Families who loved Playing Atari with Saddam Hussein by Jennifer Roy often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your middle schooler is asking big questions about global news or trying to understand what life is like for children in conflict zones. It is an ideal bridge for the child who loves video games but needs to build empathy for experiences far from their own. Based on a true story, the narrative follows 11 year old Ali as he navigates the 1991 Gulf War in Iraq. While the backdrop is war, the heart of the story is about a boy who loves soccer and Atari, finding ways to maintain his childhood and family bonds amidst nightly bombings. It is a powerful tool for normalizing the complex feelings of fear and hope, showing that even in the darkest times, kids are still kids. Best for ages 10 to 14 due to realistic depictions of war time tension.
