Want the best historical fiction books for teens? Discover the best YA historical fiction books that are informative and fun at the same time.
With the best historical fiction books, authors bring the past alive in ways you didn’t realize possible. It’s almost like you can physically step through the pages into the past.
With ya historical fiction, you are reminded that historical events were once current events, happening to regular teens. The best young adult historical fiction brings history to life with enticing settings… and just the right amount of romance.
While most of the list clearly falls in historical fiction for teens, I threw in a few recommendations for historical fiction for kids, mostly in the middle-grade range.
Spanning from the 1800s to the 1990s, there’s a little bit of something for everyone in this list of the best ya historical fiction books.
Best YA Historical Fiction
The Book Thief
Markus Zusak
A book narrated by Death might be off-putting at first, but quickly you’ll fall in love with this WWII young adult historical fiction. In 1939, Liesel Meminger is sent to live with foster parents in Munich. There she befriends the charming neighborhood boy Rudy and settles into a life of book thievery. Coming of age during the rise of the Nazis, Liesel and Rudy must face the complications of growing up in a dictatorship they hate.
Dreamland Burning
Jennifer Latham
When seventeen-year-old Rowan Chase finds a body buried in her backyard, it sends her on a journey of self-discovery based on a 100-year-old murder. In 1921, Will Tillman lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a town segregated by Jim Crow laws and pervaded by racial violence. A misunderstanding prompts a single violent outburst, propelling Will into the midst of the Tulsa Race Riots.
The Fountains of Silence
Ruta Sepetys
Despite its fascist dictatorship of Francisco Franco, Spain continues to allure tourists in the late 1950s. Ready to embrace his mother’s Heritage through photography, Texan Daniel Matheson arrives in Madrid full of hope. When he meets Ana, one of the hotel maids, his life irrevocably changes. Within the truth about Franco’s reign and the lasting repercussions of the Spanish Civil War, Ruta Sepetys mixes family drama, love, and heartbreak into this fascinating historical setting.
The Black Kids
Christina Hammonds Reed
With high school graduation around the corner, Ashley Bennett and her friends are spending more time at the beach than in class. Until four LAPD officers are acquitted of Rodney King’s murder and Los Angeles erupts in riots. Now Ashley finds herself not just one of the girls, but one of the Black kids. With her family caught in the turmoil and her friends spreading rumors about another Black kid, Ashley finds her world splintering around her.
The Downstairs Girl
Stacey Lee
During the Gilded Age, seventeen-year-old Jo Kuan lives in the margins as one of the few Chinese people in Atlanta, Georgia. Forced to accept a job as a lady’s maid, Jo secretly writes a newspaper advice column for Southern women. When Jo uses her anonymity to challenge the Southern view on race and gender, the backlash threatens to expose her and places her in the path of Atlanta’s most notorious criminal.
WWII Historical Fiction for Teens
Code Name Verity
Elizabeth Wein
Code Name Verity immerses you in a world of intrigue with the story of a British spy, Agent “Verity.” Captured when her plane crashes in occupied France, Verity is interrogated by the Gestapo in an attempt to learn of her mission. As she confesses under torture, you’ll find yourself on the edge of your seat wondering what secrets she is willing to exchange for her life. How far is she willing to go for her mission? A brilliant and emotional read that is one of my top recommendations for historical fiction for teens.
Between Shades of Gray
Ruta Sepetys
Lina’s life in Lithuania is perfectly ordinary until one day in 1941 Soviet soldiers storm into her home. Soon Lina finds herself at a Soviet work camp in the Artic Circle with her mother and brother. Forced to work in cruel conditions, Lina finds solace drawing scenes of life in camp, though if she is caught, she could pay the ultimate price.
Flygirl
Sherri L. Smith
Ida Mae Jones has always dreamed of being a pilot like her father, but no one is going to let a Black woman fly a plane. When the United States joins World War II, Ida desperately wants to join the Women Airforce Service Pilots and help the war effort. But the WASPs don’t accept Black women, which forces Ida to try to “pass” as white, a choice that takes a heavy toll on Ida.
