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 2020
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Immigration / Refugee, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Biography
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Grandparents, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Children's Literature, Chinese Literature
When the Sea Turned Silver by Grace Lin takes readers on a journey through a richly imagined world full of imagery and Chinese folklore. The novel follows the adventures of Pinmei and Yishan as they navigate themes of Finding and Creating Identity, The Power of Stories, and how Perception Shapes Reality. Recognized for its storytelling and cultural depth, When the Sea Turned Silver was a 2016 National Book Award Finalist. Critics praise the novel for... Read When the Sea Turned to Silver Summary
Publication year 2008
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Children's Literature, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2009
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Bullying, Parenting, Race / Racism, Relationships, American Literature, Children's Literature, Historical Fiction, Fantasy
When You Reach Me (2009) is a middle-grade novel by Rebecca Stead. It won the Newbery Medal and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for fiction and has been included in numerous best book lists for young adult readers. Stead's Liar and Spy won the 2013 Guardian Children's Fiction Award. She is also the author of Goodbye Stranger (2015) and The List of Things That Will Not Change (2020), and co-authored The Lost Library (2023) with... Read When You Reach Me Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family
Tags Magical Realism, Fantasy, Children's Literature
Publication year 1969
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Flora/plants
Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Poverty, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction
Where the Lilies Bloom (1969) is a middle-grade historical fiction novel written by married authors Vera Cleaver and Bill Cleaver. The couple collaborated on stories and novels for middle-grade and young adult readers throughout their life, believing that writing for adolescent age groups was a meaningful endeavor. They often wrote about realistic settings and themes, exploring the intricacies of human nature. Where the Lilies Bloom is their most famous work. It is a coming-of-age novel... Read Where the Lilies Bloom Summary
Publication year 2009
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Chinese Literature, Action / Adventure
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin is a middle grade fantasy fiction novel that takes inspiration from Chinese folklore and details the journey of a young girl, Minli, as she embarks on a hero's quest to improve her family’s circumstances. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon became a New York Times bestseller and received a Newbery Honor Award and the 2010 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children’s Literature. Lin penned a companion book... Read Where The Mountain Meets The Moon Summary
Publication year 1961
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Classic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Animals, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction
Wilson Rawls was born in 1913 in the Ozark Mountains in the Oklahoma/Arkansas region of the United States, where Rawls time spent roaming the hills with his dogs. His level of formal education left him unsure of his formal writing ability, and he disposed of his manuscripts. However, his wife encouraged him to start again, leading to the publication of Where the Red Fern Grows in 1961 and The Summer of the Monkeys 15 years... Read Where the Red Fern Grows Summary
Publication year 1974
Genre Poem, Fiction
Tags Lyric Poem, Children's Literature
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