Best Children's European Historical Fiction Books of 2025

A lost dog, a hidden time tunnel and a secret lake. A page-turning time travel adventure for children aged 8-11. Now enjoyed by over 400,000 young readers! Book 2 now available!When Stella and her younger brother, Tom, move to their new London home, they become mystified by the disappearances of Harry, their elderly neighbour’s small dog. Where does he go? And why does he keep reappearing wet-through?Their quest to solve the riddle over the summer holidays leads to a boat buried under a grassy mound, and a tunnel that takes them to a secret lake.Who is the boy rowing towards them who looks so terrified? And whose are those children’s voices carried on the wind from beyond the woods?Stella and Tom soon discover that they have travelled back in time to their home and its gardens almost 100 years earlier. Here they make both friends and enemies, and uncover startling connections between the past and present.A modern children's classicThe Secret Lake has been described by readers as a modern Tom's Midnight Garden and compared in atmosphere with The Secret Garden and the Enid Blyton and Nancy Drew mystery adventure stories. Its page-turning plot, with its many twists and turns, makes it a firm favourite with both boys and girls.Karen Inglis describes it as, a time travel mystery adventure with modern twists - the kind of story that I loved to read as a child, but brought right up to date.The adventure starts here! Order today with one click, in print or for kindle

Iceberg by Jennifer A. Nielsen is a thrilling tale about a young stowaway, Hazel Rothbury, onboard the Titanic. Her dream is to become a journalist, and she sees this trip as an opportunity to write and sell a story about the Titanic's maiden voyage. However, a haunting mystery and impending disaster soon find her. Nielsen weaves an extraordinary tapestry of survival and disaster in this magnificent thriller, which will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The author's use of both real and fictional characters makes the story feel authentic and wildly suspenseful. Iceberg is a page-turning historical drama that should please readers who enjoy historical fiction with heroism and a heavy sense of foreboding.

*Newbery Honor book*Winner of the Schneider Family Book Award . This #1 New York Times bestseller is an exceptionally moving story of triumph against all odds set during World War II, from the acclaimed author of Fighting Words, and for fans of Fish in a Tree and Sarah, Plain and Tall.  Ten-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn’t waste a minute—she sneaks out to join him.   So begins a new adventure for Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take the two kids in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan—and Susan begins to love Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel hands of their mother?. "Achingly lovely...Nuanced and emotionally acute."—The Wall Street Journal"Unforgettable...unflinching."—Common Sense Media ★ “Brisk and honest...Cause for celebration.” —Kirkus, starred review★ "Poignant."—Publishers Weekly, starred review★ "Powerful."—The Horn Book, starred review"Affecting."—Booklist"Emotionally satisfying...[A] page-turner."—BCCB“Exquisitely written...Heart-lifting.” —SLJ"Astounding...This book is remarkable."—Karen Cushman, author The Midwife's Apprentice"Beautifully told."—Patricia MacLachlan, author of Sarah, Plain and Tall"I read this novel in two big gulps."—Gary D. Schmidt, author of Okay for Now"I love Ada's bold heart...Her story's riveting."—Sheila Turnage, author of Three Times Lucky

A stunning thriller from NYT bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen about a girl who must escape to freedom after the Berlin Wall divides her family between east and west.A Night Divided joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. Includes exclusive bonus content!With the rise of the Berlin Wall, Gerta finds her family suddenly divided. She, her mother, and her brother Fritz live on the eastern side, controlled by the Soviets. Her father and middle brother, who had gone west in search of work, cannot return home. Gerta knows it is dangerous to watch the wall, yet she can't help herself. She sees the East German soldiers with their guns trained on their own citizens; she, her family, her neighbors and friends are prisoners in their own city.But one day on her way to school, Gerta spots her father on a viewing platform on the western side, pantomiming a peculiar dance. Gerta concludes that her father wants her and Fritz to tunnel beneath the wall, out of East Berlin. However, if they are caught, the consequences will be deadly. No one can be trusted. Will Gerta and her family find their way to freedom?

Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.

A New York Times bestseller!Alan Gratz, bestselling author of Refugee, weaves a stunning array of voices and stories into an epic tale of teamwork in the face of tyranny -- and how just one day can change the world.June 6, 1944: The Nazis are terrorizing Europe, on their evil quest to conquer the world. The only way to stop them? The biggest, most top-secret operation ever, with the Allied nations coming together to storm German-occupied France.Welcome to D-Day.Dee, a young U.S. soldier, is on a boat racing toward the French coast. And Dee -- along with his brothers-in-arms -- is terrified. He feels the weight of World War II on his shoulders.But Dee is not alone. Behind enemy lines in France, a girl named Samira works as a spy, trying to sabotage the German army. Meanwhile, paratrooper James leaps from his plane to join a daring midnight raid. And in the thick of battle, Henry, a medic, searches for lives to save.In a breathtaking race against time, they all must fight to complete their high-stakes missions. But with betrayals and deadly risks at every turn, can the Allies do what it takes to win?

A New York Times bestseller. Like the classic heroines of Sarah, Plain and Tall, Little Women, and Anne of Green Gables, Ada is a fighter for the ages. Her triumphant World War II journey continues in this sequel to the Newbery Honor–winning The War that Saved My Life When Ada awakes from surgery on her club foot, the news that greets her will change the course of her life. Doors that her mother had shut tightly are swinging open—  But World War II rages on. Ada and her brother, Jamie, are forced to move into a cottage with the iron-faced Lady Thorton and her daughter, Maggie. Life in the crowded home is tense. Then Ruth arrives. Ruth, a Jewish girl, from Germany. A German? Could Ruth be a spy?   As the fallout from the war intensifies, calamity creeps closer to Ada’s doorstep, and life grows more complicated. Who will Ada decide to be? How can she keep fighting? And who will she struggle to save?   Ada’s first story, The War that Saved My Life, was a #1 New York Times bestseller and won a Newbery Honor, the Schneider Family Book Award, and the Josette Frank Award, in addition to appearing on multiple best-of-the-year lists. This second masterwork of historical fiction continues Ada's journey of family, faith, and identity, showing us that real freedom is not just the ability to choose, but the courage to make the right choice."Honest . . . Daring." —The New York Times "Stunning." —The Washington Post★ "Ada is for the ages—as is this book. Wonderful." —Kirkus, starred review★ "Fans of the first book will love the sequel even more." —SLJ, starred review★ "Bradley sweeps us up . . . even as she moves us to tears." —The Horn Book, starred review★ "Perceptive . . . satisfying . . . will stay with readers." —PW, starred review"Beautiful." —HuffPost

"I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79" is a captivating children's book that tells the story of Marcus, a young boy who must escape the epic destruction of Pompeii caused by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The book is part of the New York Times bestselling "I Survived" series by Lauren Tarshis, which explores the resilience and strength of young people in the midst of unimaginable disasters. The author's exhaustive research and signature warmth make this book a must-read for children and adults alike. "I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79" is a unique and informative addition to the series, and will keep readers turning the pages until the very end."