My grandfather was on the USS Tuscaloosa, a heavy cruiser stationed off Utah beach on June 6, 1944. By this time, roughly 7 am, they’d already been using heavy guns for over an hour. The nearby destroyer, USS Corrie was hit and sinking, and the first troops were landing on the beach. The Tuscaloosa’s job was to provide some cover for those landing parties. The crew aboard ship sustained no casualties according to reports I’ve read online. The real story of what my grandfather lived through that day is likely tucked inside a pocket sized journal that he kept throughout the war and which is currently in my Nana’s drawer. The war remained very real and present to him and he told stories about his service for his whole life. D-Day was never a date to be memorized for a History test to me. My grandfather always marked the day and even now, years after he’s gone, I remember.
Here are 4 great YA titles about World War II. None of them take place on the beaches and ALL of them are about women, but these books are a fascinating look into the war. Because if your grandfather isn’t telling you stories about the war years, a book just may be the next best thing.
Young Adult
It’s only fitting that I should start with Mare’s War, where a grandmother shares her experiences serving as a WAC. A fascinating look at what the war was like from the perspective of a black woman who was in the armed forces.
Age Recommendation: Grades 8+
Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
If you’re going to read Mare’s War, it’s only fitting to read Flygirl as well. Ida Mae Jones has always loved to fly and when she reads that the WASPs are looking for more pilots, she longs to join. But becoming a pilot while difficult for a woman, is nearly impossible for a black woman. Ida must make difficult decisions about her future.
Age Recommendation: Grades 6+
A plane has crashed in Nazi-occupied France. An error is made. A girl is captured and tortured. The only thing keeping her alive is information. With many twists and turns, this is bound to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+ due to content, please read the full content review (linked above) carefully.
With a proficiency for languages, Betty finds herself in a position to help out the war effort. Sent to spy in France, she and her fellow operatives eagerly await the D-Day invasion and the cling to the hope of eventual salvation.
Age Recommendation: Grades 6+
