Here’s what we’ve been reading lately:
The Nightingale – I read this on a recommendation from a friend and I was not disappointed. It’s based during World War II as it chronicles two sisters and how the they are each affected by the war in unique ways. One sister works to keep her young family alive and the other works to keep others alive. I’ve read plenty of books based on this time period but I loved the sisters vastly different perspective on the same war.
The Resistance – Hallie has read a couple books set during World War II and they are keeping her interest more than any other genre right now. (I remember going through a similar stage when I was younger and haven’t totally grown out of it!) She has read a couple from this author and this Christmas gift was her latest read and she plowed through it quickly – about a young girl who smuggles food and papers into the Jewish ghettos.
I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii – This is a series of books based on historical events – told from the perspective of a kid who lived to tell the tale. Hunter has enjoyed this series and his latest book was the Destruction of Pompeii. I like that these books are based on history and each books is a little history lesson for Hunter.
My Weird School – Bennett is a great reader and enjoys the silliness in books. I’m not sure how many in this series he’s read, but he received two new ones for Christmas and he had them both read in three days. I’ve also caught him reading these books to Cannon and it won’t be long before he’s reading them on his own.
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I also have loved reading about ordinary people during WWII.
Here are some suggestions:
Young Adult:
Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan – based on true story of how children smuggled the state government’s gold out of Norway.
The Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig – Jewish family is deported from Poland to Siberia and how they survive the war.
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry – how Denmark smuggled their Jews out of the country under the Nazis’ noses.
When My Name was Keoko by Linda Sue Park – Life for a young Korean girl under Japanese rule during WWII
Under the War Torn Sky by L.M. Elliott – a bomber is shot down over France and how he survives and escapes back to England.
Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
Adult:
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Schaffer and Annie Barrows
Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher – semi-autobiographical about a young woman in England during the war while her family was in Singapore
Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
Adult with a little more suspense:
Night Sky by Claire Francis
Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett
King Rat by James Clavell – semi-autobiographical based on his experiences being a POW in Japanese prison during the war
The Man Who Never Was by Ewen Montagu
I also highly recommend the movie The Great Escape – again based on story of how POWs dug holes and planned to escape Nazi prison camp.
THANK YOU for this awesome list – I’m looking online now to reserve some books and I’m using your list!