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 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Grief, Hope, Memory, Revenge, Masculinity, Race, Animals, Climate, Environment, Daughters & Sons, Fathers, Colonialism, War
Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Afrofuturism, Science Fiction, Children`s Literature
Publication year 1993
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Mythology, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, World History, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Classic Fiction
Black Ships Before Troy: The Story of the Iliad is a children’s novel written by Rosemary Sutcliff and illustrated by Alan Lee. The novel was published posthumously in 1993 and retells Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad, for elementary school readers. Sutcliff has received great acclaim for her ability to make dense material accessible to younger audiences; Black Ships Before Troy follows her widely praised retellings of Arthurian legends. Sutcliff received an OBE in 1975 for... Read Black Ships Before Troy Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Family, Race, Coming of Age
Tags Magical Realism, Race & Racism, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Blended is a 2018 novel by veteran young adult fiction writer and lifelong educator Sharon M. Draper. In it, she invokes elements of magical realism and explores the impact of both racism and divorce on adolescents through the vehicle of a precocious and talented 11-year-old, Isabella Badia Thornton, who narrates the novel. Izzy struggles with her sense of identity; her father is Black, her mother white. That struggle deepens as she experiences first the impact... Read Blended Summary
Publication year 2006
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Historical Fiction, Colonial America, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, World History, Action & Adventure
Elisa Carbone’s 2006 historical novel, Blood on the River: James Town 1607, introduces the reader to Samuel Collier, a 12-year-old boy. The reader meets Samuel in London and accompanies him on his voyage to the New World as he makes his way to the first permanent English settlement in North America as servant boy to Captain John Smith.Plot SummaryThe novel begins on the streets of London, where Samuel, an orphan, is trying to survive in... Read Blood on the River Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Safety & Danger, Friendship, Plants
Tags Science Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Action & Adventure, Fantasy, Children`s Literature
Publication year 1974
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Friendship
Tags Bullying, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature, Trauma & Abuse, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2011
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Friendship, Apathy, Perseverance, Grief, Loneliness, Shame & Pride, Family, Grandparents, Mothers, Self Discovery, Education, Truth & Lies
Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age, Grief & Death, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Bluefish (2011) is a young adult novel by Pat Schmatz. This text is also sometimes classified as middle grade. The novel centers around Travis, an eighth grader who has lost his parents and dog and recently moved to a new school. Travis befriends Velveeta, a charismatic girl who is grieving the loss of her stand-in father figure, Calvin. As Travis and Velveeta’s friendship develops, they explore the challenges of coping with loss and family trauma... Read Bluefish Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Friendship, Conflict, Perseverance, Loneliness, Fear, Guilt, Hope, Joy, Love, Memory, Gratitude, Childhood & Youth, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Climate, Environment, Food, Family, Grandparents, Mothers, Literature, Safety & Danger
Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, Children`s Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction
... Read Bob Summary
Publication year 2012
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt, Guilt
Tags World History, Military & War, Children`s Literature, World War II, Science & Nature
Publication year 1991
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Religion & Spirituality, Good & Evil, Family
Tags Fantasy, Children`s Literature, Action & Adventure, Humor
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction
Themes Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Sports, Modern Classic Fiction
Kwame Alexander’s Booked is a young adult novel in verse about the life of Nick Hall, an eighth-grader and soccer aficionado who struggles to meet his parents’ expectations and honor his own self-identity in the wake of his parents’ separation. The book is both a sports novel and a reflection on Nick’s experiences struggling with an injury and major changes in his home life. The book is geared toward 10- to 12-year-old readers and includes... Read Booked Summary
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Childhood & Youth, Friendship
Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Action & Adventure, Arts & Culture, Relationships, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction
Book Scavenger (2015) is the debut novel by children’s author Jennifer Chambliss Bertman. Upon publication, it immediately became a New York Times bestseller and soon after the book was named an Amazon Book of the Year, Indie Top Ten Pick, and received more than 20 state awards and nominations. Book Scavenger has since been translated into 12 languages. Book Scavenger is the first volume in a Middle Grade Detective series of the same name. Other... Read Book Scavenger Summary
Publication year 1993
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Race, Colonialism, Nation, Family
Tags Satirical Literature, Colonialism & Postcolonialism, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Family, Nation, Social Class, Politics & Government, Community, Friendship, Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Love, Hope
Tags Realistic Fiction, Social Justice, Poverty, Indian Literature, Social Class, Politics & Government, Incarceration, Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1994
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Perseverance, Hope, Indigenous Identity, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Environment, Family, Fathers, Self Discovery, Colonialism, Nation, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt
Tags Children`s Literature, Education, Education, US History, World History, Historical Fiction
Publication year 1988
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Coming of Age, Appearance & Reality, Wins & Losses, Perseverance
Tags Historical Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Animals, Arts & Culture, Disability, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, World History, Action & Adventure
Boy of the Painted Cave is a 1996 middle-grade historical fiction novel by Justin Denzel set 18,000 years ago in prehistoric France. The novel is told in the limited third-person point of view and follows Tao, a 14-year-old boy with a disability, who longs to be a cave painter for his clan. Tao has difficulty walking with his right foot, and he compensates for this by using a spear as a crutch. The crutch allows... Read Boy of the Painted Cave Summary
Publication year 2002
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes War, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Hope, Gender Identity, Coming of Age, Death, Family, Siblings, Teamwork, Immigration, Politics & Government, Justice, Safety & Danger
Tags Children`s Literature, Action & Adventure, Contemporary Literature
Publication year 1984
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Memory, The Past, Childhood & Youth, Good & Evil, Justice, Nostalgia, Family
Tags Humor, Children`s Literature, Classic Fiction, Biography
IntroductionMany readers are familiar with Roald Dahl (1916-1990) as the author of popular stories such as James and the Giant Peach (1961) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964). Dahl published 19 novels and short story collections for children. He was born in Wales to a Norwegian family and spent most of his life in England. He was an intelligence officer and fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force during World War II and suffered... Read Boy: Tales of Childhood Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Plants, Environment, Indigenous Identity, Colonialism, Community
Tags Children`s Literature, Education, Education, World History, Science & Nature, Philosophy
Publication year 2011
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Hope, Loneliness, Love, Coming of Age, Friendship
Tags Fantasy, Children`s Literature, Action & Adventure