Books About the U.S. Civil War

Last updated: July 17, 2025

There's plenty of drama to be found in the 19th-century conflict that erupted after seven Southern states seceded from the United States of America. From 1861 to 1865, the Union Army of the North fought the Confederate Army of the South to reunite the country and eventually abolish slavery. The books on this list -- fiction, nonfiction, classics, and recent releases -- can help kids understand the Civil War and its legacy. For more books about history, check out our lists of Historical Fiction and Graphic Novels That Teach History.

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