Bestselling History Books for 12 Year Olds

Here are the top 30 bestselling history books for 12 year olds. Please click Read Review to read book reviews on Amazon. You can also click Find in Library to check book availability at your local library. If the default library is not correct, please follow Change Local Library to reset it.

1. Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims: Time-Travel Adventures with Exceptional Americans

by: Rush Limbaugh
Release date: Oct 29, 2013
Number of Pages: 224
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America’s #1 radio talk-show host and multi-million-copy #1 New York Times bestselling author presents a book for young readers with a history teacher who travels back in time to have adventures with exceptional Americans.

MEET RUSH LIMBAUGH’S REALLY GOOD PAL, RUSH REVERE!

Okay, okay, my name’s really Rusty—but my friends call me Rush. Rush Revere. Because I’ve always been the #1 fan of the coolest colonial dude ever, Paul Revere. Talk about a rock star—this guy wanted to protect young America so badly, he rode through those bumpy, cobblestone-y streets shouting “the British are coming!” On a horse. Top of his lungs. Wind blowing, rain streaming…

Well, you get the picture. But what if you could get the real picture—by actually going back in time and seeing with your own eyes how our great country came to be? Meeting the people who made it all happen—people like you and me?

Hold on to your pointy triangle hats, because you can—with me, Rush Revere, seemingly ordinary substitute history teacher, as your tour guide across time! “How?” you ask? Well, there’s this portal. And a horse. My talking horse named Liberty. And—well, just trust me, I’ll get us there.

We’ll begin by joining a shipload of brave families journeying on the Mayflower in 1620. Yawn? I don’t think so. 1620 was a pretty awesome time, and you’ll experience exactly what they did on that rough, dangerous ocean crossing. Together, we’ll ask the pilgrims all our questions, find out how they live, join them at the first Thanksgiving, and much more.

So saddle up and let’s ride! Our exceptional nation is waiting to be discovered all over again by exceptional young patriots—like you!

tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Horses

2. Rush Revere and the Star-Spangled Banner

by: Rush LimbaughKathryn Adams Limbaugh
Release date: Oct 27, 2015
Number of Pages: 240
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IT’S THE DAWN OF AN IMPORTANT NEW DAY IN AMERICA. YOUNG READERS, GRAB THE REINS AND JOIN RUSH REVERE, LIBERTY THE HORSE, AND THE WHOLE TIME-TRAVELING CREW IN THIS PATRIOTIC HISTORICAL ADVENTURE THAT TAKES YOU ON AN EXCITING TRIP TO THE PAST TO SEE OUR REMARKABLE NATION’S MOST ICONIC SYMBOLS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL!

“Rush Revere here, along with my chatty horse, Liberty! Wait a minute . . . Liberty? Where did he go?”

“Reporting for duty, Captain Revere!”

“Liberty, where did you get that spinach smoothie?”

*Slurp*

Well, he certainly didn’t get it from 1787—that’s where we’re rush, rush, rushing off to next with our enthusiastic young friends in the Time-Traveling Crew (but not before causing a major security incident at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.!) A funny case of mistaken identity and a wild chase through the busy streets of Philadelphia will lead us to the famously introverted Father of our Constitution, James Madison, and the heated secret debates over the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Fast-forward a few years, and we’ll help his brave wife, Dolley, risk her life to save an important portrait from the White House as the British set Washington afire!

What greater symbol of our exceptional nation’s hard-won freedoms than the Star-Spangled Banner, sewn by American icon Betsy Ross? Perhaps Francis Scott Key can explain what inspired him to pay tribute to our glorious flag by writing our beautiful national anthem. But watch out for the bombs bursting in air, because when we reach 1814, we’ll be front and center at a major battle to defend our liberty.

