The books in this collection navigate themes and ideas appropriate for younger readers. Whether you're looking for contemporary hits like Front Desk by Kelly Yang or beloved classics like Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, you can explore this collection to find a title that will excite the young readers in your life.
Publication year 2003
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Fantasy, Animals, Action / Adventure, Relationships, Leadership/Organization/Management, Children's Literature
Publication year 2003
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Bullying, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy
Inventing Elliot, by British author Graham Gardner, is set in England in a fictional high school, Holminster High. First published in 2003, Inventing Elliot is Gardner’s debut novel. He was inspired by The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier, a realistic book about a boy going against the system in a private Catholic school, and George Orwell’s book 1984, a dystopian social science fiction novel that explores the horror of violence and totalitarianism. Garner was also... Read Inventing Elliot Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Language, Society: Immigration, Identity: Race
Tags Realistic Fiction, Race / Racism, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2017
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Identity: Mental Health
Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1991
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Environment, Society: Colonialism
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Politics / Government, Relationships, Technology, Children's Literature
Invitation to the Game is a young adult science fiction novel by Canadian writer Monica Hughes. It received the Hal Clement Award in 1992. Originally published in 1990, it was rereleased under the title The Game in 2010. This study guide refers to the Simon & Schuster 2010 print edition.Plot SummaryThe novel tells the story of Lisse, a teenager in 2154. She lives in a dystopian world where robots have taken a majority of the... Read Invitation To The Game Summary
Publication year 2001
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Social Justice, Poverty, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Arts / Culture
Publication year 1960
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Self Discovery, Natural World: Place, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction
Originally published in 1960, Scott O’Dell’s Island of the Blue Dolphins is a middle grade historical fiction/adventure novel. Karana, the protagonist and narrator, is only 12 when hunters land on her peaceful island home and kill many of her people, including her father. When the remaining villagers leave the island in search of a safe place to rebuild their lives, she stays behind and must learn to survive on her own. O’Dell drew inspiration from... Read Island of the Blue Dolphins Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Society: Colonialism, Society: War
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Military / War, History: World, American Revolution, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Natural Disaster, Children's Literature, History: World
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage
Tags Historical Fiction, Natural Disaster, Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Children's Literature, Animals, Realistic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Immigration, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Society: War, Relationships: Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Humor, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 1972
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Marriage
Tags Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman
Publication year 2019
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Race, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Biography, Humor, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, History: African , Social Justice
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Siblings
Tags Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor
Publication year 2015
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Tags Poverty, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Biography
I Will Always Write Back is a dual-perspective memoir written by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda, with Liz Welch as a contributing author. The New York Times bestselling memoir was published in 2015. Through alternating narratives, Caitlin and Martin tell the story of how they became pen pals in 1997 and eventually lifelong friends. The memoir features excerpts from real-life letter correspondences between the two narrators as well as their present-day accounts of past events.Plot... Read I Will Always Write Back Summary
Publication year 1980
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Relationships: Siblings, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction
Jacob Have I Loved (1980) is the seventh book published by acclaimed American author Katherine Paterson. Set in the 1940s on a tiny crab-fishing island in the Chesapeake Bay, the coming-of-age novel tells the story of teenager Sara Louise Bradshaw as she navigates her contentious relationship with her twin sister, Caroline, and seeks identity and purpose in her village. The novel explores the theme of sibling rivalry and religious struggles. Jacob Have I Loved won... Read Jacob Have I Loved Summary
Publication year 2007
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Society: Education
Tags Children's Literature, Education, Science / Nature
Publication year 1961
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Humor, Children's Literature, Magical Realism, Animals, Action / Adventure
James and the Giant Peach by British author Roald Dahl was first published in 1961. This critically acclaimed children’s novel was made into an award-winning film in 1996. It tells the story of a giant peach that magically grows in a young boy, James’s, back garden—big enough for him to enter the center of the peach and have adventures with the insects who live in there. Dahl is known as one of the 20th century’s greatest... Read James And The Giant Peach Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction