Our Teenagers’ Favorite Historical Fiction Books
Do you want your teens to love history? Don’t hand them a textbook! Fill your home library with captivating historical fiction books. These historical fiction novels represent several historical events, teaching readers about American history and world history through adventurous stories!
Excellent Historical Fiction Books for Teens
I am convinced that our teens have learned more from reading biographies, autobiographies, and historical fiction than they have from any textbook! I get excited when I see one of our kids, head buried in a historical fiction series, because I know that with each book they read, they are learning more about the history of the world around them. Because of this, we have filled our home with eye-catching historical fiction books!
Yankee Doodle Boy by joseph plumb martin
At just fifteen, Joseph Plumb Martin enlists in the army during the Revolutionary War to serve his country. He encounters many difficulties, such as the siege in Fort Mifflin, harsh war conditions, and the government’s unfulfilled promises. As he grew older, he never forgot the trials he saw fighting for his country, but he knew that freedom is a cause worth fighting for!
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Book Thief is a heartwrenching novel woven through the horrors of World War II. Liesel Memminger is a young girl when the remnant of her family dies, and she is sent off to live with a family called the Hubermanns. From there she has many adventures with her friend Rudy, becomes closer with her new parents, and faces hardships that will threaten the happiness she has finally captured.
Seaman by Gail Wanger Porwaski
In this true classic story, Lewis and Clark explore the Louisiana Purchase with their dog, Seaman. Lewis and Clark’s crew loves the new dog, and he protects them on their adventurous journey westward. The details in this story are drawn from Lewis’s diary and are a realistic view of their experience.
- Used Book in Good Condition
Iron Scouts of the Confederacy by Lee McGiffin
Two brothers, Ben and Gant Fane, eager for life besides farming, enlist in the army during the Civil War. The young teens experience much danger and hardships, but learn courage, duty, and above all, the art of spying on enemy lines.
Journey to America by Sonia Levitin
This story tells the adventure of Jewish sisters as they travel to the free country of America, where they will no longer be treated harshly for their religion.
The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh
When Sarah and her father travel to the wilderness of Connecticut, he must leave her there with an Indian family while he retrieves the rest of the family. Sarah must learn to be brave despite her fear of the Indians. Throughout the tale, she learns to interact with them and find things in common despite their differences.
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Famous author of The Giver series, Lois Lowry tells the story of Annamarie Johansen during World War II. When the Nazis begin relocating families, the Johansens take in Annamarie’s best friend, Ellen Rosen, and help her escape to find a safe place in Sweden.
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham
Forced into becoming an indentured servant during hard times, Nathaniel Bowditch continues to pursue his dream of becoming a seafarer. During his voyages at sea, he masters trigonometry and navigational skills and even finds errors in navigational tables. Through his work, he completely changed navigation for those to come after him.
Diary of an Early American Boy by Eric Sloane
Read the diary of Noah Blake, an early American boy, who lives and works each day on his homestead using primitive tools common to the country people of this time. Filled with hand-sketched illustrations, the reader becomes familiar with the way of life in the early 19th-century farms.
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle
After Robin Hood becomes an outlaw, he makes Sherwood Forest his home and takes on a band of Merry Men, among whom include Little John, Friar Tuck, and several others. With his Merry Men, he proves the terrible government system by stealing from the rich to give to the poor.
King Arthur by Howard Pyle
The enchanting tales of King Arthur are written in an engaging way, perfect for middle school and high school age kids. King Arthur is a great selection for medieval literature, presenting a great description of all of King Arthur’s adventures. Beginning when he finds the sword excalibur, and the lady of the lake, to the quest of the Holy Grail, all while gaining the brave knights Sir Gawain, Sir Lancelot, and Sir Galahad, and the entire assembly of the knights of the round table.
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
Johnny has always been a silversmith for the Lapham family, but is unable to continue his work when his hand gets badly burned in an arranged accident. He seeks out jobs in town that will use him with his crippled hand, but when none turn up, he looks for a Mr. Lyte, whom his mother told him is his relative and to turn to for help only as a last resort. As proof of his claims, Johnny shows him a silver cup with the Lyte crest engraved upon it. But Mr. Lyte protests it was stolen from him long ago, and Johnny is arrested. But Cilla, Johnny’s friend, is able to give proof that it’s Johnny’s, and he is freed from court. He works delivering the Boston Observer paper, but as the tension between Britain and the Colonies grows, he destroys tea crates during the Boston Tea Party and works for the Whigs right before the Revolutionary War.
The Matchlock Gun by Walter D. Edmonds
A true story set during the French and Indian War, the Van Alstyne family are determined to keep themselves and their house safe using a matchlock gun that has been passed down for generations. As raiders get closer, the family must devise a plan of attack and use it before it’s too late.
Iceberg by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Hazel Rothbery stows away on the Titanic in order to earn money in the United States. She discovers secrets about the Titanic, such as its coal fires, which have been burning in the belly of the ship ever since it set sail. When the Titanic hits the iceberg, she must use all of her wits to keep her and her friends alive — but even that may be too much to ask.
Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz
When Yanek Gruener and his family are separated and captured by Nazis during World War II, he must fight extreme conditions to survive. He is moved from one concentration camp to the next, and learns from his uncle Mosche that both his parents and almost all his siblings and extended family are dead. Eventually, Uncle Mosche dies too, and Yanek is moved to another concentration camp. He tries to take his uncle’s words to heart and focus on being nobody in order to survive. The book goes into deep detail about his many hardships. After surviving ten very harsh camps, two death marches and one ghetto, the Allies arrive and Yanek is finally free. He takes on the name Jack Gruener and travels to the United States, where he fights in the Korean War and marries Ruth Gruener.
