Books About Soldiers · 86 titles considered

The Best Soldiers Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

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Explore our editor-reviewed guide to Military & War Books, featuring 13 favorites and recommendations by age.

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Looking for excellent children's books about soldiers? 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 Soldiers

Legend
Sale price
$1899
Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2011

Legend

By Marie Lu · Book #1 in the Legend series

A prodigy and a criminal collide in a deadly game, uncovering dark secrets of their war-torn nation.

305 pages· 75,697 words· Est. 7 hour read
4.2 Goodreads · 574,354 ratings
$19.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: In a war-torn Republic, June, a military prodigy, seeks justice for her brother's murder. Day, the nation's most wanted criminal, is the prime suspect. As they clash, they uncover shocking truths about their country and the sinister forces at play. Can they trust each other enough to survive the deadly secrets that bind them? A thrilling tale of suspense, action, and unexpected alliances.
The Gilded Ones
Sale price
$958
Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2020

The Gilded Ones

By Namina Forna · Book #1 in the The Gilded Ones series

A girl's blood reveals her fate: exile or join a mystical army to save an empire.

432 pages
4.0 Goodreads · 57,266 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Deka's world shatters when her blood runs gold, marking her as impure. Faced with a grim fate, she must choose between submission or joining an army of near-immortal girls to combat a looming threat. As she trains for battle, Deka uncovers secrets in the capital, challenging everything she knows about herself and her destiny. Will she find belonging in a world that fears her power?
Code Talker
Sale price
$2394
Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2005

Code Talker

By Joseph Bruchac

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

231 pages· 53,166 words· Est. 5 hour read
3.9 Goodreads · 19,476 ratings
$25.20Save 5%
Prebound-Glued
Summary: Sixteen-year-old Ned Begay, eager to serve in WWII, joins the Marines as a Navajo Code Talker. Tasked with a top-secret mission, he uses his native language to send unbreakable messages across the Pacific. From Guadalcanal to Iwo Jima, Ned faces intense battles, his role crucial yet hidden from the world. As he navigates the horrors of war, he grapples with the weight of his secret contribution, one that remains classified long after the conflict ends. How will this experience shape him, and what will he sacrifice for his country?
The Red Badge of Courage
Sale price
$1049
Chapter Book · Ages 11–16 · 1895

The Red Badge of Courage

By Stephen Crane · Puffin Classics series

A young soldier faces fear and self-doubt in the chaos of war.

215 pages· 44,126 words· Est. 4 hour read
3.3 Goodreads · 111,981 ratings
$10.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Henry Fleming, a young recruit in the American Civil War, dreams of heroism but is confronted by the brutal reality of battle. As fear and self-doubt grip him, Henry must decide if he will rise to the challenge or succumb to cowardice. Will the horrors of war forge him into a hero, or will they break him? This gripping tale explores the inner turmoil of a soldier caught between his ideals and the harsh truths of combat, leaving readers to wonder about the true nature of courage.
The Day the World Stopped Turning
Sale price
$958
Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2019

The Day the World Stopped Turning

By Michael Morpurgo

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

288 pages· 53,961 words· Est. 6 hour read
5.8/7 Bookroo·4.1/5 Goodreads · 302 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: In wartime France, Lorenzo, a boy with a unique gift for healing animals, finds solace among flamingos and a Roma girl named Kezia. As German soldiers invade, their tranquil lives are upended. With the carousel and beloved creatures at risk, Lorenzo must navigate a world on the brink of chaos. Can hope and kindness survive amidst the turmoil?
Sharpshooter
Chapter Book · Ages 13–15 · 2012

Sharpshooter

By Chris Lynch · Book #2 in the Vietnam series

A young soldier questions his beliefs as Vietnam's harsh realities clash with heroic war stories.

187 pages· 40,270 words· Est. 3.5 hour read
4.2 Goodreads · 859 ratings
Hardcover
Summary: Ivan eagerly enlists to fight in Vietnam, inspired by his father's WWII heroics. Trained as a sniper, he excels, but the jungle's brutal reality shatters his expectations. As the war's true nature unfolds, Ivan must confront his ideals and decide if this is a battle worth fighting. Can he reconcile his father's tales with the grim truth, or will the conflict redefine his sense of duty and honor? The stakes are high, and Ivan's journey is fraught with moral dilemmas and unexpected challenges.
The Journal of Patrick Seamus Flaherty
Sale price
$1049
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2002

The Journal of Patrick Seamus Flaherty

By Ellen Emerson White · My Name is America series

A marine fights in Vietnam while his sister battles for peace at home.

192 pages· 37,769 words· Est. 4 hour read
4.2 Goodreads · 1,400 ratings
$10.95Save 4%
Hardcover
Summary: A young marine faces unseen enemies in Vietnam, while his sister fights for peace on American soil. Through their diaries, they reveal the personal toll of a war that divides a nation. As he struggles with the chaos of combat, she joins protests, determined to bring him home. Will their efforts bridge the distance between them, or will the war tear them apart? This poignant tale captures the turmoil of a divided America, offering a glimpse into the lives of those caught between duty and conscience during a tumultuous era.
The King of Attolia
Sale price
$1498
Chapter Book · Ages 13–+ · 2006

The King of Attolia

By Megan Whalen Turner · Book #3 in the The Queen's Thief series

A cunning thief navigates court intrigue and hidden dangers in a world of deception.