Jump back in the saddle with me, Rush Revere, and the Time-Traveling Crew, as my trusty horse, Liberty, takes us on another flying leap through American history into a past teeming with heroes and extraordinary citizens who have so much to teach us about patriotism. All you need to bring is your curiosity about the birth of our democracy—I’ve got plenty of tricornered hats for everyone!

tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Horses

3. Rush Revere and the American Revolution: Time-Travel Adventures With Exceptional Americans

by: Rush LimbaughKathryn Adams Limbaugh
Release date: Oct 28, 2014
Number of Pages: 256
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THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION HAS BEGUN—AND RUSH REVERE, LIBERTY THE HORSE, AND THE TIME-TRAVELING CREW ARE READY TO RIDE INTO THE ACTION!

Join us on this incredible time-travel adventure!

Liberty, my wisecracking horse, our old friends Cam, Tommy, Freedom, and I are off to meet some super-brave soldiers in the year 1775. Yep, that’s right. We’ll be visiting with the underdog heroes who fought for American independence, against all odds—and won! But not before eight very real years of danger and uncertainty. Be a part of Rush Revere’s crew as we rush, rush, rush into a time when British rule had become a royal pain, and rebellion was in the air. We’ll be on hand to see two lanterns hung in the Old North Church, prevent a British spy from capturing Paul Revere, and grapple with danger at the battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill.

The extra special part of this trip is that right here in the twenty-first century, Cam’s dad is a soldier fighting in Afghanistan, and Cam has been pretty angry that he is away. Visiting with exceptional American heroes like Dr. Joseph Warren and George Washington, racing along after Paul Revere on his midnight ride, and seeing the Declaration of Independence signed make Cam see his own dad in a new and special way.

But don’t worry. Along with the danger, excitement, and patriotism, there will still be time to stop for a delicious spinach, oats, and alfalfa smoothie. No, wait—that one’s for Liberty. The kids and I voted for strawberries.

Now let’s open the magic portal to the past!

tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Horses

4. Rush Revere and the First Patriots: Time-Travel Adventures With Exceptional Americans

by: Rush Limbaugh
Release date: Mar 11, 2014
Number of Pages: 256
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America’s #1 radio talk-show host and multi-million-copy #1 New York Times bestselling author presents the second book in a series for young readers with a history teacher who travels back in time to have adventures with exceptional Americans.

Rush Revere rides again! Saddle up with Rush Limbaugh’s really good pal for a new time-travel adventure.

“Whoa there, young historians! Before we go rush, rush, rushing off anywhere, I’d like a moment. I’m Liberty, Rush Revere’s loquacious equine companion—his trusty talking horse! Always at the ready to leap from the twenty-first century into America’s past, that’s me. When he says ‘Let’s go!’ I’m so there. I’m jazzed, I’m psyched, I’m—”

“Ah, excuse me, Liberty?”

“Yeah, Rush?”

“Usually you say ‘oh no, not again!’ and ‘while we’re in colonial Boston, can I try the baked beans?’”

“Okay, fine—you do the talking. I’ll just be over here, if you need me.…”

Well, he’s sulking now, but I couldn’t be your tour guide across time without Liberty! His name says it all: the freedom we celebrate every July Fourth with fireworks and hot dogs (and maybe some of those baked beans). But how did America get free? How did thirteen newborn colonies tell the British king where he could stick his unfair taxes?

Jump into the bustling streets of Boston in 1765, where talk of revolution is growing louder. I said LOUDER. You’ll have to SHOUT to be heard over the angry cries of “Down with the king!” and “Repeal the Stamp Act!” that fill the air. You’ll meet fierce supporters of liberty like Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and my idol, Paul Revere, as they fearlessly defy British rule. It’s an exciting, dangerous, turbulent, thrilling time to be an American…and exceptional young patriots like you won’t want to miss a minute. Let’s ride!

tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Horses

5. National Geographic Kids Everything Rocks and Minerals: Dazzling gems of photos and info that will rock your world

by: Steve Tomecek
Release date: Oct 11, 2011
Number of Pages: 64
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Targeted to rock-crazy kids, this bold book is more energetic, more visually exciting, and more fun than anything else on the market—and with more information, too! Youngsters become geology experts as they browse eye-popping photos and absorb layers of information made extra fun through a humor-infused presentation.

