14 Books for Kids Who Love Refugee by Alan Gratz

This is a heartbreaking middle grade book about a girl’s experience during the partition of India. Nisha is caught between her Hindu-Indian and Muslim-Indian sides. She’s also dealing with the loss of her mother. So, when her country starts to split in two, her search for identity becomes even more meaningful. There’s a reason why this one is a Newbery Honor book. Ages 10+

If you’re looking for a sweeter refugee story, this is a terrific option set in the UK. It’s all about a boy and his friends whose lives are forever changed when a Syrian refugee joins their classroom. They learn a lot about empathy, friendship, and standing up for what’s right as they grow closer to him and gain insight into his journey from Syria to their country. It’s fantastic on audio! Ages 9+

It’s 2020, and Matthew is sick of being inside with the pandemic raging outside. While reluctantly helping his great-grandmother sort through her belongings, he finds a picture of two girls. As she shares her experience during the Ukrainian famine, the story alternates between three narrators: Matthew, Helena, and Mila. A powerful, unforgettable account of historical events. Ages 11+

Whether your kids loved the original novel or couldn’t get through because they prefer graphic novels, the graphic adaptation of this award-winning novel is a must-read. It’s short, beautifully illustrated, and just as heartwrenching. I absolutely adored it and the way it stays faithful to the original while providing respite for kids who prefer a shorter page count! Ages 10+

Valentina and Oksana are classmates and neighbors living in Pryapta near Chernobyl, Ukraine, when the nuclear explosion occurs. Valentina is Jewish, and Oksana is Ukrainian. Oksana’s father is abusive and dies in the explosion. Her mother isn’t allowed to leave because of her high radiation exposure, so Oksana is forced to leave with Valentina and her mother. Valentina’s mother decides that they will go to Leningrad to stay with her estranged mother. Unfortunately, at the station, they learn that only two tickets are available, and she sends the two young girls to live with her mother. The Blackbird Girls is a riveting work of historical fiction that details the Chernobyl disaster and its aftermath in a gripping, accessible way for middle schoolers. Ages 10+

Raj and Iqbal are two best friends, one Hindu and one Muslim, who lived in Singh just before India’s partition. After the country’s independence, Raj and his family are forced to flee, encountering many hardships along the way as they struggle to resettle in Bombay. Raj is not great at math and prefers to be in the kitchen (the place of the women, according to his father), much to his father’s chagrin. However, that love for food ultimately saves them as his mom starts using food as a source of income. While The Night Diary is more introspective, this book truly delves into what really happened to families during this time of great migration and is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn about that time period. It is unflinching, beautifully written, and doesn’t shy away from hard events. Ages 10+

This powerful Western is about a boy who accompanies his father to secure land during the Oklahoma Land Rush in the 1880s. They encounter a veteran who joins their company, and Will must defend himself against dangers along the way. I learned so much from this moving historical account that helps readers understand that time period while touching on themes like father-son relationships, community, and bravery. Heads up for gun usage (it is a Western, after all). Ages 10+

Set in 1913, Mexico, Petra Luna is forced to flee with her Abuelita and siblings when the Revolution reaches their small village. Despite her grandmother’s chiding that escaping to the US is simply “barefoot dreams,” Petra Luna is determined to reach for a better life. This was fantastic on audio and utterly moving to read. Ages 10+

This inspiring, highly approachable release conveys the little-known story of Muslims who rescued hundreds of Jews in Paris during WWII. With an unforgettable protagonist, high-stakes rescues, and a fast-paced plot, this is an unmissable historical fiction novel. Ages 10+

1960, Cuba. Cousins Victoria and Jackie love living in their island country with their large family. When when Fidel Castro’s communist government takes hold, things change swiftly, leading Victoria’s father to relocate his family to Miami, leaving Jackie and her family behind.As Victoria adapts to life in the US, Jackie and her family struggle in Cuba—until the family decides to send Jackie over to the States with Operation Peter Pan. But will Jackie ever see her family again? Both girls band together to bring the rest of their family to America. Farewell Cuba Mi Isla is a moving, authentic book chronicling the impact of Fidel Castro’s communist regime in Cuba. Ages 10+

Leo, Elsa, and Max are three friends in 1930s Vienna, Austria when Hitler’s reign begins to spread through Europe. Elsa’s family flees to Prague, Leo’s family remains in Austria, and Max and his Nazi-supporting father move to Munich. Told from all three perspectives, we follow the three teens in this heartwrenching story as they navigate these turbulent times and attempt to find a way back to each other. This is a young adult novel, best for older middle schoolers! Ages 12+

In this gorgeous graphic novel, tweens Myunghee and Yunho’s paths intersect the day before they both escape the communist regime and converge again in China, where Yunho’s mother takes Myunghee in and along on their arduous, perilous escape plan. The Other Side of Tomorrow is a breathtaking, suspenseful, and gorgeously illustrated graphic novel about two kids escaping North Korea. Ages 9+

I LOVED this verse novel told from the perspective of young Lettie, her mother Sylvie, and a teenage teacher, Philomena, about their perilous journey from 1870s Mississippi to Nebraska during the Great Migration. With narrators of varying ages, this suspenseful, at times heartbreaking story has plenty to offer readers between the ages of 9 and 13 and would make a great readaloud for families with older kids who can be patient with a slower-starting story. Ages 9+