I’m back with the next installment of Wholesome Books for Preteens! If you haven’t already, check out the first few posts in the series:
Today I’m sharing with you books suitable for preteens in one of my favorite genres. Because it’s my favorite, I have far too many books that I want to share with you! You’ll see a few posts in the historical fiction genre to break them up into manageable lengths. 🙂
This first post features some stellar books set in the United States in various different parts of the country’s history. I did not include any books set during any wars in this post, since I will include those in a future post. (While war is not exactly a “wholesome” topic, there are definitely quality, meaningful stories from wartime that are worth your preteen reading.)
As a bonus, since I wanted to include many more books than is reasonable, I have included additional titles of ones I’d recommend at the end of each section.
I know that I have not included anywhere near all of the quality, wholesome historical fiction books out there. Rather, these are ones that either I remember from reading as a kid or more recently published books I’ve read as an adult that I want to make sure parents and teachers know about. Be sure to tell me what else deserves a place in this list in the comments!
In this post: (click to jump to each section)
This post may contain affiliate links to bookstores, which means, at no extra cost to you, I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links. Please read full disclosure for more information.
Historical Fiction Set in the U.S.
Early America
Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
This book will forever hold a special place in my heart, because it made one of my struggling readers engaged with reading in our Westward Expansion unit. As a student from one of the indigenous groups in Ecuador, he could relate a lot to Attean’s way of life in this book. Even though the book was far above his “level,” he wanted to read it because he saw himself in this book.
Even if your child doesn’t see him or herself in the book, they might be like me and can imagine what it would have been like to be 12 years old and left in charge of a small homestead in the wilderness while your dad leaves to get the rest of your family. And then have no clue if they’ll ever come back because they’re gone longer than you thought they’d be. Slow to start but it picks up pace and is a beautiful story of friendship amidst cultural differences and helping each other however you can.
Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte
Set on Martha’s Vineyard, way before it looks how you’re picturing it in your head, this story chronicles a deaf community and one family in particular. I was fascinated by this little known community’s existence – that deafness was a trait inherited by most people there, so sign language was just normal. I’m not the only person who was fascinated, though . . . not-so-well-meaning visitors wanted to understand the phenomenon as well. LeZotte herself is deaf, so this book is great for those who want to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. There were so many descriptive moments where I haven’t even thought about how someone who is deaf would experience it. This is great for strengthening empathy in young – and old – readers!
Chains (Seeds of America #1) by Laurie Halse Anderson
A student of mine recommended this book to me a couple of years ago, and I am glad I read it! Anderson does an excellent job of conveying the time period of the Revolutionary War in America along with the experience of being a slave. Since it’s written from the perspective of a child, the descriptions are age appropriate for preteens. They’ll get an understanding of the injustice, heartache, and physical pain, but it’s at a level that they can absorb.
You’ll notice that it’s book one of a series, so if your readers want to keep following the story of Isabel and her sister Ruth, they can!
Other titles I recommend:
- Carry on, Mr. Bowditch – a real historical figure whose life is depicted in this Newbery award winning novel
- The Witch of Blackbird Pond – another Elizabeth George Speare delight featuring a touch of romance with a whole lot of heart for misfits and justice
- Indian Captive – the true story of Mary “Molly” Jemison who was captured by the Seneca and lived with them the rest of her life. It’s a great peek into one of the indigenous cultures, and I was fascinated when I read it as a kid.
Westward Expansion
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I read this series upwards of 4 times growing up. I couldn’t get enough of Laura’s tales of growing up on the frontier and the hardships that they faced. Plus, since the series follows Laura from the time she was a “half pint” to newly married, the series still felt relatable to me as I reached new stages of life. While I doubt that this series is unfamiliar to most reading this blog, I will say that the vocabulary in it is likely unfamiliar to your preteen – based on my experience with it in the classroom. Kids have very little background knowledge these days of the tools, housing, and lifestyle of pioneers during Westward Expansion, so be ready to help your reader with some image searches – or better yet visiting a museum or hands-on historical reenactment place – to help them visualize the happenings in the story.
The Great Turkey Walk by Kathleen Karr
What a fun tale this is! Set in the midwest/west (Missouri to Colorado) during the time when people would have to travel miles with their stock to get to a railroad or a city where they could sell them, Simon Green has aged out of elementary school and needs to find his way in the world. He collects a rag tag bunch of people as he decides to do a turkey drive to make some cash! This story is funny, hopeful, heartwarming, and all-around enjoyable, while also educating a bit about what life was like in America in 1860. Bonus: it makes a great read-aloud!
P.S. It’s been adapted as a graphic novel!
By the Great Horn Spoon by Sid Fleischman
What a treasure (pun intended) this book is to young readers! Wholesome, while not sugarcoating the difficulties and dangers of the Gold Rush, it tells of the adventurous journey Jack makes with his aunt’s butler Praiseworthy to strike it rich to help his aunt save their home from foreclosure. The wit, wisdom, and winsomeness of Praiseworthy make all the difference in Jack’s survival and his chance for success. For kids who love adventure and getting out of scrapes, along with the romance of the idea of “striking it rich,” this book will not disappoint. Pro tip: this book works amazingly well in a unit on Westward Expansion and the California Gold Rush.