The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
In the first century in Galilee, Romans kill Daniel’s parents, resulting in his ever-increasing hatred towards them. He becomes a rebel spy under Rosh and his group, a band that seeks to destroy the Romans. His life changes drastically when he meets a carpenter named Jesus, who shows him that love is better than hatred and forgiveness better than a grudge. His newfound faith increases when Jesus heals his sister, Leah, and she, too, comes to the faith.
The Diary of Ann Frank
Taken straight from Anne Frank’s diary, this classic tells the story of frightened Jews hiding in an Annex, lasting out the war. After living in the Annex for three years, Ann is discovered and taken to a concentration camp known as Bergen-Belsen. Her diary takes the reader straight to the heart of those suffering during the Holocaust. (For older readers.)
The Cat of Bubastes by G.A. Henty
Amuba, a young prince during the time of ancient Egypt, is enslaved when his country is conquered. Under the ownership of the Egyptian high priest, Amuba becomes well acquainted with his son, Chebron. When Chebron unintentionally kills the sacred cat of Bubastes, a riot ensues and Amuba and Chebron must go on a perilous journey back to Amuba’s homeland.
The Door In the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli
When Robin, a young nobleman, becomes very sick, he loses his ability to walk. His parents are away serving the kingdom, and his servants, fearful of the plague, abandon him. A man named Friar Luke finds Robin and takes him to the monastery. There, he learns new skills and is able to use them when the Welsh attack the kingdom.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
When Kit travels from Barbados to Wethersfield, Connecticut, to stay with her aunt, uncle and two cousins, she quickly realizes how different it is there than her old home. She soon becomes acquainted with Hannah Tupper, an old woman everyone truly believes is a witch. But Kit cannot be convinced that the kindly woman is anything but a little odd. As unrest grows in the town, she realized that people have begun to suspect her of being a witch as well.
The Watsons Go To Birmingham by christopher paul curtis
The middle child of three in the Watson family, Kenny, tells the story of the family’s struggles to maintain a good life as a family in Flint, Michigan, during the civil rights movement. When they take a trip to Birmingham, Alabama, to deliver Kenny’s older brother, Byron, to their grandparent’s so he’ll learn a lesson, something startling happens. Kenny’s younger sister, Joetta, along with a few other girls in a Sunday school class, is nearly killed. After the family goes home, Kenny has a hard time adjusting to the fact that his sister survived.
The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts by avi
When a treacherous storm destroys Oliver and his father’s house, he finds his father missing. With his father gone and his sister away in London, he must fend for himself. When he finds twenty shillings in an abandoned ship, he thinks he’s finally struck some luck. But unfortunately, he is charged with stealing and is sent to a poorhouse where he is treated very cruelly. Ending with a cliffhanger, this book is a great teen historical fiction book your kids will love.
The End of the World and Beyond by avi
The sequel to The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts continues Oliver’s story, from when he boarded the slave and indentured servant ship headed to America. He is taken as a servant to a man named Fitzhugh, where he meets Fitzhugh’s one other slave, Bara. Life with Fitzhugh as master is very hard for the boys, and Oliver concocts a plan to escape with Bara. When he succeeds, he realizes how close he’s become with Bara, and must decide whether to journey with him or leave him.
Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims
Rush Revere, a history teacher, goes rushing back in history to the time of the Pilgrims surviving in the New World. As he takes a few of his students from the present with him, they, along with the reader, learn a lot about life with the Pilgrims and the persecution they faced in Britain. There are four other books included in this series.
- Used Book in Good Condition
A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen
One of our favorites! During the Cold War, the Berlin Wall was built, separating the communist East from the West, where capitalism prevailed. When Gerta’s father and younger brother go to the West to look for a good school and job opportunities, the Berlin Wall divides the whole family. Gerta knows she must help them reunite somehow. When her father sends her a picture of a building, Gerta knows that’s where she must dig underneath the wall. When Gerta’s older brother, Fritz, must enlist for military duty but a few short weeks away, they scramble to finish the tunnel. Despite tunnel leaks, extreme food shortages, and cameras listening to every word uttered in their home, they finally manage to escape the tunnel and run to freedom.
- Item #:NTS568244
- ISBN13:9780545682442
- Format:Paperback Book
- Pages:352
- Genre:Historical Fiction
A Single Shard by Linda sue park
Tree-ear lives very poorly with the man with the twisted leg, Crane-man. When he accidentally breaks Potter Min’s beautiful handiwork, Min makes Tree-ear pay for what he has done by working under him. Tree-ear has longed to learn Min’s skill, but Min only makes him do household chores. When he goes to present Min’s work to the emissary, he is robbed on the way, and all he has to show for his master is a single shard.
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What historical fiction books have left a lasting impression on your teen? Leave a comment below to keep the list going!
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Along these lines, my son (9) and I really enjoyed Across Five Aprils together! This Civil War story follows a 9-yr old boy through his family’s 4 year experience with the war, showing the impact from different perspectives. The reading level was a little higher because the spoken words are written in their dialect, so we read it out loud. Lots of opportunities for discussion!
Thanks for sharing this! We have this book, but I haven’t read it to my kids yet. It sounds like a great read aloud!