Whether you know your history or not, there’s something deeply engaging about a well-written historical fiction novel. I didn’t enjoy studying history in school, but over time, I’ve grown to love it so much that I wish I had paid closer attention back then. The beauty of historical fiction is that it brings the past to life in a way textbooks rarely do. Through compelling stories and characters, you can gain a meaningful glimpse into the struggles, cultures, and realities of another time. And some authors do this exceptionally well, immersing you in history without it ever feeling like a lesson.
With that said, I am sharing ten historical fiction novels set in ten different historical settings, each unique and well-told, and will keep you on the edge of your seat.
10 Middle Grade Historical Fiction Books
#1 American Revolutionary War (late 1700s)
Title: Never Caught: The Story of Ona Judge
Author: Erica Armstrong Dunbar & Kathleen Van Cleve
Never Caught takes place in the late 1700s, after the American Revolutionary War and during George Washington’s presidency, when slavery was still legal. It tells the true story of Ona Judge, who was enslaved and worked on George Washington’s estate, and her life and pursuit after she escaped to freedom. There are mature topics that older kids need to have learned about before reading this book. It is good practice to screen books or look for reviews before allowing your child to read a new book or a new author.
#2 Reconstruction Era (post–Civil War, late 1800s)
Title: Sugar
Author: Jewell Parker Rhodes
Sugar is set during the Reconstruction era, when formerly enslaved people were adjusting to freedom and the South was rebuilding after the Civil War. The story follows a young girl named Sugar as she navigates questions of identity, change, and belonging, while forming an unlikely friendship with the plantation owner’s son and witnessing the arrival of Chinese workers on the plantation.
#3 Holodomor Famine & Covid Pandemic (1932–1933 / 2020)
Title: The Lost Year
Author: Katherine Marsh
The Lost Year explores the Holodomor famine in Ukraine alongside a modern-day story during COVID-19, uncovering a hidden family history. It follows a young girl sheltered from the harsh realities of the famine, who carries a lifelong secret. When she encounters her cousin, who has escaped the devastation, she is confronted with the true horrors of starvation and the reality she had been protected from.
#4 September 11 & War in Afghanistan (2001 and after)
Title: Ground Zero
Author: Alan Gratz
Ground Zero tells parallel stories of 9/11 and the war in Afghanistan through two young protagonists. One follows a boy’s harrowing fight to survive the attacks on the Twin Towers, capturing the fear, chaos, and heartbreaking loss of his only family. The parallel story shifts to Afghanistan, where soldiers search for terrorists, while an Afghan girl wrestles with her circumstances and ultimately chooses courage, stepping in to help when it matters most.
#5 American Revolutionary War (1770s)
Title: Johnny Tremain
Author: Esther Hoskins Forbes
Johnny Tremain follows a young apprentice who is caught up in a series of unfortunate events in his life, ultimately leading to his involvement in the Boston Tea Party. Other historical events included in this book are Paul Revere’s Ride and the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
#6 Japanese Occupation of Korea (1910–1945, WWII focus)
Title: When My Name Was Keoko
Author: Linda Sue Park
Some stories from ages past are less well-known than others. Sadly, this is one of those. This novel follows a Korean family during WWII as they endure Japanese occupation and cultural suppression. The father tries to keep the peace to keep his family safe and does as told, while others in the household struggle to see how they should be putting up with their loss of freedom and cultural identity that is stripped from them. In this story, Keoko (her Korean name) ,the youngest in the family, and her brother narrate the accounts of their lives.
#7 Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966–1976)
Title: Red Scarf Girl
Author: Ji-li Jiang
A historical memoir of a young girl, Ji-Li Jiang, whose life is turned upside down during the Cultural Revolution in China. Ji-Li is a top performer and well -oved until the revolution, led by Mao Zedong under the pretext of preserving Chinese Communism by ridding society of capitalist influences, begins to take hold.
The movement calls on citizens to uphold its ideals by punishing those seen as living outside communist principles or having unfavorable generational ties. Ji-Li finds herself caught in the middle, struggling as she watches good, innocent people around her being stripped of their dignity and possessions. The internal conflict she faces, while still feeling a deep loyalty to her country, is what will keep you reading all the way to the end.
#8 Chernobyl and the Holocaust (1980s)
Title: The Blackbird Girls
Author: Anne Blankman
The Blackbird Girls is a powerful historical fiction novel set during the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in Soviet Ukraine. After the explosion at the nuclear power plant, two girls who begin as enemies, Valentina and Oksana, are forced together when they are evacuated and sent to stay with Valentina’s estranged grandmother in Leningrad. As they face separation, fear, and uncertainty, their relationship slowly changes into an unexpected friendship.
The book also weaves in a second storyline from 1941, when Rifka flees Kyiv during the Nazi advance, adding depth to the story’s themes of survival, prejudice, family, and courage across generations.
#9 Ancient China (Tang Dynasty China / Silk Road Era)
Title: Nine Moons of Han Yu
Author: Karina Yan Glaser
This is a parallel story that follows Han Yu’s family in 8th-century China and Luli Lee, who lives in New York City during the Great Depression.
Han Yu lives with his family in Chang’an, China, where he helps his father sell buns in the market. From a young age, he is known for his unusual ability to connect with animals, even surviving a remarkable encounter with a tiger. When a mysterious illness spreads through the town, his family is taken away to quarantine, leaving Han Yu behind. Determined to help, he sets out to complete a mission his father was meant to fulfill, traveling along the Silk Road and facing dangers and challenges along the way.
His journey is unexpectedly connected to Luli’s life when she discovers a historically significant artifact, one that traces back to the Silk Road and to Han Yu’s extraordinary journey.
#10 World War II (1939–1945)
Title: Resistance
Author: Jennifer E Nielson
Set in Nazi-occupied Europe, this story highlights the resilience of the younger generation and their courage to stand up for what is true and right. It follows a young Polish girl who joins the resistance, risking both her life and her identity as she helps provide shelter, food, clothing, and other necessities to those in need.
As she learns to trust others who share the same cause, she works alongside them to quietly undermine the Germans’ efforts. Despite the fear and uncertainty around her, she remains steadfast in her beliefs. This is a powerful story of courage, resilience, and the unwavering determination of young people to fight for justice.
your turn
Which book would your family pick first? Tell me in the comments, and don’t forget to save this list for your next library trip. These will also make exceptional addition to your growing library shelves.
Another great way to acquire these stories is through audiobooks. I often wait for Audible’s 99c deals to snag some books. Everand, however, is my favorite audiobook membership account to use.
