musicianmom Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Dd8 would like to read some historical fiction set around WW2. Her reading level is probably around 6th grade, but not everything at that level is appropriate for her age, of course. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 She might like "The Chestry Oak," by Kate Seredy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Yes, this is a tough era to do with young kids. My 11 year old is studying it right now, and I tossed out a number of the books that I had originally considered because I knew she would find them upsetting - she has a really hard time when she comes to care about character(s) and then bad things happen to them - in her case nonfiction is a better call for covering really difficult topics like the Holocaust. She hated Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry and wished she hadn't read it, for example. Although she loved To Kill a Mockingbird. The gentlest books I found for that era were Number the Stars by Lois Lowry and The Winged Watchman by Hilda van Stockum. She could also read about Maria Van Trapp/the Van Trapp family singers. My dd has also enjoyed the series by Gloria Whelan, which is set between the Russian Revolution and the end of WWII: Angel in the Square, The Impossible Journey, and Burying the Sun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lara in Colo Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit Number the Stars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 You might look at Hitler's Secret, but I haven't finished it yet. My 9 year old son is huge on WW II and he picked this book out at a Scholastic warehouse sale. So far it looks o.k., though.... Another thing that my DS likes is Hogan's Heroes. Sounds odd but he has learned a lot more from that show than I ever did. Every time he sees an episode he wants to look up more information. He loves finding out whether people referenced in the show were real and if they were, who they were. He also has gotten really interested in the historical references they mention when talking about events and he looks those up, too. He is really interested in French cooking now, too, because of that show and has learned some phrases in German, French and Italian that have him interested in learning those languages. And it isn't a scary show. He laughs through it, but he realizes this is not a real life representation of what was happening in prisoner of war camps. It just makes the situation easier for him to process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 I was also going to suggest The Winged Watchman. Number the Stars isn't too traumatic... Don't You Know There's a War On by Avi might be another direction - much lighter, homefront stuff. I agree with Rose that it's a really tough era for books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FriedClams Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Richard Peck has a couple great ones. One we loved was Wings Of Heros. Loved it. Perfect for the 8-12 crowd, though I loved it as an adult (and former military pilot). He has a few set in that time period and he's a fabulous author - funny and poignant without tears and mature stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 The Spy who came from the Sea was a good one. It bought it onto American soil which intrigued the dcs. You might want to look at the Veritas Press list which is where I found that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walking-Iris Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 The Children We Remember http://www.amazon.com/Children-Remember-Chana-Byers-Abells/dp/0688063713/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389401579&sr=8-1&keywords=the+children+we+remember Sadako and the thousand paper cranes http://www.amazon.com/Sadako-Thousand-Cranes-Puffin-Classics/dp/0142401137/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389401624&sr=8-1&keywords=sadako+and+the+thousand+paper+cranes Clara's Story http://www.amazon.com/Claras-Story-Joan-Adess-Grossman/dp/0827605064/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1389401706&sr=8-2&keywords=clara%27s+story My Hiroshima http://www.amazon.com/Hiroshima-Viking-Kestrel-picture-books/dp/0670831816/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389401755&sr=8-1&keywords=my+hiroshima Mieko and the fifth treasure http://www.amazon.com/Mieko-Fifth-Treasure-Eleanor-Coerr/dp/0698119908/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389401813&sr=8-1&keywords=mieko+and+the+fifth+treasure North of Danger http://www.amazon.com/North-Danger-Dale-Fife/dp/0590312057/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389401852&sr=8-1&keywords=north+of+danger Snow Treasure http://www.amazon.com/Snow-Treasure-Marie-McSwigan/dp/0142402249/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389401888&sr=8-1&keywords=snow+treasure Baseball Saved Us http://www.amazon.com/Baseball-Saved-Us-Ken-Mochizuki/dp/1880000199/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389401962&sr=8-1&keywords=baseball+saved+us A Christmas Sonata http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Sonata-Gary-Paulsen-ebook/dp/B005FY5Z92/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389401997&sr=8-1&keywords=a+christmas+sonata Cookcamp http://www.amazon.com/Cookcamp-G-Paulsen/dp/0531059278/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389402042&sr=8-1&keywords=the+cookcamp When the Sirens Wailed http://www.amazon.com/When-Sirens-Wailed-Noel-Streatfeild/dp/0394931475/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389402072&sr=8-1&keywords=when+the+sirens+wailed Journey Home http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Aladdin-Books-Yoshiko-Uchida/dp/0689716419/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1389402115&sr=8-2&keywords=journey+home Shirley Braverman http://www.amazon.com/Introducing-Shirley-Braverman-Hilma-Wolitzer-ebook/dp/B00A8TFGXO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389402168&sr=8-1&keywords=introducing+shirley+braverman Code Polonaise http://www.amazon.com/Code-Polonaise-Eva-Lis-Wuorio/dp/003085122X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389402211&sr=8-1&keywords=code+polonaise And of course Helen Keller and Number The Stars. I haven't had the guts to cover this time period yet. But I'll need to eventually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicianmom Posted January 11, 2014 Author Share Posted January 11, 2014 Thank you so much for the suggestions. I hate my library, but I appreciate the Hive knowledge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZooRho Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 THis one was interesting. more about the era than the war. There are also Dear America books and the boy equivalent for WW2http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/460868.Who_Was_That_Masked_Man_Anyway_ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeachyDoodle Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Another vote for Number the Stars. Lily's Crossing takes place during WWII but focuses on the home front, so no traumatic scenes. The girl's father is drafted. Might be interesting for a different perspective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Carrie's War. Avoid Goodnight Mr Tom at this age - distressing scenes of child abuse. L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Number the Stars for sure. It's been years since we've read it, but I remember it being just suspenseful enough for my sensitive kids at that same age. There's a focus on adventure, overcoming obstacles, and the children working on plans (not being helpless). Again, with just enough danger to be exciting. My kids also loved reading about the WWII code breakers. I can't quite remember titles for that age, and I think we read more non-fiction than fiction, but I'm sure there's historical fiction with that theme as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurelia Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 DD really liked When the Siren Wailed. It's about London kids evacuated to the countryside due to bombing. Another that I heard recommended (though I haven't read it yet) is Bel Ria. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staceyshoe Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 My top picks---Number the Stars, The Little Riders, The Hiding Place. (The Hiding Place has Christian content.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 American Girl Molly books. Snow Treasure Not a book, but The 1940's House BBC documentary is wonderful, and features several children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckens Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Another vote for Carrie's War. You can watch Bedknobs and Broomsticks as a movie afterwards for a fun watch of British children relocated during the war. (I haven't read the book). The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe mostly takes place in Narnia, but originally, the children are also British children relocated, so if you read that, your child will have a reference point. ----------------------- In 5th grade, we read The Upstairs Room, about two Jewish sisters sent into hiding in the countryside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaughingCat Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Another vote for Number the Stars and The Little Riders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Another vote for Number the Stars. Lily's Crossing takes place during WWII but focuses on the home front, so no traumatic scenes. The girl's father is drafted. Might be interesting for a different perspective. I listened to Lily's Crossing on CD and really enjoyed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4ofus Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 The Boy on the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson. I just read this myself. It is fascinating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Another suggestion: The Summer of My German Soldier. It might be old for an 8yo, but for those who have older children who are reading this thread :-) it's something to consider. It takes place in the South during WW2, where there were German concentration camps (I did not know this happened!). Excellent book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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