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Original poster

DD2 wants MORE books about WW1 and WW2

38 replies

TheFirstLady · 15/03/2010 22:18

and I can't think of any. She is very keen on history in general and the World Wars in particular and I am not sure what more I can find for her. She is 10. She has read:
The relevant Michael Morpurgos - War Horse, Private Peaceful, Adolphus Tips.
Anne Frank's Diary
The Dolphin Crossing
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit and both sequels.
The Silver Sword
I am David (though not strictly WW2 obv)
Goodnight Mr Tom
Those ghastly My Story books
Carries War
When the Sirens Wailed
I've ordered Number the Stars on Amazon.
What else is there that is appropriate for a 10 year old?

OP posts:
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DandyDan · 23/03/2010 11:10

all the ones mentioned already, esp The Machine Gunners.

Also,

Hitler's Canary by Sandi Toksvig

And these two are non-fiction but accounts by children of WW2 -

One Small Suitcase - Barry Turner (about the Kindertransport)

War Children - The Second World War in their Own Words; published by Scholastic in association with the Imperial War Museum.

TheCheeseAlarm · 21/03/2010 15:07

Once and Then by Morris Gleitzman

Original poster
TheFirstLady · 21/03/2010 15:03

Thank you everyone, some brilliant suggestions on there, I have put them all on a list for DD2 to choose from. DD1 has the Chalet Girls and Charlotte Sometimes, I will pass them on to DD2.
Pootle, that list you linked to is fantastic thanks so much.

OP posts:
SnowWoman · 20/03/2010 11:25

You could look at Robert Westall - Kingdom by the Sea or Joanna Reiss - The Secret Room. Ruth Elwyn Harris' Quantocks Quartet (can't remember all the titles but one is called The Orchid House) might well be too old, but no worse than the third Judith Kerr.

trockodile · 20/03/2010 11:23

charlotte sometimes
Chalet School In Exile
3 in 1 Chalet School at war series-armada editions are abridged though

Prinnie · 20/03/2010 11:08

Not quite age appropriate yet but I really enjoyed a trilogy which started with a book called The Londoners when I was 13/14, but there are a few sex scenes so probably more appropriate in a couple of years. It's an excellent story though - all about SE London during the war.

Has she read the Horrible History books that relate to the period?

I'll have more of a think though.

Francagoestohollywood · 20/03/2010 11:05

Sorry, it's A square of sky, not A corner...

Francagoestohollywood · 20/03/2010 11:04

Janina David - A corner of sky, though perhaps a bit too much for a 10 yr old. I read it when I was 12.

ASecretLemonadeDrinker · 20/03/2010 10:53

MotherJack - I am in the same situation FIL died and left hundreds of books, alot of which aren't worth the hassle of ebaying for a penny but heavy reading for a 10 yar old

PootleTheFlump · 20/03/2010 10:48

Went to bed thinking about this! Think I had my own WW2 reading "thing" when I was younger:

for younger children

might be useful

read this at school

PootleTheFlump · 19/03/2010 21:13

You're right Pixie, quite a lot of what I have suggested I read at 12/13 (year 8ish iirc). Noel Streatfeild's are a bit younger in tone.

You can tick boxes on Amazon for juvenile historical this looks a bit younger

PixieOnaLeaf · 19/03/2010 21:07

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PootleTheFlump · 19/03/2010 21:06

found them

Also, the Flambards books refer to WW1 I think?

cakeforbrains · 19/03/2010 21:03

IvyKaty - I've not seen the film, how did they change the ending? Yes, the ending to the book is harrowing, but it's pretty impossible to read about the Holocaust without coming across distressing stuff.

I'd also suggest the graphic novel Maus by Speigelman and Night by Elie Wiesel.

PootleTheFlump · 19/03/2010 21:02

Second the later Michelle Magorians and most of Robert Wetsalls have a WW2 slant. I read a lot of my Mum's old Noel Streatfields when i was younger, and am sure some of them are set in the war. There is also a trilogy about 3 generations of women in the same family, and the first is WW1 based, second WW2 and the last modern-day, will have a think and google for you.

PixieOnaLeaf · 19/03/2010 20:58

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Ivykaty44 · 19/03/2010 20:57

the boy in the stripped pj's is a little harrowing at the end

The film changes the ending and is really not having the same effect as the end of the book - which I really struggled with for days....

bruffin · 19/03/2010 20:57

Iva Ibbotson The Dragonfly Pool is set in WW2 but I think it's fantasy as well. DD adored it.

When I was young I remember reading books by David Rees which were set in WW2. There was one called The Exeter Blitz. I don't think they are in print anymore but seem to be available second hand on amazon.

Also how about Johnny and The Bomb by Terry Pratchet

GnocchiGnocchiWhosThere · 19/03/2010 20:53

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GnocchiGnocchiWhosThere · 19/03/2010 20:51

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AppleAndBlackberry · 19/03/2010 20:48

'War Boy' is good. Also was there some WW2 stuff in 'Boy' by Roald Dahl?

ShowOfHands · 19/03/2010 20:48

I came on to suggest The Machine Gunners, also Blitz Cat, also by Robert Westall.

PixieOnaLeaf · 19/03/2010 20:40

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cakeforbrains · 19/03/2010 20:32

The boy in the striped pyjamas?

MrsWobbleTheWaitress · 19/03/2010 20:26

Fireweed

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