Families who loved My Sister and I: The Diary of a Dutch Boy Refugee by Dirk van der Heide often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
A parent would reach for this book when their middle-schooler begins asking serious questions about the realities of war, the refugee experience, or how children manage to stay brave during times of immense global upheaval. This poignant diary offers a first-person perspective on the 1940 invasion of the Netherlands, following young Dirk as he navigates the sudden loss of his mother and the terrifying journey from his homeland to safety in America. It is a raw but age-appropriate gateway into understanding World War II history through a peer's eyes. The narrative balances the frightening realities of displacement with a child's natural resilience and focus on family. While it deals with heavy themes like grief and the violence of war, it emphasizes the importance of sibling bonds and the kindness of strangers. Parents of children aged 10 to 14 will find this an excellent resource for grounding historical facts in human emotion, making it a powerful tool for building empathy and historical literacy.
