When the World Was Ours

Set in Vienna before and during World War II, Liz Kessler’s YA historical novel follows three close friends whose lives are split apart by Nazi persecution. Written in alternating perspectives, it makes large historical events legible through intimate choices, losses, and acts of courage. The prose is clear and emotionally direct, suitable for younger readers while retaining seriousness about trauma and memory. It is an effective gateway text for discussing the Holocaust with teens—compassionate, accessible, and grounded in the city’s wartime transformation.