Top History Books for Middle School & Older Kids

On March 9, 2016, the AlphaGo artificial intelligence (AI) computer program played five rounds of a popular board game against then world champion, Lee Sedol. AlphaGo had already beaten the European champion using deep learning to recognize patterns. Who will prevail? Man or machine? This enthralling audiobook engages younger kids and middle schoolers while teaching AI concepts and piquing their interests in tech, programming and gaming.

If they’re into this topic, you can find the rest of the Moments in Science collection on Amazon.

Given a wild horse at eleven-winters old, a Native American boy named Curly receives a vision of a horse dancing in a storm. After conflict erupts between his tribe and nearby settlers, he transforms into the wise and brave Tashunka Witco (Crazy Horse). With this new identity, he defends his people. Today is known as a bold yet compassionate military genius. This beautifully illustrated Read-To-Me book is a heartfelt introduction to the true story of this famed Lakota warrior.

It’s 1935 in Elsinore, California at the height of the Great Depression. Amid nearly crushing hardships, 11-year-old Joseph McCoy has to work shining shoes to help keep his family afloat. One of the few Black people in a mostly white community, Joseph is getting by through hard work, and coping through his special relationship with his sister. But when an all-Black Civilian Conservation Corps work camp arrives, it sparks racial tension and prejudice. The camp comes under threat and Joseph must help save it to bring his family hope for the future.

Set during World War II, this graphic novel follows a young Jewish boy, Maurice on his long, perilous trek toward freedom and an education. Forced to flee their home, his family travels through Europe, and sail to an internment camp in Jamaica. Determined to continue his education and one day become a lawyer, he finds a professor to study with. He’s then able to earn his high school diploma and eventually attend a university in Canada. Throughout his journey, he carries his English dictionary, a vital tool and symbol of hope during the tumultuous migration. Poignant and humorous, this story highlights the power of courage and resilience during tough times.

Gettysburg turned the tide of the American Civil War. If your child is a fan of American history, they’ll love learning about this famed battle from the perspective of an eleven-year-old bugle boy named Gabe. Gabe marches with the Union Army and at Gettysburg, he wrestles with his desires to both fulfill his duty and protect the people he loves. This longer picture book offers a unique and beautifully illustrated glimpse into this tumultuous period in U.S. history.

After 11-year-old, African American Langston loses his mother in 1946, he and his father move from Alabama to start over in Chicago’s Bronzeville district. He feels like he’s giving up everything he loves—family, friends and the familiarity of home. 

Langston is often alone and has a hard time fitting in at his new school, but he finds one bright spot in his new, solitary life: a library that’s open to Black children during a time when public spaces were deeply segregated. He finds refuge in the library for hours and days, and then he comes across a writer that catches his interest—a poet also named Langston. Set decades before the Civil Rights movement, this story makes for a relatable conversation starter on race and class in post-war American life. 

The best history books for middle school and older elementary school kids get ’em interested with things they already love. Transport your tween to another time period through their tastebuds with this food-themed history of the world. Authored by celebrity food editor and author Tanya Steel, this this book explores the wildest and little-known facts about the historical quest for food, the struggles to acquire it and its ongoing role in human events throughout the ages. It includes surprising factoids like why M&Ms were really invented, the actual reason Christopher Columbus set out on his most famous voyage and the weird (sometimes cool, sometimes yucky) things the wealthy served their guests during the Middle Ages. Your kid will also be treated to 30 kid-approved recipes and fascinating food stats.

Delight your kid with some of history’s most profound, head-scratching mysteries. This first book in the captivating series from National Geographic explores questions like, what really happened to the Mayan people? Who stole the Irish Crown Jewels? What is actually known about the Bermuda Triangle? These just scratch the surface of all the mind-blowing facts contained in this book. Filled with vivid photos and some of the world’s most intriguing mysteries, “History’s Mysteries” will be a hit with your curious kid.

This book, inspired by the true story of French villagers who saved thousands of Jews during WWII, follows a group of teens who stand up for what’s right. One Jewish boy learns to forge documents to help his mother and saves hundreds with his newfound skills. Another boy smuggles people to Switzerland. And a girl summons her courage to deliver messages for the resistance. Each kid faces extreme danger as they fight to keep others safe and fight the forces of the Gestapo in this inspiring tale of courage and resilience.