Historical books for 9 year old

[papersmile]

Hello, my nine year old daughter has told me that she likes historical books - she's read Anne Frank and a book about a gymnast competing in the Olympics in the 1940s (I can't remember what it's called).

I couldn't find anything suitable in our local library, there were a lot of historical reference-type books which isn't what she's looking for. It doesn't have to be about the war but she seems to be enjoying non-fiction at the moment and it would be great to have some recommendations.
Thank you.

[Ricekrispie22]

Scholastic have a fantastic series called My Story.

This might be a little too young for her , but she might like <a class="break-all" href="//www.amazon.co.uk/Evacuee-Real-Life-World-War-Story/dp/1407157205?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">//www.amazon.co.uk/Evacuee-Real-Life-World-War-Story/dp/1407157205?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21
This is another non fiction WW2 evacuee book <a class="break-all" href="//www.amazon.co.uk/World-War-Evacuee-Day-Life/dp/0750255641/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506166760&sr=1-2-fkmr0&keywords=Daily%20life%20evacuee&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">//www.amazon.co.uk/World-War-Evacuee-Day-Life/dp/0750255641/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506166760&sr=1-2-fkmr0&keywords=Daily%20life%20evacuee&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[2014newme]

When Hitler stole pink rabbit
The machine gunners
Goodnight mister tom
Wave goodbye
The endless steppe

All ww2

[2014newme]

Sorry those are all fiction but the first and last are autobiographical

[papersmile]

Thanks for these suggestions. I'll have a look. They don't have to be war-related, it's just the one that she has read so far have been.

[JaimesGoldenHand]

Antonia Fraser wrote a number of historical fiction books for children. I enjoyed Simon, which was set in the Civil War.

[yawning801]

Opal Plumstead by Jaqueline Wilson? Set in 1913/14.

[Witchend]

Cue for treason-Geoffrey Trease. Set in Shakespearian times. ds loved it.

[RaininSummer]

I remember reading The Eagle of the Ninth as a kid. Roman legions.

[Efferlunt]

Traveller in time by Alison Uttley. Fiction but with lots of Elizabethan history

[MrsSlocombesPussy]

What about Horrible Histories?

[OwlKiss]

Perhaps Empire of the Sun by JG Ballard, or Zlata's Diary (10 year old girl's diary while living through war in Sarajevo) - disclaimer; I would not give either of these to my 10 year old, but I wouldn't have thought she was old enough for Anne Frank's diary either.

If she likes memoirs, she might like the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Or Noel Streatfield's memoir of a Victorian childhood; I think it is called The Vicarage Family.

If she likes historical fiction, she might like The Roman Mysteries series (there are loads of them).

For a nicely written, child-friendly overview of European history, I would recommend A Little History of the World, by E H Gombrich.

[cheminotte]

Dorkus Maximus

Terry deary also has several set in different periods, e.g The Apple Spy.

[Ceara]

Fiction but with lots of historical detail and information: anything for children by Cynthia Harnett or Rosemary Sutcliff .

[papersmile]

Great suggestions, thank you. I will investigate.

[GlampingQueen]

The War That Saved My Life is brilliant and the follow up is about to be released.

A Fortunate Life by AB Facey is a Australian classic and fantastic too for both kids and adults.

[coldcanary]

It's fiction but an absolute classic - the Silver Sword by Ian Serralier. The main characters are based on real children found in Red Cross records (although they weren't actually related in real life).
Such a beautiful but quite harrowing story.

[mumofone234]

I loved Carrie's War as a child, and the Horrible Histories books.

[MissHavishamsleftdaffodil]

The Armourer's House (Tudor England, a girl about nine goes to live with her Uncle and slowly becomes part of their family life, lovely and gentle read)

Brother Dusty Feet (also Tudor England, a boy runs away and joins a group of strolling players who look after him until they find him a safe home)

Both by Rosemary Sutcliffe.

The Thirteen Days of Christmas by Jenny Overton (Tudor/Jacobean, very funny, a take on the Twelve Days of Christmas song)

[EvilDoctorBallerinaDuckKeidis]

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr. DD's 10 and in y5, they're doing World War II as their topic, coincidentally I'd mentioned to a friend months ago that I thought she like it, and he bought it for her!

[Waddlelikeapenguin]

Roman mysteries are brilliant
My story series (mix of authors but mostly very good)
Little house on the prairie series
Birchbark house series (like little house but native american)
Cue for Treason awesome book

[PurplePillowCase]

michael mupurgo? books are fiction, but with historical context.

[CountFosco]

Reading The Wolves of Willoughby Chase with DD1 at the moment (I say that, in actual fact I've read the first 3 chapters then chapter 10, always a sign that it's a hit!). It's an alternative history but there's lots of historical details she's asked about.

[PebblesFlintstone]

Yes to Carrie's War. One of my faves at that age.

[mrssmiling]

This article is worth reading - lots of excellent recommendations.
historicalnovelsociety.org/childrens-historical-fiction-a-personal-assessment/