Some of her most notable books include:
- The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (1996): A story about the Holocaust, as seen through the eyes of a young boy named Bruno. It was later adapted into a 2008 film of the same name, which received critical acclaim and won several awards.
- Ida (1999): A novel about a young girl coming of age in Denmark during the 1950s.
- The Legacy (2002): A historical novel set in the Middle Ages, following the lives of three sisters.
- The Secret of the Island (2004): A children's book about a group of friends who go on an adventure to find treasure on a desert island.
- The Glass Jar (2007): A novel about a young woman who is struggling with mental health issues.