The original purpose of Memorial Day had nothing to do with burgers and hot dogs, grills, a cooler full of beer, breaking out white pants or opening the shore house. It had to do with honoring those who have fallen while in service of our country.
This Memorial Day, check out my round-up of some of the best books for tweens and teens that I’ve reviewed about wars fought by US soldiers.
American Revolution:
Full Blog Review: Five 4ths of July
Intended for teen audiences it has action, a bit of romance and plenty of honesty about the horrors of war. It’s quite a departure from the duller fare that has been on offer by English departments across the country for the past 30 years.
Civil War:
Full Blog Review: Chasing Lincoln’s Killer
I may have just reviewed it, but given that I’ve only reviewed two Civil War adjacent books for this blog, it’s the clear winner and I think it would take heavy competition to best it anyway! Exciting, non-fiction and yet not an oxymoron! Teens with a mind for violent details and historic action should tear through this.
World War II
Full Blog Review: Mare’s War
If it stretches your thinking to imagine women serving in World War II, it will certainly challenge your expectations to read about an African-American woman serving in World War II. Two girls learn all about their grandmother’s experiences during the war.
WW II Honorable Mention – Look, it would have had first but for the alarming dearth of Americans.
Full blog review: Code Name Verity
Espionage, action, suspense, unreliable narrators, plot twists…what doesn’t Code Name Verity have? Time for the reader to take a breath. Think wars are for men? Think again.
Korean War
Full Blog Review: Keeping Score
In an admittedly slim category, this book about baseball and friendship does a nice job of exploring the feelings of those left behind when others go to war.
