True Stories: WWII Perspectives

$235 for twelve sessions

Taught by a real published author! Dive into the heart of World War II by seeing it through the eyes of those who lived it—young and old, famous and unsung.

In this immersive nonfiction book club, we’ll travel chronologically from the cramped attic in Amsterdam to the secret codebreaking rooms of Bletchley Park, from Japanese-American incarceration camps to the heart of the Pacific theater, and finally to Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the weeks that followed. We’ll tackle three different books per semester—memoir, graphic narrative, or investigative history—and use it as a springboard for lively discussions, creative projects, and deeper research into the people and events that shaped the conflict.

As you read, you’ll:

• Humanize History: Rather than just memorizing dates and battles, you’ll meet Anne Frank as a teenager trying to stay hidden, George Takei as a young boy in an internment camp, and the codebreaking “Enigma Girls” whose ingenuity changed the course of the war.

• Connect Literature to Context: Our instructor is a published author of multiple WWII books—so you’ll not only analyze storytelling choices (voice, structure, illustration, and primary-source integration) but also learn how to verify facts, contextualize personal accounts, and ask critical questions.

• Explore Moral Complexity: From Susan Campbell Bartoletti’s deep dive into how German youth were indoctrinated, to Steve Sheinkin’s chilling account of how the atomic bomb came to be, we’ll confront difficult choices, wartime propaganda, and the aftermath that still reverberates today.

Upcoming schedule:

Fall semester books (classes starting in August):

The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank

Hitler Youth by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei

Spring semester books (classes starting in January):

Bomb by Steve Sheinken

Sachiko by Caren Stelson

The Enigma Girls by Candace Fleming

Whether you’re a budding historian, an aspiring writer, or simply someone who wants to understand how ordinary people navigated extraordinary times, this book club will change how you see World War II. Join us for a year of discovery, empathy, and conversation—guided by a published war historian who will help you connect each story to the bigger picture. By exploring these varied perspectives, you’ll gain a richer, more nuanced understanding of the global, cultural, and personal impact of WWII—lessons that still matter today.