Books about World War II for teens

Duty Calls: Dunkirk

The Second World War has inspired many stories, and told the stories of many people over the years. These books for teenagers take a variety of different approaches to representing the events of World War II.

Books about WWII for children

  • Code Name Verity

    Code Name Verity

    Author: Elizabeth Wein
    Publisher: Electric Monkey
    Interest age: 14+
    Reading age: 14+

    Two young women become unlikely best friends during WWII, until one is captured by the Gestapo...

  • Code Name Kingfisher

    Code Name Kingfisher

    Author: Liz Kessler
    Publisher: Simon & Schuster
    Interest age: 12-14
    Reading age: 9+

    In Nazi-occupied Amsterdam in 1942, Hannie joins the Resistance. In the modern day, Liv is trying to cope with bullies at school. Historical fiction of the highest order – heart-breaking, thought-provoking and vital.

  • Between Shades of Gray

    Between Shades of Gray

    Author: Ruta Sepetys
    Publisher: Puffin
    Interest age: 14+
    Reading age: 14+

    Set in 1941, Between Shades of Grey is an extraordinary and haunting story based on first-hand family accounts and memories from survivors.

  • White Bird

    White Bird

    Author: R J Palacio
    Publisher: Penguin
    Interest age: 12-16
    Reading age: 9+

    Now he’s a teenager, Julian wants to hear the details of what happened to Grandmère during her childhood in France in World War Two. A compelling graphic novel about courage in adversity, and how kindness and humanity can overcome evil. 

  • That Burning Summer

    That Burning Summer

    Author: Lydia Syson
    Publisher: Hot Key
    Interest age: 13-14
    Reading age: 13+

    In the long hot summer of 1940, planes are doing battle over the channel, and the south coast of England is braced for a German invasion.

  • Duty Calls: Battle of Britain

    Duty Calls: Battle of Britain

    Author: James Holland
    Publisher: Puffin Books
    Interest age: 11+
    Reading age: 11+

    It's the Battle of Britain and 19-year-old pilot officer Archie Jackson is in control of the RAF's newest fighter aircraft, a Supermarine Spitfire.

  • Duty Calls: Dunkirk

    Duty Calls: Dunkirk

    Author: James Holland
    Publisher: Puffin Books
    Interest age: 12+
    Reading age: 9+

    The exciting story of a teenage recruit who finds himself caught up in the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk in 1940.

  • Hero on a Bicycle

    Hero on a Bicycle

    Author: Shirley Hughes
    Publisher: Walker Books
    Interest age: 11+
    Reading age: 11+

    The first novel from much-loved author and illustrator Shirley Hughes is a thrilling and moving story about a boy and his bicycle, set against a dramatic background of war-torn Italy

  • When the World Was Ours

    When the World Was Ours

    Author: Liz Kessler
    Publisher: Simon & Schuster
    Interest age: 12-15
    Reading age: 12+

    Elsa, Max, and Leo are three friends who live in Vienna - but as Hitler's rise to power begins to cast a shadow over Europe, they find themselves torn in different directions. This moving and well researched book about the holocaust is only suitable for readers 12+.