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 1979

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Self Discovery, Coming of Age

Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Classic Fiction, Symbolic Narrative, Children`s Literature

The Neverending Story (originally titled Die unendliche Geschichte) is a 1979 Young Adult fantasy novel by German author Michael Ende. The book describes the adventures of a boy named Bastian who initially reads about and then physically enters the world of Fantastica, which is threatened by a sinister, amorphous of destruction called “the Nothing.” Like Ende’s other novels, Momo (1973) and The Night of Wishes: Or the Satanarchaeolidealcohellish Notion Potion (1989), the novel is a... Read The Neverending Story Summary

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family

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

The Night Diary, Veera Hiranandani’s 2018 work of historical fiction for middle-grade and young adult readers, consists of 60 diary entries spanning approximately four months. In it, the author chronicles the events of India’s post-World War II independence from Britain and subsequent partition through the voice of a 12-year-old Indian girl, Nisha. The fictional family in the novel is loosely based on the childhood experiences of Hiranandani’s father, whose family, like Nisha’s, made the journey... Read The Night Diary Summary

Publication year 1888

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Love, Art, Power & Greed

Tags Symbolic Narrative, Fantasy, Romance, Irish Literature, Children`s Literature, World History, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Classic Fiction

“The Nightingale and the Rose” is a children’s story by Irish writer Oscar Wilde, included in his 1888 fairy tale collection, The Happy Prince and Other Tales. Like many of the other stories in the collection, “The Nightingale and the Rose” is a fable examining the nature of love and self-sacrifice. “The Nightingale and the Rose” conforms to the simplistic story structure of traditional fairy tales while subverting many of the genre’s norms.This guide refers... Read The Nightingale and the Rose Summary

Publication year 2010

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Tags US History, American Revolution, Children`s Literature, Military & War, World History, Biography

The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism and Treachery, written by Steven Sheinkin and published in 2010, is a biography for young readers about one of America's notable war heroes who was also her most famous traitor—Benedict Arnold. How this startling reversal came about is traced in the book, which is rigorously researched yet presented in the manner of an adventure novel. Sheinkin confronts the moral ambiguities that lie at the heart... Read The Notorious Benedict Arnold Summary

Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Justice, Family, Education, Immigration, Guilt

Tags Crime & Law, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer is a 2010 middle-grade novel written by John Grisham, and it is the first installment in the Theodore Boone series. Grisham is an experienced layer and writer of over 30 novels, with most of his writing in the legal thriller genre. Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer is Grisham’s first foray into writing for a younger audience, which the author called a challenge in shifting the way he thought about his writing approach... Read Theodore Boone Summary

Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Death, Friendship, Siblings, Loyalty & Betrayal, Childhood & Youth, Forgiveness, Loneliness, Family, Guilt, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Fantasy, Grief & Death, Science Fiction, Children`s Literature, Religion & Spirituality

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Animals, Fantasy

The One and Only Ivan (2012) is a children’s novel by Katherine Applegate, author of many popular children's, middle grade, and young adult books, including Crenshaw (2015), Willodeen (2021), and the Animorphs series. Winner of the John Newbery Medal, the highest honor for US children’s literature, The One and Only Ivan received starred reviews in Kirkus and the School Library Journal and was a New York Times bestseller.The novel is based on the true story... Read The One And Only Ivan Summary

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Action & Adventure, Arts & Culture

The Only Road (2016) is Alexandra Diaz’s second novel. Diaz is the daughter of Cuban immigrants, and this book focuses on the experience of migration. The novel, written primarily for young adults, follows cousins Jaime and Ángela, who are forced to flee their small Guatemalan village after the local gang kills Ángela’s brother. Faced with either joining the gang responsible for his death or taking the uncertain 4,000-kilometer journey north, Jaime and Ángela reluctantly leave... Read The Only Road Summary

Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Justice, Family, Truth & Lies, Coming of Age

Tags Historical Fiction, African Literature, Colonialism & Postcolonialism, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction

The Other Side of Truth is a young adult novel by South African writer Beverley Naidoo that was published in 2000. The work is set in both Nigeria and in London, and it takes place after the 1995 Nigerian execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa, a writer and activist who spoke out against Nigeria’s military government’s corruption. Sade is the novel’s protagonist. The story is written in the third person, and it follows the journey of Sade... Read The Other Side of Truth Summary

Publication year 1967

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Teamwork, Loyalty & Betrayal

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

The Outsiders (1967) is S. E. Hinton’s first novel, which she wrote when she was a high school student. The novel addresses themes of violence, masculinity, and belonging, all of which Hinton witnessed first-hand with her childhood friends. In interviews, Hinton has explained that she saw a need for realistic books for teenage readers and decided to solve the problem herself. This coming-of-age story was inspired by her experiences growing up in Oklahoma and witnessing... Read The Outsiders Summary

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Forgiveness

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, World History, Historical Fiction

Originally published in 2018, The Parker Inheritance is a fast-paced mystery novel with messages about identity and society. Varian Johnson presents a dynamic young protagonist, Candice, who teams up with her new friend Brandon to uncover the truth behind a mysterious letter that reveals the hidden history of Lambert, South Carolina.The Parker Inheritance is the recipient of a number of awards: it was named a 2019 Coretta Scott King Honor Book, a Publishers Weekly Best... Read The Parker Inheritance Summary