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 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Mental Illness, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1998
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Birth
Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, Grief / Death, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Whirligig, by Paul Fleischman, is a 1998 YA novel about a 17-year-old boy named Brent Bishop who goes on a cross-country journey of atonement. At the outset of the novel, Brent’s family has recently moved to Chicago following his father’s promotion at work—the fourth time the family has moved. Brent has struggled to fit in and make friends at each new school he’s attended. He tries to win approval from his classmates by wearing trendy... Read Whirligig Summary
Publication year 2019
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Relationships: Family, Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Nation
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Drama / Tragedy, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Military / War, History: World
Publication year 1906
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature
Tags Animals, Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature
White Fang (1906) is a short novel by American author Jack London. The novel explores themes of survival, nature versus nurture, and improving oneself through discipline and adaptability. White Fang’s protagonist is a wild-born wolfdog named White Fang whose struggle for survival and eventual domestication comprise the novel’s narrative arc. London’s novel challenges humanity’s claim to superiority over nature and celebrates animals’ resilience, simple logic, and instinct. White Fang has been adapted into over a... Read White Fang Summary
Publication year 1993
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Historical Fiction, Race / Racism, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World
White Lilacs by Carolyn Meyer is a middle grade historical fiction novel first published in 1993. It tells the story of Rose Lee, a young Black girl living in Dillon, Texas, in 1921. When the white citizens of Dillon vote to force the Black community out of their homes to turn the area into a city park, Rose Lee and her family battle against racism, violence, and injustice as they search for options.Meyer is the... Read White Lilacs Summary
Publication year 2005
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Children's Literature, Animals, Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Publication year 2006
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Place, Society: Class, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Biography
Publication year 2007
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Education, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Biography, History: World, Children's Literature, Race / Racism, Historical Nonfiction, Spanish Literature
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Natural World: Environment
Tags Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Climate, Self Discovery
Tags Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Natural Disaster, Children's Literature, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Natural World: Environment, Society: Community
Tags Children's Literature, Animals, Science / Nature, Realistic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2011
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Animals, Society: Community, Relationships: Family
Tags Animals, Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Grief / Death, Children's Literature, Science / Nature
Publication year 2011
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Children's Literature, Animals, Fantasy, Action / Adventure
Wildwood is a 2011 children's fantasy novel written by Colin Meloy and illustrated by Carson Ellis, his wife. Meloy is the lead singer and songwriter for the folk-rock band The Decemberists. Ellis created album cover art for her husband’s band and provided more than 80 illustrations for Wildwood. Her artwork employs a dark but whimsical tone and has been compared to Edward Gorey.Wildwood was a New York Times best seller and won the 2012 Middle... Read Wildwood Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Animals
Tags Fantasy, Animals, Children's Literature, Science / Nature
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Health / Medicine, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1926
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Place, Society: Community
Tags Classic Fiction, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Animals, Food, Relationships, Science / Nature
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Identity: Disability
Tags Realistic Fiction, Animals, Bullying, Children's Literature
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Children's Literature, Animals, Science / Nature, Magical Realism, Fantasy
Wishtree (2017) is a work of young adult fiction by Katherine Applegate. Directly addressing the bigotry and Islamophobia of the Trump era, the novel tackles the polarized American political climate by praising the value of diversity, tolerance, and compassion. Plot SummaryThis book’s narrator is a 216-year-old northern oak tree named Red. Red is a dioecious tree who has both male and female characteristics, so refers to themself with the pronoun “they.” The story takes place... Read Wishtree Summary
Publication year 2000
Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Society: Community, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Historical Fiction, Race / Racism, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction
Lauren Wolk is a novelist, poet, visual artist, and associate director of the Cultural Center in Cape Cod. Dutton Children’s Books published Wolf Hollow, Wolk’s first children’s novel, in 2016. It was a New York Times bestseller and nominated for multiple awards, including the 2017 Newbery Honor Award.In her New York Times review of May 5, 2016, Jennifer Donnelly praises Wolf Hollow for its unsparing treatment of “dark truths,” most potently that “doing right can... Read Wolf Hollow Summary