WWII Novels

Back to one of my favorite genres! And, not surprisingly, I enjoyed each of these four books. Even if you don't typically go for a WWII novel, any of these books would be a good place to start.

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We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter

I had the hardest time getting into this book, but not because it wasn't well written. We Were the Lucky Ones was the first WWII historical fiction book I read after Annie was born, and I was surprised by how these characters and their stories affected me as I read them from the perspective of a mother. I had to take it slow at first, but I'm so glad I kept at it because this is the kind of story that will stick with me. It is based on true events experienced by the author's own family and their experiences under Poland's German (and Russian) occupation, as refugees, working in Siberian labor camps, living in Ghettos, working with the resistance, enlisting with the allies, and ultimately overcoming it all. It is powerful, moving, and absolutely uplifting- a new favorite for sure. And the author also has a website and blog where she goes into more detail about the historical elements of her story, which is absolutely worth exploring after you finish the book. 

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The War that SAved My Life and The War I Finally Won 
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by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

While these books are geared towards young adults, the story of this little girl captures the plight of London's children during WWII and the Blitz in a way that is, simply put, heartwarming. There is a surprising amount of depth when you factor in the background stories and ongoing struggles of the children in the book. The author does such a beautiful job of narrating from the childlike perspective of an innocent and troubled child. The characters are lovable and their relationships just absolutely make the story. 

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The Alice NEtwork by Kate Quinn

This book mostly takes place in France and spans both WWI and WWII, told from the perspective of two different women. The story and characters are based on the female spy network employed during the wars. The author weaves fact and fiction together through the use of her endearing and very overtly flawed characters. It's the kind of story that builds to a climax and unwinds in a happy ending, but the depth she created from her attention to detail and application of true events gave the story a good balance.

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Other favorites in this Genre

• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
• The House at Tyneford by Natalie Solomons
• The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman
• The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah