Books About Survival · 874 titles considered

The Best Survival Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about survival? 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.

#1 in Series

#1 in Series

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Series

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Survival

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.

Jane Addams Children's Book Award (2011)

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

7.0/7 Bookroo·4.3/5 Goodreads · 107,729 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?

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·3.9/5 Goodreads · 354,151 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Paperback

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

$1498

Chapter Book · Ages 14–18 · 2015

Six of Crows

By Leigh Bardugo · Book #1 in the Six of Crows series

Six outcasts. One impossible heist. Can they survive each other and save the world?

465 pages· 134,876 words· Est. 12.5 hour read

4.5/5 Goodreads · 1,200,707 ratings

$15.99Save 6%

Paperback

Summary: In the bustling city of Ketterdam, criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker assembles a crew for a heist that promises untold riches. Joined by a vengeful convict, a gambling sharpshooter, a runaway, a stealthy spy, a magical Heartrender, and a cunning thief, Kaz faces a mission fraught with danger. As tensions rise, can these six outcasts pull off the impossible without tearing each other apart? Dive into a world where the stakes are high, and the line between survival and destruction is razor-thin. Will they succeed, or will their differences lead to their downfall?

Sale price

$2850

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2011

Ready Player One

By Ernest Cline · Book #1 in the Ready Player One series

In 2045, a virtual treasure hunt turns deadly as rivals vie for control of a digital empire.

480 pages· 132,733 words· Est. 12.5 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 1,335,850 ratings

$30.00Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: In 2045, Wade Watts escapes his grim reality by immersing himself in the OASIS, a vast virtual world. When its creator dies, he leaves behind a series of puzzles promising immense wealth and control of the OASIS to the first solver. Wade cracks the initial clue, igniting a fierce competition with ruthless adversaries willing to kill for the prize. As the stakes rise, Wade must navigate a perilous quest filled with pop culture riddles and deadly rivals. Can he outsmart them and claim the ultimate prize, or will he become another casualty in this high-stakes game?

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

$1348

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2015

An Ember in the Ashes

By Sabaa Tahir · Book #1 in the An Ember in the Ashes series

A slave and a soldier defy an empire, risking everything for freedom.

480 pages· 124,141 words· Est. 11.5 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 360,415 ratings

$13.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: In a brutal empire where defiance means death, Laia, a slave, must spy for rebels to save her brother. At the military academy, she meets Elias, a soldier yearning for freedom. Together, they face impossible choices that could alter the empire's fate. Will their intertwined destinies ignite hope or lead to destruction?

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

$1899

Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2020

Everything Sad Is Untrue

By Daniel Nayeri

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

Michael L. Printz Award (2021)

356 pages· 85,022 words· Est. 9.5 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 45,806 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?

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2003

Into the Wild

By Erin Hunter, Dave Stevenson (Illustrator) · Warriors series

A housecat faces a deadly clan war, threatening the warrior code.

272 pages· 61,511 words· Est. 8.5 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 126,037 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: In a forest ruled by four cat Clans, the warrior code is under threat. ShadowClan's sinister rise endangers ThunderClan, as mysterious deaths plague the warriors. Amidst this chaos, Rusty, an ordinary housecat, steps into the fray. Can he become the hero the Clans desperately need, or will the forest fall to darkness? Discover the thrilling journey of an unlikely warrior in a world where loyalty and courage are tested at every turn.

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Browse by age

Survival Picture Books

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

Sale price

$1899

My Best Friend

Ages 3–6 · 2020

Mouse is trapped. Will his best friend, who might want to eat him, save him?

Series

Sale price

$1999

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

Ages 4–8 · 1978

A town where the weather brings food instead of rain or snow faces a series of catastrophic events that threaten its survival.

Sale price

$1899

A Bowl Full of Peace

Ages 6–11 · 2020

Survive the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and find hope in a miraculous discovery.

Sale price

$1899

How to Eat in Space

Ages 4–8 · 2023

Eating in space is tricky—no gravity, no crumbs, no mess!

Sale price

$1999

Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave

Ages 4–8 · 1994

A girl faces a deadly errand to a witch's lair.

Sale price

$1999

Stars of the Night

Ages 7–11 · 2023

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

Sale price

$1795

Moto and Me

Ages 7–10 · 2017

A wildlife photographer in Kenya raises a rescued serval kitten and prepares him for life in the wild.

Sale price

$1899

Piece Out

Ages 4–8 · 2025

A toy game piece embarks on a perilous journey home, facing unexpected dangers.

Sale price

$1700

Gleam and Glow

Ages 4–7 · 2001

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

Sale price

$999

The Legend of the Lady Slipper

Ages 4–7 · 1999

A girl listens to nature's whispers to save her people from a deadly disease.

Sale price

$1899

Two Bobbies

Ages 4–8 · 2008

Two pets survive Hurricane Katrina, bound by an unbreakable bond. Can they find a new home together?

Sale price

$1899

One Day This Tree Will Fall

Ages 4–8 · 2024

When a tree falls, does its story end or begin anew?

View all survival picture books

Browse by age

Survival Chapter Books & Middle Grade

Longer stories about survival for developing and independent readers.

#1 in Series

Sale price

$1499

The Hunger Games

Ages 12–18 · 2008

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

Sale price

$1499

The Book Thief

Ages 12–18 · 2005

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

Sale price

$1699

The Canyon's Edge

Ages 10–13 · 2020

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

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.