"Historical Fiction (WW2) for Kids?" Topic

All:

My son, 11 years old, has expressed an interest in reading some historical fiction on the period. His reading skills are average for the age, but his period interest is high so I see this as a way to encourage him. Any suggestions on books and authors for the topic?

Thanks,
Phil

Band of Brothers, although not fiction, reads extremely well.

I loved Robb White's WWII books when I was growing up. Torpedo Run (unrelated to the movie of the same name); Up Periscope; Silent Ship, Silent Sea; The Survivor; Flight Deck; The Frogmen; many more. Mostly out of print, but you can find them cheap on Abebooks.com and other sources.

"On to Berlin" which is not fictional, but an account of a US paratroop general is a good read and not overly graphic.

"Alls Quiet on the Western Front" is WWI, but its a good account of a soldier's life. Its also one of those books that was on the high school reading list some years ago. It would depend on your son's maturity level as there are some references which are PG-13.

I'll have to go look through "What Now, Gunner Ashe" to see if that'd be appropriate.

Wyatt

You probably want to do a search on Google or Froogle for +"world war II" +"juvenile fiction" +"historical"

I'm not familiar enough with that genre to know what is good or not.

When I was that age I really liked The Silver Sword by Ian Serailler (sp?) and The Machine Gunners by Robert Westall. The Machine Gunners was made into a TV drama by the BBC some years ago and was actually pretty good IIRC. Silver Sword is to do with Poland after the Nazis invade, Machine Gunners is about young kids going a bit wild during the Blitz. Both are excellent.

Jack London's "The Sea Wolf." High quality literature that we read in school around that age.

I think the true stories are often better than fiction. Try "the 100 best True Stories of WW-II" or similar titles.

I remember having a small paperback book from the mid 1960s that was clearly aimed at children. It was about a group of British troops cut off from their command in France 1940, and their struggle to get to Dunkirk. Along the way they rescued a little girl and a dog.

I wish I could remember the name of the book, but I do recall it being one of the first 'real' books I read (back in 2nd or 3rd grade), and I clearly recall gaming some of the scenes in the book with my Airfix soldiers.

That's more or less why I posted here. I can remember a series of books — white covered, paperback, with some great artwork for the cover — that were historical fiction on WW2. The one I clearly remember was about the Ardennes, but the title and author at all.

BTW, I appreciate the responses on the topic. I'll definately try some of the suggestions.

Cheers,
Phil

Dang that is going to bug me all day now – Google was no help. I remember the cover had an illustration of a French Char tank with two Tommies and a dog standing in front of it. I can see the picture clearly in my mind, but no title.

Arrgh – I blame Winged Hussar for this!

(I am pretty sure these were books from SBS – Scholastic Book Servies)

If the kid is interested, the reading will pick up.

Try some of the old paperback favourites.

"Company Commander" by MacDonald, US Army through France'Belgium and Germany.

"Fly For Your Life" by Badder, RAF pilot who lost his legs then re-entered the RAF, later a POW.

"To War in a Stringbag" by Lamb, A RN Swordfish pilot at Taranto.

"Brazen Chariots" by Crisp, Stuart tanks in North Africa.

These are all paperbacks, so cheaper, and you should be able to find them at most used book shops. If you really have a hard time, try Amazon as they're usually always in print. For used try the website, Advanced Book Exchange.

If the child is interested, don't underestimate their reading ability. Only their interst in what they have to read.

There's a word I haven't seen mentioned here yet – "library". Librarians can be very helpful and it's a lot cheaper to borrow books than buy them.

Also, not exactly what you're looking for but Osprey is launching a series of graphic novels that cover historical subjects. They have one on Iwo Jima, Pearl Harbor, Shiloh and some others.

link

rmaker, good point, but that's where I started and it's amazing how little there is on the subject in our local library.

Cheers,
Phil

I agree about "The Silver Sword". I loved it as a kid. Another thing I used to love was old "Boys Own" type annuals, that contained fictional short stories. The old ones from the 50s and 60s had a lot of WW2 stories. Maybe you could find some t a second hand book store of trash and treasure.

For a slightly older age group, Alister McClean books are a good yarn.

Regards, Squash

Don't overlook interlibrary loan. Library systems have found it much, much cheaper to share a rarely checked out book than own several copies. My little library has hardly anything on site but can get an amazing amount of stuff.

Marine At War is a first hand account of two of the island battles in the Pacific, aimed 10-12 year olds (well, that's how old I was when I read it, anyway). Very readable.
Grelber

I remember reading and re-reading The Cruel Sea as a kid. Somewhat grim but great writing.

I am a Scholastic Book Rep and there are a number historical fiction books about WWII out right now aimed at that age. Sometimes the new books have a "new" perspective on things and the subject is not always so much the history or the battles as it is more how the main character is dealing with the death, destruction, grief and so on. I still prefer the classics that I grew up on reading like "30 Seconds over Tokyo",and "To Hell and Back". I find that alot of the classics are better about content than some of the new titles that are out for young adults and children.

The memoirs are also a good way to go. I remeber enjoying "Stuka Pilot" and "Into the Teeth of the Tiger", both great aviation memoirs.

When I was that age, I used to enjoy reading the "Commando" comic magazines.
There's also Captain WE Johns "Gimlet" & "Biggles" books.
I also remembering reading Cornelius Ryan's "The Longest Day" after seeing the film.
Then I read a whole host of WWII novels, "Strike Hard, Strike Sure" (by Ralph Barker) stands out, short stories about bomber crews & their missions.

I second the suggestion for The Silver Sword by Ian Serrailler and The Machine Gunners by Robert Westall.

Take a look through this list:

link