National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.
Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

tags:

Children’s Books > Education & Reference > Reference

6. A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story

by: Linda Sue Park
Release date: Oct 04, 2011
Number of Pages: 128
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The New York Times bestseller A Long Walk to Water begins as two stories, told in alternating sections, about two eleven-year-olds in Sudan, a girl in 2008 and a boy in 1985. The girl, Nya, is fetching water from a pond that is two hours’ walk from her home: she makes two trips to the pond every day. The boy, Salva, becomes one of the “lost boys” of Sudan, refugees who cover the African continent on foot as they search for their families and for a safe place to stay. Enduring every hardship from loneliness to attack by armed rebels to contact with killer lions and crocodiles, Salva is a survivor, and his story goes on to intersect with Nya’s in an astonishing and moving way.

tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Family Life > Orphans & Foster Homes

7. The Indian in the Cupboard

by: Lynne Reid Banks
Release date: Feb 09, 2010
Number of Pages: 240
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Full of magic and appealing characters, this classic novel takes readers on a remarkable adventure.

It’s Omri’s birthday, but all he gets from his best friend, Patrick, is a little plastic Indian brave. Trying to hide his disappointment, Omri puts the Indian in a metal cupboard and locks the door with a mysterious skeleton key that once belonged to his great-grandmother. Little does Omri know that by turning the key, he will transform his ordinary plastic Indian into a real live man from an altogether different time and place! Omri and the tiny warrior called Little Bear could hardly be more different, yet soon the two forge a very special friendship. Will Omri be able to keep Little Bear without anyone finding out and taking his precious Indian from him?

tags:

Children’s Books > Classics

8. Inside Out and Back Again

by: Thanhha Lai
Release date: Jan 02, 2013
Number of Pages: 288
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Inside Out and Back Again is a New York Times bestseller, a Newbery Honor Book, and a winner of the National Book Award! Inspired by the author’s childhood experience of fleeing Vietnam after the Fall of Saigon and immigrating to Alabama, this coming-of-age debut novel told in verse has been celebrated for its touching child’s-eye view of family and immigration.

Hà has only ever known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, and the warmth of her friends close by. But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope—toward America.

This moving story of one girl’s year of change, dreams, grief, and healing received four starred reviews, including one from Kirkus which proclaimed it “enlightening, poignant, and unexpectedly funny.”

An author’s note explains how and why Thanhha Lai translated her personal experiences into Hà’s story. This paperback edition also includes an interview with the author, an activity you can do with your family, tips on writing poetry, and discussion questions.

Supports the Common Core State Standards

tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Family Life

9. Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women

by: Catherine ThimmeshMelissa Sweet
Release date: Mar 11, 2002
Number of Pages: 64
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In kitchens and living rooms, in garages and labs and basements, even in converted chicken coops, women and girls have invented ingenious innovations that have made our lives simpler and better. Their creations are some of the most enduring (the windshield wiper) and best loved (the chocolate chip cookie). What inspired these women, and just how did they turn their ideas into realities?

Features women inventors Ruth Wakefield, Mary Anderson, Stephanie Kwolek, Bette Nesmith Graham, Patsy O. Sherman, Ann Moore, Grace Murray Hopper, Margaret E. Knight, Jeanne Lee Crews, and Valerie L. Thomas, as well as young inventors ten-year-old Becky Schroeder and eleven-year-old Alexia Abernathy. Illustrated in vibrant collage by Caldecott Honor artist Melissa Sweet.

tags:

Children’s Books > History

10. When the Sea Turned to Silver

by: Grace Lin
Release date: Oct 04, 2016
Number of Pages: 384
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A New York Times Bestseller

A National Book Award Finalist

An IndieBound Bestseller


This breathtaking, full-color illustrated fantasy is inspired by Chinese folklore, and is a companion to the Newbery Honor winner Where the Mountain Meets the Moon


Pinmei’s gentle, loving grandmother always has the most exciting tales for her granddaughter and the other villagers. However, the peace is shattered one night when soldiers of the Emperor arrive and kidnap the storyteller.
Everyone knows that the Emperor wants something called the Luminous Stone That Lights the Night. Determined to have her grandmother returned, Pinmei embarks on a journey to find the Luminous Stone alongside her friend Yishan, a mysterious boy who seems to have his own secrets to hide. Together, the two must face obstacles usually found only in legends to find the Luminous Stone and save Pinmei’s grandmother–before it’s too late.
A fast-paced adventure that is extraordinarily written and beautifully illustrated, When the Sea Turned to Silver is a masterpiece companion novel to Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and Starry River of the Sky.

tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Family Life > Multigenerational

11. Hitler’s Last Days: The Death of the Nazi Regime and the World’s Most Notorious Dictator

by: Bill O’Reilly
Release date: Jun 09, 2015
Number of Pages: 320
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By early 1945, the destruction of the German Nazi State seems certain. The Allied forces, led by American generals George S. Patton and Dwight D. Eisenhower, are gaining control of Europe, leaving German leaders scrambling. Facing defeat, Adolf Hitler flees to a secret bunker with his new wife, Eva Braun, and his beloved dog, Blondi. It is there that all three would meet their end, thus ending the Third Reich and one of the darkest chapters of history.

Hitler’s Last Days is a gripping account of the death of one of the most reviled villains of the 20th century?a man whose regime of murder and terror haunts the world even today. Adapted from Bill O’Reilly’s historical thriller Killing Patton, this book will have young readers?and grown-ups too?hooked on history.

This thoroughly-researched and documented book can be worked into multiple aspects of the common core curriculum.

tags:

Children’s Books > History > Europe

12. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

by: Anne FrankB.M. MooyaartEleanor Roosevelt
Release date: Jun 01, 1993
Number of Pages: 304
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Discovered in the attic in which she spent the last years of her life, Anne Frank’s remarkable diary has since become a world classic—a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and an eloquent testament to the human spirit. In 1942, with Nazis occupying Holland, a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl and her family fled their home in Amsterdam and went into hiding. For the next two years, until their whereabouts were betrayed to the Gestapo, they and another family lived cloistered in the “Secret Annex” of an old office building. Cut off from the outside world, they faced hunger, boredom, the constant cruelties of living in confined quarters, and the ever-present threat of discovery and death. In her diary Anne Frank recorded vivid impressions of her experiences during this period. By turns thoughtful, moving, and amusing, her account offers a fascinating commentary on human courage and frailty and a compelling self-portrait of a sensitive and spirited young woman whose promise was tragically cut short.
tags:

Biographies & Memoirs > Ethnic & National > Jewish

13. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

by: John Boyne
Release date: Oct 23, 2007
Number of Pages: 215
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“Powerful and unsettling. . . . As memorable an introduction to the subject as The Diary of Anne Frank.” —USA Today
 
Berlin, 1942: When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move to a new house far, far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall fence stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people in the distance.
 
But Bruno longs to be an explorer and decides that there must be more to this desolate new place than meets the eye. While exploring his new environment, he meets another boy whose life and circumstances are very different from his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences.

From the Hardcover edition.

tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Friendship, Social Skills & School Life > Friendship

14. Knowledge Encyclopedia

by: DK
Release date: Sep 16, 2013
Number of Pages: 360
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A bold new approach to family reference that uses 3-D rendered images to explore the wonders of the world in unprecedented detail—from such categories as space, the human body, and history.

Created in association with the Smithsonian Institution and using the latest CGI technology to illustrate concepts, Knowledge Encyclopedia is divided into six chapters—Space, Earth, Nature, Human Body, Science & Technology, and History & Culture. These chapters combine with a reference section in bringing a wide range of topics to life. Illustrated with fascinating facts, maps, timelines, and graphics, this reference book makes complex subjects easy to understand. 

Knowledge Encyclopedia is the perfect resource for kids, whether to help with homework or to pique their curiosity.

tags:

Children’s Books > Education & Reference > Reference > Encyclopedias

15. The War That Saved My Life

by: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Release date: May 31, 2016
Number of Pages: 336
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*2016 Newbery Honor book
*Winner of the 2016 Schneider Family Book Award 

This New York Times bestseller is an exceptionally moving story of triumph against all odds set during World War 2. For fans of Counting by 7s.
 

