Looking for an unforgettable collection of books similar to The Book Thief by Markus Zusack? As an award-winning author and veteran blogger, I’ve spent over a decade analyzing and recommending the most impactful historical novels that explore powerful themes of resilience in wartime, mortality, friendship, and the human condition.
You’ll find detailed reviews of more than a dozen of my favorites below in the roundup below. Some offer depth and resonance during a time of war—most often WW II. Others have compelling narratives within a different historical context, such as the 20th century. I’m confident that you’ll find something that catches your interest. Happy reading!
The Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse
why it’s like The Book Thief
Resilience in a historical context (WWII)
What it’s about
An enterprising teen in Nazi Germany is drawn into a mystery about a girl in a blue coat who is missing.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“When things come to an end in a way you didn't expect, in a way you never could have imagined, do they really come to an end? Does it mean you should keep searching, for better answers, for ones that don't keep you up at night? Or does it mean it's time to make peace?” ― Monica Hesse from The Girl in the Blue Coat
The Girl in the Blue Coat hooked me from the very beginning. It's a historical mystery, set in Amsterdam during WWII, and the protagonist is a teenage girl who trades black market goods to support her family. One of her clients asks her to help find a missing Jewish girl. Hanneke is good at finding things, but this isn't her kind of thing.
Still, she is drawn into the mystery and can't help herself from searching. As the pages unfold, we learn about Hanneke's lost love, meet new friends, and see her grow as a person.
Sometimes, young Hanneke seems bratty, singularly focused, and unfeeling, but at the same time, her instincts have helped her stay alive this far. Fans of The Book Thief will love this one.
Forgotten But Never Gone by Khristina Chess
Why It’s like the Book Thief
Friendship & coming of age in a rich historical context
What it’s about
Set in 1980, a girl walks up the road and vanishes from sight, and the town’s apathy proves as terrifying as the darkness that swallowed her.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“I think it was this rebellious quality about her that allowed everyone to write off her disappearance so easily. Kids like Half-pint ran away. This whole generation was full of delinquents. Blah, blah, blah.” – Khristina Chess from Forgotten But Never Gone
If you’re drawn to those cold case shows and unsolved mysteries of the 70s and 80s, those heartbreaking stories of missing girls and unclaimed Jane Does, Forgotten But Never Gone is for you. This historical novel transports readers back to a time before AMBER alerts and 24-hour news cycles, when carefree kids roamed neighborhoods with little supervision and always returned home in time for supper.
Except sometimes they didn’t.
The story begins with the disappearance of fifteen-year-old Rosie Fields, affectionately nicknamed “Half-pint.” One of the last to see her was Bobby, a foster kid whose life Rosie once saved. While the police quickly dismiss her case as just another runaway, Bobby refuses to accept this, and in his relentless search for his friend, he follows one lead after another until he makes a shocking discovery.
I highly recommend this layered and unsettling mystery, which exposes some of the reasons why more people seemed to vanish without a trace in the 20th century. What makes this book especially powerful is its dual resonance: it’s both a gripping page-turner and a thoughtful exploration of how society failed these vulnerable youth. Bobby’s determination reminds us that sometimes the most unlikely person can become the keeper of truth, and that refusing to forget is itself an act of justice.
Fans of The Book Thief will love Forgotten But Never Gone. The story lingers long after the final page, leaving you haunted not only by Rosie’s fate but by the real-life children who have never been found.
Purge by Sofi Oksanen
why it’s like The Book Thief
Friendship in a historical context (WWII) & resilience in wartime
What it’s about
Set against the Soviet occupation of Estonia during WWII, a powerful and epic historical story about two women and how their lives are intertwined.
Why I Love It - Book Review
"The only thing left alive was the shame." ― Sofi Oksanen from Purge
I picked up Purge to add to my list of YA books about human trafficking, but this novel is pure literature, a stunning international masterpiece that spans decades of history, generations of pain, and dark twisted family secrets.
Set in Estonia and bouncing between 1941 and 1992, two protagonists tell their tales in a long and dizzying narrative that weaves between present terror and past horror. These women are bound to each other in multiple ways. Their mutual distrust them unreliable narrators, so that only the reader really only has the full picture, and sometimes even that picture is murky.
As I think back on each of these women's experiences, I see so many parallels in what happened to each, even though the details are very different on the surface. For example, both are raped. Both are silenced. Both are shamed. One is betrayed. One is a betrayer.
This is the kind of epic novel that I can think about for a long time and even read again. I missed things and know that I would see even more in a second reading because the book is so sweeping and full of such meaningful symbolism and detail.
If you liked The Book Thief by Markus Zuzack, add Purge to your TBR pile. You won’t be disappointed.
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
why it’s like The Book Thief
Strong female challenging societal norms, mystery, & historical context
What it’s about
Set in New England in 1789, not long after the American Revolution, a midwife challenges men in the community about a murder in the community.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“It’s an unimaginative accusation and one that I am frankly tired of hearing. Witchcraft. As though there is no other explanation for a woman who excels at her work.”― Ariel Lawhon from The Frozen River
What a wonderful book! Historical fiction isn't my usual genre, but the cover and the accolades for The Frozen River made me give it a try.
