Action & Adventure

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Relationships: Teams, Society: War

Tags September 11 Attacks, Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Military / War, Realistic Fiction, History: World, Action / Adventure


Publication year 1726

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Politics & Government, Self Discovery, Society: Nation

Tags Satire, Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Travel Literature

Gulliver’s Travels is a 1726 novel written by Jonathan Swift. It is both an early English novel and a seminal satirical text in British Literature, remaining Swift’s best-known work and spawning many adaptations in both print and film. The targets of Swift’s satire range from political structures in early 18th-century England to the national rivalry between England and France during the same period. Swift also lampoons science and educational trends that lean towards more speculative... Read Gulliver's Travels Summary


Publication year 2001

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Food

Tags Action / Adventure

Guts: The True Stories Behind Hatchet and the Brian Books by Gary Paulsen is a 2001 nonfiction work covering the events that inspired the author to write Hatchet, a 1986 survival bildungsroman and Newbery Medal winner listed among the top 100 children’s books of all time by School Library Journal (“School Library Journal Top 100 Children’s Novels, 2012 Poll.” Library Thing). The award-winning novel follows Brian Robeson as he survives alone in the remote Canadian... Read Guts Summary


Publication year 1993

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Humor, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure

Drawing on his childhood experiences, Gary Paulsen’s novel for young readers, Harris and Me: A Summer Remembered (1993, 1st edition), contains 12 vignettes chronicling the narrator’s visit to his distant relatives on a farm over one summer. In addition to the culture shock of adjusting to rural life, the book also centers on the narrator’s relationship with his reckless and adventurous country cousin, Harris, and the process of finding acceptance as part of a family... Read Harris and Me Summary


Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Fate, Society: Community, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Fame

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

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a 1998 young adult fantasy novel by J.K. Rowling, the second in the Harry Potter series. The story follows Harry’s tumultuous second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, including an encounter with Voldemort, the wizard who killed Harry’s parents. Against this fantastic backdrop, Rowling examines such themes as death, fame, friendship, choice, and prejudice. Upon release, the novel became a worldwide bestseller and won several... Read Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt

Tags Fantasy, Play: Drama, Action / Adventure, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (2016) is a two-part play written by Jack Thorne, based on an original story collaboratively created by J. K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Thorne himself. Set in the universe of the Harry Potter books penned by J. K. Rowling, the play follows events occurring 19 years after the epilogue of the seventh book, The Deathly Hallows (2007); the story revolves around Albus Potter, the second son and middle child... Read Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Summary


Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Values/Ideas: Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge

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

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the sequel to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, is seventh installment in the record-breaking Harry Potter series and the highly-anticipated conclusion of the boy wizard’s story. Since the publication of the first Harry Potter novel in 1997, the series has sold over 500 million copies, and Harry Potter has become the best-selling fantasy series of all time. Released 10 years after the initial publication of the first Harry... Read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Summary


Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

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

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth installment of the seven-book series by J.K. Rowling. Although the Harry Potter series has been marked by widespread commercial success, The Goblet of Fire is the only novel in the series to receive the prestigious Hugo Award for science fiction and fantasy. In the fourth novel of the beloved children’s book series, Harry Potter returns for his fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and... Read Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire Summary


Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

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

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005) is the sixth book in the seven-part Harry Potter series penned by J. K. Rowling. The book revolves around the titular character Harry Potter, who is a wizard, and the events that take place during his sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.Joanne Rowling, known by her pen name J. K. Rowling, is a British author best known for her immensely popular fantasy series, Harry Potter... Read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Summary


Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Society: Politics & Government

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

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the fifth book in J. K. Rowling’s enormously popular Harry Potter series. Accordingly, it chronicles Harry’s fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and his ongoing struggle against the evil wizard Voldemort. Other works by this author include Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban.Plot SummaryThe story opens over summer vacation. Harry... Read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Summary


Publication year 1999

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

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

The Prisoner of Azkaban is the third installment of the best-selling Harry Potter series by the British author J.K. Rowling. The highly successful fantasy series was adapted into film beginning in 2001, and in 2004 the film adaptation of The Prisoner of Azkaban was released. The story takes place during Harry Potter’s third year as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry is forced to uncover painful and complex secrets of the... Read Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban Summary


Publication year 1997

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature


Publication year 1987

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: Coming of Age

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

Hatchet, a Newbery Award-winning novel published in 1987 by author Gary Paulsen, is an esteemed story about a young boy’s struggle to survive after his airplane crashes in the Canadian wilderness. This work of young adult fiction appeals to readers of all ages for its descriptive prose and exciting plot. This guide refers to the 1999 First Aladdin Paperbacks edition.Plot SummaryThirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is in the middle of his parent’s divorce and struggling to contain... Read Hatchet Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Identity: Indigenous, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Relationships: Grandparents, Natural World: Environment

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


Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Community

Tags Historical Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Japanese Literature, Children's Literature, History: World


Publication year 1899

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Colonialism

Tags Classic Fiction, Victorian Period, British Literature, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Education, Education, Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure

Heart of Darkness (1899) is a novel by Joseph Conrad detailing the story of Marlow, the captain of a steamboat, who travels up the Congo River to find a man named Kurtz. The novel is set in what was then known as the Congo Free State, which was owned by King Leopold II of Belgium. It is loosely based on Conrad's own experiences of working for a Belgian trading company. While Conrad partially intended to... Read Heart of Darkness Summary


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

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


Publication year 1991

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

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


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Disability, Modern Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure

Hello, Universe (2017) is the third novel by Filipino-American author Erin Entrada Kelly. It is intended for children aged 8 to 12. The title won the 2018 Newbury Medal, and its author has garnered other awards for previous novels, including a Golden Kite Award and an Asian/Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature. Kelly’s other books include Blackbird Fly (2015), The Land of Forgotten Girls (2016), You Go First (2018), and Lalani of the Distant Sea... Read Hello, Universe Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Action / Adventure, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction