Historical Fiction for Middle Schoolers

Looking for Historical Fiction to read before it's back-to-school? Check out these titles at your local branch!

Updated May 7, 2026
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Lion's run
Paper Book
Small acts of bravery can have extraordinary consequences. . . The acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of Pax delivers an unforgettable WWII novel about an orphan who discovers unexpected courage when he becomes involved with the Resistance in France during...
The secrets of Lovelace Academy
Benedict, Marie
Paper Book
"A charming tale weaving in historical events, epic adventure, and a coming-of-age story that readers will devour." --Gayle Forman, bestselling author of Not Nothing From New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict and Courtney Sheinmel comes a historical...
War games
Gratz, Alan
Paper Book
The Bletchley Riddle
Sepetys, Ruta/ Sheinkin, Steve
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * A thrilling mystery and collaboration between award-winning and bestselling authors Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin! This historical adventure follows two siblings at Bletchley Park, the home of WWII codebreakers, as they try to unravel a mystery surrounding...
Rebellion 1776
Anderson, Laurie Halse.
Paper Book
Three starred reviews! From New York Times bestselling author Laurie Halse Anderson comes an "thoroughly researched, emotionally resonant" (Booklist, starred review) historical fiction middle grade adventure about a girl struggling to survive amid a smallpox...
Show me a sign
LeZotte, Ann Clare
Paper Book
Don't miss the companion book, Set Me Free CRITICS ARE RAVING ABOUT SHOW ME A SIGN Winner of the 2021 Schneider Family Book Award * NPR Best Books of 2020 * Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2020 * School Library Journal Best Books of 2020 * New York Public...
The door of no return /
Alexander, Kwame.
Paper Book
From the Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award winning author Kwame Alexander, comes a searing and breathtaking story of a boy, a village, and the epic odyssey of an African family. In his village in Upper Kwanta, 11-year-old Kofi loves his...
Sophia's war : a tale of the Revolution
Avi
Paper Book
Lives hang in the balance in this gripping Revolutionary War adventure from a beloved Newbery Medalist. In 1776, young Sophia Calderwood witnesses the execution of Nathan Hale in New York City, which is newly occupied by the British army. Sophia is horrified by the event and...
Allies
Gratz, Alan
Paper Book
  "A rousing and humane tribute to D-Day troops" -New York Times Book Review From Alan Gratz, the highly acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author of the blockbuster Refugee, comes another thrilling multi-perspective novel, this time centered around D-Day. D-Day,...
Forge
Anderson, Laurie Halse.
Paper Book
"One of the best novels they have ever read." --Kirkus Reviews Curzon navigates the dangers of being a runaway slave in this keenly felt second novel in in the historical middle grade The Seeds of America trilogy from acclaimed author Laurie Halse Anderson. ...
Iceberg /
Nielsen, Jennifer A.
Paper Book
As disaster looms on the horizon, a young stowaway onboard the Titanic will need all her courage and wits to stay alive. A thrilling tale from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen! Hazel Rothbury is traveling all alone from her home in England aboard...
Ground Zero
Gratz, Alan
Paper Book
"September 11, 2001, New York City: Brandon is visiting his dad at work, on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center. Out of nowhere, an airplane slams into the tower, creating a fiery nightmare of terror and confusion. And Brandon is in the middle of it all. Can he survive, and escape? September...
Light and air /
Wendell, Mindy Nichols
Paper Book
It's 1935, and tuberculosis is ravaging the nation. Everyone is afraid of this deadly respiratory illness. But what happens when you actually have it? When Halle and her mother both come down with TB, they are shunned--and then they are sent to the J.N. Adam Tuberculosis...
Willow Run /
Giff, Patricia Reilly
Paper Book
1944 Meggie Dillon’s life has been turned upside down by World War II. Her older brother Eddie enlisted and was shipped off to fight in Europe. And people say that anywhere else Grandpa would be turned in because he’s German, and people might think he’s a spy. Is it true? Could...
The war that saved my life
Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker
Paper Book
* Newbery Honor Book * Forbes 25 Top Historical Fiction Books Of All Time selection * #1 New York Times Bestseller * Winner of the Schneider Family Book Award * Wall Street Journal Best Children's Books of the Year selection * New York Public...
Heroes
Gratz, Alan
Paper Book
The button war :
Avi,
Paper Book
Renowned, award-winning author Avi pens a stark, unflinching tale of ordinary boys living in wartime as tensions -- and desperations -- mount among them. Twelve-year-old Patryk knows little of the world beyond his tiny Polish village; the Russians have occupied the land for as...
Johnny Tremain : a novel for young and old
Forbes, Esther.
Paper Book
Lenny's book of everything
Foxlee, Karen
Paper Book
A multi-award-winning book about finding good in the bad that will break your heart while raising your spirits in the way that only a classic novel can.
How high the moon
Parsons, Karyn
Paper Book
