World War I and II books???

[MochaMel]

I am going to start doing this history subject with my 13 y.o. this week hopefully.. I want some good books to read that are not too old or textbook like... Living books are preferable.

Anyone studied this with the kiddos' and have some good reads they could pass on to me.. I am hoping to check them out at the library this week after the holiday.

I already think i'm going to purchase the World War I lapbook for him, but after reading some other parents info. on this lapbook they said for a teen you would want to supplement with other reading..

Thanks in advance!

[MidnightCry]

Try www.veritaspress.com and www.bfbooks.com (Beautiful Feet). Both show several living books for those two eras. Many titles are probably available at your local library.

[Cookies4me]

I would second the bfbooks. You don't have to do their study but they have a rather good list of books on the subject.

[Wally]

I think CBD has books in the Henty series. These books put the reader in adventures throughout time. They may be helpful. I'm trying to remember the author, but there is a series of paperbacks of a group of kids in Denmark and their efforts during WWII. Check your Local Library.

There are alot of books on vehicles, tanks, planes, battle maps, that will help. That can help keep a child's interest while slogging through the why this and that happened. You may try a hobbystore for special projects - models or books to fill out the study.

Newsreel Movies -Victory in the Pacific, or some of the classics may help. The American Girl character Molly McGuire (books and video available) can shed some life on what WWII was like on the home front.

If you are considering movies like Band of Brothers, or Saving Pvt Ryan, I'll warn you of some serious mature subject matter. Excellent movies though for young adults (17-18) considering the military as a career.

Also I know of no good way to explain war. Each age group has its ability to concieve so much. The Holocaust will be a challenge, but I let my 3 kids ask questions and talked with them until they had some understanding. God gave the grace.

I hope this helps.

[BamaM14Shooter]

If you are considering movies like Band of Brothers, or Saving Pvt Ryan, I'll warn you of some serious mature subject matter. Excellent movies though for young adults (17-18) considering the military as a career.
These are excellent films showing what some of our soldiers went through during WW2. For WW1, I'd recommend "The Lost Battalion" that has Rick Schroeder in it. I think A and E channel produced it. It shows a good WW1 perspective, but doesn't have the extreme gore and language in it, and for WW2, a lesser known movie called "Saints and Soldiers" shows a pretty realistic view without as much language and gore as well. "Fly Boys" ain't bad, either, but it didn't pay quite as much attention to historical detail that other movies do, although with the computer generated effects, it might spark a student's interest in that conflict. Some older WW1 movies that I'd recommend are "Sgt. York" and "All Quiet on the Western Front". For some reason, WW1 never generated very many films like other wars did, but most of them are very well done.

[BelovedChild]

The Dairy of Anne Frank book, movie.

The World at War WW2 television series (older children)
The Silver Sword I read this as a child in my school library, told from point of view of Polish children. ) PS Sorry I cannot remember many authors on many of these books.. You will have to google.
Hansi (the girl who loved the Swastika (good story for teens from a girls point of view)

Any diaries of anyone living at that time. You would have to go local for this. I live down under so I cannot recommend any.

My 13yo DS is curently reading a book Torpedoed - a story on the sinking of some of the children's transports.

The Sound of Music books (if they are still available). There are some that tell the story of the von Trapp Family Singers of their life in Austria and America before the film. These would be excellent for younger children. Time Period pre WW2 and earley 1940's

Try to talk to relatives/friends/neighbours about their memories.

Corrie Ten Boom books.

For Those I loved by Martin Grey (story of a Polish Jewish Boy.)

for fiction, the Bodie Thoene series starting with Vienna Prelude. This covers prewar Europe the last 3 years.
Also, ask at your local library for their recommendation.

[MochaMel]

Thanks you guys for all the great books and movies listed!! :thumb We already own Band of Brothers -- hubby loved it, and has already wanted Jacob to see that...

[tybash]

carefull band of brothers has a nudey scene in it. Found that one out the hard way. Thank goodness hubby caught it almost in time.:doh

[toadblossom]

Even if you are just looking for book ideas and not curriculum, I'd look at Sonlight.com .

It's a curriculum that was developed for Missionary families who wanted to homeschool their kids. They concentrate on older classic versions of books, that you don't have to worry about language or inappropriate subjects being brought up.

You can search their catalog, by grade and or subject and they will list their recommended books. If there is a potential issue with a book or a slightly off worldview, they will tell you about it before you buy the book, and they will also let you know it's positives so that you know why it's still included in their book list.

[booklover]

I would second the Bock and Bodie Thoene suggestion. My 13 yr old and 10 yr old are engrossed in the Gates of Zion series. My son wants me to buy all their books. They do a good series on World War 1 too. Painless history!

We have been watching a history channel DVD series on the presidents that has been very informative. If you selected the Woodrow Wilson-Roosevelt time period of the Presidents, you would get a good US background to our presence in the war.

The Hiding Place is a book and a movie that I really love for the brave Christian response.


There is also a documentary of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and lots of biographies of him and his actions in the confessing church.

History channel.com and youtube have videos relating to world war II.



World war II is fascinating to study. So much evil, so much history to its beginning, so much tragedy and heroism.