All Quiet on the Western Front is a really good one. It's a story about WW1 through the perspective of a German soldier fresh out of high school. And he and his friends' horrendous experience.
It's fairly easy to read, and not too long, (200-300 pages if I remember correctly).
Natalie, I've written three historical novels: one set in ancient Greece; another set in the Civil War; and the third -- which you might be interested in -- set in pre-WWII Europe and beyond. The name of this novel is "The Hamsa." It is about a three-time Polish Olympic skier, Bronislaw Czech.
Czech was born in 1908 and attended three Olympic Games in 1928, 1932 and 1936. Because of his knowledge of the Tatra Mountains, he became involved with the Polish Underground. Czech was the 349th person to be incarcerated in Auschwitz and died there.
One reviewer called my approach a bit like 'Forest Gump' because I have my protagonist, Bronislaw Czech cross paths with several historical figures throughout his life. This is an adult book, not a children's book. There is some light romance, and there is some violence.
There is also plenty of Winter Olympic action. You can learn more about "The Hamsa" at my website: http://eskraay.com/?page_id=11#hamsa.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.