Books About Evacuation And Relocation · 141 titles considered

The Best Evacuation And Relocation Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for excellent children's books about evacuation and relocation? 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.

Refugee
Series
The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Evacuation And Relocation

Sale price
$1697
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2017

Refugee

By Alan Gratz

Three children flee their war-torn homes, facing perilous journeys for a chance at refuge and hope.

The E.B. White Read Aloud Honor (2018)Cybils Award (2017)Sydney Taylor Book Award (2018)
338 pages· 65,632 words· Est. 7.5 hour read
7.0/7 Bookroo·4.4/5 Goodreads · 86,526 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud are separated by time and place, yet united by their desperate quests for safety. Josef flees Nazi Germany, Isabel escapes Cuba's turmoil, and Mahmoud braves Syria's chaos. Each faces life-threatening challenges—drownings, bombings, betrayals—on their harrowing journeys. As they seek refuge, their stories intertwine in unexpected ways, revealing the enduring power of hope and survival. Will they find the sanctuary they seek, or will the dangers prove insurmountable? Discover the connections that bind their fates in this gripping tale of courage and resilience.
Chapter Book · Ages 10–12 · 2010

A Long Walk to Water

Two Sudanese children face perilous journeys for survival and hope.

128 pages· 20,925 words· Est. 2.5 hour read
7.0/7 Bookroo·4.3/5 Goodreads · 108,012 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: In Sudan, Nya walks hours daily for water in 2008, while Salva, a 'lost boy' in 1985, treks across Africa seeking safety. Their paths, fraught with danger from rebels and wildlife, eventually converge in a surprising, life-changing encounter. How will their stories of endurance and hope intertwine?
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2019

Other Words for Home

A girl leaves Syria for America, facing new challenges and discovering herself.

342 pages· 30,125 words· Est. 4 hour read
5.8/7 Bookroo·4.4/5 Goodreads · 35,455 ratings
$19.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Jude's world shifts when she leaves Syria for Cincinnati, leaving family behind. Navigating a new culture, she grapples with her identity as 'Middle Eastern' and the chaos of American life. Amidst the noise, Jude finds unexpected friendships and a chance to shine in a school musical. Can she find a place where she truly belongs?
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1899
Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2019

They Called Us Enemy

A boy's childhood unfolds in WWII American camps, questioning identity and resilience.

204 pages· 12,726 words· Est. 1.5 hour read
4.4/5 Goodreads · 57,207 ratings
$19.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: George Takei's childhood is upended when his family is forced into WWII American camps. As a young boy, he navigates the harsh realities of life behind barbed wire, grappling with questions of identity and justice. His mother's sacrifices and father's unwavering belief in democracy shape his future. How does one find hope in a world of legalized racism? This graphic memoir explores the courage and resilience needed to redefine what it means to be American. Join Takei on a journey through history that challenges the very essence of freedom and belonging.
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2020

Everything Sad Is Untrue

A refugee boy spins tales to claim his truth in a skeptical classroom.

356 pages· 85,022 words· Est. 9.5 hour read
4.3/5 Goodreads · 46,027 ratings
$19.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: In an Oklahoma classroom, Khosrou, known as Daniel, shares his family's harrowing escape from Iran. His classmates doubt him, but his stories weave a tapestry of ancient Persian history and personal resilience. As he recounts their flight from the secret police and life in refugee camps, Daniel fights to be believed. Can his tales, like Scheherazade's, save him and reveal the truth?
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2020

When Stars Are Scattered

By Victoria Jamieson (Author/Illustrator), Omar Mohamed, Iman Geddy (Illustrator)

A refugee boy faces a choice: education or staying with his brother.

264 pages· 27,175 words· Est. 5 hour read
4.6/5 Goodreads · 33,965 ratings
$13.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: In a Kenyan refugee camp, Omar dreams of a better future. When offered a chance to attend school, he faces a heart-wrenching decision: pursue education or stay with his nonverbal brother, Hassan. Amidst hardship, Omar must navigate hope and sacrifice, striving to create a sense of family and belonging in a world of uncertainty. Will he seize the opportunity to change their lives, or will the bond with his brother hold him back? This poignant graphic novel explores resilience and the quest for a brighter tomorrow.
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2018

The Night Diary

A young girl navigates a divided land, seeking identity and hope amidst India's partition.

304 pages· 50,124 words· Est. 7 hour read
4.2/5 Goodreads · 21,238 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: In 1947, as India splits into two nations, twelve-year-old Nisha, half-Hindu and half-Muslim, becomes a refugee. Her family flees their home in Pakistan, embarking on a perilous journey to find safety. Through letters to her deceased mother, Nisha grapples with her fractured identity and the chaos around her. Can she find a place to belong in a world torn apart? The Night Diary is a poignant tale of resilience and the search for home in a divided land.
Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2018

The Eleventh Trade

A boy must trade up from a keychain to reclaim his grandfather's stolen instrument.