Nine-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn’t waste a minute—she sneaks out to join him.
 
So begins a new adventure of Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take the two kids in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan—and Susan begins to love Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel hands of their mother?

tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Family Life > Orphans & Foster Homes

16. Echo

by: Pam Munoz RyanPam Muñoz Ryan
Release date: Feb 24, 2015
Number of Pages: 592
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2016 Newbery Honor Book
New York Times Bestseller

An impassioned, uplifting, and virtuosic tour de force from a treasured storyteller!

Lost and alone in a forbidden forest, Otto meets three mysterious sisters and suddenly finds himself entwined in a puzzling quest involving a prophecy, a promise, and a harmonica.

Decades later, Friedrich in Germany, Mike in Pennsylvania, and Ivy in California each, in turn, become interwoven when the very same harmonica lands in their lives. All the children face daunting challenges: rescuing a father, protecting a brother, holding a family together. And ultimately, pulled by the invisible thread of destiny, their suspenseful solo stories converge in an orchestral crescendo.

Richly imagined and masterfully crafted, Echo pushes the boundaries of genre, form, and storytelling innovation to create a wholly original novel that will resound in your heart long after the last note has been struck.

tags:

Children’s Books > Arts, Music & Photography > Performing Arts

17. Amelia to Zora: Twenty-Six Women Who Changed the World

by: Cynthia Chin-LeeMegan HalseySean Addy
Release date: Jul 01, 2008
Number of Pages: 32
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Twenty-six amazing women; twenty-six amazing stories. From Amelia Earhart, pilot and adventurer, to Zora Neal Hurston, writer and anthropologist, learn about the hardships and triumphs that inspired each woman to change the world around her. Detailed collages and illustrations draw from various events in the women’s lives.
tags:

Children’s Books > History

18. Who Was Albert Einstein?

by: Jess BrallierRobert Andrew ParkerNancy Harrison
Release date: Feb 18, 2002
Number of Pages: 112
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Everyone has heard of Albert Einstein-but what exactly did he do? How much do kids really know about Albert Einstein besides the funny hair and genius label? For instance, do they know that he was expelled from school as a kid? Finally, here’s the story of Albert Einstein’s life, told in a fun, engaging way that clearly explores the world he lived in and changed.
tags:

Children’s Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Physics

19. D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths

by: Ingri d’AulaireEdgar Parin d’Aulaire
Release date: Mar 01, 1992
Number of Pages: 192
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No education is complete without a large slice of Greek mythology. And there’s no better way of meeting that literary quota than with the D’Aulaires’ book. All the great gods and goddesses of ancient Greece are depicted in this big, beautiful classic, lovingly illustrated and skillfully told. Young readers will be dazzled by mighty Zeus, lord of the universe; stirred by elegant Athena, goddess of wisdom; intimidated by powerful Hera, queen of Olympus; and chilled by moody Poseidon, ruler of the sea. These often impetuous immortals flounce and frolic, get indiscreet, and get even. From petty squabbles to heroic deeds, their actions cover the range of godly–and mortal–personalities.

The D’Aulaires’ illustrations have a memorable quality: once pored over, they will never leave the minds of the viewer. Decades later, the name Gaea will still evoke the soft green picture of lovely Mother Earth, her body hills and valleys and her eyes blue lakes reflecting the stars of her husband, Uranus the sky. No child is too young to appreciate the myths that have built the foundation for much of the world’s art and literature over the centuries. This introduction to mythology is a treasure. (Ages 10 to adult) –Emilie Coulter

tags:

Children’s Books > Literature & Fiction

20. I Got This: To Gold and Beyond

by: Laurie Hernandez
Release date: Jan 24, 2017
Number of Pages: 192
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Gold medal-winning Olympic gymnast and Dancing with the Stars champion Laurie Hernandez shares her story in her own words in this debut book for fans of all ages—with never-before-seen photos!

