Earth Day

Every April, we honor our planet on Earth Day with a selection of works celebrating the natural world. With titles ranging from stories of wilderness survival to nonfiction works about conservation and sustainability, this Collection features a broad spectrum of ideas regarding nature and our role within it.

Wild Bird

by Wendelin Van Draanen

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Self Discovery, Community, Environment

Tags Realistic Fiction, Action & Adventure, Coming of Age, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

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Wildfire

by Rodman Philbrick

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Perseverance, Environment, Climate, Self Discovery

Tags Action & Adventure, Survival Fiction, Natural Disaster, Children`s Literature, Horror & Suspense, Realistic Fiction

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Wild

by Cheryl Strayed

Publication year 2012

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Forgiveness, Memory, Hate & Anger, Love, Shame & Pride, Fear, Grief, Perseverance, Conflict, Loneliness, Hope, Safety & Danger, Environment, Place, Mothers

Tags Grief & Death, Travel Literature, Relationships, Love & Sexuality, Science & Nature, Action & Adventure, Biography

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Wildoak

by C. C. Harrington

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Environment, Community

Tags Children`s Literature, Animals, Science & Nature, Realistic Fiction, World History, Historical Fiction

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Wind from an Enemy Sky

by D'Arcy Mcnickle

Publication year 1978

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Indigenous Identity, Environment, Colonialism

Tags Historical Fiction, American Literature, Education, Education

Wind From an Enemy Sky is a 1978 historical fiction novel by D’Arcy McNickle. It tells the story of the fictional Little Elk tribe in the northwestern United States and their attempts to navigate the advancement of white colonization on their lands. McNickle based the story on his life as a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation. The novel was McNickle’s last and was published posthumously. While it never... Read Wind from an Enemy Sky Summary

Wings of Starlight

by Allison Saft

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Guilt, Hope, Joy, Love, Coming of Age, Future, The Past, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Nature Versus Nurture, Place, Friendship, Teamwork, Community, Politics & Government, War, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Fairy Tale & Folklore

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Wintering

by Katherine May

Publication year 2020

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Environment, Grief, Femininity, Religion & Spirituality, Mental Health

Tags Psychology, Health, Self-Improvement, Science & Nature, Psychology, Mental Illness

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Woodsong

by Gary Paulsen

Publication year 1990

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Animals, Environment, Perseverance

Tags Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, Life-Inspired Fiction, Sports, Animals, Realistic Fiction, Science & Nature

Published in 1991, the adventure biography Woodsong recounts novelist Gary Paulsen’s experiences as a dogsled driver, including his participation in the Iditarod race across Alaska. He describes the hard-won lessons he learns, the strange and wondrous things he witnesses, and the love and admiration he feels for the dogs he trains with. Three-time Newbury Honor winner Paulsen wrote more than 200 works, most of them for middle-grade and young adult readers. His books often tell... Read Woodsong Summary

World War Z

by Max Brooks

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Apathy, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Guilt, Hope, Death, Future, Environment, Community, Education, Nation, Social Class, Politics & Government, War, Art, Fame, Truth & Lies, Beauty, Good & Evil, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger

Tags Science Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Fantasy, Social Class, Disability, Depression & Suicide, Leadership, Military & War, Trauma & Abuse, Politics & Government

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War is a horror fiction novel by Max Brooks published in 2006. The book was a critical and commercial success, generally receiving positive reviews and spending several weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. It has sold millions of copies around the world and was subsequently turned into a successful movie starring Brad Pitt, released in 2013, and a highly rated video game, released in... Read World War Z Summary

Wrecker

by Carl Hiaasen

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Joy, Loneliness, Race, Coming of Age, The Past, Climate, Environment, Plants, Place, Fathers, Mothers, Self Discovery, Community, Beauty, Safety & Danger

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Action & Adventure, Realistic Fiction

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Young Goodman Brown

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Publication year 1835

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Environment, Conflict, Good & Evil, Community

Tags Classic Fiction, Symbolic Narrative, American Literature, Education, Education, Horror & Suspense, Gothic Literature, Historical Fiction

“Young Goodman Brown” is a short story written by Nathaniel Hawthorne published in 1835 in The New-England Magazine. The story was later included in Hawthorne’s 1846 collection Mosses from an Old Manse. Most of Hawthorne’s fiction is set in New England and focuses on themes of morality, inherent sin of human beings, and anti-Puritan sentiment. In addition to “Young Goodman Brown,” some of his most famous short fiction works include “The Minister’s Black Veil” (1836)... Read Young Goodman Brown Summary

Zero Day

by David Baldacci

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Environment, Equality, Conflict

Tags Horror & Suspense, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Military & War

David Baldacci’s Zero Day (2011, Grand Central Publishing) is the 23rd of Balducci’s 44 adult novels and the first of three in his John Puller series. Most of Baldacci’s adult novels are in the suspense and legal thriller genres. Baldacci studied law and worked as an attorney for seven years before publication of his first novel, Absolute Power (1996), which was made into a 1997 film directed by Clint Eastwood. His research for Zero Day... Read Zero Day Summary

Z For Zachariah

by Robert C. O'Brien

Publication year 1974

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Coming of Age, Future, Climate, Environment, Food, War, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Science & Technology

Tags Science Fiction, Survival Fiction

Z for Zachariah (1974) by Robert C. O’Brien is a young adult dystopian novel. It tells the story of Ann Burden, who survives a nuclear war that destroys the world thanks to a natural phenomenon that keeps her valley safe from radiation. After over a year alone, she awakes one morning to a column of smoke, and John Loomis—a scientist who has traveled for weeks in a protective suit—arrives and disrupts her life of solitude... Read Z For Zachariah Summary

Zia

by Scott O'Dell

Publication year 1976

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Indigenous Identity, Animals, Environment, Family, Colonialism, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Action & Adventure, Classic Fiction

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