Books About Survival Stories · 831 titles considered

The Best Survival Stories Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about survival stories? 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.

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The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Survival Stories

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.

338 pages· 65,632 words· Est. 7.5 hour read

7.0/7 Bookroo experts·4.4/5 Goodreads · 86,160 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

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.

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 10–12 · 2010

A Long Walk to Water

By Linda Sue Park

Two Sudanese children face perilous journeys for survival and hope.

128 pages· 20,925 words· Est. 2.5 hour read

7.0/7 Bookroo experts·4.3/5 Goodreads · 107,590 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

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?

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 10–13

Island of the Blue Dolphins

By Scott O'Dell, Ted Lewin (Illustrator) · Book #1 in the Island of the Blue Dolphins series

Alone on a desolate island, a girl battles nature and wild dogs for survival.

Newbery Medal (1961)

177 pages· 40,023 words· Est. 4.5 hour read

5.4/7 Bookroo experts·3.9/5 Goodreads · 354,002 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Summary: On a remote island off California, Karana faces the ultimate test of survival. Alone for eighteen years, she must fend off wild dogs, evade hunters, and secure food. Her journey transforms isolation into a tale of resilience and spirit. Can she find strength in solitude, or will the island's challenges prove too great? Discover the haunting adventure of courage and self-reliance in this timeless classic.

Sale price

$1899

Chapter Book · Ages 13–18 · 2019

Shout

By Laurie Halse Anderson

A poetic memoir challenges societal silence on sexual assault.

304 pages· 27,174 words· Est. 2.5 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 22,395 ratings

$19.99Save 5%

Summary: In a powerful memoir, Laurie Halse Anderson uses free verse to confront society's silence on sexual assault. Through personal stories and calls to action, she challenges readers to listen and speak out. As she reflects on her own experiences, Anderson's words become a rallying cry for change, urging everyone to join the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements. Will her voice inspire a new wave of courage and truth?

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.

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

4.4/5 Goodreads · 285,307 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

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 · 1,394,550 ratings

$12.00Save 5%

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?

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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.

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

4.2/5 Goodreads · 3,324 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

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 · 2008

The Hunger Games

By Suzanne Collins · Book #1 in the The Hunger Games series

Survive a deadly game or face certain death in a dystopian world.

374 pages· 99,856 words· Est. 9.5 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 10,187,662 ratings

$14.99Save 7%

Summary: In a dystopian future, sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen volunteers for the brutal Hunger Games to save her sister. Thrust into a televised fight to the death, she must navigate deadly challenges and moral dilemmas. As she becomes an unexpected contender, Katniss faces choices that pit survival against humanity and life against love. Can she outwit the Capitol's cruel spectacle and emerge victorious, or will the Games claim her life? The stakes are high, and the world is watching.

Sale price

$1597

Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2020

The Canyon's Edge

By Dusti Bowling

A girl battles nature and inner demons to survive a desert disaster.

320 pages· 19,492 words· Est. 2 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 9,360 ratings

$16.99Save 6%

Summary: Nora's quest for peace in the Arizona desert turns into a fight for survival when a flash flood separates her from her father. Alone, she faces deadly wildlife and the haunting Beast of her nightmares. Can Nora conquer her fears and find her father, or will the desert claim them both? Her journey is a test of courage and resilience, pushing her to confront the past and embrace a new future.

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1959

My Side of the Mountain

By Jean Craighead George · Book #1 in the My Side of the Mountain series

A boy escapes city life for mountain solitude, discovering hidden strengths.

177 pages· 39,679 words· Est. 5.5 hour read

5.3/7 Bookroo experts·4.1/5 Goodreads · 87,427 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Summary: Sam Gribley flees his cramped New York City apartment for the wild mountains, seeking solitude but finding unexpected challenges. As he navigates the dangers of nature, Sam uncovers a resilience he never knew he possessed. Will he thrive in the wilderness or be forced to return to the life he left behind?

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Survival Stories Board Books for Babies & Toddlers

Sturdy, inviting books about survival stories for the youngest readers and listeners.

Sale price

$895

Pickin' Peas

Ages 0–17 · 1997

A clever rabbit must outwit a girl to escape her grasp.

Sale price

$995

Moby Dick

Ages 0–5 · 2012

Introduce toddlers to classics with simple words and felted scenes.

Sale price

$1199

The Iliad

Ages 0–3 · 2024

Introduce toddlers to Greek mythology with vibrant art and simple text.

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Survival Stories Picture Books

Illustrated read-alouds about survival stories for preschool and elementary-age readers.

Sale price

$1899

Finding Fire

Ages 4–8 · 2022

A boy's quest for fire leads to unexpected challenges and a new friend.

Sale price

$1799

Stranded!

Ages 4–8 · 2023

Stranded on a volcanic island, two scientists face lava and dwindling supplies. Can they survive until rescue arrives?

Sale price

$799

The Bear That Heard Crying

Ages 3–5 · 1993

A lost child, a mysterious protector, and a tale of survival in the wilderness.

Sale price

$1899

The Barnabus Project

Ages 4–7 · 2020

A failed pet dreams of escape before being recycled.

Sale price

$1799

Brother's Keeper

Ages 8–12 · 2020

Two siblings must escape war-torn North Korea alone. Can they survive the perilous journey?

Sale price

$1799

The Long Island

Ages 4–8 · 2018

Five explorers leave home to uncover the mysteries beyond their island.

Sale price

$1899

The Circus Ship

Ages 4–8 · 2009

A circus ship sinks off the coast of Maine, leaving its animals to fend for themselves on a nearby island.

Sale price

$1895

The Library Bus

Ages 8–12 · 2020

A young girl helps her mother bring books to villages where girls were once forbidden to learn.

Sale price

$1899

Wombat Underground

Ages 4–8 · 2022

As wildfires rage, a wombat's burrow becomes a refuge for desperate animals.

Sale price

$2199

Two Bad Ants

Ages 4–8 · 1988

Two ants venture into a perilous kitchen, facing unexpected dangers. Will they find their way home?

Sale price

$2295

The Girl and the Wolf

Ages 3–5 · 2019

A lost girl must find her way home with a wolf's unexpected help.

Sale price

$1699

The Way Home for Wolf

Ages 3–5 · 2018

A lone wolf cub learns the value of friendship in the Arctic night.

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Survival Stories Chapter Books & Middle Grade

Longer stories about survival stories for developing and independent readers.

Sale price

$999

The Boy on the Wooden Box

Ages 10–15

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.