8 Captivating World War II Books about Books and Libraries

Grace Bennett has always dreamed of moving to London, but doing so on the brink of war wasn’t part of the plan. Now, having found a job at old bookshop Primrose Hill, Grace will learn the power of storytelling for bringing a grieving community together.

Although set during the WWII period, this novel doesn’t concern itself with it. Instead, it’s set in the Second Sino-Japanese War: university student Hu Lian and her classmates flee the city of Nanking, and undertake the arduous and dangerous journey to China’s northern provinces. They’re not alone: they carry with them the Library of Legends, a 500 year-old collection of myths and legends.

In 1942, Eva Traube Abrams escaped from Paris after her father, a Polish Jew, was arrested. She became embroiled in the resistance, forging identity documents for Jewish children escaping to Switzerland. But Eva can’t bring herself to completely forget those children’s names: instead, she and the mysterious Rémy, keep records in the Book of Lost Names. Sixty-five years later, Eva sees a photo of the book in the magazine.

Another dual timeline story, this book is split between 1942 and present time. It presents a fictionalized Nancy Mitford, exploring both her work managing the Heywood Hill bookshop and her writing. Eighty years later, blocked novelist Katie Cabot might find the answers she’s looking for in a long-lost manuscript written by Mitford.

One may not think of a gravedigger’s handbook as reading material for most, but that’s what ignites Liesel’s love of books. After finding it by her brother’s graveside, she falls in love with reading: soon, she’s stealing books from various places, including Nazi book-burnings. But living in 1939 Germany is not easy, especially when your family is hiding a Jewish person in their basement.

Based on a real story, this picture book tells the story of Tama and George. Forced into a concentration camp for Japanese Americans, the two meet in the camp’s library where she works and finds solace in. Soon, Tama must wonder: is George frequenting the tiny library for the books… or for her?

Yet another double timeline novel, the book is split between 1939 Paris and 1983 Montana. In the former, librarian Odile Souchet joins the Resistance with the best weapon at her disposal: books. In the latter, teenager Lily finds herself fascinated by her mysterious elderly neighbor.

Note: This doesn’t take place during WWII, but is about book lovers during wartime.

A few years after the end of the war, Roya falls in love with Mr. Fakhri’s neighborhood stationery shop. An idealistic teenager, Roya finds her place amidst the books and pen and ink. Not one to miss out on a chance to play matchmaker, Mr. Fakhri introduces Roya to Bahman, another book-loving, justice-seeking customer. The love between Roya and Bahman develops at once, but a coup d’etat brings chaos to their lives and parts them. Decades later, they’re brought together again… and Roya has questions.