It's 1944, and in a small Southern town, eleven-year-old Ella spends her summers running wild with her cousins and friends. But life isn't always so sunny. The deep racial tension that simmers beneath their town's peaceful facade never quite goes away, and Ella misses her mama - a beautiful jazz...
Inside out & back again
Lai, Thanhha.
Paper Book
Inside Out and Back Again is a #1 New York Times bestseller, a Newbery Honor Book, and a winner of the National Book Award! Inspired by the author's childhood experience as a refugee--fleeing Vietnam after the Fall of Saigon and immigrating to Alabama--this coming-of-age debut novel told...
A long walk to water
Park, Linda Sue
Paper Book
Cherished by millions of readers, this #1 New York Times bestselling novel is a powerful tale of perseverance and hope. Newbery Medalist Linda Sue Park interweaves the stories of two Sudanese children who overcome mortal dangers to improve their lives and the lives of others. A Long Walk...
A night divided
Nielsen, Jennifer A.
Paper Book
A stunning thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Iceberg, Jennifer A. Nielsen, A Night Divided is about a girl who must escape to freedom after the Berlin Wall divides her family between east and west. A Night Divided joins the...
All the Greys on Greene Street
Tucker, Laura
Paper Book
"A dazzling debut novel about resilience, courage, home and family."--Rebecca Stead, Newbery Award-winning author of When You Reach Me SoHo, 1981. Twelve-year-old Olympia is an artist--and in her neighborhood, that's normal. Her dad and his business partner Apollo bring...
The Windeby puzzle :
Lowry, Lois
Paper Book
Newbery Medalist and New York Times bestselling author Lois Lowry transports readers to an Iron Age world through the suspenseful dual narrative of a boy and girl both battling to survive. In an utterly one-of-a-kind blend of fiction and history, a master storyteller explores the mystery and life...
The lost year /
Marsh, Katherine.
Paper Book
*A National Book Award Finalist* From the author of Nowhere Boy - called "a resistance novel for our times" by The New York Times - comes a brilliant middle-grade survival story that traces a harrowing family secret back to the Holodomor, a terrible famine that...
Light comes to shadow mountain
Buzzeo, Toni
Paper Book
Cora Mae Tipton is determined to light up her Appalachian community in this historical fiction novel from an award-winning author and former librarian. It's 1937 and the government is pushing to bring electricity to the mountains of southeastern Kentucky. It's all Cora can think...
Dragonfly eyes
Cao, Wenxuan
Paper Book
The lucky ones /
Jackson, Linda Williams
Paper Book
Award-winning author Linda Williams Jackson pulls from her own childhood in the Mississippi Delta to tell the story of Ellis Earl, who dreams of a real house, food enough for the whole family--and to be someone. It's 1967, and eleven-year-old Ellis Earl Brown has big dreams. He's...
Eureka
Chang, Victoria
Paper Book
For fans of Inside Out and Back Again, Other Words for Home, and A Place to Hang the Moon -- Eureka is a gorgeous and emotionally resonant novel-in-verse by multiple-award-winning poet Victoria Chang that sensitively and lyrically renders the tragic events...
Titanic: April 1912
Duey, Kathleen
Paper Book
Two kids from different walks of life fight to survive the sinking of the Titanic in this gripping entry in the historical fiction middle grade Disaster series. It's April 14, 1912, Gavin Reilly is working in the Titanic's galley to earn his passage from Ireland to...
Earthquake: San Francisco 1906
Duey, Kathleen
Paper Book
Two strangers must trust each other if they want to survive the 1906 San Francisco earthquake in this gripping entry in the historical fiction middle grade Disaster series. Brendan O'Connor is delivering pastries to the bustling businesses and elegant hotels of San Francisco,...
Junius Leak and the spiraling vortex of doom
Wolf, Allan
Paper Book
"Wolf's latest weaves a dazzling tale. . . .Considering the vividly depicted events, the strong cast, and the young protagonist's personal triumphs, there's wow-worthy content aplenty here." --Booklist (starred review) Part mystery, part fantasy-adventure, part riveting...
The peach thief
Smith, Linda Joan
Paper Book
"Nuanced, richly atmospheric, and exquisitely written." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) This shimmering middle-grade debut set in 1850s Lancashire, England, explores longing, belonging, and the courage it takes to find your place--and bloom. The night...
Will's race for home : a western
Rhodes, Jewell Parker
Paper Book
★ Winner of the Coretta Scott King Book Award! ★ ★ A New York Times bestseller! ★ ★ "Rhodes deftly captures a unique ­aspect of this historical event, with a perspective...
The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story
Nayeri, Daniel
Paper Book
Winner of the National Book Award * Named Amazon's #1 Children's Book of 2025    In the shadow of World War II, two orphaned siblings embark on a perilous journey across the mountains of Iran--where survival depends on finding a common language in a world torn...
A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez
Aguila, Maria Dolores
Paper Book
This Newbery Honor-winning book is based on the true story of Roberto Alvarez and the Lemon Grove Incident. Vivid and uplifting, this middle grade debut novel-in-verse follows one young child's courage to stand up for what is right, and the determination of the Mexican community. Perfect for...

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