Action & Adventure

Publication year 2014

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Animals, Society: Community

Tags WWII / World War II, Animals, History: World, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Military / War, History: Asian, Action / Adventure, Biography


Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Animals, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World, Action / Adventure

Roland Smith’s Elephant Run (2007) is a middle grade adventure novel that takes place during World War II. Narrator Nick Freestone tries to escape the war and moves from the deadly bombings in London to his father's teak plantation in Burma. Unfortunately for Nick, the war follows him to Burma, and Japanese soldiers soon imprison him and his childhood friend Mya at his family home. Aided by the ancient monk Hilltop, Mya and Nick set... Read Elephant Run Summary


Publication year 1997

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Romance, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Classic Fiction

Gail Carson Levine’s book Ella Enchanted was awarded the Newbery Honor in 1998 after its publication in 1997. In 2004, a film adaptation was released, though it received criticism for diverging from Levine’s story, including adding new key characters. Ella Enchanted was Levine’s debut. She also wrote Fairest, which retells Snow White’s story and is set in the same world as Ella Enchanted. Some of her other notable works include Dave at Night, The Wish... Read Ella Enchanted Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Fairy Tale / Folklore, Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure, New Adult


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Natural World: Animals

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Animals, Children's Literature, Military / War, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

IntroductionEliot Schrefer’s coming-of-age novel Endangered was published by Scholastic in 2012 and is the first book in The Ape Quartet. Set the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the story is written for a young adult audience and is a 2012 National Book Award finalist in Young People’s Literature. The novel follows Sophie Biyoya-Ciardulli’s journey as she navigates the perils of war-torn Congo in search of her mother, protecting a young, orphaned bonobo throughout her journey... Read Endangered Summary


Publication year 1985

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Bullying, Military / War, Cold War, Action / Adventure

Ender’s Game (1985) is a best-selling dystopian science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card. The story follows a precocious boy’s fight against space aliens and his own government. The essence of the story first appeared in a small sci-fi journal in 1977 as a short story of the same name. Card expanded the premise into a series that includes 15 novels and 13 related short stories. In addition to winning a Nebula Award in 1985... Read Ender's Game Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Fantasy, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 1959

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Tags Action / Adventure, History: World, Science / Nature, Travel Literature, Biography

Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage is a 1959 work of historical nonfiction by journalist and writer Alfred Lansing. The book describes explorer Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 overland expedition across Antarctica; the mission failed when his ship, the Endurance, became trapped in ice, but Shackleton and all of his crew were able to survive and escape against long odds. Lansing researched the book extensively, drawing on diaries kept by crewmembers as well as interviews with survivors. The work... Read Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage Summary


Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

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

Eragon (2003), an epic fantasy novel in the style of Lord of the Rings, is the first book in the four-part Inheritance Cycle by author Christopher Paolini. Paolini wrote the first draft of Eragon at age 15. After spending an additional year revising and polishing the work, he showed it to his parents, who agreed to self-publish the novel in 2001. Afterward, Paolini actively promoted the book by traveling to 135 schools and libraries around... Read Eragon Summary


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2012

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Tags Asian Literature, Immigration / Refugee, History: Asian, Korean Literature, History: World, Action / Adventure, Politics / Government, Biography

Escape from Camp 14 is the story of Shin Dong-hyuk, who is the only known person to have been born in and escape from a North Korean labor camp. The book’s author, Blaine Harden, interviewed Shin many times and has also spoken with former camp guards and North Korean traders. His book details Shin’s life both inside and outside the camp, as well as the political landscape in North Korea.As Shin was born in the... Read Escape from Camp 14 Summary


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Literature, Life/Time: The Past

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


Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction

Escaping the Giant Wave is a middle-grade disaster thriller by American author Peg Kehret. The story follows 13-year-old Kyle Davidson and his little sister, BeeBee Davidson, as they struggle to survive an earthquake, a fire, and a tsunami. Kyle battles to save BeeBee and himself, and he learns to overcome his own fears. Escaping the Giant Wave is one of six novels centered around natural disasters by Kehret and was published in 2003. Kehret has... Read Escaping the Giant Wave Summary


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Grief / Death, Religion / Spirituality

Best-selling and award-winning novelist Neal Shusterman published the fantasy novel Everlost in 2006. It is the first novel in the young adult Skinjacker trilogy, which also includes Everwild (2009) and Everfound (2011). Everlost explores what might lie between life and death and incorporates a rich cast of characters, all of whom are children. The novel has won multiple awards and distinctions, including being included among the 2009 Garden State Teen Book Award nominees and the... Read Everlost Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Korean Literature, Asian Literature, Children's Literature, History: World, Action / Adventure, Biography

Every Falling Star: The True Story of How I Survived and Escaped North Korea is a 2016 memoir by Sungju Lee and Susan McClelland. This first-person narrative nonfiction work recounts author Sungju Lee’s childhood in North Korea, surviving on the streets as a young boy after he was abandoned by his parents, as well as his harrowing escape at age 16. He is now a consultant and advocate for the reunification of the Korean Peninsula... Read Every Falling Star Summary


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Language, Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Society: Education, Society: Immigration, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Natural World: Animals, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Self Discovery

Tags Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Relationships: Siblings, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Family, Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Music, Identity: Gender, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Grandparents

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Magical Realism

Fablehaven was written by Brandon Mull and first published in 2006. It is the first in a series about an ecological preserve for magical creatures. In the novel, middle-school-aged siblings Kendra and Seth take a trip to their grandparents’ land in rural Connecticut, which they soon realize is hiding magic of all types. The siblings explore the magical world they have discovered while learning how to be both brave and responsible.Fablehaven deals with themes concerning... Read Fablehaven Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Fate, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: Community

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Bullying, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Grief / Death, Race / Racism, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure

Originally published in 2014, Fake ID is a mystery/thriller novel written by Lamar Giles and intended for young adults. The narrator and main character is Nick Pearson, a 15-year-old who has just moved to Stepton, Virginia, becoming a Black student in a predominantly white setting. Nick and his family are in the Federal Witness Protection Program (WITSEC). Unintentionally, he finds himself involved in a love triangle and a mysterious murder.As a Black author, Giles is... Read Fake ID Summary