Captivating Historical Novels for Teens

Historical fiction offers interesting peeks into the past that you don’t get from textbooks. One of the best things about the genre is that it can make you interested in learning more about the actual history of the time period. Often, after reading a historical novel, I end up jumping down an endless rabbit hole of information about the time period or characters the book was based on.

In this list of historical novels, you’ll find riveting stories about war, royalty, the quest for freedom, and events that changed history.

What the Night Sings

by Vesper Stamper

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What happens after your life is torn apart? This is the story of a teen girl who survived the Holocaust and her struggle to rebuild her life after she is liberated from a concentration camp. This atmospheric book is perfect for YA readers fascinated by World War II.

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Dream Country

by Shannon Gibney

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A compelling look at the connection between Liberia and America, Dream Country explores the lives of five generations of a family searching for freedom. Heartbreaking and honest, this journey through history is about family, dreams, and the hope for a better future.

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And I Darken

by Kiersten White

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You'll love this gender-swapped retelling of Vlad the Impaler and the Ottoman Empire. Romance, war, and politics combine into a riveting story of the struggle for power in the 15th century. This series is perfect for readers that love fierce female warriors and new spins on historical events.

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Haunting the Deep

by Adriana Mather

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After receiving a brief visit from a ghost, Sam worries that trouble is brewing — and she's right. She starts having vivid dreams of being aboard the Titanic and needs the help of her friends to break the spell trying to trap her there. This spooky novel is a fantastic follow-up to How to Hang a Witch.

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We Are All That's Left

by Carrie Arcos

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Told in alternating viewpoints between Zara in the modern world and her mother in a war-torn 1990s Bosnia, this novel is at once educational, terrifying, and honest. It deals with heavy themes but also offers hope and healing.

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Ashes in the Snow (Movie Tie-In)

by Ruta Sepetys

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Fifteen-year-old Lina and her family are snatched from their home in Lithuania by Soviet officers and sent to a labor camp in Siberia. Refusing to give up hope, Lina documents her experiences in coded drawings she hopes will make their way to her father. Keep a box of tissues handy as you read this book!

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Fatal Throne: The Wives of Henry VIII Tell All

by Candace Fleming, M.T. Anderson, Stephanie Hemphill, Lisa Ann Sandell, Jennifer Donnelly, Linda Sue Park, and Deborah Hopkinson

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Each ill-fated wife of Henry VIII tells her heartbreaking story in this gripping book by a collection of outstanding YA authors. Politics, infidelity, a vicious court, and plain old bad luck play a part in each wife's downfall, making Fatal Throne an utterly spellbinding read.

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