Any good Prisoner of War books for 13yo?

[jarfyjumpy]

I'm homeschooling my two boys, and my 13 year old is really into Hardy Boys and GA Henty. He just recently read Beric the Briton, in which the main character is captured halfway through, and he's developed a fondness for tales involving captivity. Any suggestions for other books I could introduce him to? He said he likes any part of books where the main character gets captured, but he's especially fond when the main character is a soldier/warrior. 

Edited March 29, 2020 by jarfyjumpy

[katilac]

If he'll give nonfiction a go, try Captured, a young adult book about American POWs in Vietnam. 

 

[Lori D.]

The Colditz Story (Reid) 
True Escape Stories (Dowell) -- also, Dowell's True Spy Stories
possibly: The Forgotten 500 (Freeman)

[gardenmom5]

when I was that age, we had to read "The Endless Steppe".   She shared her experiences when her family was exiled to Siberia during WWII.

The Great Escape - I'd imagine some of the men also wrote of their experiences.  (actual PoWs)

Kitty DeRuyter wrote of her experiences in the South Pacific during WWII.  there family was "landed gentry", her mother was educated and a very devoted Christian.  Kitty was four, and watched her nanny be shot in front of her.

[Zoo Keeper]

The young readers' edition of Unbroken might be good.  I would *not* use the regular version for a young teen.

Edited March 12, 2020 by Zoo Keeper

[sbgrace]

1 hour ago, Zoo Keeper said:

The young readers' edition of Unbroken might be good.  I would *not* use the regular version for a young teen.

This is a really great book and fits what you're looking for (though non-fiction),--but pre-read first to see if it is ok for your teen.

It's still intense at points, even if the major violence is still toned down and some scenes removed in this version. One of mine still found the young reader's version disturbing, but he's a pretty sensitive teen. 

[sassenach]

2 hours ago, Zoo Keeper said:

The young readers' edition of Unbroken might be good.  I would *not* use the regular version for a young teen.

I wish *I* had read the young readers version rather than the adult version.

[wathe]

Making Bombs for Hitler and Underground Soldier

Books about children in concentration camps.  The second book is about one of the character's escape and becoming a resistance fighter.

[plansrme]

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom.  I think every girl in my school read it when we were that age.

I read When Hell Was in Session by Jeremiah Denton when I was 13, but it's not for everyone and is OOP (but still available).  He was a POW during the Vietnam War and, later, an Alabama senator (which is how I know exactly when I read it).

For the Glory is the true and more complete story of Eric Liddell, of  Chariots of Fire fame.  After the Olympics, he became a missionary to China and was eventually held in a Japanese work camp, where he died.  It is an excellent book but may be a little more dry than the others because it focuses on Liddell's entire life, not just his POW experience.

I have heard good things about, but have not read, John McCain's book about his experience as a POW.

[jarfyjumpy]

Thanks guys! These are some great suggestions; he'll be super excited!

[ScoutTN]

Several Rosemary Sutcliff books involve teens who are captives. Early Britain settings, mostly. 

[jarfyjumpy]

1 hour ago, ScoutTN said:

Several Rosemary Sutcliff books involve teens who are captives. Early Britain settings, mostly. 

 

That sounds right up his alley! What's a good one of hers to start him with?

[Zoo Keeper]

17 minutes ago, jarfyjumpy said:

 

That sounds right up his alley! What's a good one of hers to start him with?

The Outcast is good... and so is The Eagle of the Ninth trilogy.

The Outcast has the whole teen captive thing going on.

[jarfyjumpy]

8 hours ago, Zoo Keeper said:

The Outcast is good... and so is The Eagle of the Ninth trilogy.

The Outcast has the whole teen captive thing going on.

The Outcast seems perfect for him. 

[Denise Still in Florida]

White Fox Chronicles by Gary Paulsen (Author of Hatchet).  Set in 2057 after many years of war the United States is basically a prison.  I remember my girls loved it. It was well written, exciting and had a 14 year old hero. 

[Robin M]

The Boy on the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson is excellent 

[jarfyjumpy]

22 minutes ago, Denise Still in Florida said:

White Fox Chronicles by Gary Paulsen (Author of Hatchet).  Set in 2057 after many years of war the United States is basically a prison.  I remember my girls loved it. It was well written, exciting and had a 14 year old hero. 

Gary Paulsen is a fantastic author