Action & Adventure

Publication year 1953

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Historical Fiction, Ancient Egypt, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Romance, Action / Adventure, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, History: World


Publication year 1909

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Society: Education, Self Discovery, Society: Community

Tags Historical Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, American Literature, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Arts / Culture, Class, Depression / Suicide, Education, Finance / Money / Wealth, Philosophy, Politics / Government, Poverty, Relationships, History: U.S., History: World, Classical Period, Action / Adventure, Classic Fiction

Martin Eden is a 1909 novel by American author Jack London. Known for his stories of adventure and use of naturalism and realism, London authored more than 50 books, including Call of the Wild and White Fang, before his untimely death at age 40. London wrote Martin Eden at the height of his literary career, inspired by his own disillusionment with fame and literary critics. Although the protagonist’s individualist principles are at odds with London’s... Read Martin Eden Summary


Publication year 1934

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Classic Fiction

Mary Poppins (1934) is a well-known novel written by P.L. Travers to which there are five sequels. Because the title character is a nanny with magical powers, many readers assume the novel is work of fantasy written for children; in fact, Travers intended Mary Poppins for adult readers, as the novel’s heroine is unexpectedly complex. Mary Poppins herself is often maliciously caustic; throughout the narrative, Travers mocks the class-conscious norms of Edwardian Britain against a... Read Mary Poppins Summary


Publication year 1969

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Society: War, Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Historical Fiction, History: World, Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Military / War

Master and Commander is a historical novel by the English writer Patrick O’Brian. It was first published in 1969, although it is set in 1800. O’Brian’s work is meticulously researched, drawing upon documents from the time period such as naval logs, official letters, and memories of sailors who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. Many of the naval battles described in the novel are based on real events, particularly Lord Thomas Cochrane’s victory over the superior... Read Master and Commander Summary


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Science / Nature, Education, Technology, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature


Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Animals, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, Arts / Culture


Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Action / Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Bullying, Grief / Death, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Relationships, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

Published in 1998, Rodman Philbrick’s Max the Mighty is a novel for middle grade and young adult readers. The sequel to the award-winning book Freak the Mighty, it continues the story of Max Kane, a giant of a 14-year-old who rescues book-loving schoolmate Rachel from her abusive stepfather, after which she and Max go on the run from the authorities.Max the Mighty won a place on the National Council of Teachers of English annual annotated... Read Max the Mighty Summary


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Arts / Culture


Publication year 1891

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Masculinity, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Action / Adventure, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, Politics / Government, Children's Literature, History: World, Fantasy

Men of Iron is an 1891 young adult novel written and illustrated by Howard Pyle. Pyle was born in Delaware in 1853, and after years of training—beginning with a childhood passion for art—he taught illustration at Drexel University before establishing his own institute, the Howard Pyle School of Illustration Art. His style of art, which he himself was instrumental in developing, was named the Brandywine School after the mid-Atlantic region from which the artists in... Read Men of Iron Summary


Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Self Discovery

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

Messenger (2004) by Lois Lowry is the third book in The Giver Quartet, which includes The Giver (1993), Gathering Blue (2000), and Son (2012). Lowry is the author of over 30 books for children and young adults and has won the John Newberry Medal, the Regina Medal, and the Golden Kite Award for Fiction. Messenger is a young adult science fiction and fantasy novel that addresses themes like the value of honesty in community, selfishness... Read Messenger Summary


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, New Adult, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Mystery / Crime Fiction


Publication year 2017

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Children's Literature, Fantasy


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Gender

Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Travel Literature, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, British Literature, History: World


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure


Publication year 1851

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Society: Community, Identity: Mental Health

Tags Action / Adventure, American Literature, Classic Fiction, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Historical Fiction

Published in 1851, Moby Dick was based in part on author Herman Melville’s own experiences on a whaleship. The novel tells the story of Ahab, the captain of a whaling vessel called The Pequod, who has a three-year mission to collect and sell the valuable oil of whales at the behest of the ship’s owners. Instead, the furious Ahab takes the ship on his own personal journey through hell, seeking revenge against the eponymous white... Read Moby Dick Summary


Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, Fantasy, Romance

Mockingjay, published in 2010 by Scholastic, is the third novel in Suzanne Collins’s bestselling Hunger Games series. The series follows the life of Katniss Everdeen, an adolescent girl living in the futuristic dystopia of Panem. Mockingjay focuses on the civil war between the 13 districts of Panem and the oppressive government of the Capitol. Through Katniss’s experiences in the war, Collins explores cycles of oppression, the meaning of love in wartime, and the power of... Read Mockingjay Summary


Publication year 2006

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Community, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Anthropology, Action / Adventure

Monique and the Mango Rains: Two Years with a Midwife in Mali is a work of narrative nonfiction written by Kris Holloway and published in 2006. Told through Holloway’s perspective, the book recounts the incredible life and death of a young Malian woman named Monique Dembele and her unlikely friendship with Holloway, who came to Mali as a young American woman serving in the Peace Corps in 1989.The book follows Monique, a midwife who strives... Read Monique and the Mango Rains Summary


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure

Emmy Laybourne’s 2012 novel, Monument 14, charts the experiences of a group of fourteen students in the wake of a mega-tsunami. The story takes place in the year 2024 in the city of Monument, Colorado. As both grade-school and high-school students ride the bus to school one morning, they encounter a hailstorm, which causes their school bus to crash. Mrs. Wooly, the middle-school bus driver, drives her bus into the Greenway, a superstore, and aids... Read Monument 14 Summary