Code Talker
Joseph Bruchac
His whole life, Ned Begay has been told to hide and mute his Navajo heritage and instead adopt the language and customs of white men. When World War II breaks out, Ned enlists with the Marines and becomes one of America’s most important assets: a code talker, sending war messages in Navajo – a code no enemy knew how to break. A fascinating read for anyone looking for historical fiction books for young adults.
Salt to the Sea
Ruta Sepetys
Ruta Sepetys delivers a new perspective on World War II novels with this YA historical fiction book inspired by a true event. Salt to the Sea follows a group of Prussian refugees fleeing from the advance of Stalin’s Red Army. Sepetys wins you over with her natural storytelling ability, teaching you quite a bit about Prussia and the Wilhelm Gustloff disaster in this fun, informative read.
When the World Was Ours
Liz Kessler
In 1936, Leo, Elsa, and Max spend a perfect day together in Vienna celebrating Leo’s 9th birthday. Afterwards, everything changes. Max’s father becomes an SS officer and moves the family to Munich, where Max joins the Hitler Youth program. Both from Jewish families, Elsa and Leo’s families just try to survive the coming war, one in Austria and the other in Czechoslovakia. Through everything, the three always hold a fond place in their memories for that perfect day in Vienna.
Young Adult Historical Fiction About World Events
Butterfly Yellow
Thanhhà Lai
In the final days of the Vietnam War, Hằng takes her little brother Linh to the airport desperate to evacuate with the Americans. But Linh is ripped from her arms at the last second, leaving Hằng behind in a war-torn country. Six years later, Hằng immigrates to Texas, determined to find Linh. But when she does, she discovers that Linh doesn’t remember anything about Vietnam and their family, forcing Hằng to find a way to bridge the gap between them.
I Must Betray You
Ruta Sepetys
Although communist countries are falling all over Europe, in 1989, Romania is still ruled by the cruel dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu. Blackmailed by the secret police, seventeen-year-old Cristian Florescu is forced to become an informer, walking the edge between deceiving the Securitate while still protecting his family. I Must Betray You is exactly what you want from young adult historical fiction. Sepetys showcases the everyday teenage life in a unique setting with a narrative that is as compelling as it is informative.
Publication Date: 1 February 2022
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Girl at War
Sara Nović
In her stunning first novel, Sara Nović tells the story of Ana Jurić, a ten-year-old girl whose life is upended by the start of the Yugoslavian civil war. The glimpses of modern war from a child’s perspective are fascinating. Yet, Nović doesn’t just cover the tragedies of Ana’s childhood. She jumps ahead 10 years as Ana returns to Yugoslavia to confront the ghosts of her childhood. With beautiful observations and a riveting storyline, you’ll be glad you read this YA historical fiction book.
Lovely War
Julie Berry
At the height of World War II, the Greek goddess Aphrodite tells her husband and lover a story of two pairs of lovers during the First World War I, pondering why love and war are so connected. In 1917 London, it’s love at first sight for Hazel and James, cut short when James is sent off to the Front. African-American Aubrey Edwards is also on his way to the trenches when he falls in love with Colette, a Belgian nightclub singer.
Private Peaceful
Michael Morpurgo
This simple but unforgettable story focuses on the lives of two brothers – Charlie and Tommo Peaceful. Tommo, too young to enlist, has lied about his age to follow his brother to the front lines of the war. Told over the course of one night, Tommo reflects on the events of his life and contemplates a grim future. A poignant reminder of the horrible realities of war, Private Peaceful is a powerful YA historical fiction book that will stay with you long after you’ve read it.
Captivating Historical Fiction for Young Adults
Saving Savannah
Tonya Bolden
In 1919, Savannah Riddle feels suffocated by her cushy life as the daughter of an upper-class African-American family in Washington, D.C. When Savannah befriends a working-class girl named Nell, Savannah is introduced to the women’s rights movement. But not everyone is happy with the changes that seem to be coming, and the summer turns deadly as race and class issues hit close to home.
