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 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Teamwork, The Past, Grief

Tags Sports, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

The Final Four is a 2012 young adult novel by Paul Volponi. The book portrays the semifinal of a prestigious college basketball tournament, exploring the lives of four of the players.Other works by this author include Black and White, Rikers High, and Rucker Park Setup.Plot SummaryThe Final Four tells the story of the Michigan State Spartans and the Trojans of Troy University, two college basketball teams who reach the semifinal of the Men’s NCAA Basketball... Read The Final Four Summary

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Music, Arts & Culture

The First Rule of Punk is Celia C. Pérez’s 2017 debut YA novel. It was a 2018 Pura Belpré Author Honor Book, a 2018 ALSC Notable Children’s Book, and a 2018 Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award Winner. Pérez, as a long-time punk zine author and Mexican Cuban woman, drew from her adoration of “outsiders” and “weirdos” to craft her first novel. Pérez then penned her second YA novel, Strange Birds: A Field Guide... Read The First Rule of Punk Summary

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Teamwork, Childhood & Youth, Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Action & Adventure, Trauma & Abuse, Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Death, Science & Technology, Fame, Mothers, Daughters & Sons, Friendship, Aging, The Past

Tags Fantasy, Science Fiction, Children`s Literature, Humor

In 2014’s The Fourteenth Goldfish, by Jennifer L Holm, an aging scientist turns himself into a teenager who must re-enter middle school alongside his granddaughter while they plot to get him back into his lab to finish his brilliant work. A humorous science-fiction novel for middle-grade readers, The Fourteenth Goldfish is the first in a two-book series.   New York Times Bestselling author Holm has written nearly 60 books for young readers, including the May Amelia... Read The Fourteenth Goldfish Summary

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Trust & Doubt, Loyalty & Betrayal, Coming of Age, Friendship

Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Bullying, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Action & Adventure

The Fourth Stall is a 2011 contemporary realistic middle grade novel by Chris Rylander. With the help of his best friend and business manager Vince, sixth grader Mac runs a secret business as a “fixer” in his elementary school: He solves problems and provides services for fellow students—for a price. When Mac takes on a customer requiring protection from Staples, a legendary local criminal, he must decide the best way to deal with Staples’s harmful... Read The Fourth Stall Summary

Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Hope, Indigenous Identity, Coming of Age, Future, Animals, Self Discovery, Colonialism

Tags Historical Fiction, American Literature, Children`s Literature, World History

The Game of Silence is work of middle-grade historical fiction by contemporary American author Louise Erdrich. Published in 2005, it is the second novel in Erdrich’s Birchbark House series. The first novel in this series, The Birchbark House (1999), is set in 1847 and introduces Omakayas and her family. The Birchbark House was a finalist for the prestigious National Book Award. With The Game of Silence, Erdrich continues the saga of Omakayas’s family, and this... Read The Game of Silence Summary

Publication year 1999

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Childhood & Youth, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Social Class, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, World History, Japanese Literature, Action & Adventure

The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn (1999), by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler, is the first novel in the Samurai Detective young adult series, currently comprised of seven books. The novel follows Seikei, the son of a merchant who aspires to be a samurai, as he helps the judge investigate the theft of a ruby from a samurai lord. It explores the themes of Personal Ambition Versus Societal Expectations, The Deceptiveness of Appearances, and The Importance... Read The Ghost In The Tokaido Inn Summary

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Family, Memory

Tags Fantasy, Children`s Literature, Science Fiction, Action & Adventure

The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a 2016 fantasy novel for middle school readers by American author Kelly Barnhill. The story follows a young girl named Luna, who is accidentally enmagicked as a baby. As Luna grows, she struggles to recover important things she has lost: her memories, her mother, and her magic. With rich, lyrical language and gentle humor, Barnhill creates a fairytale-like world very different from ours, but one that faces similar... Read The Girl Who Drank the Moon Summary

Publication year 1993

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Science Fiction, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

The Giver is a work of young adult fiction. It is the first installment in The Giver Quartet, which also includes Gathering Blue (2000), Messenger (2004), and Son (2012). Author Lois Lowry received a 1994 Newbery Medal for her dystopian novel, although the text, with themes considered possibly too dark for the reader's age group, was challenged throughout the 1990s. The Giver takes place in the future, in a carefully-designed community that is extremely safe... Read The Giver Summary

Publication year 1994

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family

Tags Children`s Literature, Race & Racism, Education, Education, Social Justice, World History, Historical Fiction

The Glory Field, published in 1994, is the story of an African-American family’s journey from slavery towards equality. It follows six young members of that family at different times in American history. The individual lives of these characters appear as six separate but interconnected stories within the novel, spanning the years from 1753 to 1994, and from Sierra Leone to Harlem. The first story starts in 1753, when eleven-year-old Muhammad Bilal, the family’s documented member... Read The Glory Field Summary

Publication year 1995

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Order & Chaos, Good & Evil, Fate

Tags Fantasy, Science Fiction, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature

Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass, originally titled Northern Lights in the UK, is a young adult fantasy novel that follows 11-year-old Lyra Belacqua with her dæmon, Pantalaimon (Pan), a spiritual animal counterpart. They travel north from an alternate version of Oxford to find her friend, Roger, with the help of the gyptians, witches, and Iorek, the armored bear. Along the way, Lyra confronts unimaginable horrors, like children being severed from their dæmons by Mrs. Coultier’s... Read The Golden Compass Summary

Publication year 1961

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Perseverance, Conflict, Trust & Doubt, Wins & Losses, Good & Evil

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Coming of Age, Trauma & Abuse, Arts & Culture, Ancient Egypt, Education, Education, Mystery & Crime Fiction, World History, Classic Fiction

Young Ranofer’s dreams of becoming a goldsmith seem impossible because of his abusive half-brother’s influence unless he can prove the man is a thief in Eloise Jarvis McGraw’s esteemed middle-grade historical mystery, The Golden Goblet (1961). As Ranofer struggles to escape from Gebu’s evil control, he learns valuable lessons about friendship, courage, and the importance of doing the right thing. Vivid historical details of life in 1400 BC Egypt and a thrilling puzzle complement powerful... Read The Golden Goblet Summary

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Mental Health, Grief, Family

Tags Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Mental Illness

The Goldfish Boy is a middle grade mystery novel by Lisa Thompson, published by Scholastic Inc. in 2017. It was Thompson’s debut novel and garnered critical acclaim. Upon publication, the novel became a national best seller and was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. Thompson followed up on her debut novel with her third novella in 2021, The Graveyard Riddle, which follows the lives of characters from The Goldfish Boy. This study guide refers... Read The Goldfish Boy Summary

Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Death, Friendship, Community, Safety & Danger, Fate, Coming of Age, Childhood & Youth, Good & Evil, Appearance & Reality, Conflict, Loneliness

Tags Fantasy, Science Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Horror & Suspense, Children`s Literature

In The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, an orphan boy is raised by ghosts in a cemetery, where he learns how to become invisible, haunt people’s dreams, and face his destiny. Published in 2008, this fantasy-adventure novel for middle-grade and young-adult readers became a #1 New York Times bestseller. It won the Newbery and Carnegie medals for best children’s book, the first time a work has received both awards. It also garnered a Hugo Award... Read The Graveyard Book Summary