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 2007
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure
100 Cupboards is the first novel in a series of young adult fantasy books following main character Henry York, a boy who moves to Henry, Kansas with his aunt and uncle after his parents are kidnapped during a bike expedition in South America. One night, Henry and his adventurous cousin, Henrietta, discover a key to their deceased grandfather's locked bedroom; inside, they uncover a network of cupboards that each open into a different, fantastical world... Read 100 Cupboards Summary
Publication year 2009
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Fantasy, Realistic Fiction, Magical Realism, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, History: World, Action / Adventure, Arts / Culture
The 2010 novel 90 Miles to Havana by Cuban-American author Enrique Flores-Galbis is the coming-of-age tale of Julian, a young Cuban boy who, along with his two older brothers, travels to Miami as part of Operation Pedro Pan in the 1960s. The operation was a covert mission between Cuban and American authorities, with the help of the children’s parents, to evacuate Cuban children from the country during a time of political turmoil under new dictator Fidel... Read 90 Miles to Havana Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Action / Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Survival Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2004
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Family
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature
Publication year 1976
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Natural World: Animals, Self Discovery
Tags Action / Adventure, Fantasy, Survival Fiction, Children's Literature, Animals, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2001
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Military / War, WWII / World War II, Race / Racism, Children's Literature, History: World
A Boy at War is the first of three novels by Harry Mazer that feature Adam Pelko as their protagonist. Published in 2001 by Simon & Schuster, it was followed by A Boy No More (2004) and Heroes Don’t Run (2005). Sergeant Harry Mazer was born in New York City in 1925 and served in the United States Air Force in the European theater of World War II from 1943-1945. He was awarded the Purple... Read A Boy at War Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Realistic Fiction, Disability, Animals, Children's Literature
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Disability, Parenting, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Lisa Graff’s Absolutely Almost (2014) is a middle-grade novel about self-acceptance and recognizing one’s own worth. The story follows 10-year-old Albie’s journey along this path. Albie has never been the best at anything, especially anything to do with school. He continually falls short of others’ expectations, especially his parents’. However, his new nanny, Calista, sees him differently—and gradually, she helps Albie discover his strengths and take pride in himself.Graff is an American writer who pens... Read Absolutely Almost Summary
Publication year 1990
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Class, Relationships, Parenting, Love / Sexuality, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Humor
Publication year 1956
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Classic Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Southern Literature, Holidays & Occasions, Grief / Death, Children's Literature, American Literature
Originally published in Mademoiselle magazine in December 1956, “A Christmas Memory” remains one of Truman Capote’s (1924-1984) most anthologized short stories. A midcentury author with a clear and evocative prose style, Capote is remembered for his novella Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1958) and for his groundbreaking work of true-crime nonfiction, In Cold Blood (1966). Other works by this author include The Grass Harp (1951), Children on Their Birthdays (1948), and Other Voices, Other Rooms (1948).“A Christmas... Read A Christmas Memory Summary
Publication year 2002
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Disability
Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Historical Fiction, Grief / Death, Depression / Suicide, Health / Medicine, Mental Illness, American Literature, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Hattie Owen’s life changes the summer she turns 12 and meets the young uncle she never knew existed in Ann M. Martin’s middle-grade novel, A Corner of the Universe (2002). Uncle Adam has been kept a secret because of his mental problems. Adults have trouble handling his emotional extremes, but shy Hattie finds a true friend in her exuberant uncle. Adam teaches Hattie to explore life beyond the safety of her front porch. As Hattie... Read A Corner of the Universe Summary
Publication year 2007
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Music
Tags Realistic Fiction, Music, Children's Literature, Humor
Publication year 1964
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: War, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, American Civil War, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Military / War, History: World, Classic Fiction
Across Five Aprils (1964) is a young adult (YA) historical novel written by the American children’s book author Irene Hunt. A coming-of-age story, the novel follows young Jethro Creighton through four years of his life from the beginning to the end of the American Civil War. Irene Hunt based the novel largely on the experiences of her own grandfather who, like Jethro, was only nine years old when the Civil War began.The book was Hunt’s... Read Across Five Aprils Summary
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self Discovery, Relationships: Family
Tags Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure
Publication year 1942
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction
Adam of the Road, published in 1942, was written by American author and librarian Elizabeth Janet Gray Vining and illustrated by Robert Lawson. Vining wrote many children’s books and holds the rare distinction of winning both the Newberry Medal and the Caldecott Medal, for her books Rabbit Hill and They Were Strong and Good, respectively. Adam of the Road is a historical fiction novel set in the 13th century that focuses on a child’s coming of... Read Adam of the Road Summary
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Identity: Gender, Self Discovery
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Animals, Grief / Death, Children's Literature
Publication year 2005
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Food, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Animals, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Class, Society: Economics, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Music, Children's Literature
Publication year 2023
Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Courage
Tags Children's Literature, Romance, Biography, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Travel Literature