At sixteen years old, Laurie Hernandez has already made many of her dreams come true—and yet it’s only the beginning for this highly accomplished athlete. A Latina Jersey girl, Laurie saw her life take a dramatic turn last summer when she was chosen to be a part of the 2016 US Olympic gymnastics team. After winning gold in Rio as part of the Final Five, Laurie also earned an individual silver medal for her performance on the balance beam. Nicknamed “the Human Emoji” for her wide-eyed and animated expressions, Laurie continued to dance her way into everyone’s hearts while competing on the hit reality TV show Dancing with the Stars, where she was the youngest-ever winner of the Mirrorball Trophy.

Poignant and funny, Laurie’s story is about growing up with the dream of becoming an Olympian and what it took to win gold. She talks about her loving family, her rigorous training, her intense sacrifices, and her amazing triumphs. Be prepared to fall in love with and be mesmerized by America’s newest sweetheart all over again.

tags:

Children’s Books > Biographies > Sports & Recreation

21. Treasury of Greek Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes & Monsters

by: Donna Jo NapoliChristina Balit
Release date: Oct 11, 2011
Number of Pages: 192
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School Library Journal Best Books of 2011

Eureka! Silver Honor Books—California Reading Association

Capitol Choices 2012 list of Noteworthy Titles for Children and Teens

2012 Notable Children’s Books—ALSC

The new National Geographic Treasury of Greek Mythology offers timeless stories of Greek myths in a beautiful new volume. Brought to life with lyrical text by award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli and stunning artwork by award-winning illustrator Christina Balit, the tales of gods and goddesses such as Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo, and Athena and heroes and monsters such as Helen of Troy, Perseus, and Medusa will fascinate and engage children’s imaginations.
 
National Geographic completes the book with embellishments of each story: sidebars for each god, goddess, hero, and monster link the myths to constellations, geography, history, and culture to help young readers connect the stories to real life events, people, and places. A family tree and a “cast of characters” profile page help make relationships between the characters clear, and a mapping feature adds to the fun and fascination. Resource notes and ample back matter directing readers to more information round out this luminous book. Sure to dazzle all those intrigued with the fantastic tales of Greek mythology and enchant new readers, this vibrant book will soon become a family keepsake.

National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.
Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

tags:

Children’s Books

22. Mistakes That Worked: 40 Familiar Inventions & How They Came to Be

by: Charlotte JonesJohn Obrien
Release date: May 01, 1994
Number of Pages: 96
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Popsicles, potato chips, Silly Putty, Velcro, and many other familiar things have fascinating stories behind them. In fact, dozens of products and everyday items had surprisingly haphazard beginnings. Mistakes That Worked offers forty of these unusual tales, along with hilarious cartoons and weird and amazing facts. Readers will be surprised and inspired!

tags:

Children’s Books > Literature & Fiction

23. History Year by Year

by: DK
Release date: Aug 19, 2013
Number of Pages: 320
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Featuring more than 1,500 images that bring the story of the past to life through a detailed timeline, this visual reference helps children navigate the influences, patterns, and connections between historical events, beginning with prehistory and running up to the Arab Spring.

Budding historians will learn about the history of humans across the world in History Year by Year. Spreads highlight major historical eras including the Renaissance and the French Revolution, while quotations from primary and secondary sources provide further insight and give proper historical context. Kids will love the “child of the time” feature, which details the experience of children during important historical periods, including Ancient Egypt, Viking England, the Industrial Revolution, and World War II.

Created in association with the Smithsonian Institution, History Year by Year is a visual journey throughout time and an invaluable reference for kids who want to connect the dots of history across the globe.

tags:

Children’s Books > History

24. The Invention of Hugo Cabret

by: Brian Selznick
Release date: Jan 30, 2007
Number of Pages: 533
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Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo’s undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo’s dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.
tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Family Life > Orphans & Foster Homes

25. Salt to the Sea

by: Ruta Sepetys
Release date: Feb 02, 2016
Number of Pages: 400
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New York Times Bestseller! “Masterfully crafted”The Wall Street Journal

For readers of Between Shades of Gray and All the Light We Cannot See, bestselling author Ruta Sepetys returns to WWII in this epic novel that shines a light on one of the war’s most devastating—yet unknown—tragedies.

