Suggested
Grade Levels

K = Kindergarten
(Picture Books)

E = Elementary:
Grades 1-3
(detailed Picture Books
& easy reading)

E-UE = (books for
younger, fluent readers)

UE = Upper Elementary:
Grades 4-6

JH = Junior High:
Grades 6-8

HS = High School:
Grades 9-12

+ = "and up"

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American History Reading List

1920 – 1950
the Stock Market Crash, the Great Depression,
American Life in the early 1900's,
America in World War II

The reading list for the 1920's and 1930's has books on the Stock Market Crash & the Great Depression. In the 1940's, the Molly series gives a good picture of American life in the early 1900's.

Books on World War II listed here deal specifically with American topics. To find a more complete list on World War I, click the button on the left menu.

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Suggested Grade Levels
K = Kindergarten(Picture Books) E = Elementary: Grades 1-3 (Detailed Picture Books & Easy Reading) E-UE = (Books for Younger, Fluent Readers)	UE = Upper Elementary: Grades 4-6 JH = Junior High: Grades 6-8 HS = High School: Grades 9-12 + = "and up"

AMERICAN HISTORY: 1920s

Black Tuesday (The American Adventure Series) by Joann Grote, illus. Adam Wallenta, Peter Pagano. UE-JH
Christian historical fiction. Historical theme: Stock Market Crash.

AMERICAN HISTORY: 1930s

Bud, Not Buddy (Newbery Medal Winner, 2000) by Christopher Paul Curtis. Random House 1999. UE-JH
Set in the Depression, a young orphaned boy sets off in search of his father. Newbery Medal.

The Great Depression (The American Adventure Series) by Joann A. Grote, illus. Adam Wallenta. UE-JH
Christian historical fiction.

Kit: An American Girl: 1934 (The American Girls Collection): The set includes Meet Kit: An American Girl, Kit Learns a Lesson: A School Story, Kit's Surprise: A Christmas Story, Happy Birthday Kit: A Springtime Story, Kit Saves the Day: A Summer Story, and Changes for Kit: A Winter Story by Valerie Tripp. The Pleasant Co. 2000. E-JH
Based on the life of a fictional American girl during the Depression, and written especially for girls.

Potato: A Tale From The Great Depression by Kate Lied, illus. Lisa Campbell Ernst. National Geographic, 1997. E
Charming pictures & a simple story tell how difficult the Depression years were for a young family, complete with a happy ending!

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor JH-HS
Newbery Medal. The struggle of a black family in Depression Mississippi.

Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski. UE-JH
Newbery Medal

Welcome to Kit's World, 1934 : Growing Up During America's Great Depression (The American Girls Collection). Pleasant Co. UE-JH
Expanding on the Kit series, this book illustrates and explains many facets of the typical way of life of her time period and location.

AMERICAN HISTORY: 1940s — not World War II

Molly: An American Girl: 1944 (The American Girls Collection): The set includes: Meet Molly: An American Girl, Molly Learns a Lesson: A School Story, Molly's Surprise: A Christmas Story, Happy Birthday, Molly: A Springtime Story, Molly Saves the Day: A Summer Story, and Changes for Molly: A Winter Story by Valerie Tripp. The Pleasant Co. 1986. E-JH
Based on the life of a fictional American girl during World War II, and written especially for girls.

Welcome to Molly's World, 1944: Growing Up in World War Two America (American Girls Collection). Pleasant Co. UE-JH
Expanding on the Molly series, this book illustrates and explains many facets of the typical way of life of her time period and location.

AMERICAN HISTORY: 1940s — World War II

Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki, illus. Dom Lee. Lee & Low Books, 1993. E-UE
Picture book, telling of the hardships of Japanese Americans during the war. This simple story delivers a big impact. Good ending. Content may be too serious for the K child.

But No Candy by Gloria Houston. K-E

Coming Home (The American Adventure Series #48) by Veda Boyd Jones, illus. Adam Wallenta. UE-JH
Christian historical fiction.

The Home Front (The American Adventure Series #47) by Bonnie Hinman, Bonnie Harvey, illus. Adam Wallenta. UE-JH
Christian historical fiction.

Navajo Code Talkers by Nathan Aaseng. UE-JH+
Not yet reviewed. The Navajos provided undecipherable communication for American armed forces.

The Ring and the Window Seat by Amy Hest, illus. Deborah Haeffelle. 1990. K-E
A little girl gives her savings to help rescue a girl her own age from war-torn Europe.

Rumblings of War (The American Adventure Series #45) by Norma Jean Lutz, illus. Adam Wallenta. UE-JH
Christian historical fiction.

War Strikes (The American Adventure Series #46) by Norma Jean Lutz, illus. Adam Wallenta. UE-JH
Christian historical fiction.