I love the following books and think they are all awesome reads linked to World War Two
YA titles
First up is the Paradise Barn series by Victor Watson. They are a series of four books set on the home front in East Anglia and I love love love them! They are brilliant stories with a mystery to solve in each one and aren't too violent or gory for those of you who are a bit squeamish. As well as being entertaining the history in them is good.
Annexed by Sharon Dogar is also fab. It is the story we all know from Anne Frank's diary told from Peter's point of view. I must admit I was worried when I start this book. I thought I would hate it but actually I loved it and felt it gave a nice way in for students who loved Anne Frank's diary want something to follow on from that.
Run Rabbit Run by Barbara Mitchelhill is a fab book. The story is exciting and engaging throughout and I love how it focuses on conscientious objectors during World War Two and fits in with the work we do in class on conscientious objectors nicely. Everything you read (or so it seems) focuses on Blitz Spirit and how everyone was fighting as one and I like how this tells the story from that different view point.
This book, I must admit wasn't my personal favourite as reader. I'm not a keen military historian but I know a lot of boys (and some girls) who do love military history and this book fits the bill perfectly for them. Be warned it is a bit gruesome in places.
I only read Rose under Fire recently. I was not a fan of Code Name Verity written by the same but this for me was brilliant. It focuses on women who served in World War Two, it looks at the concentration camps and it utterly heartbreaking. I'd probably recommend this for older students as it is quite upsetting in places.
Another book I've recently read. It looks at a young teenager who is part of the resistance in Belgium. Another book which is heartbreaking and will stick with you for a long time to come.
If you love fiction set in World War Two you'll also love
It isn't World War Two but set during the Spanish Civil War but if you are anything like me and love your Modern European History this will work for you. It also sets up the scene to what Europe was like in the build up to World War Two so I think it fits. I loved it completely as it was nice to read something a bit different. If you have an iPad the interactive ebook is amazing with extra films / pictures / songs to add to the story.
Adult books
The books below are books written for adults and therefore ones I'd recommend for GCSE students who want something with a bit more detail and depth as they are generally weighty and much longer reads than the YA titles so certainly not light reading.
It was been an age since I read Gone to Soldiers by Marge Piercy and I fully intend to reread it again soon. This book is epic. It is huge. It is told from over eight different points of view split over several countries and is utterly engrossing. I love that over the course of the book you start to see the separate narrative merge and I want to have a pen and paper with me next time I read it to plot all the connections. It is heartbreaking and spectacular and I loved every page,
I love this book too. If you've had the misfortune of seeing the Film of Charlotte Gray this is nothing like it. It is the story of a girl who goes to France as a spy to find her lost airman boyfriend and it is just brilliant. I was hooked.
This isn't a book about World War Two as it touches on several events including World War Two but I only read it recently and it was spectacular so I wanted to recommend.
