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Quick answer: If you like Alan Gratz, read Refugee, Prisoner B-3087 and Projekt 1065, then Number the Stars, Salt to the Sea and Between Shades of Gray. All are fast, gripping historical novels for middle-grade and teen readers.
Alan Gratz is an American author known for historical fiction with high stakes, such as Refugee, Prisoner B-3087, Projekt 1065, Grenade and Ground Zero. His books are short chapters, tight plots and real history. The books below offer similar wartime and historical fiction for young readers.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refugee | Alan Gratz | 10-14 | readers who like action and history |
| Prisoner B-3087 | Alan Gratz | Ages 10-14 | Holocaust survival |
| Projekt 1065 | Alan Gratz | Ages 11-15 | spy in Nazi Germany |
| Grenade | Alan Gratz | Ages 12+ | Okinawa 1945 |
| Number the Stars | Lois Lowry | Ages 9-13 | courage in war |
| Salt to the Sea | Ruta Sepetys | Ages 12+ | wartime refugees |
| Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys | Ages 12+ | Soviet deportation |
| The Book Thief | Markus Zusak | Ages 13+ | narrated by Death |
| Code Name Verity | Elizabeth Wein | Ages 13+ | friendship in war |
| Rose Under Fire | Elizabeth Wein | Ages 13+ | women prisoners |
| The Boy on the Wooden Box | Leon Leyson | Ages 10-14 | Schindler's list survivor |
| Milkweed | Jerry Spinelli | Ages 11+ | child in the ghetto |
| Inside Out & Back Again | Thanhha Lai | 8-12 | readers who like verse novels |
| Wolf by Wolf | Ryan Graudin | Ages 13+ | alternate history |
| The Diary of a Young Girl | Anne Frank | Ages 11+ | classic diary |
1. Refugee by Alan Gratz
Three children, in Nazi Germany, Cuba and Syria, flee their homes. Intense and fast-paced.
Best for: readers who like action and history.
2. Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz
A boy survives ten concentration camps. Fast and moving.
Best for: Holocaust survival.
3. Projekt 1065 by Alan Gratz
A boy in Hitler Youth secretly spies for the Allies. Tense and thoughtful.
Best for: spy in Nazi Germany.
4. Grenade by Alan Gratz
Two teenagers face the brutal battle of Okinawa. Intense and honest.
Best for: Okinawa 1945.
5. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
A girl in Denmark helps her Jewish friend escape the Nazis. Short and powerful.
Best for: courage in war.
6. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
Four young refugees face the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff. Gripping and sad.
Best for: wartime refugees.
7. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
A Lithuanian girl is deported to Siberia. Lyrical and heartbreaking.
Best for: Soviet deportation.
8. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
A girl in Nazi Germany steals books and shares them. Moving and widely loved.
Best for: narrated by Death.
9. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Two young women, a pilot and a spy, are caught in the Second World War. Clever and devastating.
Best for: friendship in war.
10. Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein
A young pilot is sent to Ravensbruck. Harrowing and hopeful.
Best for: women prisoners.
11. The Boy on the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson
A boy survives with help from Oskar Schindler. Gentle and honest memoir.
Best for: Schindler's list survivor.
12. Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli
An orphan boy lives on the streets of Warsaw. Haunting and short.
Best for: child in the ghetto.
13. Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Ha, ten, leaves Saigon in 1975 and settles in Alabama. A verse novel based on Lai's own life, with humor and grace.
Best for: readers who like verse novels.
14. Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin
A girl in a world where the Axis won enters a motorcycle race to assassinate Hitler. Fast and imaginative.
Best for: alternate history.
15. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
Anne Frank writes during two years in hiding. The most famous Holocaust document for young readers.
Best for: classic diary.
How to Choose
For more Gratz begin with Refugee or Prisoner B-3087. For wartime settings choose Projekt 1065, Number the Stars or Milkweed. For teen historical thrillers pick Code Name Verity, Salt to the Sea or Rose Under Fire. For alternate history try Wolf by Wolf. Gratz's books are fast, so these picks suit readers who love history with tension. Gratz writes with short chapters and cliffhangers, and he usually includes an author's note explaining what is true. His books are common choices for school reading lists and book clubs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Alan Gratz?
An American author of historical fiction for young readers.
Where should I start?
With Refugee.
What age are his books for?
Roughly ages 10 to 14.
Are they based on real events?
Yes, with fictional characters.
Do they cover difficult topics?
Yes, including war, refugees and the Holocaust.
Are his books good for reluctant readers?
Yes, the pacing is fast.
Does he write series?
Mostly standalone books.
What should I read next?
Try Grenade or Number the Stars.
Which book here is best for Okinawa 1945?
Try Grenade by Alan Gratz, which suits readers looking for Okinawa 1945.
Which book here is best for Soviet deportation?
Try Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys, which suits readers looking for Soviet deportation.
Which book here is best for women prisoners?
Try Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein, which suits readers looking for women prisoners.
Which book here is best for readers who like verse novels?
Try Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai, which suits readers looking for readers who like verse novels.