On a high level, this mystery is about a midwife named Martha Ballard. The body of an accused rapist is found frozen in the river, and after examination, Martha says that the victim was murdered. She becomes a key witness in a trial for the woman who was raped because she treated the woman's wounds after the assault. The other accused man is a judge.
This novel has many layers. Beyond the mystery, there is the social commentary on women, family, sexual assault, and society during early days of America in New England. Paul Revere is mentioned as a friend of the family. The author depicts a rich setting of cold winter, warm homes and hearts, young love and pre-marital relationships, and the early court system. I couldn't put it down.
I will definitely read other novels by Ariel Lawhon! If you loved The Book Thief, you will definitely devour The Frozen River.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
why it’s like The Book Thief
Sisterhood, friendship, humanity, & resilience in wartime (WWII)
What it’s about
Set in occupied France during WWII, two sisters contribute to the war effort in different ways, each heroic in its own right.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“Vianne didn’t hesitate. She knew now that no one could be neutral—not anymore—and as afraid as she was of risking Sophie’s life, she was suddenly more afraid of letting her daughter grow up in a world where good people did nothing to stop evil, where a good woman could turn her back on a friend in need." ― Kristin Hannah from The Nightingale
The Nightingale starts slowly. It takes its time with characterization and setting, but when the Germans invade Paris, the plotting picks up and doesn't stop. Two sisters give their perspective on events as they unfold. Isabelle, the impulsive one, has a heroic story to tell about saving airmen, while her older sister Vianne takes another route that is ultimately heroic in its own right. These women have a complicated family relationship, both with each other and also with their father.
For the last 150 pages, I curled up and cried and cried. Not since Elie Wiesel's "Night" have I been so horrified by the atrocities that the Nazis committed. Kristin Hannah does not flinch as she shows readers the brutality that Jews, French citizens, and allied fighters experienced during World War II. It's unfathomable that humans can inflict such evil on one another. That individuals rose up with such courage is astonishing. Isabella was not even twenty years old when she began her fight. Her sister had much more to lose, as did all the other French citizens who found ways to resist, to save Jewish children as their parents were forced onto trains, and all the others who didn't give up even with starvation, sickness, cold, and great loss.
If you're looking for another World War II-era novel like The Book Thief, be sure to give The Nightingale a look. It's one of those books that will keep me thinking for a long time.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
why it’s like The Book Thief
Literature as a refuge, identity, & coming of age in historical context
What it’s about
A classic literary novel about a young girl growing up in New York at the turn of the century.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“If there was only one tree like that in the world, you would think it was beautiful. But because there are so many, you just can't see how beautiful it really is.” ― Betty Smith from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
I first heard about this book from Oprah Winfrey and picked it up during the book club years. A classic YA novel published in 1943, before YA was really “a thing,” A Tree Grows in Brooklyn tells the story of a poor young girl growing up in Brooklyn, a child of struggling immigrant parents.
This historical YA book about immigration, class, and poverty, and Francie, has remained with me for decades. There’s a reason why this novel has stood the test of time and lands in the category of literary classics. If you loved The Book Thief and want to experience all those emotions again, read this one!
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
why it’s like The Book Thief
Resilience & humanity in wartime (WWII)
What it’s about
Inspired by the real-life tragedy that was the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff (the greatest maritime disaster in history), a group of refugees fleeing the Nazis find their lives intertwined by fate and horror.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“I wept because i had no shoes, until i met a man who had no feet.” ― Ruta Sepetys from Salt to the Sea
Going in, I had no idea what this book was about, except that lots of people were reading it and it won awards. For sure, I had no prior knowledge of the historical event at its heart.
The multiple viewpoints and short scenes took a while to hook me. I didn’t like Alfred from the beginning, but the stories of the others pulled me in, the secondary characters as well as the main ones. All of them had compelling secrets. I wanted everyone in the group to escape, to be the handful of refugees to survive that horrific war.
Graphic details created a vivid backdrop. I could see the horses entombed in the ice with the people. I could see the starving cow, its udders burst in the cold. The dead and dying. War.
If you like historical novels like The Book Thief, you will love Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys.
Night by Elie Wiesel
why it’s like The Book Thief
Humanity in wartime (WWII)
What it’s about
A memoir about a Jewish boy who survives the Nazi death camps while his parents die.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed....Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to dust. Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never.” ― Elie Wiesel from Night
I read this book when it came out as an Oprah’s Book Club pick in 2006. A slim paperback, this memoir is full of emotion: horror, shock, revulsion, despair, grief, numbness. That this is a true story is unbearable. That Elie Wiesel survived is unimaginable. And yet, he did.
His insights and perspective of this experience are stunning. Find a copy of this masterpiece and read it for yourself.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
why it’s like The Book Thief
Children in wartime (WWII)
What it’s about
An unlikely secret friendship between a Jewish boy in Auschwitz and the young son of a Nazi.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“But still there are moments when a brother and sister can lay down their instruments of torture for a moment and speak as civilized human beings and Bruno decided to make this one of those moments.” ― John Boyne from The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Bruno is a privileged, nine-year-old son of a Nazi commander. His house in Berlin has 5 stories, so when his father is transferred to "Out-With" and a house with only 3 stories, he's quite disappointed. There are no children for him to play with at "Out-With," until one day he goes exploring the fence and meets a boy wearing striped pajamas.
