Action & Adventure

Publication year 1988

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Food, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Action / Adventure, Travel Literature, Sports, Science / Nature, Biography

Touching the Void is a 1988 memoir by British author Joe Simpson. The book recounts the disastrous, near-fatal attempt of Simpson and his climbing partner, Simon Yates, to ascend the West Face of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes. The book details Simpson’s harrowing ordeal, in which he broke his leg and fell into a crevasse, and how he survived against seemingly insurmountable odds.Simpson’s narrative highlights the resilience of the human spirit and explores the... Read Touching the Void Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Disability, Self Discovery

Tags Fairy Tale / Folklore, Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure, New Adult


Publication year 1978

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Animals

Tags Action / Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Animals, Science / Nature


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Action / Adventure, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

Trapped opens an unspecified amount of time after the completion of the story’s events. Scotty Weems (nicknamed Weems) introduces himself as the narrator and details the severity of the nor’easter (a type of snowstorm specific to the New England region) around which the book centers. Chapter 2 returns to the day the storm began, and events work their way forward.Due to the storm, school will let out early. Weems is upset because his basketball game... Read Trapped Summary


Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship

Tags Realistic Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Poverty, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure

Published in 2010, Andy Mulligan’s dystopian young adult novel Trash examines themes of poverty, homelessness, corruption, and friendship. Set in the near future in an unnamed country, it follows the adventures of three boys who take turns narrating the story: Raphael, Gardo, and Jun-Jun (known as Rat throughout most of the book). The boys are poor, as are the majority of the people in their region. They live, as do most, by picking through trash... Read Trash Summary


Publication year 1962

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Place, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Masculinity, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Identity: Language, Society: Community

Tags Travel Literature, Action / Adventure, American Literature, Animals, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Classic Fiction, Biography

Published in 1962, Travels With Charley: In Search of America is a narrative travelogue by John Steinbeck. The book follows a cross-country road trip the author took with his dog, a brown poodle named Charley. They travel in a camper-style pickup truck named Rosinante, which Steinbeck had custom built for the trip. Steinbeck embarked on the journey because he felt disconnected from the larger picture of American life after years of living in New York... Read Travels With Charley Summary


Publication year 1883

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Classic Fiction, British Literature, Children's Literature, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure

Treasure Island is an adventure novel for young adults written by Robert Louis Stevenson, which was serialized in 1881 and 1882 and published in 1883. It is frequently dramatized in plays, television, and film, and has had an enormous influence on popular culture, particularly on public perceptions of pirate and sea-faring life. It is considered a coming-of-age tale and belongs to a genre of sea novels popular in the 19th century.Plot SummaryTreasure Island is told... Read Treasure Island Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure, Mystery / Crime Fiction


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Children's Literature, History: African , Race / Racism, African American Literature, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Historical Fiction, African American Literature, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World


Publication year 1968

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Masculinity, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Teams, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Western, Action / Adventure, Classic Fiction

True Grit is a 1968 western novel by Charles Portis that tells the story of Mattie Ross, a determined and headstrong 14-year-old girl from Arkansas who seeks vengeance for her father’s murder. With the unlikely help of Rooster Cogburn, a tough US Marshal, and LaBoeuf, a Texas Ranger, Mattie sets out to capture the killer, Tom Chaney. True Grit was an instant bestseller, adapted as a film in 1969 and in 2010. This guide uses the... Read True Grit Summary


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Action / Adventure

Tuesdays at the Castle, originally published in 2011, is the first book in the series of the same name by author Jessica Day George. Other titles in the series include Wednesdays in the Tower (2013), Thursdays with the Crown (2014), Fridays with the Wizards (2016), and Saturdays at Sea (2017). The series is categorized as children’s fantasy fiction suitable for grades 4-6 and above.George is a New York Times bestselling author who pens multiple series... Read Tuesdays at the Castle Summary


Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Food, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Grandparents, Relationships: Mothers

Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Great Depression, Animals, Realistic Fiction, History: World

Turtle in Paradise is a 2010 historical fiction children’s novel by Jennifer L. Holm. Set in the Florida Keys during the Great Depression, the novel follows an 11-year-old girl’s struggles and successes as she visits her aunt and cousins in the town where her mother grew up. The novel won the Golden Kite Award and is a Newbery Honor Book as well as a Junior Library Guild selection. Other works by this author include The... Read Turtle in Paradise Summary


Publication year 1870

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Place, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure, French Literature, Animals, Technology, Science / Nature, Fantasy

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea is a science fiction adventure novel by French author Jules Verne. It was originally published in serialized form in 1869 under the title Vingt mille lieues sous les mers, and later as a book in 1870. In 1873, the first English-language translation was released. The book was highly acclaimed at the time of its publication and was one of several successful novels by Verne. Others include Journey to the... Read Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea Summary


Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Religion / Spirituality

Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer, is a young adult adventure-romance about a teenage girl who falls in love with a vampire. Her struggle to build a relationship in a world filled with suspicion and danger helped make the book a number-one New York Times bestseller. The novel launched the Twilight book series including New Moon (2006), Breaking Dawn (2008), and Midnight Sun (2020), which has sold more than 100 million copies and received multiple young reader... Read Twilight Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Indigenous, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Relationships: Mothers, Natural World: Animals, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Place, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Community

Tags Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Natural Disaster, Climate Change, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction


Publication year 1993

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Women's Studies (Nonfiction), History: World, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Action / Adventure

In the 1993 novella Two Old Women by Velma Wallis, the harsh Alaskan climate and rigidity of tribal life set the stage for a life-changing journey marked by perseverance and passion. Faced with seemingly insurmountable odds, two elderly women find themselves in the fight of their lives, a fight they rise to with beauty and determination. The story of these two women, Sa’ and Ch’idzigyaak, has come to reverberate through the ages. Part of an... Read Two Old Women Summary


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Realistic Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1846

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Natural World: Place, Self Discovery, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Travel Literature, Action / Adventure, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, American Literature, History: World


Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Beauty, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Romance, Action / Adventure, Fantasy

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld is a young adult dystopian/science fiction novel and the first book of the Uglies Quartet. Published in 2005, Uglies was awarded the ALA 2006 Best Books for Young Adults award, the ALA 2006 Popular Paperback for Young Adults award, the Kirkus Editor’s Choice award, and the SLJ Best Book of the Year award. Uglies is followed by Pretties, Specials, and Extras.This guide uses the May 2011 Simon & Schuster BFYR paperback... Read Uglies Summary