Bitesize Recommends: Five books based on conflict and war

A group of young people read books in an air-raid shelter during the Blitz in 1941, two older females supervise them

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Author Tom Palmer wears a tee shirt commemorating the 80th anniversary of VJ-Day — Image caption,
Tom Palmer, author

To mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, BBC Bitesize brings you five books based in times of war and conflict that will entertain and inform you in equal measure.

Hello, I’m Tom Palmer - I’ve written loads of books for young people, many of these are historical fiction set in times of war, like War Dog, Resist, and Armistice Runner.

War can be hard to write about, but I like to do it so I can try and understand how people can be so brave when terrible things are happening. Telling these stories is tough however, especially when the job of an author is to engage and entertain rather than traumatise.

For me the best way to learn was to read how other authors write about war. Thankfully many have great skill in finding the balance between reflecting harrowing events, while making sure you keep turning the page.

Here are my top five recommendations for books that deal with war and conflict and its impact on people from all walks of life.

clouds break over a rugged welsh coastline — Image caption,
Rosemary Sutcliff's tale takes place on the coast of Bronze Age Britain

Rosemary Sutcliff – The Chief’s Daughter

Rosemary Sutcliff is my writing hero. Her historical fiction is as accurate as it could be. In her interviews she talked about the amount of historical research she does and how she relentlessly quizzed historians to make sure she gets the facts right. As a result, you read her stories set in Iron Age, Roman and Viking Britain and you feel like you are there.

The Chief’s Daughter is a classic book set on the Welsh coast in Bronze Age Britain. It features two friends who find themselves on different sides in a conflict. In the story, the chief’s daughter, Nessan, befriends a boy captured from an Irish raiding party. But when the village priest wants to sacrifice him the gods, she has to find a way to save him. It’s very short, but is my absolute favourite.

A sopwith camel plane is being flown over empty fields in a black and white, archive, photo.. — Image caption,
In Bali Rai's first person story, the main character flies a type of plane called a sopwith camel

Hardit Singh Malik: World War One Flying Ace – Bali Rai

Bali Rai is a literary legend. He has been writing sport and history fiction for longer than I have (and I’ve been doing it for 17 years!!) This book is a first person story about the life of Hardit Singh Malik – an Indian who came to Britain as a school boy. He became a flying ace in the Royal Flying Corps during World War One.

The story has such depth, is superbly researched and tells the story of a young man from India who did his bit to help Britain win the First World War. It’s a great read based on a great man’s life.

Two young members of the Hitler Youth stand next to each other in front of a building during 1945 — Image caption,
By 1939, 90% of German boys aged 14 and over were members of the Hitler Youth. Something character Peter attempts to avoid in Ausländer

Ausländer - Paul Dowswell

Ausländer is a thriller, and also a historical novel. In it, main characters Peter and Anna are on the run across Nazi-occupied Europe. Strong, square-jawed and blonde Peter is given the chance to live a safe and happy life as a Nazi, but he rejects that and, with his girlfriend, Anna, tries to do the right thing. Eventually they have to run.

Author Paul Dowswell does an amazing job of writing a book that is both historically relevant and accurate, whilst also making sure you’ll never want to put it down. It’s an absolute page-turner which will entertain and inform you in equal measure!

A dutch resistance worker writes false identity documents — Image caption,
During World War 2 Dutch resistance workers forged identity documents to help people who were in hiding

Tamar – Mal Peet

I was a big fan of Author Mal Peet even before I read his historical novel, Tamar, and I think you will be too. When I read Tamar I was surprised how little I knew about the resistance of Nazi occupation in Europe apart from in France. But through a clever dual narrative plot (set in 1995 and 1945), this amazing novel teaches us about how the Netherlands was brutally treated by Germans.

This award winning book scooped the prestigious Carnegie Medal in 1995, which is recognises outstanding books for children, and it lays bare the terrible choices Dutch people had to make between family and country. The story definitely inspired me to find out more and eventually write, Resist, the story of Audrey Hepburn’s role in the Dutch resistance.

A group of British and German soliders meet in No Man's Land during an unofficial truce on Christmas Day 1914. — Image caption,
British and German soldiers shared an unofficial truce on Christmas Day 1914 and amongst other things played some footie

War Game – Michael Foreman

Do you know about the often talked about Christmas truce football game in 1914, played between German and British soldiers? If you do, it’s very likely because of this book. And if you don’t then this is a great place to start.

Michael Foreman has written, and illustrated a very clear and unromanticised version of the story, complete with wonderful pictures. There are not many accurate picture books for young people, but War Game is one.

Tom Palmer is an award-winning author of over sixty books for children including D-Day Dog, which won the 2020 FCBG Children’s Book Awards. War Dog is his first picture book. When not writing, Tom loves watching live sports, walking his dog Finn, and fell running, all of which he has written books about. www.tompalmer.co.uk

This article was published in August 2025