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 1970
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Community, Identity: Gender, Society: Colonialism
Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, History: U.S., Children's Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction
Scott O’Dell’s children’s novel Sing Down the Moon (1970) is a work of historical fiction focusing on a mid-19th-century Navajo teen girl who calls herself Bright Morning. She and her people live as shepherds and farmers in Canyon de Chelly in Arizona. Bright Morning faces a series of trials in the novel: First, she is taken captive and sold into slavery; after she escapes home, white soldiers force her people to leave their village and... Read Sing Down the Moon Summary
Publication year 2001
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is a young adult (YA) bildungsroman published in 2001 by Ann Brashares. It is the first in the eponymous series of five best-selling novels, two of which were adapted into feature films. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants follow Carmen, Lena, Bridget, and Tibby, four teenage girls who share an inseparable bond and a pair of “magical” pants that fit each of them perfectly. During their first summer apart... Read Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Summary
Publication year 2014
Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Natural World: Animals, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Mythology, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman
Publication year 2001
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Indigenous, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Children's Literature, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 1960
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Poverty, Children's Literature, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1982
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Teams, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Humor, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Sports
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: Community, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Food, Disability, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2009
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Food, Identity: Gender, Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Teams, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Education
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Humor, Children's Literature, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Bullying, Grief / Death, Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Mental Illness, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2011
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Mental Illness, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Small as an Elephant is a middle grade realistic fiction novel written by Jennifer Richard Jacobson and originally published in 2011. In addition to writing, Jacobson teaches literacy workshops across the US. She grew up in Maine, which is the inspiration for the setting of many of her stories. Small as an Elephant examines several themes related to unstable attachment, support, and hardship. The novel received more than 10 awards, including the Maine Lupine Award... Read Small as an Elephant Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Mothers, Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Courage
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2006
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Realistic Fiction, Romance, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Small Steps was written by internationally acclaimed American author Louis Sachar. The novel was first published in 2006 by Delacorte Press (US) and Bloomsbury (UK). Louis Sachar is an award-winning young adult mystery and comedy writer, best known for his Wayside School series (1978-2020), and his novel Holes (1998), which won the John Newbery Medal and the National Book Award. Small Steps is a sequel to Holes and focuses on Theodore “Armpit” Johnson, a supporting... Read Small Steps Summary
Publication year 1996
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Disability, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self Discovery, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Auto/Biographical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Health / Medicine, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Biography
Publication year 2010
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor
Smile by Raina Telgemeier is an autobiographical graphic novel and the winner of the 2011 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Teens. It originated as a weekly webcomic in 2004 before Telgemeier expanded it into a book in 2010. Telgemeier is the writer and illustrator, while Stephanie Yue is the colorist. Smile is a coming-of-age tale, set in a San Francisco suburb from 1989 to 1992, in which Telgemeier struggles with preteen life after losing... Read Smile Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Appearance & Reality
Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, LGBTQ, Children's Literature
Publication year 1942
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: War, Society: Nation, Emotions/Behavior: Courage
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, WWII / World War II
Publication year 2004
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Disability, Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Published in 2004, Sarah Weeks’s middle grade novel So B. It follows 12-year-old protagonist Heidi as she sets out to discover the truth about her background and family. Heidi grows up not knowing her own birthday, her father’s name, or how she came to live in Reno, Nevada with her mentally disabled mother. When she finds an old roll of film from Mama’s past, the photos inspire her to begin a journey to uncover the... Read So B. It Summary
Publication year 1998
Genre Novella, Fiction
Themes Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Historical Fiction, American Civil War, Military / War, Mental Illness, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: U.S., History: World
Gary Paulsen’s young adult novel Soldier’s Heart: Being the Story of the Enlistment and Due Service of the Boy Charley Goddard in the First Minnesota Volunteers highlights a young soldier’s experience in the Civil War. Many of the novel’s plot events are based on historical records, as is the novel’s main character Charley, who is based on the actual soldier Charley Goddard. However, Paulsen takes liberties within the story and notes that parts of the... Read Soldiers Heart Summary