Other titles I recommend:
- Seaman – (Gail Langer Karwoski) featuring the dog that traveled with Lewis and Clark, this will capture the attention of the animal-loving kiddos in your life
- Bound for Oregon – based on the memories Mary Ellen Todd, and told through her voice, the Oregon Trail comes to life for younger readers. Written from a white settler’s perspective, this would be a good starting point for discussion of Native Americans and slaves and how they were viewed/treated.
- The Ballad of Lucy Whipple – The families who moved West during the Gold Rush often did so out of near desperation. Lucy’s family was one of those. She misses home dreadfully and struggles to adapt to life in a mining camp. Note that there is some mention of menstrual periods as Lucy and another girl go through puberty. Some of my more mature 5th grade girls handled it, but felt awkward about it. Just a word to the wise.
- Trouble River – This one is a great discussion starter on how the Native Americans were viewed and whether or not that’s how they should be viewed. In the book it’s pretty negative, which makes it obviously wrong to young readers who pause to consider it.
Slavery, Underground Railroad, and Freedom
Freedom Crossing by Margaret Goff Clark
Set prior to the Civil War in the years of the Underground Railroad, this story follows the transformation of a teenage girl who has to decide if her abolitionist family has it right while grappling with the mindset she learned while living with her slave-owning aunt and uncle. Surprisingly enough, the entire story only takes place during a period of about 24 hours, but is full of close-calls and relevant emotions. Well-written for middle grades.
Freedom Train by Dorothy Sterling
Okay, this is not actually fiction. It’s a biography. But how could I not include a book about Harriet Tubman?! I read so many books as a child that, together, gave me a tapestry of the pre-Civil War landscape, both about Northerners, Southerners, enslavers, and abolitionists. One of them was this one. The courage, faith, and selflessness of this woman is worth telling about over and over. This biography is well worth reading – no matter the fact that it’s not fiction.
Other titles I’d recommend:
- Elijah of Buxton – While I haven’t personally read this one, it is highly recommended by people and sources I trust. Now I want to read it! I’m sure your preteen will find it as poignant as it purports to be.
- I know there are so many other books I have read set in this era, yet I am struggling to remember them. What middle grade novels have you read set in pre-Civil War pertaining to slavery, the Underground Railroad, and freedom?
Civil Rights Era
The Lions of Little Rock by Kristen Levine
Now we skip ahead from Westward Expansion to the Civil Rights Era. It’s 1958 and the schools in Little Rock are supposed to integrating – except there are all sorts of problems and road blocks. Liz decides to pass as a white student in order to integrate and becomes best friends with Marlee. However, when rumor gets out that Liz is actually a Negro, Marlee and Liz have to navigate what to do to keep their friendship in existence and to make integration happen – all in the face of the very real dangers posed by some members of the community.
This book made integration and the courage it took feel real to me. It’s also a beautiful story and well-written. For the historical value, the beautiful literature, and the hope-infused message, this book is well worth a read by (or read aloud with) your preteen.
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord
I remember being baffled by the cover – what does a young Chinese girl have to do with a baseball player? But when my mom read this aloud to my younger brothers, and they raved about it, and I’d run out of other things to read . . . I gave it a try.
I loved it! It was quirky, funny, and made Shirley’s attempts to assimilate into a new (American) culture understandable. Now that I’ve lived in another country myself I can relate to so much of what she experienced! It is a great one for building empathy on multiple levels.
Other titles I recommend:
- The Watsons Go to Birmingham – Another Christopher Paul Curtis, Newbery Honor-winning book. Though the Watsons live in Michigan, they go to Birmingham to visit family. While there, a church is bombed (based on the actual bombing that happened in 1963. This would be an “own voices” book for preteens of color or a way to build understanding and empathy of what it is to be Black in America for those who are white.
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry – tells more of the story of the Logan family from the perspective of Cassie, who is a young black girl living during the Jim Crow era in the Deep South. She experiences all sorts of hatred and hurt at the hands of white people, but holds on to her humanity anyway. I had NO idea that this is part of a series until I saw that the label “Logan #4” on Goodreads
- Bud, Not Buddy – a third Christopher Paul Curtis book worth reading! This is set in Flint, Michigan during the Depression, so not quite Civil Rights Movement era, but it certainly still earns a place in this story. One of the things I liked most about this book is the Bud’s voice in the narration: so candid, so refreshing – and plenty of humorous observations about adults and the world (along with sadness and difficulty, of course).
What else would you include in this list?
Share in the comments!
Other posts in this series:
Wholesome “Old-fashioned” Books
Wholesome Fantasy Series
Wholesome Fantasy Stand-alone Books
a Look at a Book 
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