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 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Realistic Fiction, Sports, Latin American Literature, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1992
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: The Past
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, WWII / World War II, Realistic Fiction
Tunes for Bears to Dance To by pioneering young adult writer Robert Cormier (1925-2000) is a young adult novella that explores themes of The Inadequacy of Language, The Everyday Nature of Evil, and The Inescapability of the Past. First published in 1992, the story follows 11-year-old Henry, who, while grappling with the recent loss of his brother, becomes entangled in a sinister plot devised by Mr. Hairston, the manipulative manager of the grocery store where... Read Tunes for Bears to Dance To Summary
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Food, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Grandparents, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Great Depression, Animals, Realistic Fiction, History: World
Turtle in Paradise is a 2010 historical fiction children’s novel by Jennifer L. Holm. Set in the Florida Keys during the Great Depression, the novel follows an 11-year-old girl’s struggles and successes as she visits her aunt and cousins in the town where her mother grew up. The novel won the Golden Kite Award and is a Newbery Honor Book as well as a Junior Library Guild selection. Other works by this author include The... Read Turtle in Paradise Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Relationships: Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Indigenous, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Relationships: Mothers, Natural World: Animals, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Place, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Community
Tags Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Natural Disaster, Climate Change, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Identity: Race, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Relationships: Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Arts / Culture, History: World
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Realistic Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2005
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Beauty, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Romance, Action / Adventure, Fantasy
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld is a young adult dystopian/science fiction novel and the first book of the Uglies Quartet. Published in 2005, Uglies was awarded the ALA 2006 Best Books for Young Adults award, the ALA 2006 Popular Paperback for Young Adults award, the Kirkus Editor’s Choice award, and the SLJ Best Book of the Year award. Uglies is followed by Pretties, Specials, and Extras.This guide uses the May 2011 Simon & Schuster BFYR paperback... Read Uglies Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Indigenous, Society: Colonialism
Tags History: U.S., Sports, Diversity, Race / Racism, Children's Literature, History: World, Biography
Publication year 1978
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Disability, Identity: Race, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1994
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Society: War, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, Military / War, History: World, Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Action / Adventure, Sports
Publication year 2011
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Society: Immigration, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family
Tags Drama / Tragedy, Immigration / Refugee, Poverty, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Arts / Culture
Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall is a coming-of-age story about the importance of family, heritage, and perseverance. This young adult novel comes directly from McCall’s own experiences as a young Mexican immigrant, a writer with a dream, and a teenager who watches her mother die from cancer. Under the Mesquite infuses poetic form, free verse, imagery, and sprinkles of the Spanish language in order to portray a bildungsroman in which a young girl... Read Under The Mesquite Summary
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor
Ungifted is a 2012 novel for children written by Gordon Korman and is the recipient of the 2014 Red Cedar Award. Narrated from multiple perspectives, the story follows Donovan Curtis, an average student at Hardcastle Middle School who is accidentally sent to an academy for gifted kids. It chronicles the characters’ growth and change as they learn to balance intellectual achievement with experience and social engagement.Donovan is a prankster who struggles to control his impulses... Read Ungifted Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Animals, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness
Tags Realistic Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Humor, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery
Tags Sports, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Publication year 2022
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Life/Time: The Past, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags History: World, Children's Literature, Science / Nature
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Animals, Society: Community
Tags Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Humor, Magical Realism, Animals
Publication year 2007
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World
Uprising is a novel of historical fiction by Margaret Peterson Haddix. The story revolves around a 1911 New York fire at The Triangle shirtwaist factory that killed 146 immigrant workers. The Triangle firefollowed a citywide strike led by the shirtwaist workers that served to summon great public interest. Thus, the fire was perceived as not only a great tragedy, but an inciting symbol for the Labor Movement in the Industrial Revolution.Haddix’s narrative interweaves the perspectives of... Read Uprising Summary
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Military / War
Publication year 2003
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, Animals