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 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Children's Literature, Bullying, Realistic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction
The Lions of Little Rock (2012) is the second novel by juvenile fiction author Kristin Levine. Other titles she has written include The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had (2009), Paper Cowboy (2014), and The Jigsaw Jungle (2018). The book is suitable for readers aged 10 to 13 and is categorized as Children’s American Historical Fiction, Children’s Prejudice and Racism Books, and Children’s Friendships. The author felt compelled to tell this story because her mother... Read The Lions Of Little Rock Summary
Publication year 1950
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Food, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness
Tags Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Christian literature, Children's Literature, Religion / Spirituality
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the best-known work of author and literary critic Clive Staples (C. S.) Lewis. Published in 1951, the novel presents complex moral conundrums through the genre of children’s fantasy. Lewis later noted that his inspiration for the novel came from a recollection of images that he found particularly striking, such as a picture of a faun holding an umbrella in a snow-covered wood. The Lion, the Witch and... Read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Summary
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Art, Society: Politics & Government, Identity: Language
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Children's Literature
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Realistic Fiction, LGBTQ, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1943
Genre Novella, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship
Tags Children's Literature, Classic Fiction, French Literature, Education, Education, Fantasy, Philosophy, Philosophy
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry drew heavily on his own experiences when writing his 1943 novella, The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince). Like the story's first-person narrator, Saint-Exupéry was a pilot, and the inspiration for the book's central events came from his own 1935 crash-landing in the Sahara Desert. As the story begins, the narrator is still a young child showing off his drawings of boa constrictors eating elephants to the adults around him. The adults react... Read The Little Prince Summary
Publication year 1967
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2007
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Disability, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, British Literature, Disability, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
The London Eye Mystery (2007), by Siobhan Dowd, is a novel for young readers about a boy named Ted who teams up with his sister to figure out how their cousin disappeared while riding a giant Ferris wheel.The novel was nominated for a Carnegie Medal, was listed as a 2008 Booklist Children’s Editors’ Choice title, and a School Library Journal Best Book of 2008. It was also shortlisted for many English awards, including the Red... Read The London Eye Mystery Summary
Publication year 1940
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Language, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Bullying, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Mythology, Action / Adventure
Rick Riordan’s 2010 YA novel, The Lost Hero, tells the story of three demigods: Jason Grace, son of Jupiter/Zeus; Piper McClean, daughter of Aphrodite; and Leo Valdez, son of Hephaestus. The book alternates between narrating these three characters’ thoughts and experiences in free indirect discourse. Each has a distinctive style: Jason is vaguely confused, but aware of others’ high expectations; Piper is lovelorn over Jason, and self-pitying because her father’s fame has weakened their bond;... Read The Lost Hero Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Animals, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Magical Realism
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: The Past, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Children's Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Publication year 1976
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Flora/plants
Tags Realistic Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction
Irene Hunt’s 1976 middle grade novel The Lottery Rose focuses on a young boy named Georgie who hides the evidence of his abuse and neglect at the hands of his mother and her boyfriend, Steve. After Georgie wins a rosebush at his local grocery store, he becomes attached to the shrub and passionately cares for it. Georgie’s life changes when the court system places him in an all-boys Catholic school, where he meets adults who... Read The Lottery Rose Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Sexuality
Tags LGBTQ, Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Asian Literature, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2009
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family
Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Grief / Death, Relationships, Animals, Action / Adventure
A fortuneteller tells 10-year-old Peter that an elephant will lead him to his lost sister, which starts Peter on a journey of self-discovery and wonder in Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo’s The Magician’s Elephant (2009). When a magician miraculously conjures an elephant, its appearance affects everyone in town. In his efforts to find his sister Adele and rescue the homesick elephant, Peter must overcome obstacles and unite a diverse group of characters that includes a policeman... Read The Magician's Elephant Summary
Publication year 1955
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Christian literature, Children's Literature, Religion / Spirituality
The Magician’s Nephew by C. S. Lewis is the sixth book published in The Chronicles of Narnia series but the first in terms of the series’ chronology. Published in 1955, the middle-grade fantasy novel is the prequel to the famous The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It deals with themes of Temptation and Its Consequences, Creative Selflessness Versus Destructive Pride, and the Loss of Innocence. Lewis was a famous British author and lay theologian... Read The Magician's Nephew Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature
Publication year 1989
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Class, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: World
The Man Who Was Poe is a young adult historical fiction novel published in 1989 by Edward Irving Wortis, an award-winning American author who writes under the pen name “Avi.” Set in Providence, Rhode Island in 1848, the story is about the unlikely partnership between Edgar Allan Poe and an 11-year-old London boy named Edmund. The book sources many facts from Poe’s life and works and emulates Poe’s own Gothic style of literature. Edmund turns... Read The Man Who Was Poe Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Fantasy, Children's Literature
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Society: Nation
Tags Mythology, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Romance
Published in 2012, The Mark of Athena is the third novel in Rick Riordan’s young adult fantasy series The Heroes of Olympus, his second series in the Percy Jackson universe inspired by Greek and Roman mythologies. The Mark of Athena picks up the narrative where The Son of Neptune left off, with a Greek warship from Camp Half-Blood approaching Roman Camp Jupiter in hopes of collaborating to stop Gaea from waking up and destroying the... Read The Mark Of Athena Summary