World War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, many with something to hide. Among them are Joana, Emilia, and Florian, whose paths converge en route to the ship that promises salvation, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Forced by circumstance to unite, the three find their strength, courage, and trust in each other tested with each step closer to safety.

Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. Not country, nor culture, nor status matter as all ten thousand people—adults and children alike—aboard must fight for the same thing: survival.

Told in alternating points of view and perfect for fans of Anthony Doerr’s Pulitzer Prize-winning All the Light We Cannot See, Erik Larson’s Dead Wake, and Elizabeth Wein’s Printz Honor Book Code Name Verity, this masterful work of historical fiction is inspired by the real-life tragedy that was the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloffthe greatest maritime disaster in history. As she did in Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys unearths a shockingly little-known casualty of a gruesome war, and proves that humanity and love can prevail, even in the darkest of hours.

Praise for Salt to the Sea:

Featured on NPR’s Morning Edition  ?  “Superlative…masterfully crafted…[a] powerful work of historical fiction.”—The Wall Street Journal  ?  “[Sepetys is] a master of YA fiction…she once again anchors a panoramic view of epic tragedy in perspectives that feel deeply textured and immediate.”—Entertainment Weekly  ?  “Riveting…powerful…haunting.”—The Washington Post  ? “Compelling for both adult and teenage readers.”—New York Times Book Review  ?  “Intimate, extraordinary, artfully crafted…brilliant.”—Shelf Awareness  ?  “Historical fiction at its very, very best.”—The Globe and Mail   “[H]aunting, heartbreaking, hopeful and altogether gorgeous…one of the best young-adult novels to appear in a very long time.”—Salt Lake Tribune  ?  *“This haunting gem of a novel begs to be remembered.”—Booklist  ?  *“Artfully told and sensitively crafted…will leave readers weeping.”—School Library Journal  ?  A PW and SLJ 2016 Book of the Year

Praise for Between Shades of Gray:
A New York Times Notable Book  ?  A Wall Street Journal Best Children’s Book  ?  A PWSLJ, Booklist, and Kirkus Best Book  ?  iTunes 2011 Rewind Best Teen Novel  ?  A Carnegie Medal and William C. Morris Finalist  ?  A New York Times and International Bestseller  ?  “Few books are beautifully written, fewer still are important; this novel is both.”—The Washington Post  ?  *“[A]n important book that deserves the widest possible readership.”—Booklist

tags:

Children’s Books > Literature & Fiction > Historical Fiction > Europe

26. National Geographic Kids Everything Weather: Facts, Photos, and Fun that Will Blow You Away

by: Kathy Furgang
Release date: Mar 27, 2012
Number of Pages: 64
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Weather can be wild, freaky, and fascinating! Powerful twisters roar through homes; earthquakes shatter whole cities; hurricanes fly through towns. How does it all happen and how do we know what we do? All you need to know about weather and all of its wildness will be found in the pages of this colorful, energetic, and accessible book. Kids will also learn about real-life encounters with wild weather from National Geographic tornado chaser, Tim Samaras, featured in “Explorer’s Corners” throughout the book. Packed with fun facts and amazing photographs, this book gives kids an in-depth look at these amazing natural phenomena.

National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.
Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

tags:

Children’s Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Earth Sciences

27. Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two

by: Joseph Bruchac
Release date: Jul 06, 2006
Number of Pages: 231
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“Readers who choose the book for the attraction of Navajo code talking and the heat of battle will come away with more than they ever expected to find.”—Booklist, starred review

Throughout World War II, in the conflict fought against Japan, Navajo code talkers were a crucial part of the U.S. effort, sending messages back and forth in an unbreakable code that used their native language. They braved some of the heaviest fighting of the war, and with their code, they saved countless American lives. Yet their story remained classified for more than twenty years.
But now Joseph Bruchac brings their stories to life for young adults through the riveting fictional tale of Ned Begay, a sixteen-year-old Navajo boy who becomes a code talker. His grueling journey is eye-opening and inspiring. This deeply affecting novel honors all of those young men, like Ned, who dared to serve, and it honors the culture and language of the Navajo Indians.

