Awesome American History Books for High School – 11th Grade Reading List
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Every year I enjoy putting together a personalized reading list for my kids. Sharing great books with my kids is one of my favorite ways to connect with them. My daughter is in 11th grade this year and is taking a dual enrollment course. Dual enrollment is when high school students earn high school credit and college credit at the same time. It is pretty common for homeschooled 11th graders to begin the dual enrollment process.
She is taking an American History course at our local community college to fulfill part of the history requirements for high school and college graduation. I decided to create a book list full of American history books to complement her course studies for her 11th grade reading list.
The current plan is for my daughter to take American History I in the fall semester and American History II in the spring semester. I wanted to make sure that I chose American history books that cover topics taught in her class, so I looked at the syllabus online before choosing the books.
The fall class covers material from the migration to North America to the Civil War, and the spring class covers material from the Civil War through current days.
One of the great things about creating a customized book list is that the titles can be chosen to really appeal to a particular student. My daughter is currently very interested in women’s history, so I intentionally chose books that feature strong female characters.
These American History books cover a few genres:
- Historical fiction
- Non-fiction
- Classics (Of course, classics can be fiction or non-fiction, but these particular titles are fiction.)
Awesome American History Books for High School
Flight of the Sparrow: A Novel of Early America by Amy Belding Brown
Last update on 2026-09-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Time period: Colonial Era
Flight of the Sparrow is based on the true story of a wife and mother being captured by Native Americans. She is taken from her New England home and forced to live among her captors. At first, she is terrified, cold, and hungry, but eventually, she is drawn to a new way of life.
The book contains an interview with the author and discussion questions. The author, Amy Belding Brown, has created a website about Native Americans and Puritans to supplement the novel.
Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill
Last update on 2026-09-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Time period: American Revolution
I read this book over the summer and instantly knew I wanted my daughter to read it too.
Someone Knows My Name tells the story of an enslaved child who is taken from her village at the young age of 11. She is forced to go to South Carolina, where she leads a very difficult life under the control of several owners. She seizes the opportunity to serve the British army during the American Revolution, which might be her ticket to freedom.
This is the kind of book that sticks with you for a while.
Monticello: A Daughter and Her Father by Sally Cabot Gunning
Last update on 2026-09-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Time period: Constitutional Era
This story tells the story of Thomas Jefferson from the perspective of his daughter. Monticello by Sally Cabot Gunning spans years but begins when his daughter Martha is 17. My daughter is 16, and I thought that a character close to her age might be appealing.
Thomas Jefferson’s daughter does not always agree with her father’s decisions, which is something that I’m sure just about all teenagers can relate to.
The Monticello plantation in Charlottesville, Virginia, offers a virtual tour, which will be a great addition to this book.
Behind Rebel Lines: The Incredible Story of Emma Edmonds, Civil War Spy by Seymour Reit
- Amazon Kindle Edition
Last update on 2026-09-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Time period: Civil War
My daughter wanted to read this short book as soon as it arrived in the mail. She was instantly drawn to this story about a woman who pretended to be a man in order to join the military to fight in the Civil War. Emma Edmonds transitioned from soldier to spy . . . both very unusual for a woman.
Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Last update on 2026-09-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Time period: Great Depression
The Dust Bowl during the Great Depression is a time period that we haven’t spent much time learning about, so I wanted to make sure to add this title to my daughter’s list of American History books. This classic historical fiction book tells the story of a family of sharecroppers who need to relocate due to bleak conditions.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
![A Tree Grows in Brooklyn [75th Anniversary Ed]: A Special Edition of the Beloved American Classic Coming-Of-Age Novel (Perennial Classics)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41HH0qsYzBL._SL160_.jpg)
Last update on 2026-09-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Time period: Great Depression
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn follows the story of Francie Nolan and her family as they live in Brooklyn in the 1940s. This family lives a financially strained life in a little New York apartment. This novel will give my daughter a glimpse into a family different from her own.
The Flight Girls by Noelle Salazar
Last update on 2026-09-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Time period: World War 2
This is another book that I knew I wanted to include on this list of American History books as soon as I finished it. The book tells the story of the flight girls – women who flew planes for the military during World War 2. The Women Airforce Service Pilots program is both inspiring and frustrating. The women are driven and dedicated, but their treatment leaves a lot to be desired.
The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story by Lily Koppel
Last update on 2026-09-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Time period: Space Era
The Astronaut Wives were technically military wives, but they were closer to each other than other military spouses. This book tells the story of the families of the first American astronauts. At a time when billionaires jet into space whenever they want, this book will offer a glimpse of the beginnings of astronauts.
Keep reading . . .
- Complete High School Language Arts Curriculum
- A Do-It-Yourself Literature and Composition Course
- American Literature Curriculum: Homeschool Choices
- 6 Types of Books to Read in High School
- 10th Grade Reading List
- Inspiring Women’s History Books for Kids and Teens
- Homeschooling High School Resources, Curriculum, and Tips
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