World War Two Fiction
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Today, the 8th May, marks the anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, or VE Day. My Grandpa was in the crowds that gathered at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the end of World War Two and see the Royal Family. He describes how his Father lifted him onto his shoulders to allow him a better view and prevent him getting injured in the mass of people.
In honour of VE Day, I want to share some of my favourite pieces of World War Two Fiction. A large proportion of my list are children's books. I think partly because children's literature shields me from explicit details of the atrocities that occurred. I have chosen to write a list of fiction for this reason 'The Diary of a Young Girl' by Anne Frank has not been included. It is probably the most well known piece of World War Two literature and has sold over twenty-five million copies worldwide - I don't think I need to add that I definitely recommend it. A lot of the books that I have included are based on real life events with fictional characters tying the truth together.
1- 'The Book Thief' by Marcus Zusak
Written from the perspective of Death. In Nazi Germany, 1939 Death is incredibly busy and about to get busier. Liesel steals a book by her brother's graveside and so begins her love of books and reading.
"It’s a small story really, about, among other things:
* A girl * Some words * An accordionist * Some fanatical Germans * A Jewish fist fighter * And quite a lot of thievery"
2- 'Between Shades of Gray' by Ruta Sepetys
Ruta Sepetys is the daughter of a Lithuanian refugee. After her Father fled from Stalin, some of her extended family were deported to Siberia. As she began to research Lithuanians during World War Two, she discovered that her family situation was not unique. Ruta Sepetys interviewed survivors of the deportations and gulags (Russian labour camps), historians, government officials and psychologists. The characters in her story are fictional but many of the experiences her characters go through are based on real stories and accounts from survivors.
3- 'Number the Stars' by Lois Lowry
Annemarie's best friend Ellen has to be concealed in their flat one night. Ellen is Jewish and needs to escape the 'relocation' of the Jews in Denmark. Annemarie learns about being brave and doing what is right as the Danish Resistance start to smuggle Jews to Sweden.
The Danish Resistance managed to smuggle nearly seven thousand people across to Sweden. This book taught me about heroism.
4- 'Goodnight Mister Tom' by Michelle Magorian
Young Willie Beech is evacuated during World War Two. A deprived and shy child placed with the recluse Tom Oakley at first seems like a peculiar pairing, but the boy begins to thrive under Mister Tom's care. Willie's Mother summons him back to war-torn London and Mister Tom fears for the boy's safety.
"It occurred to him that strength was quite different from toughness and that being vulnerable wasn't quite the same as being weak."
5- 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' by John Boyne
Bruno knows nothing of the Holocaust. All he knows is, in his new house there is no one for him to play with. Then he meets Shmuel, a little boy on the other side of a wire fence who wears a uniform of striped pyjamas.
“What exactly was the difference? he wondered to himself. And who decided which people wore the striped pajamas and which people wore the uniforms?”
6- 'Hero on a Bicycle' by Shirley Hughes
Set in Nazi-occupied Florence in 1944. The Italian Resistance is fighting back and Paolo and his sister Constanza are desperate to help fight the occupation. Caught by Partisans on a nightly bicycle ride, Paolo has to take a message to his English mother - a message that sees them facing a lot of danger.
Shirley Hughes travelled to Florence as a nineteen year old, and drew inspiration for this story from a family she met there.
7- 'Salt to the Sea' by Ruta Sepetys
Salt to the Sea is based on 'Operation Hannibal' and the fate of the ship Wilhelm Gustloff told through four different narratives.
"The sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff is the deadliest disaster in maritime history with losses dwarfing the death tolls of the famous ships Titanic and Lusitania. Yet remarkably, most people have never heard of it."
8- 'The Devil's Arithmetic' by Jane Yolen
This was probably the hardest book for me to read. It's about a Jewish girl, called Hannah, who is bored of holiday gatherings where her family talk about the past. This holiday, Hannah is transported back in time to World War Two.
I think this book was harder to read because Hannah knew the atrocities that were coming.
“We all have such stories. It is a brutal arithmetic. But I - I am alive. You are alive. As long as we breathe, we can see and hear. As long as we can remember, all those gone before are alive inside us.”
9- 'When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit' by Judith Kerr
Anna sees posters in Berlin of a man with a moustache, she has no idea who Hitler is. One morning she wakes and her father is gone. Germany is no longer safe for the Jews, because of Hitler they have to go and leave everything behind.
"It's quite simple. Papa thinks Hitler and the Nazis might win the elections. If that happened he would not want to live in Germany while they were in power, and nor would any of us."
10- 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
It's been a while since I've read this. I remember falling in love with letter writing and researching about the occupation of Guernsey after I had finished this book.
11- 'The Lion And The Unicorn' by Shirley Hughes
This is a children's picture book about a boy, Lenny Levi, who gets evacuated during World War Two. I adore Shirley Hughes as a children's author and 'The Lion and The Unicorn' is no different. Her illustrations are beautiful and I loved this book about bravery.
"Lions stood for being brave. Everybody had to be brave in wartime, not only soldiers but other people too. Children even."
World War Two Fiction To-Read List:
'Summer of My German Soldier' by Bette Greene
'Code Name Verity' by Elizabeth Wein
'Empire of the Sun' by J. G. Ballard
and 'The Boy at the Top of the Mountain' by John Boyne
I am always on the lookout for new books. What World War Two fiction would you recommend?