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.

Drama

by Raina Telgemeier

Publication year 2012

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Tags Humor, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Dramatic Literature, Romance, LGBTQ+

Drama is a young adult graphic novel by Raina Telgemeier published in 2012. It is Telgemeier’s third book and her first fiction graphic novel—her first two were autobiographical. Drama is critically acclaimed and spent 240 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. This guide refers to the 2012 edition by Scholastic/Graphix.Plot SummaryCallie Marin is a seventh-grader at Eucalyptus Middle School. She has long, purple-dyed hair and likes to wear the color green. She also... Read Drama Summary

Dress Coded

by Carrie Firestone

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Equality, Family, Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Realistic Fiction, Gender & Feminism, Social Justice, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction

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Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie

by Jordan Sonnenblick

Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Music, Humor

Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie (2014) is a young adult novel by American author Jordan Sonnenblick. Sonnenblick is a well-known young adult author whose novels include After Ever After, Falling Over Sideways, Notes From the Midnight Driver, and Zen and the Art of Faking It. The story follows Steven Alper, a 13-year-old drummer whose life is turned upside down when his five-year-old brother, Jeffrey, is diagnosed with leukemia. As Steven navigates the trials of early... Read Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie Summary

Each Tiny Spark

by Pablo Cartaya

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Disability, Justice, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Memory, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Fathers, Self Discovery, Community, Education, Immigration, Politics & Government

Tags Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Mental Illness, Disability, Trauma & Abuse

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Earthquake Terror

by Peg Kehret

Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Siblings, Safety & Danger, Self Discovery, Perseverance, Coming of Age

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

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Echo

by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Siblings, Music

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, World History, Historical Fiction, Music, Magical Realism, Fantasy

Echo (2015) by Pam Muñoz Ryan (Riding Freedom, Esperanza Rising) is a young-adult novel about the power of music to unite individuals across time, and even save lives: the wide-reaching novel follows an enchanted harmonica to 1933 in Germany, 1934 in Pennsylvania, and 1942 in California, before uniting the characters we meet along the way at Carnegie Hall in 1951. Covering the rise of Nazism in Germany, the tail end of the Great Depression in... Read Echo Summary

Echo Mountain

by Lauren Wolk

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Perseverance, Appearance & Reality, Self Discovery

Tags Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure, Poverty, Animals, Gender & Feminism, Relationships, Science & Nature, Great Depression, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature, World History

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Eggs

by Jerry Spinelli

Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Death, Fear, Grief, Memory, The Past, Friendship, Grandparents, Mothers, Social Class

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Coming of Age

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El Deafo

by Cece Bell

Publication year 2014

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Friendship, Disability

Tags Humor, Disability, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, Biography

El Deafo is a 2014 semi-autobiographical, graphic novel by American author and illustrator Cece Bell. Bell, who was born deaf, recounts her childhood in the format of a guide starring an anthropomorphic rabbit, “Cece.” The book endeavors to undermine negative representations of deafness by representing Cece’s difference as valid, even empowering, with the assistance of modern technology. Throughout the book, Cece occasionally assumes a superhero persona, “El Deafo.” El Deafo challenges common misconceptions about disabilities... Read El Deafo Summary

Elephant Run

by Roland Smith

Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Animals, World War II, Military & War, World History, Action & Adventure

Roland Smith’s Elephant Run (2007) is a middle grade adventure novel that takes place during World War II. Narrator Nick Freestone tries to escape the war and moves from the deadly bombings in London to his father's teak plantation in Burma. Unfortunately for Nick, the war follows him to Burma, and Japanese soldiers soon imprison him and his childhood friend Mya at his family home. Aided by the ancient monk Hilltop, Mya and Nick set... Read Elephant Run Summary

Eleven

by Sandra Cisneros

Publication year 1991

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Power & Greed, Shame & Pride, Justice

Tags Coming of Age, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, American Literature

... Read Eleven Summary

Eleven

by Tom Rogers

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Coming of Age, Fathers, Siblings, Safety & Danger, Family

Tags Children`s Literature, Animals, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, World History, Historical Fiction

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Elijah of Buxton

by Christopher Paul Curtis

Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Truth & Lies, Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, World History

Elijah of Buxton is a 2007 middle grade novel by American writer Christopher Paul Curtis (The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963; Bud, Not Buddy). Set in the 1850s, it follows 11-year-old Elijah Freeman, the first freeborn child of Buxton, a Canadian settlement of escaped slaves, as he makes a dangerous journey into the United States. The novel was a Newbery Honor Book and won the Coretta Scott King Award. Plot SummaryThe story opens as Elijah investigates strange... Read Elijah of Buxton Summary

Ella Enchanted

by Gail Carson Levine

Publication year 1997

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Safety & Danger, Good & Evil

Tags Fantasy, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Romance, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, Classic Fiction

Gail Carson Levine’s book Ella Enchanted was awarded the Newbery Honor in 1998 after its publication in 1997. In 2004, a film adaptation was released, though it received criticism for diverging from Levine’s story, including adding new key characters.Ella Enchanted was Levine’s debut. She also wrote Fairest, which retells Snow White’s story and is set in the same world as Ella Enchanted. Some of her other notable works include Dave at Night, The Wish, The... Read Ella Enchanted Summary

Emako Blue

by Brenda Woods

Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Social Class, Coming of Age, Grief, Safety & Danger, Race, Justice, Community, Death

Tags Realistic Fiction, Poverty, Trauma & Abuse, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Grief & Death, Urban Development, Arts & Culture

Emako Blue is a novel for young adults written by Brenda Woods. Set in Los Angeles, California, Emako's friends and schoolmates relay the events leading up to Emako Blue’s gang-related murder in alternating first-person narration, primarily through flashbacks. The text explores the effects of poverty, gang violence, guns, and how these issues have far-reaching impacts on each member of a community. As the events of the story unfold, each narrator must consider what they want... Read Emako Blue Summary

Emily Of New Moon

by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Publication year 1923

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Grief, Loneliness, Love, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, Environment, Place, Daughters & Sons, Family, Fathers, Friendship, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Beauty, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Classic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age

... Read Emily Of New Moon Summary