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 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Fate
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Religion / Spirituality
The Iron Trial (2014) is a young adult fantasy novel by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare. Both Black and Clare are New York Times best-selling authors who have separately written multiple young adult novels. The Iron Trial is the first book in the Magisterium series and follows Callum “Call” Hunt, a 12-year-old boy who earns a place at a sinister magic school called the Magisterium. At the Magisterium, Call makes startling discoveries about his true... Read The Iron Trial Summary
Publication year 2001
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Relationships: Siblings, Identity: Race
Tags Realistic Fiction, Race / Racism, Diversity, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Relationships: Mothers, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Action / Adventure, Afro-Caribbean Literature, Children's Literature
Publication year 1894
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Natural World: Animals, Society: Colonialism
Tags Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Animals, Allegory / Fable / Parable, Children's Literature, Indian Literature
The Jungle Book is a collection of stories by Rudyard Kipling first published in 1894. Rudyard Kipling was born to a British family living in India and spent the first six years of his life there before being sent to England for schooling. Kipling’s works reflect his colonialist upbringing and support for British imperial rule over India, as well as ideas of European racial and cultural superiority developed in the Victorian Era. While the seven... Read The Jungle Book Summary
Publication year 2008
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Humor
The Juvie Three (2008) is a young adult novel by Gordon Korman. It is a unique coming-of-age story about personal transformation and found family, and a commentary on the stigmas that often burden those held back by their pasts. Korman challenges these societal perceptions and shows that we all have the power to change. This study guide references the 2008 paperback edition from Hyperion Books.Plot SummaryGraham Fosse, known as “Gecko,” drives a stolen getaway car... Read The Juvie Three Summary
Publication year 1996
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Humor, Politics / Government, Satire, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction
Publication year 2000
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Siblings, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Nation, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Korean Literature, Agriculture
Publication year 1993
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery
Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Community, Relationships: Family
Tags Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy
Publication year 1999
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Teams, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Realistic Fiction, Journalism, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor
The Landry News is a young adult novel by Andrew Clements, published in 1998. It centers on a school newspaper and the lives it touches, the lessons it teaches, and the power it gives people to stand up for their beliefs. The book received the William Allen White Children's Book Award in 2002 and has been translated into five languages. American author Andrew Clements (1949-2019) penned many books for young readers, including his most famous work, Frindle... Read The Landry News Summary
Publication year 1956
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Christian literature, Children's Literature, Religion / Spirituality
The Last Battle, first published in England in 1956, is the seventh and final novel in The Chronicles of Narnia. The Chronicles of Narnia, a series of fantasy novels by celebrated British writer and literary scholar C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), is considered a classic of children’s literature. The Last Battle represents the culmination of the series’ themes and characters and won the Carnegie Medal, which annually recognizes an outstanding book for children. Although The Last... Read The Last Battle Summary
Publication year 2000
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Beauty
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Fantasy, Action / Adventure
Rodman Philbrick’s The Last Book in the Universe, originally published in 2000, is a young adult novel geared toward children ages 8 to 12. It depicts a dystopian future where “normals” (genetically-unaltered humans) live in the Urb, a place of filth and unrest, while “proovs” (genetically improved people) live in Eden, a place of joy and happiness. This has been the status quo ever since the Big Shake, the environmental disaster that marked the region’s... Read The Last Book In The Universe Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: The Future, Society: Community
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Children's Literature, Diversity, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Animals
Publication year 2015
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family
Tags Humor, Children's Literature, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure
The Last Kids on Earth—a New York Times bestseller and winner of the Texas Bluebonnet Award, which is determined by the popular vote of grade school students throughout Texas—is a post-apocalypse graphic novel for young readers, filled with illustrations, humor, friendship, and zombie survival. The story is written by Max Brallier and drawn by Douglas Holgate, and was originally published in 2015, but has since gone on to become a seven-book series; this is the... Read The Last Kids on Earth Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Action / Adventure, Fantasy, Humor, Children's Literature, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
Publication year 2017
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
Publication year 2016
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear
Tags Action / Adventure, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Humor
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Fathers, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Asian Literature, Children's Literature, Asian Literature
Publication year 1974
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Education
Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure