From early on, my son Dashiell showed a natural curiosity about World War II. I can pinpoint the moment it took hold, helped along by the way his family loves history. When Dashiell was just three or four, his great-grandparents lived in Palm Springs, and his grandfather Barry and I began bringing him to the Palm Springs Air Museum. This museum is a hub where vintage warplanes are restored to full working condition, and it also offers a wealth of other historical displays. One exhibit in particular grabbed his attention—a Pearl Harbor diorama with narration voiced by Tom Brokaw. He watched that scene repeatedly, again and again.
There were several veterans who volunteered at the museum, and they were always thrilled to see Dashiell, often sharing their own experiences from service. Their stories whetted his appetite for World War II and fueled his fascination as he grew up.
So Dashiell and I were continually on the lookout for books he could read that center on World War II. It isn’t surprising that my own first non-fiction work also hails from that era.
I’m launching a new series, Spy School Secret Files, in which I recount true tales about real spies and the bold, inventive feats they accomplished. It felt natural to begin with World War II, a period that laid the groundwork for the CIA and produced countless gripping espionage stories. In Totally True Tales From World War II, you’ll encounter daring operatives, codebreakers, inventors, scholars, double-crossers, commandos, propaganda, shark-repellent, bomb-carrying bats and exploding pancake batter.
To craft it, I conducted extensive research (including close collaboration with the CIA), but I also owe a debt to the exceptional books listed below. These titles, which I read with my son (and sometimes my daughter as well), illustrate how rich a setting World War II provides for middle-grade readers. Even though most are fiction, each one rests on substantial research. And you don’t have to be a history buff to enjoy them. They all blend adventure, action, character and heart in wonderful ways.
Alan Gratz, Projekt 1065
Although Gratz is widely recognized for Refugee, my son and I became fans of his work thanks to a remarkable title released a few years earlier. Grounded in real events, it follows Michael O’Shaunessey, a boy from Ireland whose family ends up living in Nazi Germany. Like many youngsters his age, Michael belongs to the Hitler Youth—but unlike them, he is a spy (and so are his parents). When Michael uncovers the existence of Projekt 1065, he must navigate a fragile balance between outward loyalty to the regime and helping the Allies, his life hanging in the balance throughout. Just as with Refugee, Projekt 1065 is a gripping, suspenseful page-turner that also carries emotional depth. (Don’t miss the Author’s Note, where Gratz reveals the staggering and heartbreaking truth of how many children were forced to fight for the Nazis.)
Jennifer Nielsen, Resistance
This powerful title chronicles a teenager who risks everything to push back against the Nazis—but from a viewpoint that isn’t often explored. Chaya Lindner, Jewish and living in Nazi-occupied Poland, finds her life in grave danger simply because of her faith. Determined to safeguard her family—and others like her—Chaya joins a resistance cell to fight back. After a raid goes disastrously awry, Chaya’s path widens into an even larger struggle as a broader uprising looms. Nielsen has written excellent books across many genres, but her historical fiction stands out for its meticulous research and resonant storytelling. Resistance draws on true, though little-known, stories of Jewish resistance cells, with many real members appearing as characters. (As always, don’t skip the author’s note.) Chaya is a remarkable figure: fearless and brave, yet visibly frightened by the extreme danger and worried for all the innocent people targeted by the Nazis.
Gordon Korman, War Stories
Korman has published well over a hundred books, but this one has always stood out for me. It features a brilliant premise: two teenagers recount World War II from two different eras. One thread follows Jacob Firestone, a young U.S. soldier, as his training and deployment unfold (including the Normandy invasion on D-Day). The other thread follows Trevor Firestone, Jacob’s great-grandson, who accompanies his ancestor back to Europe in a present-day frame to accept an award from the French village he helped liberate. A longtime admirer of war-themed video games, Trevor is thrilled to accompany his hero, yet as the journey progresses he learns that the history we’re told may not be the whole story. The dual timelines are a clever vehicle for a thoroughly researched war tale and for inviting readers to question what history might have left out.
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Totally True Tales From World War II by Stuart Gibbs is available from Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers.
