Why read historical fiction? Because the stories of the past teach, inspire, move and sometimes horrify us – and from the struggles of those that lived before us, we can hopefully learn. Here are 12 books for children ages 12+ that cover a wide range of historical events. A note of caution: some of these titles include violence or content that may not be appropriate for all audiences. Please see the ratings to make good choices for your kids.
Author: Lauren Wolk
Vivid and heart-wrenching, Lauren Wolk's Beyond the Bright Sea is a gorgeously crafted and tensely paced tale that explores questions of identity, belonging, and the true meaning of family. -…
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Author: Linda Sue Park
Acclaimed, award-winning author Linda Sue Park has placed a young half-Asian girl, Hanna, in a small town in America's heartland, in 1880. Hanna's adjustment to her new surroundings, which primarily…
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Author: Anne Nesbet
Slip behind the Iron Curtain into a world of smoke, secrets, and lies in this stunning novel where someone is always listening and nothing is as it seems. Noah Keller…
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Author: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
When Ada's clubfoot is surgically fixed at last, she knows for certain that she's not what her mother said she was--damaged, deranged, crippled mentally as well as physically. She's not…
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Author: Veera Hiranandani
Shy twelve-year-old Nisha, forced to flee her home with her Hindu family during the 1947 partition of India, tries to find her voice and make sense of the world falling…
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Author: Thanhha Lai
Inspired by the author's childhood experience as a refugee—fleeing Vietnam after the Fall of Saigon and immigrating to Alabama—this coming-of-age debut novel told in verse has been celebrated for its…
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Author: Kate Albus
A Place to Hang the Moon is the tale of three orphaned siblings who are evacuated from London to live in the countryside with the secret hope of finding a…
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Author: Rodman Philbrick
Newbery Honor author Rodman Philbrick presents a gripping yet poignant novel about a 12-year-old boy and his dog who become trapped in New Orleans during the horrors of Hurricane Katrina.…
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Author: Pam Muñoz Ryan
Esperanza thought she'd always live a privileged life on her family's ranch in Mexico. She'd always have fancy dresses, a beautiful home filled with servants, and Mama, Papa, and Abuelita…
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Author: Linda Sue Park
An unforgettable new story from the winner of the prestigious Newbery Medal Two young people, two stories, one country - Sudan. Home for just long enough to eat, Nya would…
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Author: Tina Athaide
From debut author Tina Athaide comes a soaring tale of empathy, hope, and resilience, as two best friends living under Ugandan President Amin’s divisive rule must examine where—and who—they call…
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