Books about World War I

War Horse

Author: Michael Morpurgo Illustrator: Francois Place

Interest level: 9-11

Reading age: 9+

Steven Spielberg enjoyed this story so much, he turned into a film. Joey is a young farm horse, sold to the army at the beginning …

Private Peaceful

Author: Sir Michael Morpurgo

Interest level: 9+

Reading age: 10+

Set during World War I, Private Peaceful charts eight hours in the life of Tommo, a young soldier at the Front.

Armistice Runner

Author: Tom Palmer Illustrator: Tom Clohosy Cole

Interest level: 10-12

Reading age: 8+

Lily loves fell running. She’s good, but never quite good enough: she gets anxious and loses her focus and then that’s it. Out. Pl…

Stubby: A True Story of Friendship

Author: Michael Foreman

Interest level: 4-8

Reading age: 7+

Published to coincide with the centenary of the end of the First World War, this beautiful book tells the story of Stubby, the mos…

Wings: Flyboy

Author: Tom Palmer

Interest level: 7-14

Reading age: 7+

On the football field and off it, Jatinder always wants to excel, but he always takes the easy option instead of the risky one.

T…

Some Other War

Author: Linda Newbery

Interest level: 12-15

Reading age: 12+

Seventeen-year-old twins Alice and Jack work at the mansion of the Morland family - but when the First World War breaks out, their…

The Foreshadowing

Author: Marcus Sedgwick

Interest level: 12+

Reading age: 12+

17-year-old Sasha travels to France as a volunteer nurse in an attempt to rescue her beloved brother Tom from a terrible death. Bu…

Walter Tull's Scrapbook

Author: Michaela Morgan

Interest level: 9-11

Reading age: 9+

Discover the fascinating true story of footballer and World War I officer Walter Tull in this highly visual scrapbook.

The Silver Donkey

Author: Sonya Hartnett Illustrator: Laura Carlin

Interest level: 8+

Reading age: 8+

In French woodland, sisters Coco and Marcelle find and help a blind English deserter from the battlefront, trying to ensure he rea…

Line Of Fire: Diary Of An Unknown Soldier

Author: Barroux Translator: Sarah Ardizzone

Interest level: 12+

Reading age: 12+

In this striking graphic novel adaptation of a 100-year-old diary, the events of the first two months of WWI are told through the …

War Game

Author: Michael Foreman

Interest level: 8-10

Reading age: 8+

This simple yet haunting book tells the story of the First World War from the point of view of the writer’s uncles who lost …

Archie's War

Author: Marcia Williams

Interest level: 5-8

Reading age: 6+

In 1914, ten-year-old Archie is sent a scrapbook in the post by his Uncle Colin, and through the years that follow, we see the wor…

Soldier Dog

Author: Sam Angus

Interest level: 11+

Reading age: 10+

It's 1917 and Stanley Ryder is one of many young boys enlisting in the army, in spite of the fact he is underage. Assigned to work…

Stay Where You Are and Then Leave

Author: John Boyne

Interest level: 9+

Reading age: 9+

This is a compelling story, beautifully observed, which covers difficult themes such as shellshock and loss in a sensitive and und…

Valentine Joe

Author: Rebecca Stevens

Interest level: 10-12

Reading age: 9+

Based on a true story, Valentine Joe offers an intriguing insight into the war, but at the same time provides a window into Rose's…

The Skylarks' War

Author: Hilary McKay

Interest level: 9-12

Reading age: 9+

Clarry and Peter love spending their summers in Cornwall with their cousin Rupert, but how will things change when he enlists for …

My Brother's Keeper

Author: Tom and Tony Bradman

Interest level: 9+

Reading age: 9+

Alfie's story has obvious subject appeal for boys and the length is enticing for reluctant readers, but this neat little story man…

Over the Line

Author: Tom Palmer

Interest level: 10+

Reading age: 8+

Set during World War I, this book tells the compelling true story of the professional footballers who signed up to fight. It's sur…

Tilly's Promise

Author: Linda Newbery

Interest level: 11+

Reading age: 8+

A touching story by award-winning Linda Newbery about first love, loyalty and the horrors of war, written in dyslexia-friendly lan…

Poppy Field

Author: Michael Morpurgo Illustrator: Michael Foreman

Interest level: 7-9

Reading age: 7+

Inspired by John McCrae’s war poem In Flanders Fields, this touching story is ideal to share with young children to promote discus…

Dear Jelly: Family Letters from the First World War

Author: Sarah Ridley

Interest level: 8-14

Reading age: 8+

Accompanied by historical notes on the progress of the war, this book is an accessible resource and an appealing read. It is also …

The Great War

Author: Various Illustrator: Jim Kay

Interest level: 12+

Reading age: 12+

Each story is inspired by a different object from World War I, from a soldier's writing case to the nose of a Zeppelin bomb.

The Secret Message

Author: John Townsend

Interest level: 9-12

Reading age: 12

This short novel tells the story of Sam, who discovers the diary which his great-great-grandfather wrote during World War I. One o…

Respect

Author: Michaela Morgan

Interest level: 10+

Reading age: 10+

Find out about Walter Tull - a hero on the football pitch and during World War One.

Eleven Eleven

Author: Paul Dowswell

Interest level: 11+

Reading age: 10+

In the early hours of 11 November 1918, the agreement to end World War I is finally sealed, and the lives of three young men colli…

Stories of WW1

Author: Various Editor: Tony Bradman

Interest level: 12+

Reading age: 8+

Poignantly bringing the First World War alive for teenagers, this anthology reminds us that many of those in the trenches were the…