War

From the Trojan War to World War II to the Iraq War, history has been shaped by humanity's tragic capacity to wage war. In this thematic collection, we have gathered fiction and nonfiction texts that investigate both the lessons and the senselessness crystallized in the aftermath of military conflict.

Publication year 1967

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Friendship, Society: War

Tags History: World, Biography, WWII / World War II, History: European, Military / War


Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Past, Society: War

Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Military / War, Asian Literature

The Gift of Rain (2007) is a historical novel by Tan Twan Eng. Set in Penang, Malaysia, during World War II, the novel follows Philip Hutton, a Chinese British young man. As he navigates his dual heritage, Philip forms a complex relationship with a Japanese diplomat who becomes both his mentor and betrayer, forcing him to confront questions of loyalty, identity, and survival during the Japanese occupation. The Gift of Rain was Tan Twan Eng’s... Read The Gift of Rain Summary


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags History: World, Arts / Culture, Magical Realism


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags History: World


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Fathers, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Children's Literature, Military / War, Realistic Fiction, History: World

The Green Glass Sea is the 2006 children’s historical fiction and debut novel by American author Ellen Klages. Set in New Mexico in 1943, the story tells of 11-year-old Dewey Kerrigan, an outcast mechanical engineering prodigy who arrives to live with her father in the mysterious town of Los Alamos, New Mexico (also called the Hill). Dewey slowly learns that her father and several other scientists are working on a top-secret project called the “gadget.”... Read The Green Glass Sea Summary


Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: War, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World

Written in epistolary form, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a historical novel set during the German Occupation of the English Channel Islands during World War II (WWII). The novel was co-written by Mary Ann Shaffer, an editor, librarian, and bookshop clerk, and her niece, Annie Barrows, author of the Ivy and Bean children’s books series. Shaffer began writing the novel, but when she was diagnosed with cancer she requested Barrows’s help... Read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Summary


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: The Past, Society: War

Tags Romance, History: World


Publication year 1948

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, British Literature, Military / War, Irish Literature


Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Gothic Literature, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, Religion / Spirituality

The Historian (2005), Elizabeth Kostova’s best-selling novel, blends fact and fiction to reinvent the myth of the iconic vampire Dracula, or Vlad Ţepeş. In this retelling, the unnamed narrator accompanies her ambassador father, Paul, across Europe in the early 1970s as he tells her the story of his near encounter with the vampire. He tells her the Prince of Wallachia lives, 500 years after his death. Paul’s mentor, Dr. Rossi, was conducting research on Dracula... Read The Historian Summary


Publication year 110

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

Tags Philosophy, Philosophy, Classical Period, History: World, Fantasy, Classic Fiction


Publication year 590

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags History: European, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, French Literature, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2003

Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Food, Natural World: Place, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Globalization, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Education, Education, Anthropology, Anthropology, Science / Nature, Philosophy, Philosophy, Politics / Government, History: World, Sociology


Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War

Tags History: Asian, History: World, Politics / Government, Military / War, Religion / Spirituality, Social Justice


Publication year 1984

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Society: War

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Military / War, Action / Adventure, Cold War, Historical Fiction


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War

Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, Romance, New Adult


Publication year 2016

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Language, Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Immigration, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

Tags Irish Literature, Biography, History: U.S., Military / War, History: World

The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero (2016), by American author and journalist Timothy Egan, is a biography of Thomas Francis Meagher, an Irish revolutionary and American Civil War hero who later became the governor of the Montana Territory. Egan's narrative captures Meagher's tumultuous journey, from his fight for Irish independence to his contributions in America, focusing on broader themes of exile, resilience, and identity. Egan contextualizes Meagher’s life against the... Read The Immortal Irishman Summary


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Mental Health, Society: War, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Life/Time: The Past

Tags Realistic Fiction, Mental Illness, Military / War, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance


Publication year 1980

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: War, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, British Literature, Race / Racism, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction

Published in 1980, the fantasy novel The Indian in the Cupboard tells the story of a small cabinet that converts a boy’s plastic toy figures into real, if tiny, people, and the misadventures the boy and his best friend have with those visitors. The first of five novels about the magic cabinet, The Indian in the Cupboard has sold more than 10 million copies and been made into a motion picture. Author Lynne Reid Banks... Read The Indian in the Cupboard Summary


Publication year 1949

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Society: War, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Military / War, History: World, WWII / World War II, Politics / Government, Biography

“Their Finest Hour” is a speech originally given by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill on June 18, 1940, in the House of Commons to members of Parliament and his ministerial cabinet. Churchill delivered the speech following the disastrous campaign of the Battle of France and the hasty evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) from Dunkirk. In June 1940, Nazi boots marched in Paris, and the surrender of the French government seemed imminent. The speech... Read Their Finest Hour Summary


Publication year 1981

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Holocaust

Uri Orlev’s The Island on Bird Street (1981) is a middle-grade historical novel about Alex, an 11-year-old Jewish boy living alone in a Polish ghetto during World War II. Semi-autobiographical in nature, Orlev’s story shows Alex’s steady determination and strength as he comes of age during the dangers of Nazi occupation. The Island on Bird Street received the 1982 IBBY Honor List Book for Israel and the 1981 Mordechai Bernstein Award. Additionally, the author received... Read The Island on Bird Street Summary