Historical Survival Stories

There are two things Trevor loves more than anything else: playing war-based video games and his great-grandfather Jacob, who is a true-blue, bona fide war hero. At the height of the war, Jacob helped liberate a small French village, and was given a hero's welcome upon his return to America. Now it's decades later, and Jacob wants to retrace the steps he took during the war - from training to invasion to the village he is said to have saved. Trevor thinks this is the coolest idea ever. But as they get to the village, Trevor discovers there's more to the story than what he's heard.

With Nazis bombing London every night, it's time for 13-year-old Ken to escape. He suspects his stepmother is glad to see him go, but his dad says he's one of the lucky ones - one of 90 boys and girls to ship out aboard the SS City of Benares to safety in Canada. Life aboard the luxury ship is grand-nine-course meals, new friends, and a life far from the bombs, rations, and his stepmum's glare. And after five days at sea, the ship's officers announce that they're out of danger. They're wrong.

Twelve-year-old Sora and her family live under an iron set of rules: No travel without a permit. No criticism of the government. No absences from Communist meetings. Wear red. Hang pictures of the Great Leader. Don't trust your neighbors. Don't speak your mind. You are being watched. But war is coming, war between North and South Korea, between the Soviets and the Americans. War causes chaos - so war is the perfect time to escape. The plan is simple: Sora and her family will walk for weeks from their tiny northern village to the South Korean city of Busan.

Ya'll, let me tell you my story!Glad you could find your way here, and I welcome you to the Sellers Plantation here in the deep south of Mobile, Alabama. I'm anxious to get started with my story tellin,' so, I'm sharin' a little bout the story that I be tellin' to ya'll down below. When I wuz born, I be given the name Gertrude Ida Rollins, but as I be growin' folks just be callin' me Ms. Gertie. I wuz born in Mobile, Alabama in the year eighteen and eighty-eight. Yes, that be a long time ago for most of ya'll, but I thinks it be good to be learnin' bout the history that be comin' before you...

A historical fiction book set in the American West during the mid-19th century. "Death and Dust: The Oregon Trail" invites readers on an unforgettable journey through the rugged landscapes of the 1840s, following a courageous band of pioneers as they chase dreams of fertile land and a brighter future. Led by the steadfast Jesse Wingate, this tale is not just about the struggle against nature, but also the fierce competition and intricate romances that unfold along the dangerous path of the Oregon Trail. The story begins in 1848, as the Wingate family, along with other settlers, gathers at a...

A mountain girl in the early 1900’s copes with a marriage arranged by her dad. Her story is titled from an old saying “I own my land, heaven-high and hell-deep.” “Your pa gave his consent for us to marry,” he said the words as though it was a simple matter. It wasn’t a romantic proposal of love and devotion. It wasn’t a proposal at all. I opened my mouth but nothing came out. I tried again. “I don’t know your name,” I managed to say as I felt my chest constrict. There was a pain in me that started at my toes and went to the roots of my hair. Dad had come up with a ...

At the onset of World War II, Williams formed Elephant Company and was instrumental in defeating the Japanese in Burma and saving refugees, including on his own "Hannibal Trek." Billy Williams became a media sensation during the war, telling reporters that the elephants did more for him than he was ever able to do for them, but his story has since been forgotten.

Although this story begins in the darkest of places, Auschwitz, it manifests into a beautiful and romantic story of love that spans six decades. A sixteen year old Hungarian boy notices a beautiful sixteen year old Polish girl across a crowded room. Their eyes meet, an instant attraction forms, and eventually they fall madly in love. However, there is a problem; they are both prisoners in Auschwitz. This is the story of Peter Florea, a young Jewish boy who makes a terrible mistake when in 1943 he volunteers to be sent from Hungary to a ‘work camp,’ but arrives to find he is actually in ...

Step into the thrilling world of Renaissance England with this with this action-packed adventure set in the Tower of London! Join 15-year-old Ben, an orphaned coal-boy, as he finds himself trapped in the haunted Tower of London, facing ghosts, twisting tunnels, and even a putrid moat! One day, while delivering coal to the famous prison, Ben makes a shocking discovery – Princess Elizabeth is imprisoned there! Despite being just a kid with no knightly armor, he can't ignore her desperate plea for help. Determined to aid the princess, Ben sets out on a dangerous journey through the Tower's ...

The American West was never just a man’s world. In The Forgotten Frontier, bestselling author Richard Fleischman uncovers the extraordinary lives of women who braved the harsh realities of the 19th-century American frontier. Through vivid, deeply researched storytelling, this powerful volume gives voice to the women who crossed mountains, deserts, and boundaries—both physical and social. From midwives who delivered babies on dirt floors to widows who defended their homes with rifles in hand, these women lived at the intersection of grit, grief, resilience, and resolve. Some followed ...

