Books Like Sonny's War

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Tender

Valerie Hobbs

After losing her grandmother, fifteen-year-old Liv leaves New York for the California coast to live with a gruff abalone

Ages 12–16

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Some Other War

Linda Newbery

For the reader grappling with the heavy reality of war, this story follows twins whose bond is tested by the trauma of t

Ages 12–16

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Vietnam #5

Walking Wounded

Chris Lynch

Grief and a heavy shared secret haunt three friends who return from the Vietnam War after making a pact to bring every m

Ages 12–18

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The Life History of a Star

Kelly Easton

A fourteen-year-old girl uses her diary to navigate the physical changes of adolescence and the heavy presence of her br

Ages 12–16

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Summer's End

Audrey Couloumbis

Four generations gather on a family farm in 1965, tethered together by worry for brothers and uncles caught in the draft

Ages 10–14

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Georgie's Moon

Chris Woodworth

The quiet ache of a missing father meets the loud controversy of the Vietnam era as a young girl searches for peace in a

Ages 9–12

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Time of Fire

Robert Westall

Grieving and separated from his father during World War II, Sonny searches for meaning amidst the falling bombs and the

Ages 10–14

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Charlie's Run

Valerie Hobbs

Desperate to prevent his parents from separating, Charlie decides the only way to save his family is to run away from ho

Ages 8–12

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The Perry Family #1

Fallen Angels

Walter Dean Myers

Straight out of high school in Harlem, Richie Perry enters the summer of 1967 and finds himself facing a devastating yea

Ages 14–18

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Molly's Fire

Janet Lee Carey

For the child grappling with the uncertainty of a missing loved one, this story follows a young girl's unwavering hope a

Ages 10–14

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Reeney

Molly Cone

Reeney struggles to balance the sudden responsibility of running a household and going to school following the loss of h

Ages 12–16

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Foster's War

Carolyn Reeder

While his brother is away at war, eleven-year-old Foster remains at home to face his own battles against his father’s un

Ages 9–12

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How Far Would You Have Gotten If I Hadn't Called You Back?

Valerie Hobbs

Sixteen-year-old Bron navigates the high-speed world of 1950s drag racing after her family moves from New Jersey to Cali

Ages 12–17

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Soldier's Heart

Gary Paulsen

Fifteen-year-old Charley Goddard marches into the Civil War expecting glory but finds a brutal reality that changes him

Ages 12–18

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War & Watermelon

Rich Wallace

For the child feeling the pressure of new beginnings and complex family changes during a season of national upheaval.

Ages 10–14

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Amaryllis

Craig Crist-Evans

Jimmy and Frank find refuge in the surf until the combined pressures of an alcoholic father and the Vietnam War threaten

Ages 14–18

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Dove Song

Kristine L. Franklin

With her father missing in Vietnam and her mother overwhelmed by grief, eleven-year-old Bobbie Lynn must guard a family

Ages 9–13

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Lost in the War

Nancy Antle

Lisa navigates the heavy shadows of her mother’s past as a combat nurse, finding a path through grief and anger with the

Ages 10–14

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Soldier Boys #2

Search and Destroy

Dean Hughes

Eager to escape a difficult home life, recent graduate Rick Ward enlists in the army and confronts the brutal, haunting

Ages 14–18

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About Sonny's War

Reach for this book when your teenager is grappling with the double burden of a personal family tragedy and the distant but heavy anxiety of global or political conflict. It is especially resonant for siblings in military families or those navigating the sudden loss of a father figure. Set in the late 1960s, the story follows fourteen-year-old Cori as she attempts to find her footing after her father dies, only to watch her beloved older brother, Sonny, get drafted for the Vietnam War. The narrative explores themes of grief, the loss of innocence, and the complex moral questions that arise during wartime. While it deals with mature historical realities, it maintains a grounded focus on family loyalty and resilience. Parents will appreciate the book's honest, secular approach to suffering and its ability to spark meaningful conversations about how historical events impact private lives.