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Books by genre

Top 14 books about war and courage for kids and teens

War stories for young readers focus on children and civilians, and many are based on real events. They cover the Holocaust, the Blitz, the First World War and modern refugees. These are not light reads, so ages and content notes matter more than usual.

Titles were chosen from award winners, ALSC notable lists and long-running library favorites, then each title and author was checked against Open Library in Oct 2026. Checked 2026-10-25. Nobody paid to be here. The buy links are plain search links, not affiliate links, so Peabody earns nothing from them.

  1. Number the Stars

    Lois Lowry · Ages 9-12

    A Danish girl hides her Jewish friend when the Nazis come to Copenhagen. Newbery winner and a gentle first Holocaust book.

    Watch for: A character is killed.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  2. When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit

    Judith Kerr · Ages 8-12

    A Jewish girl's family flees Germany in 1933, based on the author's childhood. Quiet and warm.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  3. Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

    Eleanor Coerr · Ages 8-11

    A girl who survived Hiroshima develops leukemia and folds paper cranes. Short and true.

    Watch for: Sadako dies.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  4. Goodnight Mister Tom

    Michelle Magorian · Ages 10-14

    A shy evacuated boy is taken in by a grumpy man in a village in 1939.

    Watch for: Child abuse and a death.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  5. The War That Saved My Life

    Kimberly Brubaker Bradley · Ages 9-13

    A girl with a clubfoot escapes her mother and is evacuated from London. Newbery Honor.

    Watch for: Abuse by a parent.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  6. War Horse

    Michael Morpurgo · Ages 10-14

    The First World War as seen through a horse's eyes.

    Watch for: Battle scenes and animal deaths.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  7. Private Peaceful

    Michael Morpurgo · Ages 12-16

    A young soldier looks back on his life the night before a possible execution.

    Watch for: Wartime executions.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  8. Under the Blood-Red Sun

    Graham Salisbury · Ages 10-14

    A Japanese American boy in Hawaii during the Pearl Harbor attack. Scott O'Dell Award.

    Watch for: Racism and war.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  9. Refugee

    Alan Gratz · Ages 11-15

    Three refugee children from different decades: Nazi Germany, Cuba and Syria.

    Watch for: Violence and deaths.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  10. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

    John Boyne · Ages 12+

    A young boy befriends a boy behind a concentration camp fence. Debated as a Holocaust portrayal.

    Watch for: Holocaust deaths; historically inaccurate in places.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  11. The Book Thief

    Markus Zusak · Ages 13+

    A girl steals books in Nazi Germany; narrated by Death. Long and literary.

    Watch for: Heavy deaths.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  12. Code Name Verity

    Elizabeth Wein · Ages 14+

    Two young women in the WWII British service; one is captured. A story of friendship and courage.

    Watch for: Torture.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  13. Rose Blanche

    Roberto Innocenti · Ages 8-13

    A picture book of a girl who discovers a camp. Oversize; sombre art.

    Watch for: Ending includes death.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  14. Night

    Elie Wiesel · Ages 14+

    The memoir of a teenager in Auschwitz and Buchenwald. Often assigned in high school.

    Watch for: Atrocities.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

More lists

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