YA Historical Fiction writing prompts

In a quiet French village during World War II, a group of teenagers discovers an abandoned radio in an old attic. They start broadcasting a secret news service to uplift the spirits of their occupied town, evading the watchful eyes of the local German soldiers. Write about their daily challenges and the bond they form through their secret resistance.

A teenager growing up in ancient Rome finds an unusual object buried near the Forum. It appears to be a device far ahead of its time. Write about the implications of this discovery, both for the protagonist and for Roman society as they try to understand and potentially use this advanced technology.

You are a teenager in Victorian England who discovers they can time travel after finding an ancestral pocket watch. Each location and time period you visit reveals a secret about your family's past. Detail your journeys and the historical events you experience firsthand.

Write a story set in the bustling streets of ancient Rome. Your protagonist is a young apprentice to a famous sculptor, struggling to leave their mark in the world of art amidst political upheaval.

Envision a young Viking girl in the late 10th century, determined to become a revered explorer like her forebearers. As she embarks on her first voyage across the Atlantic, she faces not only the relentless ocean but also the challenge of proving herself in a male-dominated society.

Write a story set in ancient Egypt, focusing on a young apprentice who discovers a plot to steal a priceless artifact from the Pharaoh's tomb. How do they prove their loyalty and protect their country's heritage?

Set your story in Paris during the French Revolution. Your main character is a young poet who uses their writings to convey messages of freedom and justice, risking their life as they become entangled in the underground networks of revolutionaries.

Craft a tale about a group of teenagers in 1940s Paris who start a secret newspaper to resist the occupying forces during World War II. Delve into their daily lives, the risks they undertake, and the impact of their work on the liberation efforts.

Set in the backdrop of the American Civil War, write from the perspective of a teenage girl whose brother is fighting in the war. She finds a hidden diary belonging to a mysterious soldier and decides to return it, learning about the harsh realities of war and human nature along the way.

Transport your readers to Victorian England where a teenage girl, aspiring to be a scientist, must disguise herself as a boy to attend a prestigious academy. Explore her struggles and triumphs as she fights for her dream against societal norms and the discovery of a groundbreaking scientific discovery.