Action & Adventure

Publication year 1941

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: War

Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Auto/Biographical Fiction, History: U.S., Colonial America, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Globalization, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Natural World: Environment, Life/Time: The Future, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Arts / Culture, Science / Nature, History: European, Renaissance, Italian Literature, Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure

Inferno by Dan Brown is the fourth installment in Brown’s Robert Langdon series of mystery/thriller novels, following (in order) Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code, and The Lost Symbol, and preceding Origin. Each edition covers a self-contained story, so readers need not follow the series in order, and often includes themes centered on European and Christian history and cultural traditions. The title character, Robert Langdon, is the only recurring character. Inferno won the Goodreads... Read Inferno Summary


Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Action / Adventure, German Literature, Children's Literature

Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart (2003) is a novel of magical realism—the story takes place in the real world, but magic figures into the plot and character development. Funke went on to write other books in the Inkworld series: Inkspell (2005), and Inkdeath (2007). A fourth, The Colour of Revenge, will be released in October 2023. A movie adaption of Inkheart, produced by Funke, was released in 2008. Inkheart has received numerous literary accolades, including the 2004... Read Inkheart Summary


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

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

Insurgent, by Veronica Roth, is the second novel in the three-part Divergent series and describes a revolution in a post-apocalyptic Chicago. That society is founded upon principles that divide people into factions based on their personalities and function within the society. The selfless belong to Abnegation; the brave belong to Dauntless; the intelligent belong to Erudite; the honest belong to Candor; and the peacemakers belong to Amity. Each 16 year old undergoes an aptitude test to... Read Insurgent Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Siblings

Tags Historical Fiction, Western, Action / Adventure, Immigration / Refugee, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World


Publication year 2000

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Animals, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Economics

Tags History: U.S., Action / Adventure, History: World, Travel Literature, Biography

While many know the story of the sinking of the Titanic, fewer have heard the story of the Essex, a whaling ship that was sunk after being repeatedly rammed by an enormous whale during a whaling expedition in 1820. At one time, however, the story of the Essex was the most famous story of maritime tragedy in the United States, even inspiring certain aspects of Herman Melville’s novel Moby-Dick. Nathaniel Philbrick’s account of the journey... Read In the Heart of the Sea Summary


Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Action / Adventure, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Immigration / Refugee, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Travel Literature

Into the Beautiful North is an adventure story that parallels the plot of the Hollywood movie, The Magnificent Seven. Set in the village of Tres Camarones in Sinaloa, Mexico, the novel’s protagonist, nineteen-year-old Nayeli, notices that there are no men left in the village – they have all gone north for more opportunities and a better life. Fearing that the village will be taken over by bandidos, and with no real law enforcement or men... Read Into the Beautiful North Summary


Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Animals, Action / Adventure, Relationships, Leadership/Organization/Management, Children's Literature


Publication year 1996

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Music

Tags Action / Adventure, American Literature, Education, Education, Science / Nature, Classic Fiction, Biography

Into the Wild is a nonfiction book written by Jon Krakauer. It was first published in 1996 and turned into a feature film directed by Sean Penn in 2007. It has been classified as outdoor writing, travel writing, and biography.In 1993 Krakauer published “Death of an Innocent” in Outside magazine, an article that detailed the death of Christopher McCandless. The article generated an enormous response from readers, and Krakauer spent a subsequent year tracing McCandless’s... Read Into The Wild Summary


Publication year 1997

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Place, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Travel Literature, Action / Adventure, Sports, Drama / Tragedy, Natural Disaster, History: World, Biography

Into Thin Air is American is authored by professional mountain climber Jon Krakauer. It is a personal account of attempting to ascend Mount Everest, prompted by an assignment from Outside magazine to cover the commercial development of the communities at the mountain’s base. Krakauer’s climbing attempt, which was fatal for several, became the deadliest expedition ever on the mountain. In the book, he reflects on his experience, reporting it as truthfully as possible.Krakauer recalls being... Read Into Thin Air Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

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


Publication year 1999

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags Science / Nature, History: U.S., History: World, Biography, Action / Adventure

Isaac's Storm is a nonfiction book published in 2000 by the American author and journalist Erik Larson. Subtitled A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Storm in History, the book chronicles the events surrounding the September 9, 1900 Galveston, Texas hurricane which killed between 6,000-10,000 people, making it the deadliest natural disaster in US history. The story is largely told through the experiences of Isaac Monroe Cline, a meteorologist who led the US Weather Bureau... Read Isaac's Storm Summary


Publication year 1960

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Self Discovery, Natural World: Place, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

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

Originally published in 1960, Scott O’Dell’s Island of the Blue Dolphins is a middle grade historical fiction/adventure novel. Karana, the protagonist and narrator, is only 12 when hunters land on her peaceful island home and kill many of her people, including her father. When the remaining villagers leave the island in search of a safe place to rebuild their lives, she stays behind and must learn to survive on her own. O’Dell drew inspiration from... Read Island of the Blue Dolphins Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Society: Colonialism, Society: War

Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Military / War, History: World, American Revolution, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Natural Disaster, Children's Literature, History: World


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War

Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Historical Fiction, Natural Disaster, Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, History: World


Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Friendship

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


Publication year 1819

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Nation, Society: War

Tags Historical Fiction, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature, Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, History: World, Romance

Ivanhoe is a historical fiction novel by Walter Scott, first published in 1819. The novel or “romance” is a fanciful account of English life in the 12th century, during the time of King Richard I (Richard “Coeur de Lion”). The protagonist of the story is Wilfred of Ivanhoe, a knight returning home from fighting in the Third Crusade. His journey weaves together historical events, religious conflict, and Medieval folklore and explores themes of Chivalry as... Read Ivanhoe Summary


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Masculinity, Natural World: Objects, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Gender / Feminism, Leadership/Organization/Management, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Mystery / Crime Fiction