These 20 novels cover pivotal moments in history, revealing instance of both tragedy and triumph. I continue to find that books are often my very best education, filling in the gaps that were often cough intentionally cough left in my history textbooks. Maybe that’s not surprising, but I still remember the shock I felt when I first realized the history I had been presented was so flawed there were whole chapters of it that were inaccurate or missing altogether. Maybe you find yourself in the same place. And while I certainly won’t claim these books will teach you everything you need to know about history, they are a pretty good place to start — at least when it comes to the vast world of YA historical fiction. So whether you’re wanting to correct or simply expand your understanding of the past, these 20 must-read YA historical fiction books are here to teach you a thing or two while also being absorbing and entertaining reads in their own right. Need even more must-read YA historical fiction? Check out these other lists:
100 Must-Read YA Historical Fiction Novels Compelling Historical Fiction for Teens Teen Girls of Color in YA Historical Fiction Diverse YA Historical Novels