World War II

This carefully curated selection of titles examines the history, politics, and social impacts of World War II and its indelible mark on the world. The Collection highlights global perspectives through historical fiction, memoirs and biographies, and nonfiction titles that discuss topics including the Holocaust, the atomic bombings of Japan, and the effects of conflict.

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Fathers, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Children's Literature, Military / War, Realistic Fiction, History: World

The Green Glass Sea is the 2006 children’s historical fiction and debut novel by American author Ellen Klages. Set in New Mexico in 1943, the story tells of 11-year-old Dewey Kerrigan, an outcast mechanical engineering prodigy who arrives to live with her father in the mysterious town of Los Alamos, New Mexico (also called the Hill). Dewey slowly learns that her father and several other scientists are working on a top-secret project called the “gadget.”... Read The Green Glass Sea Summary


Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: War, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World

Written in epistolary form, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a historical novel set during the German Occupation of the English Channel Islands during World War II (WWII). The novel was co-written by Mary Ann Shaffer, an editor, librarian, and bookshop clerk, and her niece, Annie Barrows, author of the Ivy and Bean children’s books series. Shaffer began writing the novel, but when she was diagnosed with cancer she requested Barrows’s help... Read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Summary


Publication year 1973

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Auto/Biographical Fiction, Incarceration, History: World, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Politics / Government, Russian Literature, WWII / World War II, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Biography


Publication year 2020

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags Holocaust, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World, Biography


Publication year 1948

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, British Literature, Military / War, Irish Literature


Publication year 1971

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Relationships: Family

Tags History: European, Holocaust, WWII / World War II, Christian literature, Religion / Spirituality, History: World, Biography, Classic Fiction

The Hiding Place, published in 1971, is written by Corrie ten Boom and co-authors John and Elizabeth Sherrill. Ten Boom’s autobiographical account centers on her family’s work with the Dutch underground during World War II. The authors consistently center the way the family's Christian faith shaped their experiences and inspired them to persevere. The Hiding Place was adapted into a 1975 movie and another film, Return to the Hiding Place (2013), expands on the story... Read The Hiding Place Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Music

Tags Historical Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World

The Huntress is a historical fiction novel published in 2019 by the American author Kate Quinn. Set in the years before, during, and after World War II, the novel weaves together the stories of three central characters: a Russian pilot in the Soviet Red Army’s all-female bomber unit; an American photographer whose father falls in love with a mysterious Austrian woman; and an English war correspondent committed to exposing Nazi war criminals. According to Washington... Read The Huntress Summary


Publication year 1949

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Society: War, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Military / War, History: World, WWII / World War II, Politics / Government, Biography

“Their Finest Hour” is a speech originally given by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill on June 18, 1940, in the House of Commons to members of Parliament and his ministerial cabinet. Churchill delivered the speech following the disastrous campaign of the Battle of France and the hasty evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) from Dunkirk. In June 1940, Nazi boots marched in Paris, and the surrender of the French government seemed imminent. The speech... Read Their Finest Hour Summary


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Class, Society: Immigration, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Romance, Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World

The Japanese Lover is Isabel Allende’s 18th novel. Like most of Allende’s work, it falls under the genres of magical realism and historical fiction. The novel was originally published in 2015, the year after Allende was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In addition to the overarching focus on romance and love, the novel addresses issues relating to World War II (WWII), Japanese American incarceration during the 1940s, racism, homophobia, and the struggles of aging... Read The Japanese Lover Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Femininity

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World, French Literature


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Community, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Music

Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Food, Society: War

Tags Historical Fiction, Food, WWII / World War II, British Literature, Military / War, History: World


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: War, Society: Community

Tags Historical Fiction, Military / War, WWII / World War II, British Literature, History: World, Romance


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Gender, Society: War

Tags Military / War, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance, WWII / World War II, British Literature


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Survival Fiction, WWII / World War II, Russian Literature, Military / War, History: World


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, WWII / World War II, Asian Literature, Military / War, Asian Literature, History: World, Chinese Literature


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Music

Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World

Henry Holt and Company published Antonio Iturbe’s novel, The Librarian of Auschwitz, in America on September 18, 2012. Before the English Language version, Iturbe’s novel appeared in Spain as La bibliotecaria de Auschwitz. Antonio Iturbe is a Spanish journalist, writer, and professor who has taught postgraduate courses in journalism at universities in Madrid and Barcelona and is the President of the Association of Cultural Journalists of Catalonia. Iturbe wrote The Librarian of Auschwitz when he... Read The Librarian of Auschwitz Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Historical Fiction, Military / War, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, History: World, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Jewish Literature, Military / War, History: World