Best World War 2 Books

In Nazi Germany, a young girl falls in love with books and words. From stealing books from book burnings to the mayor's wife's library, Liesel's love affair with literature blooms with the help of her foster father. But when her family hides a Jew in their basement, the danger intensifies. Markus Zusak's superbly crafted writing tells a timeless story of love and loss in a tumultuous era.

Set against the backdrop of World War II, this beautiful and moving novel follows the intertwined lives of a blind French girl and a German boy. When Marie-Laure and her father must flee Paris for the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, they carry with them a valuable and dangerous jewel from the Museum of Natural History. Meanwhile, Werner Pfennig grows up enchanted by a radio he finds in a mining town in Germany, and becomes enlisted to track down the resistance. As their paths converge, they must try to be good to each other in the midst of the devastation of war. With stunning detail and captivating prose, this National Book Award finalist is a must-read for lovers of historical fiction.

Set in WWII France, The Nightingale follows the stories of two sisters who embark on their own dangerous paths towards survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France. Vianne and Isabelle's lives take different turns during the war, but both must make impossible choices to stay alive. Kristin Hannah's heartbreakingly beautiful novel illuminates the rarely seen stories of women's war and celebrates the resilience and durability of the human spirit. It's a novel for everyone, a must-read for a lifetime.

Set in Nazi-occupied France, this gripping novel follows a British spy plane crash that leaves its pilot and passenger, best friends, in a game of survival. One is arrested by the Gestapo and faces a life-or-death choice: reveal her mission or be executed. As she weaves her confession, the story reveals the girls' past and the strength of friendship. This harrowing and beautifully written novel will keep you on edge until the very end.

Take a journey with a nine-year-old boy named Bruno, but beware of the fence he eventually reaches - one you hope to never have to cross. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a difficult story to describe, with a mystery that makes it best to start without any prior knowledge. Although not written for nine-year-olds, this tale will capture anyone's heart.

Discover a powerful true story of courage, faith, and sacrifice during the Nazi occupation of Holland. Follow the lives of Corrie ten Boom and her family as they become leaders in the Dutch Underground, risking everything to hide Jewish people in their home and aiding their escape from the Nazis. This moving tale of love, hope, and resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship is a testament to the strength of the human spirit.

Follow the courageous journey of a young lieutenant, Louis Zamperini, whose plane crashes in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. With thousands of miles of open ocean ahead of him, Zamperini faces a harrowing test of endurance, battling thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and even sharks. Based on a true story, this captivating young adult edition of a #1 New York Times bestseller is beautifully illustrated with over 100 photos and features an exclusive interview with Zamperini himself. Discover the courage and fortitude it takes to overcome even the most insurmountable obstacles in Unbroken.

A powerful memoir, Night delves into the memories of Elie Wiesel, a Jewish teenager taken from his home and sent to concentration camps during WWII. Wiesel recounts the anguish of losing his family and his faith, and his despair in coming face to face with the unimaginable evil of humanity. This moving and unforgettable testimony serves as a stark reminder of the need to fight against such atrocities ever occurring again.

This debut novel takes readers on a journey through World War II, revealing the stories of three women whose lives intersect in unexpected ways. New York socialite Caroline Ferriday navigates her world-changing when Hitler’s army invades Poland, while Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager, becomes deeply involved in the underground resistance movement. Meanwhile, the ambitious German doctor Herta Oberheuser finds herself trapped in a male-dominated Nazi power structure. The lives of these women collide when Kasia is sent to Ravensbrück, a notorious concentration camp for women. This gripping novel brings history to life while exploring themes of love, redemption, and justice.

Discover an eccentric world of book lovers in the aftermath of WWII with a remarkable conversation in letters. Join Juliet Ashton as she discovers the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, a book club born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi for breaking curfew under German occupation. As she learns about the impact of the war on the Society's members, she finds herself drawn to the story of Elizabeth and sets sail for Guernsey, changing her life forever. A celebration of the written word in all its guises, this debut novel is a collaboration between Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.