An ALA Best Book for Young Adults

“Nonsensational and accurate, Bruchac’s tale is quietly inspiring…”—School Library Journal

tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Friendship, Social Skills & School Life > Boys & Men

28. The Boy on the Wooden Box: How the Impossible Became Possible . . . on Schindler’s List

by: Leon LeysonMarilyn J. HarranElisabeth B. Leyson
Release date: Aug 18, 2015
Number of Pages: 256
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“Much like The Boy In the Striped Pajamas or The Book Thief,” this remarkable memoir from Leon Leyson, one of the youngest children to survive the Holocaust on Oskar Schindler’s list, “brings to readers a story of bravery and the fight for a chance to live” (VOYA).

This, the only memoir published by a former Schindler’s list child, perfectly captures the innocence of a small boy who goes through the unthinkable. Leon Leyson (born Leib Lezjon) was only ten years old when the Nazis invaded Poland and his family was forced to relocate to the Krakow ghetto. With incredible luck, perseverance, and grit, Leyson was able to survive the sadism of the Nazis, including that of the demonic Amon Goeth, commandant of Plaszow, the concentration camp outside Krakow.

Ultimately, it was the generosity and cunning of one man, Oskar Schindler, who saved Leon Leyson’s life, and the lives of his mother, his father, and two of his four siblings, by adding their names to his list of workers in his factory—a list that became world renowned: Schindler’s list.

Told with an abundance of dignity and a remarkable lack of rancor and venom, The Boy on the Wooden Box is a legacy of hope, a memoir unlike anything you’ve ever read.

tags:

Children’s Books > History > Exploration & Discovery

29. Unbroken (The Young Adult Adaptation): An Olympian’s Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive

by: Laura Hillenbrand
Release date: Nov 11, 2014
Number of Pages: 320
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In this captivating and lavishly illustrated young adult edition of her award-winning #1 New York Times bestseller, Laura Hillenbrand tells the story of a former Olympian’s courage, cunning, and fortitude following his plane crash in enemy territory. This adaptation of Unbroken introduces a new generation to one of history’s most thrilling survival epics. 

On a May afternoon in 1943, an American military plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood. Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared. It was that of a young lieutenant, the plane’s bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft and pulling himself aboard. So began one of the most extraordinary sagas of the Second World War.
 
The lieutenant’s name was Louis Zamperini. As a boy, he had been a clever delinquent, breaking into houses, brawling, and stealing. As a teenager, he had channeled his defiance into running, discovering a supreme talent that carried him to the Berlin Olympics. But when war came, the athlete became an airman, embarking on a journey that led to his doomed flight, a tiny raft, and a drift into the unknown.
 
Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a sinking raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would respond to desperation with ingenuity, suffering with hope and humor, brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would hang on the fraying wire of his will.
 
Featuring more than one hundred photographs plus an exclusive interview with Zamperini, this breathtaking odyssey—also captured on film by director Angelina Jolie—is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the ability to endure against the unlikeliest of odds.

Praise for Unbroken

“This adaptation of Hillenbrand’s adult bestseller is highly dramatic and exciting, as well as painful to read as it lays bare man’s hellish inhumanity to man.”—Booklist, STARRED

“This captivating book emphasizes the importance of determination, the will to survive against impossible odds, and support from family and friends. A strong, well-written work.”—SLJ

“This fine adaptation ably brings an inspiring tale to young readers.”—Kirkus

tags:

Children’s Books > History > Military & Wars

30. Little Women (Puffin in Bloom)

by: Louisa May Alcott
Release date: Aug 28, 2014
Number of Pages: 816
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Grown-up Meg, tomboyish Jo, timid Beth, and precocious Amy. The four March sisters couldn’t be more different. But with their father away at war, and their mother working to support the family, they have to rely on one another. Whether they’re putting on a play, forming a secret society, or celebrating Christmas, there’s one thing they can’t help wondering: Will Father return home safely?
tags:

Children’s Books > Classics

Best Selling Books for 12 year olds:

Recommended Books for 12 year olds:

Best Selling History Books for:

Recommended History Books for:

Last updated: Monday, December 5, 2016 9:24 AM

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