Books About the Holocaust

During World War II, Adolf Hitler and the Nazis attempted to exterminate European Jews by forcing them into concentration camps, where both children and adults were sent to their deaths in gas chambers along with non-Jewish Polish, Romani people, and people with disabilities. Many books have chronicled the courage and suffering of Holocaust victims from fictional stories to first-person accounts by survivors to diaries written at the time. The books on our list are some of the best for kids and teens about this period. For more reading about the past, check out our lists of World War II Books for Kids and Historical Fiction.

Nicky & Vera: A Quiet Hero of the Holocaust and the Children He Rescued Poster Image
BOOK

Nicky & Vera: A Quiet Hero of the Holocaust and the Children He Rescued

age 6+

Inspiring true story of lifesaving hero and WWII refugees.

By: Peter Sis (2021)
Number the Stars Poster Image
BOOK

Number the Stars

age 9+

Stirring tale of girl who smuggles Jews to safety in WWII.

By: Lois Lowry (1989)
The Tower of Life Book Cover: A young girl with dark hair wearing a blue and white gingham dress holds photographs to her chest, a sketch of a small town behind her.
BOOK

The Tower of Life: How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt Her Town in Stories and Photographs

age 9+

Affecting true story of a Holocaust survivor and historian.

By: Chana Stiefel (2022)
Two girls speak to each other in sign language on a street with Nazi flags handing on the buildings.
BOOK

Signs of Survival: A Memoir of the Holocaust

age 10+

Courageous sisters persevere in powerful Holocaust memoir.

We Must Not Forget: Holocaust Stories of Survival and Resistance Poster Image
BOOK

We Must Not Forget: Holocaust Stories of Survival and Resistance

age 10+

Extraordinary true stories of bravery, defiance, and hope.

By: Deborah Hopkinson (2021)
White Bird: A Wonder Story Poster Image
BOOK

White Bird: A Wonder Story

age 10+

Moving WWII graphic novel has loss, offers hope for future.

By: R.J. Palacio (2019)
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl Poster Image
BOOK

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

age 11+

Inspiring wartime journal reveals teen's inner life.

By: Anne Frank (1947)
The Boy on the Wooden Box Poster Image
BOOK

The Boy on the Wooden Box

age 11+

Moving memoir of boy Holocaust survivor on Schindler's list.

The Children of Willesden Lane Poster Image
BOOK

The Children of Willesden Lane

age 12+

Inspiring story of teen pianist who escaped Nazis in WWII.

By: Mona Golabek, Lee Cohen (2003)
The Devil's Arithmetic Poster Image
BOOK

The Devil's Arithmetic

age 12+

Intense Holocaust tale makes history real for young readers.

By: Jane Yolen (1988)
Survivors Club: The True Story of a Very Young Prisoner of Auschwitz Poster Image
BOOK

Survivors Club: The True Story of a Very Young Prisoner of Auschwitz

age 12+

Unforgettable true story of boy sent to death camp at age 4.

What the Night Sings Poster Image
BOOK

What the Night Sings

age 12+

Powerful story of teen girl's life after the Holocaust.

By: Vesper Stamper (2018)
The Complete Maus Poster Image
BOOK

The Complete Maus

age 13+

Unforgettable graphic memoir of the Holocaust.

By: Art Spiegelman (2003)
The Librarian of Auschwitz Poster Image
BOOK

The Librarian of Auschwitz

age 13+

Unforgettable story of a teen heroine of the Holocaust.

By: Antonio Iturbe (2017)
Mapping the Bones Poster Image
BOOK

Mapping the Bones

age 13+

Twins' lives are torn apart in haunting Holocaust book.

By: Jane Yolen (2018)
Night Poster Image
BOOK

Night

age 13+

Unforgettable memoir of teen who survived the Holocaust.

By: Elie Wiesel (1956)
We Are Witnesses: Five Teenagers Who Died in the Holocaust Poster Image
BOOK

We Are Witnesses: Five Teenagers Who Died in the Holocaust

age 13+

Powerful stories from young Holocaust victims.

By: Jacob Boas (1995)
Deep Sea Poster Image
BOOK

Deep Sea

age 14+

Tender summer tale is 3rd in saga of Jewish girl in WWII.

By: Annika Thor (2014)