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 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Education
Tags Class, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Social Justice, Modern Classic Fiction, Indian Literature
Publication year 2020
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Community
Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice, Education, Children's Literature, Education, Politics / Government
Publication year 2019
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery
Tags Graphic Novel/Book, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Magical Realism, Children's Literature
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Community
Tags Realistic Fiction, Social Justice, Race / Racism, Immigration / Refugee, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction
Publication year 1871
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Appearance & Reality
Tags Classic Fiction, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Victorian Period
Through the Looking-Glass is the sequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, a classic novel by Lewis Carroll. Through the Looking-Glass, written six years later, features the same topsy-turvy portal world known as Wonderland; the sequel is often included in a dual compendium with the first book. In this tale, Alice steps through a mirror into a surreal world where she encounters peculiar characters, navigates curious landscapes, and tries to make sense of nonsensical events. The... Read Through The Looking Glass Summary
Publication year 1992
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Action / Adventure
The novel opens with Sound of Running Feet, a young Nez Perce girl and the daughter of Chief Joseph. She runs into a white settler and his wife in a familiar meadow near her village. She challenges the settler and reports the incident to her father, who tells her that white settlers are coming in droves. Chief Joseph is a thoughtful and respectable chief but not a war chief—he is worried about his people.Soon, the... Read Thunder Rolling in the Mountains Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1994
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Grandparents, Self Discovery
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Religion / Spirituality
Time for Andrew: A Ghost Story is a gothic middle grade novel written by Mary Downing Hahn and published in 1994. Hahn is known for incorporating elements of the thriller and gothic genres into stories for young readers. This novel follows 12-year-old Drew as he spends the summer with his Aunt Blythe and an irritable great-grandfather in their creaky, shadowy ancestral home. When a dying boy who looks strikingly similar to Drew mysteriously appears in... Read Time for Andrew: A Ghost Story Summary
Publication year 1964
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Identity: Race, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Historical Fiction, History: U.S., Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 1968
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Nation
Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction, Biography
To Be a Slave is a nonfiction children’s book written by Julius Lester and published in 1968. In 1969, the book was named a John Newbery Honor Book in recognition of its important contribution to children’s literature.The book focuses on the history of enslavement in the United States. Julius Lester compiled slave narratives and wrote his own historical commentary to accompany them. Lester was writing in the context of the civil rights movement of the... Read To Be a Slave Summary
Publication year 1976
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Society: War
Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: U.S., History: World, Historical Fiction, American Revolution, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Sexuality
Tags LGBTQ, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Gender
Tags LGBTQ, Fantasy, Relationships, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2001
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness
Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Fantasy, Action / Adventure
Touching Spirit Bear is a young adult fiction novel written by Ben Mikaelsen and originally published in 2002. It is a bildungsroman and adventure story and the first in a two-part series. Ben Mikaelsen was inspired by his own pet black bear, Buffy, to whom he dedicated the book; the novel also takes cultural inspiration from the Tlingit Tribe of Alaska. Touching Spirit Bear is the recipient of nine awards, including the Nevada Young Readers’... Read Touching Spirit Bear Summary
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Race, Society: Community, Relationships: Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Race / Racism, Relationships, Grief / Death, Diversity, American Literature, September 11 Attacks, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, History: World
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 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 2004
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Teams, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Sports, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Travel Team is a young adult novel by Mike Lupica published in 2004. Lupica is a former newspaper columnist with experience writing sports commentary for the New York Daily News. In addition to his young adult novels, Lupica has written several books for adults, including autobiographies co-written with Reggie Jackson and Bill Parcells. Lupica has also appeared on ESPN and on several sports-oriented radio shows. This guide refers to the 2006 edition published by Puffin... Read Travel Team Summary