answers she seeks break her completely?

Sale price

$1348

Picture Book · Ages 6–10 · 2017

My Beautiful Birds

By Suzanne Del Rizzo, Suzane Del Rizzo (Illustrator)

A boy's journey from war-torn Syria to healing, guided by unexpected feathered friends.

32 pages· 781 words· Est. 7 min read-aloud

4.3/5 Goodreads · 583 ratings

$13.95Save 3%

Paperback

Summary: Sami flees the devastation of the Syrian Civil War with his family, haunted by the loss of his beloved pigeons. In a refugee camp, he struggles to find joy until a canary, dove, and rose finch bring a glimmer of hope. As these birds settle on his arms, Sami begins a journey of emotional healing, discovering resilience and the possibility of redefining home. Will he find peace amidst the chaos? This poignant tale captures the heartache and hope of a young refugee's experience, illuminating the struggles and dreams of those seeking a new beginning.

Sale price

$1797

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2022

Wildoak

By C.C. Harrington

A girl and a snow leopard face danger in a mystical forest.

Schneider Family Book Award (2023)

336 pages· 55,658 words· Est. 7.5 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 3,012 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Maggie, struggling with a stutter and an unsympathetic father, is sent to Wildoak Forest to stay with a grandfather she barely knows. There, she discovers an abandoned snow leopard cub, a gift gone awry. As the cub's presence becomes known, threats loom over them and the forest. With time running out, Maggie must find her voice to protect her new friend and the fragile world around them. Will she succeed before it's too late?

Sale price

$1697

Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2018

Nowhere Boy

By Katherine Marsh

A Syrian refugee and an American boy forge an unlikely friendship in Brussels, defying the odds together.

368 pages· 76,534 words· Est. 8.5 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 6,945 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Ahmed, a Syrian refugee in Brussels, struggles alone after losing his father. Max, an American boy, feels out of place in his new city. When their paths cross, an unexpected friendship forms. Together, they navigate challenges, learning the true meaning of bravery and hope. Can their bond withstand the pressures of a world divided by fear and prejudice? This gripping tale explores resilience and the power of human connection amidst the backdrop of the Syrian refugee crisis.

Graphic Nov.

Sale price

$1398

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2023

Global

By Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin, Giovanni Rigano (Illustrator)

Two children battle climate change's impact on their homes and wildlife.

144 pages· 8,439 words· Est. 1.5 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 1,506 ratings

$14.99Save 7%

Paperback

Summary: Sami's village by the Indian Ocean faces rising waters and dwindling fish, threatening their livelihood. In Canada's north, Yuki sees polar bears starving as ice melts. Both children must confront these environmental crises, but can they find solutions before it's too late? As they navigate these challenges, their courage and determination may inspire change in a world on the brink.

Sale price

$759

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2010

Stolen Girl

By Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch

A girl unravels her past, questioning if she was raised by Nazis.

208 pages· 39,133 words· Est. 5.5 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 5,492 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Nadia, haunted by fragmented memories of World War II, struggles to piece together her past. As she settles in Canada, flashes of a life with a German family and Nazi rallies haunt her. Was she truly their child, or a stolen Ukrainian girl? Her quest for truth reveals shocking secrets, forcing her to confront her identity and role in the war. Can Nadia uncover her real history and find peace in her new life?

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2019

Under the Broken Sky

By Mariko Nagai

A girl fights to reunite with her sister after war tears their family apart.

304 pages· 26,691 words· Est. 3 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 806 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In war-torn Manchuria, twelve-year-old Natsu faces a heart-wrenching choice: to save her sister, Cricket, she must sell her to a Russian family. As the Soviet occupation looms, Natsu's determination to reunite her broken family drives her through perilous challenges. Will her courage and resilience be enough to bring her sister back? This poignant tale of survival and hope explores the depths of sacrifice and the unyielding bonds of family amidst the chaos of World War II.

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2011

Cartwheeling in Thunderstorms

By Katherine Rundell, Melissa Castrillón (Illustrator), Melissa Castrillon (Illustrator)

A girl faces fierce schoolgirls after leaving her African home for an English boarding school.

Boston Globe–Horn Book Award (2015)

272 pages· 48,050 words· Est. 6.5 hour read

4.0/5 Goodreads · 2,999 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Wilhelmina Silver's idyllic life on an African farm is shattered when she's sent to a strict English boarding school. Navigating a world of cruel classmates, Will must find her courage to survive. Can she adapt to this new life, or will the wilds of London prove too much? As she battles loneliness and hostility, Will's resilience and hope are tested in unexpected ways. Will she find a place to belong, or will the memories of her African home haunt her forever? Discover a tale of friendship and survival in a world far from home.

The Bookroo Book Club