Last Night at the Telegraph Club
Malinda Lo
Walking under the neon sign of the Telegraph Club, a lesbian bar, Lily Hu realizes it might be a possibility for her to fall in love with her best friend Kathleen. But in 1954, America is not ready for two girls to fall in love, especially in Chinatown. With the Red Scare at its height, Lily’s father is facing the possibility of deportation and Lily and Kathleen’s love might risk everything.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee
There’s a good reason that practically every school makes you read this book; voted the Great American Read and considered one of the best coming-of-age novels, To Kill A Mockingbird is technically YA historical fiction, since is set 30 years before its publication date. The story of young Scout and Jem watching their father, Atticus Finch, defend an innocent black man will make you want to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves.
Out of the easy
Ruta Sepetys
Known as one of the best young adult historical fiction writers, Ruta Sepetys makes YA historical fiction come alive again and again with her top-notch novels. In 1950, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is desperate to escape New Orleans. The daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie dreams of moving away to attend an elite college. But Josie becomes caught in the investigation of a mysterious death in the French Quarter and must decide where her allegiances lie.
Luck of the Titanic
Stacey Lee
Valora Luck is shocked when she is turned away at the gangway of the Titanic because she is Chinese. That won’t stop a determined Val who stows away on board. Val must find her twin brother who is working on the ship and convince the elite circus owner onboard to hire her as a performer in New York. But when the unthinkable happens, all Val’s plans go out the window as all she can do is struggle to survive.
The Silence of Bones
June Hur
In Korea in the early 1800s, Seol finds herself indentured to the police bureau. As Seol helps a young inspector investigate the political murder of a noblewoman, the two form an unlikely friendship. When the inspector becomes the prime suspect, only Seol can prove his innocence, but can she succeed when asking questions is dangerous in a culture that values silence and submission?
80s & 90s Historical Fiction Young Adult
Like a Love Story
Abdi Nazemian
In 1989, Reza has just moved to New York from Iran and is terrified anyone will discover that he is gay. Judy is an aspiring fashion director and has no problem with gay people. Her uncle is a proud gay man with AIDS working as an activist and her best friend Art is the only out and proud teen at school. When Judy and Reza start dating, Reza starts falling in love with Art. But how can he tell Judy the truth without breaking her heart and ruining the best friendship he’s ever had?
Let Me Hear a Rhyme
Tiffany D. Jackson
In 1998, Steph becomes yet another Black kid shot and killed in Brooklyn. Determined he won’t be forgotten, Quadir and Jarrell hatch a plan to create an album of Steph’s unpublished music and sell it to local DJs under the rapper name, The Architect. Soon everyone is dancing to Steph’s music. When a big music rep wants a new sample, Quadir, Jarrell, and Steph’s sister race to prove Steph’s talent while finally confronting the truth of Steph’s death.
Eleanor & Park
Rainbow Rowell
The new girl in town, Eleanor, with her unruly red hair and mismatched clothes, doesn’t fit in at her high school. Park doesn’t fully fit in either and tends to hide behind his books and his headphones. When the two misfits bond over comic books and music, a friendship springs up that reminds you of the transformative power of love in this stunning 1980s historical fiction for teens.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post
Emily M. Danforth
When Cameron Post’s parents unexpectedly die in a car crash, she finds herself relieved that they will never find out that earlier that day she was kissing a girl. Moving to Montana to live with her ultraconservative Aunt Ruth and her old-fashioned grandmother, Cameron does her best to blend in. When Coley moves to town, and the two strike up an intense friendship that might become more, Aunt Ruth takes drastic measures to “fix” her niece.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Stephen Chbosky
In a series of letters, fifteen-year-old Charlie narrates his struggles to adapt to his first year in high school, especially after the suicide of his best friend from middle school and the death of his beloved aunt. He befriends two seniors, Patrick and Sam, and together they navigate a difficult year, hitting on the tough topics of abuse and mental health.
YA Historical Fantasy
My Lady Jane
Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows
Hand, Ashton, and Meadows collaborate to write a snarky and not very historically accurate portrayal of Lady Jane Grey, who was the Queen of England for nine days. To secure the throne for Jane instead of his Catholic half-sister, a dying King Edward marries Jane off to a stranger, Gifford. But when Gifford turns into a horse, Lady Jane sets off with him on an epic adventure to save England.