304 pages· 53,985 words· Est. 6 hour read
4.4/5 Goodreads · 377 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Sami, a young refugee, faces a daunting challenge when his grandfather's cherished rebab is stolen. With only a keychain and a dream, he embarks on a daring quest to trade up to $700. Each trade brings him closer to reclaiming the instrument and finding his place in a new world. Can Sami navigate the complexities of friendship and fear to achieve the impossible? Discover the heartwarming journey of resilience and hope in 'The Eleventh Trade.'
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2009

An Elephant in the Garden

A family flees a bombed city with an elephant, facing perilous challenges and unexpected allies.

224 pages· 36,004 words· Est. 4 hour read
4.2/5 Goodreads · 13,472 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: In a war-torn city, Lizzie, Karl, and their mother face an impossible choice: save Marlene, an orphaned elephant, or leave her to certain death. As bombs fall, they embark on a perilous journey, Marlene in tow, through a landscape fraught with danger. Along the way, they encounter Peter, a daring Canadian navigator, who risks everything to help them. Can this unlikely group of survivors find safety and hope amidst chaos? Discover a tale of courage, compassion, and the extraordinary bond between humans and animals.
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2011

Inside Out & Back Again

A young girl flees war-torn Vietnam, seeking hope in America.

262 pages· 14,925 words· Est. 2 hour read
4.1/5 Goodreads · 68,598 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: In 1975, Hà's world is upended as she and her family escape war-torn Vietnam for a new life in Alabama. Through poetic verse, Hà navigates the challenges of a foreign land, grappling with loss, identity, and the quest for belonging. Will she find hope and healing in this unfamiliar world, or will the shadows of her past linger? Experience a poignant journey of resilience and transformation as Hà's story unfolds, capturing the heartache and hope of a refugee's path to a new beginning.
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Evacuation And Relocation Picture Books

Illustrated read-alouds about evacuation and relocation for preschool and elementary-age readers.

Refuge

Ages 4–8 · 2015

A family flees through the desert, seeking refuge from danger.

How I Learned Geography

Ages 4–7 · 2008

A boy discovers a map's power to nourish his imagination beyond hunger.

Flight for Freedom

Ages 5–8 · 2019

A family risks all to escape East Germany in a homemade balloon.

The Day War Came

Ages 5–8 · 2018

A child's world shatters as war arrives, leaving her to seek hope in a foreign land.

The Journey

Ages 5–7 · 2016

A family flees war, facing impossible choices on a journey of survival and hope.

Stars of the Night

Ages 7–11 · 2023

Children escape war-torn Prague, seeking safety and uncover a hero's identity decades later.

Gleam and Glow

Ages 4–7 · 2001

A family flees war, leaving behind everything, hoping for a reunion and a miracle.

Brothers in Hope

Ages 7–9 · 2005

A young boy leads a perilous journey across war-torn lands, seeking safety and hope.

Zahra's Blessing

Ages 4–9 · 2022

A girl's Ramadan wish leads to unexpected blessings at a shelter.

Baseball Saved Us

Ages 6–10 · 1993

In a WWII internment camp, baseball becomes a lifeline for dignity and hope.

The Treasure Box

Ages 5–8 · 2013

A boy flees war with a mysterious treasure, seeking hope and survival.

My Beautiful Birds

Ages 6–10 · 2017

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

View all evacuation and relocation picture books
Browse by age

Evacuation And Relocation Chapter Books & Middle Grade

Longer stories about evacuation and relocation for developing and independent readers.

Paper Wishes

Ages 9–12 · 2016

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

The Red Pencil

Ages 9–12 · 2014

A young girl flees her ravaged village, finding hope in a red pencil.

Drita, My Homegirl

Ages 8–11 · 2006

A new life in America tests Drita's resilience and sparks an unexpected friendship across cultural divides.

Lily's Crossing

Ages 9–12 · 1997

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

Samira Surfs

Ages 8–12 · 2021

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

Cuba in My Pocket

Ages 8–12 · 2021

A boy's journey from Cuba to the U.S. tests his courage and hope for family reunion.

Letters from Cuba

Ages 10–12 · 2020

A young girl escapes Poland for Cuba, striving to reunite her family amidst rising dangers.

Escape

Ages 8–12 · 2009

Children face unimaginable horrors in a fight for survival during the Holocaust.

The Children of Willesden Lane

Ages 8–12 · 2002

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

World in Between
Sale price
$1699

World in Between

Ages 8–12 · 2021

A boy's life is upended by war, leading to a perilous escape and a new beginning.

Shadow

Ages 10–14 · 2010

A boy's quest to reunite with his lost dog amidst war and captivity.

Family Style

Ages 14–18 · 2023

A Vietnamese boy's journey through food reveals his quest for belonging in America.

Keep exploring
Books about refugeesBooks about immigration and emigrationBooks about missing home and homesicknessBooks about cultureBooks about survival storiesBooks about death, grief, and bereavementBooks about fitting inBooks about helping others

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