Juvenile Literature

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 2020

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

Tags Immigration / Refugee, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Biography


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Grandparents, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

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

When the Sea Turned Silver by Grace Lin takes readers on a journey through a richly imagined world full of imagery and Chinese folklore. The novel follows the adventures of Pinmei and Yishan as they navigate themes of Finding and Creating Identity, The Power of Stories, and how Perception Shapes Reality. Recognized for its storytelling and cultural depth, When the Sea Turned Silver was a 2016 National Book Award Finalist. Critics praise the novel for... Read When the Sea Turned to Silver Summary


Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Children's Literature, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World, Historical Fiction


Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Bullying, Parenting, Race / Racism, Relationships, American Literature, Children's Literature, Historical Fiction, Fantasy

When You Reach Me (2009) is a middle-grade novel by Rebecca Stead. It won the Newbery Medal and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for fiction and has been included in numerous best book lists for young adult readers. Stead's Liar and Spy won the 2013 Guardian Children's Fiction Award. She is also the author of Goodbye Stranger (2015) and The List of Things That Will Not Change (2020), and co-authored The Lost Library (2023) with... Read When You Reach Me Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Magical Realism, Fantasy, Children's Literature


Publication year 1969

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Flora/plants

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Poverty, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction

Where the Lilies Bloom (1969) is a middle-grade historical fiction novel written by married authors Vera Cleaver and Bill Cleaver. The couple collaborated on stories and novels for middle-grade and young adult readers throughout their life, believing that writing for adolescent age groups was a meaningful endeavor. They often wrote about realistic settings and themes, exploring the intricacies of human nature. Where the Lilies Bloom is their most famous work. It is a coming-of-age novel... Read Where the Lilies Bloom Summary


Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Chinese Literature, Action / Adventure

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin is a middle grade fantasy fiction novel that takes inspiration from Chinese folklore and details the journey of a young girl, Minli, as she embarks on a hero's quest to improve her family’s circumstances. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon became a New York Times bestseller and received a Newbery Honor Award and the 2010 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children’s Literature. Lin penned a companion book... Read Where The Mountain Meets The Moon Summary


Publication year 1961

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Classic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Animals, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction

Wilson Rawls was born in 1913 in the Ozark Mountains in the Oklahoma/Arkansas region of the United States, where Rawls time spent roaming the hills with his dogs. His level of formal education left him unsure of his formal writing ability, and he disposed of his manuscripts. However, his wife encouraged him to start again, leading to the publication of Where the Red Fern Grows in 1961 and The Summer of the Monkeys 15 years... Read Where the Red Fern Grows Summary


Publication year 1974

Genre Poem, Fiction

Tags Lyric Poem, Children's Literature


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth

Tags Mental Illness, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Birth

Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, Grief / Death, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

Whirligig, by Paul Fleischman, is a 1998 YA novel about a 17-year-old boy named Brent Bishop who goes on a cross-country journey of atonement. At the outset of the novel, Brent’s family has recently moved to Chicago following his father’s promotion at work—the fourth time the family has moved. Brent has struggled to fit in and make friends at each new school he’s attended. He tries to win approval from his classmates by wearing trendy... Read Whirligig Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Relationships: Family, Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Nation

Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Drama / Tragedy, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Military / War, History: World


Publication year 1906

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature

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

White Fang (1906) is a short novel by American author Jack London. The novel explores themes of survival, nature versus nurture, and improving oneself through discipline and adaptability. White Fang’s protagonist is a wild-born wolfdog named White Fang whose struggle for survival and eventual domestication comprise the novel’s narrative arc. London’s novel challenges humanity’s claim to superiority over nature and celebrates animals’ resilience, simple logic, and instinct. White Fang has been adapted into over a... Read White Fang Summary


Publication year 1993

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Historical Fiction, Race / Racism, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World

White Lilacs by Carolyn Meyer is a middle grade historical fiction novel first published in 1993. It tells the story of Rose Lee, a young Black girl living in Dillon, Texas, in 1921. When the white citizens of Dillon vote to force the Black community out of their homes to turn the area into a city park, Rose Lee and her family battle against racism, violence, and injustice as they search for options.Meyer is the... Read White Lilacs Summary


Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Literature

Tags Children's Literature, Animals, Historical Fiction, Fantasy


Publication year 2006

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Place, Society: Class, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Biography


Publication year 2007

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Education, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Biography, History: World, Children's Literature, Race / Racism, Historical Nonfiction, Spanish Literature


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Natural World: Environment

Tags Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Climate, Self Discovery

Tags Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Natural Disaster, Children's Literature, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Realistic Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Natural World: Environment, Society: Community

Tags Children's Literature, Animals, Science / Nature, Realistic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction