Every year, I like to make a list of books that my kids will enjoy. Great books are one of my favorite ways to connect with my kids. In 11th grade this year, my daughter is taking a dual enrollment class and is going to college at the same time. She is taking an American History class at our local community college to get both high school and college credit at the same time, so she can get both. I came up with a list of books about American history that she could read to help her with her class work.

The plan right now is for my daughter to take American History I in the fall and American History II in the spring. So, I looked at her class syllabus online to make sure I chose American history books that were going to cover the things that she was going to be learning about. During fall, we learn about how people arrived in North America. During spring, we learn about what happened after the Civil War.

Make your own book list: Titles can be chosen that will really appeal to a student who reads that way. My daughter is very interested in women's history right now, so I made sure to choose books with strong female characters.

Awesome American History Books for High School

Flight of the Sparrow: A Novel of Early America by Amy Belding Brown

During the colonial era:

Flight of the Sparrow is based on the true story of a woman and her daughter being kidnapped by Native American tribes. She is kidnapped from her home in New England and forced to live with the people who want to keep her. There are times when she is afraid. She is also cold and hungry, but in the long run, she is drawn to a new way of living.

The book has an interview with the author and questions for people to think about. Amy Belding Brown, the author of the book, has made a website about Native Americans and Puritans to go along with it.

Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill

Time: The American Revolution

A few weeks ago, I read this book and thought my daughter should read it, too.

Another person has heard my name. When I was 11 years old, I was sold as a slave in someone else's house. She is forced to move to South Carolina, where she lives a very hard life under the control of many different people. She takes advantage of the chance to serve in the British army during the American Revolution, which could be her ticket out of the country.

I like books that stay with me for a while. This is one of those books.

Monticello: A Daughter and Her Father by Sally Cabot Gunning

The Constitutional Era is a time period.

This story tells the story of Thomas Jefferson from the point of view of the man's daughter. Martha is 17 when the book Monticello by Sally Cabot Gunning starts. It's a long book, but it starts when she's 17. So, I thought a character who was close to her age might be interesting to my daughter.

When her father makes a decision, Thomas Jefferson's daughter doesn't always agree with it. This is something that I think most teenagers can relate to.

There is a virtual tour of the Monticello plantation in Charlottesville, Virginia. This will be a great addition to this book.

Behind Rebel Lines, The Incredible Story of Emma Edmonds, Civil War Spy by Seymour Reit

Time: The Civil War.

Before she even opened the mail, my daughter asked to read this short book. When she saw this story about a woman who lied about being a man in order to join the military and fight in the Civil War, she was very interested. Emma Edmonds went from being a soldier to being a spy, which is unusual for a woman to do.

Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Time: Great Depression

To add this book to my daughter's American History list, I made sure to add it to her list of books about the Dust Bowl. In this well-known piece of historical fiction, a family of sharecroppers must move to a new place because of bad weather.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Time: Great Depression

On this book, the story of Francie Nolan and her family is told as they live in the 1940s. For money, this family lives in a small New York apartment. This book will show my daughter a different kind of family than her own.

The Flight Girls by Noelle Salazar

Time: World War 2.

This is another book that I knew I wanted to put on this list of books about American history as soon as I finished it. In this book, you will learn about the flight girls. These were women who flew planes for the military during World War 2. One thing about the Women Air Force Service Pilots program is both inspiring and frustrating. Driven and dedicated, but the women aren't being treated very well at all.

The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story by Lily Koppel

During the Space Era:

It's true that the Astronaut Wives were military wives, but they were closer to each other than other military wives. They are the families of the first American astronauts, and this book talks about how they lived their lives. These days, billionaires can go to space whenever they want. This book will show how astronauts started out.

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