For the young historian eager to understand one of the most pivotal periods in human history, this book offers a clear, personal look at World War II's complexities.
A parent might reach for this book when their child shows a deep curiosity about World War II, asking complex questions that go beyond a simple timeline of events. This comprehensive guide from DK uses a visually rich format with photographs, maps, and timelines to explain the war's origins, major battles, and consequences. Crucially, it grounds the epic historical narrative in personal experience, sharing stories of soldiers, civilians, leaders, and victims. The book directly addresses difficult themes of fear, loss, and injustice, but also highlights incredible acts of bravery and resilience. It is an excellent, age-appropriate resource for older children and teens (9-14) ready to grapple with the human cost of conflict and understand why this period of history continues to shape our world today.
Explicitly discusses Nazi racist ideology and the persecution and genocide of Jewish people and others.
Scary ScenesModerate
Includes photographs and descriptions of war zones, destruction, and concentration camps.
Sensitive Topics
The book's approach to sensitive topics is direct, factual, and unflinching. Death, genocide, and the violence of war are described explicitly and often accompanied by historical photographs of destruction, casualties, and concentration camps. The perspective is secular and historical, focused on cause and effect. The resolution is realistic: the war ends with an Allied victory, but the book makes clear the horrific human cost, the moral complexities (like the use of atomic weapons), and the new global tensions that emerged, offering a somber rather than triumphant conclusion.
Ideal Reader
The ideal reader is a 10 to 14-year-old who is a dedicated non-fiction reader, fascinated by history, and ready for a serious, detailed account of the war. This child is likely past the introductory stage and is now asking specific, probing questions about how and why things happened. They are a visual learner who will appreciate the maps, diagrams, and photographs that DK books are known for, and they have the maturity to handle graphic historical content with parental guidance.
Parent Prep
Parents must preview this book. Specific chapters to review beforehand include "The 'Final Solution'" (on the Holocaust), "The Eastern Front", and "The Atomic Bomb". The photography throughout can be graphic. This book is best used as a shared resource for discussion, not something to be handed to a child to read alone, especially at the younger end of the age range. It requires context and the opportunity for a child to ask questions and process the information with an adult. The parent's trigger is hearing their child ask a sophisticated or emotionally heavy question about the war, for example, "What exactly happened in the concentration camps?" or "Why did they have to drop an atomic bomb?" The parent is looking for a book that is comprehensive, factually accurate, and visually engaging to help them explain these complex and difficult topics truthfully.
Age Experience
A younger reader (9-11) will likely be captivated by the military hardware, the maps of battles, and the clear stories of heroism. They will grasp the major events and the sides of the conflict but may need significant adult help to process the scale of the suffering and the more disturbing images. An older reader (12-14) is better equipped to understand the political and social complexities, analyze the morality of wartime decisions, and connect the events of WWII to contemporary global issues. They can engage more deeply with the themes of propaganda, genocide, and justice.
What Makes It Special
Among countless WWII books for young people, this one's differentiator is the masterful DK design. It breaks down an immensely complex subject into digestible, visually-supported segments. The integration of timelines, detailed maps, technological diagrams, and, most importantly, numerous first-person accounts and photographs makes the history feel immediate and deeply human. It excels at showing both the macro (global strategy) and micro (individual experience) perspectives simultaneously.
Read plot summary
This is a chronological, comprehensive non-fiction overview of the Second World War. It begins with the conditions that led to the war, such as the rise of dictatorships in the 1930s, and progresses through the major theaters of conflict, including the invasion of Poland, the fall of France, the Battle of Britain, the war in the Pacific, and the Eastern Front. Key sections are dedicated to the Holocaust, the technology of warfare, life on the home front, and espionage. The book concludes with the defeat of the Axis powers, the dropping of the atomic bombs, and the war's lasting global impact. Its distinguishing feature is the regular inclusion of personal profiles and "Eyewitness" accounts that humanize the historical events.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
The book features many 'Eyewitness' accounts. How did reading a personal story, like that of a pilot or a resistance fighter, change your understanding of the war compared to just reading facts about battles?
2
On the pages about the 'Home Front,' we see how life changed for everyone, not just soldiers. What were some of the biggest sacrifices civilians, including children, had to make?
3
The book shows many examples of propaganda posters. How did countries use these images and words to convince people to support the war? Do you see similar techniques used today to influence opinions?
4
After reading about the development and use of the atomic bomb, do you think it was the right decision to use it to end the war? What are some arguments for and against it?
5
The book shows how new technologies, like radar and jet engines, dramatically changed the way the war was fought. Which invention do you think had the biggest impact and why?