I forget what recommendation landed this slim novel in my reading pile, but I didn't have proper expectations. Twist ending! Bruno's misguided, innocent, and sometimes amusing perspectives drew me into the story. At times, Bruno seemed downright cruel in his cluelessness, like when he carried food to his starving Jewish friend, but he got "peckish" on the walk and ate it all along the way.
Despite the simplistic writing, this novel portrays powerful adult themes. The last line of the book is a gut punch. I will be thinking about this one for a long time.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
why it’s like The Book Thief
Friendship & coming of age in historical context
What it’s about
Set in Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan war and rise of the Taliban, an unlikely friendship develops between two boys of different social class.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“There are a lot of children in Afghanistan, but little childhood.” ― Khaled Hosseini from The Kite Runner
This quote represents the truly shocking scene in this novel where a young boy in search of a kite is gang raped in an alley, and his helpless friend is witness to the event. This becomes a heavy secret.
The Kite Runner is about so much more than that one scene, that one event, but like so many pivot points in a life, it changed everything and set events in motion. The story itself is epic, sweeping, spanning time and events in a country that I had not read about before. Khaled Hosseini shows that the experiences of being human are the same, regardless of geographical location and culture.
His other novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, is also wonderful.
We Walked the Sky by Lisa Fiedler
why it’s like The Book Thief
Strong women & identity within historical context
What it’s about
A girl runs away and joins the circus in 1965, and decades later, her granddaughter follows a parallel path.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“The show must go on, even when it's not the show you expected to be in.” ― Lisa Felder from We Walked the Sky
Fiedler's multi-generational novel really captured and held my interest. Two parallel stories are running: the grandmother, Victoria, is a 16-year-old who runs away and joins the circus in 1965, and her granddaughter, Callie, is a teen who has followed in her circus footsteps, but now finds herself in a new place.
There are mysteries to unravel and friendships to develop. I loved all the circus lore and animals and characters. Really, it was an enchanting story. I want to read more by this author.
When compiling the list of historical YA books like The Book Thief, be sure to add this one.
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
why it’s like The Book Thief
Friendship and humanity in historical context
What it’s about
Set in New England around the time of the American Revolution young girl fights for freedom after the death of her owner.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“If an entire nation could seek its freedom, why not a girl?”― Laurie Halse Anderson from Chains
I have read several of Laurie Halse Anderson's books, and I found this one to be ambitious, compelling, and heartfelt. I learned things about slavery during the American revolutionary war that were new since most literature I've consumed has been during the later period of the civil war. The author’s research into the book made it rich and come alive.
Readers who liked The Book Thief by Kristin Hannah will love this classic historical book about friendship, class difference, race, and slavery in early American history. In fact, Laurie Halse Anderson is such a great author that she’s on my list of Best YA Authors to Binge on Kindle Unlimited because she’s all-around amazing!
The Benevolent Lords of Sometimes Island by Scott Semegran
why it’s like The Book Thief
Historical context, friendship, life-altering experiences
What it’s about
Set in the mid-1980s, four boys find themselves on an unexpected adventure on an island.
Why I Love It - Book Review
It makes me sad to think that 1986 is “historical fiction,” but it is. I picked up this novel because it was the 2021 First Place winner for Middle-Grade/Young Adult Writers Digest Self-Published Book Awards. Wow! It hooked me immediately and didn’t let go.
Four middle-school boys find a backpack full of cash and pot left behind by their nemesis bullies, the Thousand Oaks Gang, and after evading them fails (they get beat up), they decide to retreat to an abandoned lake house for a few days. Being kids, they haven’t thought this through. The bullies find them. They end up stranded on an island with no food, water, or shelter and must survive until someone rescues them.
I didn’t know what to expect when I picked up this novel. I felt I was in great storytelling hands with Semegran. I don’t usually like Middle Grade novels; they usually are too young for me to really appreciate. But The Benevolent Lords of Sometimes Island has something special. As others have noted, it reminds me of The Body by Stephen King, which inspired Stand by Me (the movie). Perhaps it is the narrator’s voice, which seems older and wiser than his young years.
Other Books You’ll Devour If You Liked The Book Thief by Markus Zuzack
If you are looking for other books like The Book Thief, Goodreads has a list: Readers Who Enjoyed The Book Thief.
You might also be interested in my post Other Good Reads.
Author Bio
Khristina Chess is an award-winning author of more than a dozen young adult novels, including The Cutting Edge of Friendship, The Delinquent Hero, and Junior Missing. Her novel about eating disorders, Hollow Beauty, was named a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She tackles tough teen topics and writes binge-worthy books across multiple genres, including contemporary, thriller, mystery, dystopian, and adventure.
In a recent interview from her alma mater, she described how her experience in the creative writing program prepared her for success.
