9 Holocaust Remembrance Day Books and Novels for Students

Looking for a way to make history come alive for your students? Fiction and real-world accounts set during World War II can help students connect with the human stories behind historical events.

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For National Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27, consider adding Holocaust novels and books to your lesson plans. Newsela’s Novel and Book Studies collection pairs articles, videos, and lesson ideas with each text to help students build background knowledge, understand historical context, and make meaningful connections to the world around them. 

Jump to:

1. “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak
2. “The Devil’s Arithmetic” by Jane Yolen
3. “The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank
4. “I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944” by Lauren Tarshis and Scott Dawson
5. “Maus: A Survivor’s Tale” by Art Spiegelman
6. “Milkweed” by Jerry Spinelli
7. “Night” by Elie Wiesel
8. “Number the Stars” by Lois Lowry
9. “Prisoner B-3807” by Alan Gratz

What Holocaust novels and books are best for teaching students about World War II?

We’ve selected novels and books that introduce students to diverse perspectives about the Holocaust and World War II. Each novel and book study includes text and multimodal resources to enhance students' comprehension, historical understanding, and empathy.

Key takeaways:

• Holocaust novels and books introduce students to personal stories that deepen historical understanding.
• Using Newsela ELA’s Novel and Book Studies Collection lets you provide differentiated support to build in-depth background knowledge.
• Pairing fiction with nonfiction resources encourages text-to-world and text-to-text connections.

[1. How can I teach “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak to help students understand Nazi Germany?](id-thief)

In Zusak’s novel, a young girl named Liesel lives in Nazi Germany and steals books to learn to read and escape her reality. This novel helps students explore themes of literacy, resilience, and the impact of war on everyday life.

Novel Study resources include:

• An exploration of Germany’s geography, government, and culture.
• An article about a thrift-store jacket revealing a Holocaust survivor’s story.
• A video on the significance of the Holocaust during World War II.

[2. How can students explore identity and history in “The Devil’s Arithmetic” by Jane Yolen?](id-devil)

Jane Yolen’s novel follows Hannah, a Jewish American girl who time-travels to World War II Europe and faces the horrors of the Holocaust. Students can reflect on identity, heritage, and historical perspective while learning about Jewish life during this time.

Novel Study resources include:

• A video explaining resource conflicts during WWII.
• An article on the Nuremberg Laws and their impact on Jewish rights.
• An explainer on the history and significance of Passover, a Jewish holiday.

[3. How can I help students understand Anne Frank’s experiences beyond reading her diary?](id-diary)

“The Diary of a Young Girl” reflects on Anne Frank’s time in hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam. Students can explore her personal experiences tied to historical events to understand her story and broader refugee experiences.

Novel Study resources include:

• A biography of the author, Anne Frank.
• An article on how reading and writing can be therapeutic.
• A news story comparing Syrian refugees’ experiences to Anne Frank’s during the Holocaust. 

[4. How can “I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944” by Lauren Tarshis and Scott Dawson help students understand life in Nazi-occupied Poland?](id-survive)

This historical fiction novel follows Max and Zena as they fight to survive in the Warsaw Ghetto. It allows students to explore resilience, daily life under occupation, and the historical context of WWII.

Novel Study resources include: 

• A video about Virginia Hall, an American resistance officer during World War II.
• An article about Jewish life in Poland before World War II.
• An article on Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939 and the Warsaw ghetto uprising that followed in 1943.

[5. How can graphic novels like “Maus: A Survivor’s Tale” by Art Spiegelman teach about memory and survival?](id-maus)

Spiegelman’s “Maus” tells his father’s experiences as a Polish Jew and how he survived the Holocaust. Students can discuss memory and the power of storytelling.

Novel Study resource topics include:

• How graphic novels can help teens learn about social issues.
• How the documentary “Final Account” retells the horrors of the Nazi regime during the Holocaust.
• Why Holocaust advocates are getting creative in sharing survivors’ stories with the younger generations.

[6. How can students explore identity using “Milkweed” by Jerry Spinelli?](id-milkweed)

Spinelli’s novel follows a nameless young boy surviving in Warsaw during WWII and searching for his identity. This story helps students consider how trauma can affect personal identity during a crisis.

Novel Study resources include:

• A video of Sam Solasz’s Holocaust survivor story.
• An article that explains what trauma is and how it affects us.
• A video that explores the last remaining relics of the Warsaw Ghetto in Poland.

[7. How can “Night” by Elie Wiesel support students in understanding Holocaust experiences?](id-night)

Wiesel’s memoir shares his experiences in concentration camps, including family loss and survival. Students can learn about personal resilience and historical experiences through his story.

Novel Study resources include:

• The full text of Wiesel’s 1999 speech, “The Perils of Indifference.”
• An obituary for author Elie Wiesel.
• An article about Samuel Willenberg’s 2016 death, which marked the passing of the last known Holocaust survivor from the Treblinka concentration camp.

[8. How can students learn about courage and resistance in “Number the Stars” by Lois Lowry?](id-stars)

Lowry’s novel focuses on Annemarie, a Danish girl helping her Jewish friend escape Nazi-occupied Denmark. It highlights themes of bravery and community resistance.

Novel Study resources include:

• An article on the art of kindness.
• An article about how survivor Leon Prochnik taught students about the Holocaust.
• A video biography of author Lois Lowry.

[9. How can “Prisoner B-3807” by Alan Gratz teach students about concentration camps?](id-prisoner)

Gratz’s novel follows Yanek, a boy who must survive 10 Nazi concentration camps. This story offers insight into the conditions in concentration camps, resilience, and moral challenges.

Novel Study resources include:

• A video about Holocaust and COVID-19 survivor Lily Ebert.
• An article exploring why Allied forces didn’t bomb the Auschwitz concentration camp.
• An article about America’s response to the Holocaust before and after entering World War II.

How does Newsela ELA support Holocaust Remembrance Day Lessons?

Newsela ELA offers differentiated resources and content to help students engage deeply with Holocaust novels. Our Novel and Book Studies Collection provides:

• Vetted, age-appropriate nonfiction to support books and novels.
• Resources to build background knowledge, reinforce literacy skills, and explore historical perspectives.
• Level texts and interactive videos that make challenging historical content more accessible.

Sign up for Newsela Lite to start your 45-day free trial and explore how these resources can elevate your Holocaust Remembrance Day lessons.