432 pages· 86,597 words· Est. 8 hour read
4.4 Goodreads · 44,179 ratings
$15.99Save 6%
Paperback
Summary: Eugenides, the master thief, finds himself ensnared in the treacherous web of the Attolian court. As he faces pranks and political intrigue, his patience wears thin. When he rescues a fiery young soldier, nothing is as it seems. With divine interventions and battles of wit, can Eugenides outsmart his foes and uncover the truth? Dive into a world where power, passion, and deception reign supreme, and every twist leaves you breathless. Will the thief's cleverness be enough to survive the court's deadly games?
Surprise at Yorktown
Sale price
$574
Chapter Book · Ages 7–+ · 2014

Surprise at Yorktown

By Marianne Hering · Book #15 in the The Imagination Station series

Two cousins race to stop a spy in the Revolutionary War's final battle.

144 pages· 13,343 words· Est. 2.5 hour read
4.3 Goodreads · 178 ratings
$5.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Cousins Patrick and Beth find themselves in the heart of the American Revolution at Yorktown. As they navigate the chaos of battle, they uncover a spy threatening to sabotage General Washington's plans. With cannons thundering and the ground trembling, they must warn Washington before it's too late. Can they outsmart the enemy and witness history, or will they fall into a trap with no escape? The fate of a nation hangs in the balance as they race against time in this thrilling historical adventure.
Ascendance of a Bookworm (Manga) Part 1 Volume 6
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1498
Chapter Book · Ages 14–17 · 2018

Ascendance of a Bookworm (Manga) Part 1 Volume 6

By Miya Kazuki, Quof (Translator) · Book #6 in the Ascendance of a Bookworm series

A girl battles a consuming illness by selling past-life knowledge to survive.

189 pages
4.4 Goodreads · 673 ratings
$15.99Save 6%
Paperback
Summary: In a world where books are scarce, Myne is determined to create her own. Stricken by a mysterious illness called 'the Devouring,' she must sell her past-life knowledge to afford a cure. As the disease relentlessly saps her strength, Myne's quest for survival becomes a race against time. Will her ingenuity be enough to outsmart fate, or will the Devouring claim her before she can achieve her dream? Dive into this biblio-fantasy where the love for books fuels a fight for life.
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Soldiers Picture Books

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

Shooting at the Stars
Sale price
$1999

Shooting at the Stars

Ages 8–12 · 2014

A Christmas Eve truce halts war, uniting enemies in unexpected peace.

Night Catch
Sale price
$995

Night Catch

Ages 4–8 · 2005

A soldier and his son play catch across the world using the North Star.

Tucky Jo and Little Heart
Sale price
$1899

Tucky Jo and Little Heart

Ages 4–8 · 2015

A young soldier's wartime friendship leads to a life-changing reunion.

Infinite Hope
Sale price
$2199

Infinite Hope

Ages 10–13 · 2019

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

Finding Winnie
Sale price
$1899

Finding Winnie

Ages 3–6 · 2015

A boy hears the true story of a veterinarian who adopts a bear cub and names her Winnie during World War I.

A Remainder of One
Sale price
$699

A Remainder of One

Ages 4–7 · 1985

A bug soldier must outsmart his queen to join the parade.

Hero Mom
Sale price
$1299

Hero Mom

Ages 4–8 · 2013

Moms as superheroes, building, flying, and protecting the world.

Hero Dad
Sale price
$1299

Hero Dad

Ages 3–6 · 2010

Discover the true heroism of a soldier dad through a child's eyes.

Harlem Hellfighters
Sale price
$1999

Harlem Hellfighters

Ages 10–13 · 2014

Harlem musicians face war's horrors, racism, and redefine courage through music.

Year of the Jungle
Sale price
$1899

Year of the Jungle

Ages 5–8 · 2013

A girl grapples with her father's absence during the Vietnam War.

View all soldiers picture books
Browse by age

Soldiers Chapter Books & Middle Grade

Longer stories about soldiers for developing and independent readers.

Defy Me
#5 in Series
Sale price
$1599

Defy Me

Ages 14–+ · 2019

Juliette must choose: weapon or warrior, as she battles a war within her mind.

Prisoners of War
#3 in Series
Sale price
$599

Prisoners of War

Ages 10–14 · 2014

A soldier and a Nazi-trained dog must form an unlikely alliance to survive enemy territory.

Prodigy
#2 in Series
Sale price
$2299

Prodigy

Ages 12–18 · 2013

Fugitives join rebels, but can they trust their new allies?

Ignite Me
#3 in Series
Sale price
$2180

Ignite Me

Ages 12–17 · 2014

Juliette must trust an unlikely ally to defeat The Reestablishment and save a dying world.

Allies
Sale price
$1799

Allies

Ages 9–12 · 2019

Allied forces face betrayal and danger on D-Day. Can they succeed?

Gorilla Dawn
Sale price
$1699

Gorilla Dawn

Ages 9–13 · 2015

Two captives in the Congo risk everything to save an orphaned gorilla from rebel soldiers.

Secret Soldiers
Sale price
$1899

Secret Soldiers

Ages 10–14 · 2019

A young miner joins a secret mission beneath the battlefield to find his brother.

Unravel Me
#2 in Series
Sale price
$2520

Unravel Me

Ages 12–17 · 2013

Juliette's deadly touch fails on Warner, sparking a rebellion and a quest for answers.

View all soldiers chapter books
Keep exploring
Books about belongingBooks about codes, ciphers and puzzlesBooks about facing fearsBooks about NavajoBooks about self-doubtBooks about the Civil WarBooks about violenceBooks about war