Historical Fiction Books for 8th Graders
29 books in the historical fiction genre commonly assigned to 8th grade students — every title’s grade range covers 8th grade, so each is grade-appropriate by curriculum placement. Each links to its reading level, themes, and the curricula that cite it.
Most assigned 8th grade historical fiction book
Refugee
Alan Gratz · on 15 reading lists
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Reading difficulty: the typical 8th grade text-complexity band is 925–1185L (Common Core Appendix A). Of the 10 historical fiction titles here with a Lexile score, 1 is grade-level, 9 are more accessible, and 0 are stretch texts. Match a book to your reader’s measured Lexile rather than to the grade alone.
29 8th grade historical fiction books
Reading the whole 8th grade Historical Fiction books? Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.
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RefugeeAlan Gratz · 800L
A Night DividedJennifer A. Nielsen
AlliesAlan Gratz
EchoPam Muñoz Ryan · 680L
One Crazy SummerRita Williams-Garcia · 750L
Roll of Thunder, Hear My CryMildred D. Taylor · 920L
Fever 1793Laurie Halse Anderson
Pink and SayPatricia Polacco
Projekt 1065Alan Gratz
The War I Finally WonKimberly Brubaker Bradley
Salt to the SeaRuta Sepetys · 560L
The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963Christopher Paul Curtis · 1000L
The Book ThiefMarkus Zusak · 730L
A Corner of the UniverseAnn M. Martin
A Long Walk to WaterLinda Sue Park · 720L
A Season of GiftsRichard Peck
Barbed Wire BaseballMarissa Moss
Code Name KingfisherLiz Kessler
Good Night, Mr. TomMichelle Magorian
NightjohnGary Paulsen
The Cats in Krasinski SquareKaren Hesse
The Downstairs GirlStacey Lee
WhenLaurie McBain
Black Ships Before TroyRosemary Sutcliff
Show all 29 titles
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- Dragonwings · Laurence Yep
- Rifles for Watie · Harold Keith
- The Fighting Ground · Avi
- The Cay · Theodore Taylor
- The Devil's Arithmetic · Jane Yolen
Historical Fiction books at other grades
3rd grade · 4th grade · 5th grade · 6th grade · 7th grade · 9th grade · 10th grade · 11th grade
Other 8th grade genres
Children's · Realistic Fiction · Science Fiction & Fantasy · Juvenile Fiction · Fantasy · Mystery · Middle Grade Fiction · Adventure
← Full 8th grade reading list · All historical fictionbooks →
Frequently asked questions
What historical fiction books are good for 8th grade students?
29 historical fiction books have a grade range that covers 8th grade and are assigned across US-school curricula — Common Core exemplars, AP, IB, Cambridge, and state ELA standards. Each title on this page links to its full curriculum citations and reading level.
Are these historical fiction books grade-appropriate for 8th grade?
Every title's grade range covers 8th grade. The typical 8th grade text-complexity band is 925–1185L (Common Core Appendix A); of the 10 books here with a Lexile score, 1 is grade-level, 9 more accessible, and 0 a stretch. Match a book to your reader's measured Lexile rather than to the grade alone.
How many historical fiction books are on the 8th grade list?
This page lists 29 8th grade historical fiction titles, most-assigned first (ties alphabetical). The list expands as more curriculum references are verified.
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