These Violent Delights
Chloe Gong
A clever retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Chloe Gong’s debut novel is one of the best YA historical fantasy books for teens who don’t mind a little bit of horror mixed in. In 1920s Shanghai, a blood feud between two rival gangs causes chaos in the city. Eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai has returned home to embrace her place as heir to the Scarlet Gang. When a contagion starts sweeping the streets, Juliette must work with her first love, Roma Montagov from the rival gang, to solve the mystery.
Anatomy
Dana Schwartz
After being kicked out of Dr. Beecham’s anatomy lessons because she’s a woman, Hazel Sinnett must find a way to study anatomy on her own so she can pass the medical examination. Hazel strikes a deal with body snatcher Jack Currer to provide corpses for her to study. However, Jack has his own problems – a resurgence of an old disease that forces the two of them to dig into the secrets of Edinburgh society.
Romanov
Nadine Brandes
Taking a different view on the Russian princess Anastasia “Nastya” Romanov, Brandes begins the story with the Romanov family already dethroned and exiled. As they are forced from power, Nastya must smuggle an ancient magic spell with her to Siberia in her suitcase. Trying to find a way to release the spell Nastya finds herself falling in love with a handsome Bolshevik soldier. Until she finds herself and her family at one end of the firing squad, and he is at the other.
Dread Nation
Justina Ireland
In an alternate version of history, the dead rise up from the battlefields of Gettysburg, completely altering the course of the Civil War. In this new America, Natives and Negros are required to send their children to combat school to fight the zombies. Trained in both combat and etiquette, Jane is about to embark on a life as a bodyguard for the rich when she gets caught up in the middle of a conspiracy with enemies even worse than the undead.
Historical Fiction for Kids
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Mildred D. Taylor
In 1933, nine-year-old Cassie Logan realizes that her family’s situation is unique, as they are one of the few Black families to own their own land in their Mississippi town. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry chronicles various interactions between Cassie’s family members and white residents as each individual must weigh the cost of sticking up for themselves; in the Jim Crow South, that cost can be deadly.
Moon Over Manifest
Clare Vanderpool
If you are looking for 1930s historical fiction for kids, you should pick up a copy of this Newbery Medal winner. When her father sends her away for the summer while working a railroad job, Abilene Tucker runs away to Manifest, Kansas – her father’s hometown. When Abilene discovers a box of mementos, she sets out on a quest to discover the town’s secrets.
Esperanza Rising
Pam Muñoz Ryan
Esperanza lives a charmed life on a ranch in Mexico until the Great Depression hits. Now Esperanza and her mother must trade in their life of fancy dresses and servants for the hardscrabble life of Mexican farm workers in California. Just as Esperanza begins to get used to the hard labor, her new life is threatened and she must find a way to rise above her difficulties.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Elizabeth George Speare
In 1687, Kit Tyler is marked with suspicion as soon as she arrives to live with her aunt and uncle in colonial Connecticut. The Puritans don’t know what to do with a vivacious girl from Barbados. Torn between trying to fit in and wanting to be herself, Kit befriends an old Quaker woman. But the colonists’ prejudice and distrust lead to Kit being accused of witchcraft in this Newbery Medal-winning historical fiction story.
Bud, Not Buddy
Christopher Paul Curtis
During the Great Depression, Bud struggles after being placed with a new foster family. Running away with his friend Bugs, Bud is determined to go to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to find his father, Herman, a singer in a band. Separated from his friend, Bud experiences the dangers of being an orphaned Black kid in the Midwest during the Great Depression.
Refugee
Alan Gratz
An intense middle-grade read about three children all trying to escape. Josef is a Jewish boy fleeing Nazi Germany on board a boat bound for Cuba. Isabel is a Cuban girl trying to reach Florida on a raft in the 1990s. Mahmoud is a Syrian boy fleeing the violence of Aleppo who hopes to reach safety in Germany. All three stories convey the horror of refugee life.
I Survived
Lauren Tarshis
A favorite historical fiction series for kids, the I Survived chapter books bring history to life. Following along with different young protagonists as they struggle to survive some of history’s most shocking events, including the Titanic, Pearl Harbor, 9/11, Pompeii, Gettysburg, and the San Francisco Earthquake.
What Are Your Favorite YA Historical Fiction Books?
What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my list of young adult historical fiction books? What historical fiction for teens have I forgotten? As always, let me know in the comments!
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