A True Story of Resilience Survival and Unbroken Spirit A Civilian Dutch Woman in Europe During World War II Treasures of Sadness is the story of Corrie's unbroken spirit. If you love historical fiction, don't miss reading this real life memoir and page-turner: Treasures of Sadness Treasures of Sadness is a real life account of a woman’s journey that began during World War II. Corrie grew up in an affluent neighborhood in Amersfoort, Holland in the 1940’s. From there she fell in love with a German soldier, rubbed elbows with royalty in Vienna, Austria and ended up in a coal mining town ...

THE I ESCAPED SERIES DOESN'T JUST HOOK READERS—IT CREATES THEM. Can't get enough of the Titanic and survival stories? Our latest release deserves a top spot in your pile! What we do differently: We drop you straight into the most intense moment from page one, then backtrack to show how our characters got there - all while weaving in real historical facts that make you feel like you're actually living through the Titanic disaster. "A suspenseful survival series based on famous historical events. Verdict: excellent." - School Library Journal, 2025 Thirteen-year-old CJ and his new friend Meg...

A beautiful story of wartime survival, this is the romantic love story about a young Austrian Jewish girl who survives WWII by hiding from the Nazis whilst living amongst them in Hitler’s Munich. There was a knock on the door of the apartment. She looked through the spyglass to see two Gestapo officers standing there. What did they want, had they come for her? Had she been discovered after all this time? Was she about to lose everything, including her life? Rebecca was a beautiful teenager with many friends who loved her. However, for her, life as a young Austrian woman would change ...

Weird but True Stories from the Great Depression: Bizarre, Shocking, and Unbelievable Tales from America's Darkest Decade Step beyond the breadlines and dust storms into the strangest corners of America’s hardest era. This captivating collection of weird but true stories from the Great Depression reveals a side of the 1930s you've never seen—filled with eccentric survival strategies, bizarre public stunts, surreal government projects, and the unforgettable humans behind it all. Meet the man who couldn’t be killed—even when poisoned, frozen, and gassed. Discover how flour sacks ...

A Juvenile Adventure Book set in the Fictional Town of St. John during the Late 19th Century.Get ready to be whisked away on an unforgettable journey with "Lost on the River," an exceptional juvenile adventure novel that takes readers to the spellbinding coastal town of St. John during the late 19th century. Bart Damer, a young and spirited boy, welcomes his friends Phil, Pat, and their companion Solomon for an intriguing vacation in the picturesque town of St. John. Nestled between two expansive seas, with a magnificent river cascading into dramatic falls, St. John is the perfect setting ...

Some legacies are carved in stone. Others are soaked in oil, blood, and regret. Spanning five generations of the Chiswell family—from 1845 to the modern day—The Gospel According to Texas is a haunting, literary saga of land, sin, and redemption. When Elias Chiswell abandons everything to chase a new life on the Texas frontier, he believes he’s outrunning his past. But the land he claims has a voice—and a memory. Told in part by Texas itself, this Southern Gothic novel weaves journal entries, confessions, and mythic narration into a sweeping story of faith, failure, and family legacy...

"A sweeping tale of survival, rebellion, and destiny—from the starving fields of Ireland to the halls of power in America and the battlefields of revolution." Ireland, 1845—The Great Famine has begun. The O’Donaghue family, once proud tenant farmers, are torn apart as hunger, oppression, and betrayal drive them in different directions. Christopher, the eldest, escapes to New York, where he rises through the ranks of Tammany Hall, navigating the ruthless world of Irish-American politics. Seamus, consumed by the fight for Irish independence, becomes a revolutionary, orchestrating ...

A historical adventure book set in the American Southwest during the 1840s. Prepare to embark on a gripping journey across the unforgiving landscapes of the 19th century American frontier. The Santa Fe Trail weaves a tale of courage, survival, and the indomitable spirit of exploration. Join thirteen-year-old Oliver Wiggins as he ventures into the vast expanses of the American Southwest, driven by a thirst for adventure and a desire to prove his mettle. As part of a caravan making its arduous way from Missouri to Santa Fé, Oliver encounters the harsh realities of frontier life—scorching ...

"The Dawn of Civilization" is a captivating and immersive journey into the prehistoric world. The story is set in a vast and rugged wilderness, where towering mountains and deep valleys are home to an array of dangerous creatures. The tribe is governed by a leader who takes guidance from a council of elders and is based on a clan system, with a culture rich and diverse, with a complex system of beliefs and customs passed down for centuries. The characters are larger-than-life, and readers will follow their journey as they navigate life's challenges in the prehistoric world. The struggles ...

This timely and powerful novel tells the story of three different children seeking refuge. Josef is a Jewish boy living in 1930s Nazi Germany. With the threat of concentration camps looming, he and his family board a ship bound for the other side of the world. Isabel is a Cuban girl in 1994. With riots and unrest plaguing her country, she and her family set out on a raft, hoping to find safety in America. Mahmoud is a Syrian boy in 2015. With his homeland torn apart by violence and destruction, he and his family begin a long trek toward Europe.