Action & Adventure

Publication year 2022

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Place, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags History: African , Action / Adventure, Travel Literature, Science / Nature, History: World, Biography


Publication year 1719

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Education, Education, British Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction

Robinson Crusoe is French writer Daniel Defoe’s debut novel, first published in 1719. Structured as a journal, the travelogue chronicles Crusoe’s experiences as a seaman and his twenty-eight years cast away on an uninhabited island near Trinidad, where Caribbean cannibals kill and eat prisoners. The novel takes a plan-spoken, confessional tone. Crusoe’s inner explorations, religious doubt, and yet strong faith in God’s providence, create a character who seems to undergo many changes.Against the wishes, and... Read Robinson Crusoe Summary


Publication year 2018

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Society: Economics, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy


Publication year 1872

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Society: Immigration, Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Classic Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Travel Literature, Humor, American Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Western, Action / Adventure

Roughing It (1872) is the second major work by American humorist Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens). It recounts his experiences during the Nevada silver rush of the 1860s. After his failed attempts to make a fortune as a miner, Twain would later achieve prominence as a lecturer and writer. He initially drew acclaim for his fanciful short story entitled “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” (1865). His best-known titles include The Innocents Abroad (1869)... Read Roughing It Summary


Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings

Tags Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Relationships

Ruby Holler (2002) is a middle grade novel by Sharon Creech. It tells the story of twins, a brother and sister, who are orphaned and live at a children’s home. Their lives change unexpectedly when they are given the opportunity to travel with an elderly couple during their summer vacation.The author of 21 books, Creech was awarded the Newbery Medal for Walk Two Moons (1994) and received a Newbery honor for The Wanderer (2000). Ruby... Read Ruby Holler Summary


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Military / War, Love / Sexuality, Relationships, Science / Nature, Romance, Religion / Spirituality

Ruin and Rising is the third and final book in Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone trilogy of young adult fantasy adventure/romance novels. Ruin and Rising was originally published in 2014. Bardugo has written 12 novels as of 2021, many of which are set in the “GrishaVerse” world first portrayed in the novel Shadow and Bone. The Shadow and Bone trilogy, combined with Bardugo’s Six of Crows duology, has been adapted as a television miniseries. Before... Read Ruin and Rising Summary


Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Fairy Tale / Folklore


Publication year 1995

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction

Running Out of Time is a 1995 young adult suspense novel by American author Margaret Peterson Haddix. It tells the story of Jessie Keyser, a young girl who believes she is living in 1800s Indiana, only to discover that in reality it is 1996. When a diphtheria epidemic strikes her small town of Clifton, she must venture out into the modern world to save her friends. Haddix also authored the critically acclaimed YA thriller series... Read Running Out Of Time Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Animals, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Identity: Mental Health

Tags Action / Adventure, Animals, Sports, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Science / Nature, Biography


Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Animals, Action / Adventure, Fantasy


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Mythology, Humor, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World, Romance, Action / Adventure

Salt to the Sea is a historical young adult novel written by Ruta Sepetys and published in 2016. Sepetys is known for similar young adult historical fiction works, such as I Must Betray You (2022) and Between Shades of Gray (2011). Set during World War II, Salt to the Sea is a coming-of-age story that follows four protagonists as they make and resist the journey to adulthood in a world characterized by war and trauma... Read Salt to the Sea Summary


Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Humor, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Survival Fiction, Race / Racism, Immigration / Refugee, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure


Publication year 1997

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Animals, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Society: Community

Tags Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Relationships


Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Siblings

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature

Savvy, by Ingrid Law, is a fantasy-adventure novel for middle-grade readers about a girl from a psychic family who discovers her mental superpower and tries to master it quickly to use it to save her comatose father. First published in 2008, Savvy was a New York Times bestseller; it won a Newbery Honor and has appeared on more than 30 best book lists. The novel has two sequels, Scumble and Switch. Law’s books have been... Read Savvy Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Society: Community

Tags Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Identity: Disability, Natural World: Animals

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Animals, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Children's Literature


Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Animals, Action / Adventure, Humor

Carl Hiaasen’s Scat! is a young adult thriller with a comic tone and an environmental message. Nick Waters and his best friend, Marta Gonzalez, are students at the private Truman School in Naples, Florida. When their biology teacher, Mrs. Bunny Starch, disappears, the two students are drawn into a conflict between a ruthless oil company and an informal band of environmentalists bent on protecting the breeding grounds of an endangered Florida panther and her cub. The... Read Scat Summary