Must-Read WWII Novels
Must-Read WWII Novels
By: Brittany Shields
Today, December 7, 2021, marks the 80th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks during WWII.
A History.com article states “More than 2,400 Americans died in the attack, including civilians, and another 1,000 people were wounded. The day after the assault, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan.”
This was a turning point in the war.
On this anniversary, I’ve put together a list of WWII books.
World War II novels seem to be a dime a dozen. It should be it’s own genre section in the library for how many of these get written.
To be fair, it was a major historical event that shaped the world for years to come and clearly there are many stories to be told from those years!
But with so many to choose from, where do we start?
Here’s my list of must-read WWII novels that I will continue to update as I read more historical fiction (in no particular order).
All of these are fantastic reads that I chose for this list either because it was such an engaging story or because I felt the author presented a unique take on a particular part of WWII.
I’ve included a very short summary for each book— to read more, click the ‘Full Review’ button.
To see a comprehensive list of all the WWII books I’ve read and reviewed so far, click the corresponding button at the bottom of the page.
I’m realizing I should have read a non-fiction book about this event by now, but I haven’t. Comment below if you’ve read a good one you’d like to recommend!
Beneath a Scarlet Sky
A story of courage, espionage, love, and loss.
Based on the true story of Pino Lella who helped lead escaping Jews through the rugged Alps, it’s an incredible story.
It showcases the depravity of mankind and takes your heart in many directions.
A couple unique aspects of this story is one— you get a taste of the Italian/Mussolini side of the war, and two—there is the aspect of the dangerous mountain climbing as the means of escape.
2. The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
This is a book about code breaking in WWII at the famed and mysterious Bletchley Park in England.
For people interested in the Enigma machine, this book is for you. Plus— check out the full review to see some YouTube videos I found that bring this book to life!
3. The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel
A WWII tale of love and survival in the wilderness of Poland based on the real group 1200 Jews who hid in the forests and survived the war.
This is not a typical WWII novel because it mostly takes place in the forest, but it’s fascinating because it’s based on real events.
My full review mentions a movie that has been made about this.
4. The Ringmaster’s Daughter by Carly Schabowski
A love story with a smattering of history that takes place in a traveling circus around Paris during WWII.
At times love is this 'other world' that distracts you from pain and fear and makes your heart do flips. It gives you something to believe in and hold onto. I think the author created a brilliant juxtaposition of the love and danger, wonder and fear, good and evil that could be found during that time.
5. The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
I knew this one was a good book because I almost cried just telling someone about it.
It flips back and forth between present day and a telling of the WWII past. The present is a young woman who is a baker who begins an unexpected friendship with an elderly man.
But when he confesses his shameful past from WWII and asks her to assist him in killing himself, she is faced with questions about justice, mercy, and forgiveness.
6. The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel
A beautiful story set in France, WWII, following a network of forgers helping smuggle people to safety.
What I loved about this story was thinking about the power of a person’s name in thinking about their identity, especially alongside events like WWII when the people forced to assume new identities are doing so because they have been told they are inferior beings.
7. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
This book takes place in a small village in France that is invaded by the Nazis. About a woman who is forced to house a Nazi and her rebellious sister who has joined the Resistance.
I connected to this book as a woman and a mother, thinking about the sacrifices mothers had to make.
As my review says- this book might make your heart literally break, or it might make you literally punch something.
8. Once We Were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson
This is another present day/past story about two boys who became like brothers but found themselves on opposite sides during WWII.
In present day one of the boys thinks he has identified the other brother whom he believes betrayed his family.
What makes this book unique is the legal court case surrounding the events and the suspense in wondering what justice needs to be done as the story of the past unfolds throughout the book.
9. The Book Thief by Mark Zusak
"I guess humans like to watch a little destruction. Sand castles, houses of cards, that's where they begin. Their great skill is their capacity to escalate."
A struggling girl in Germany, no stranger to pain and destruction, recognizes and is strengthened by the power of words. Yes, words can hoist an executioner to rule, but they can also heal, sustain, warm, and tear us apart in the best way.
There is one ‘character’ of the story I didn’t like (explained in my full review) but I still recommend it.
What I loved most about this book was the writing style and the beauty of the words Zusak used to create this story.
10. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
I read this book before I started reviewing books, but I wanted to still recommend it.
It’s the tale of the crossing paths of a blind French girl living in a walled city and a Nazi soldier.
I thought it was really interesting to consider the power of radio during this time.
[Looks like this one is set to come to Neflix, possibly in 2023!]
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