Action & Adventure

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Relationships: Family

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

Parvana’s Journey by Deborah Ellis follows 13-year-old Parvana as she makes her way across war-torn Afghanistan in search of her mother and siblings. Published in 2002, this novel is a sequel to the international bestseller The Breadwinner, which was adapted as a 2017 animated film, and is the second in a series of four called The Breadwinner series. Although Parvana’s Journey is a work of fiction, Ellis bases the setting of the novel on the... Read Parvana's Journey Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Animals, Military / War, Realistic Fiction, Fantasy

Pax is a heartwarming Children’s book by Sara Pennypacker showcasing the friendship between a young boy named Peter and his Fox, Pax. Pax is illustrated by Jon Klassen and was on the National Book Award Longlist. Sara Pennypacker has published 19 books, including Pax (2016), Summer of the Gypsy Moths, as well as the bestselling Clementine and Stuart series.Plot SummaryIn Pax, war brews at an unknown time in an unknown place, and Peter’s father forces... Read Pax Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Natural World: Animals

Tags Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, Animals


Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship

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

Released in 2007, Roland Smith’s YA novel Peak is the story of Peak Marcello, a teenager and mountain climbing prodigy. The novel is the first of four books in the Peak Marcello Adventure series, followed by The Edge (2015), Ascent (2018), and Descent (2020). The story follows Peak as he reconnects with his estranged father, Josh, who takes him on a climbing expedition to Mt. Everest. Peak is set against the backdrop of the political... Read Peak Summary


Publication year 1181

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Self Discovery

Tags Mythology, French Literature, Classic Fiction, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure


Publication year 1943

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Christian literature, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality

Perelandra is the second installment in author C.S. Lewis's science fiction Space Trilogy series. The 1943 novel is preceded by Out of the Silent Planet (1938) and succeeded by That Hideous Strength (1945). Plot SummaryLewis is summoned by philologist Elwin Ransom to his home in the English country. There, Lewis recounts the events of Ransom’s journey to Malacandra and becomes fearful of this visit. Along the way, he realizes he forgot his bag on the train. As he approaches... Read Perelandra Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Natural World: Animals, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags Animals, French Literature, Magical Realism, Fantasy, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Community

Tags Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Action / Adventure, Humor, Children's Literature, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Relationships, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Poverty, American Literature


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, Disability, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Animals, American Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes is a middle grade novel by Jonathan Auxier originally published in 2011. The novel encompasses a variety of genres: fantasy, the heroic quest, and even some Dickensian orphan flourishes, for good measure. It was a BookPage Magazine Best Book of the year, an ABA New Voices selection (2011), and a finalist for the Monica Hughes Award for science fiction and fantasy.This study guide references the edition published by Amulet... Read Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes Summary


Publication year 1911

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth

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

Author James Matthew Barrie adapted his 1904 play Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up to novel in 1911 with the hit Wendy and Peter, known today simply as the timeless classic Peter Pan. The mischievous character Peter Pan first appeared in Barrie's 1902 novel The Little White Bird and later in the 1906 novel Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens. Barrie's works explore themes of coming-of-age, the importance of imagination, the clash of... Read Peter Pan Summary


Publication year 1836

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Community, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage

Tags Classic Fiction, Victorian Period, Action / Adventure, Humor, Travel Literature, Class, History: European, Politics / Government, Social Justice, Sports, British Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Victorian Literature / Period

The debut novel of British author Charles Dickens, The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club (commonly known as The Pickwick Papers) was first published as a series by Chapman and Hall between 1836 and 1837. The Pickwick Papers chronicles the adventures of the members of the Pickwick Club, a group of travelers who journey around England and share their experiences. Because of the original serial format of the novel, the chapters contain individual but interconnected... Read Pickwick Papers Summary


Publication year 1945

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth

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

Pippi Longstocking is a middle grade fiction novel written by Astrid Lindgren and originally published in Sweden in 1945. It was first translated into English and published in the United States in 1950. Pippi’s bold spirit and fiery nature were endearing and appealing in the post-war era and through many decades afterward. Her story illuminates the Imagination and Ingenuity of childhood, the Strength of Body and Mind embodied by young girls, and the importance of... Read Pippi Longstocking Summary


Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Class, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Natural Disaster, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Italian Literature, History: World, Classical Period

Pompeii is a 2003 historical fiction novel by British author Robert Harris. The novel blends together the history of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD with a fictional plot about an engineer sent from Rome to repair the city’s aqueducts. This study guide uses an eBook version of the 2003 Ballantine Books edition. Plot SummaryMarcus Attilius Primus is a young aqueduct engineer, also known as an “aquarius.” His father and his grandfather were... Read Pompeii Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

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


Publication year 1995

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Animals, Education, Education


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

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


Publication year 2023

Genre Book, Nonfiction

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

Tags Self Help, Action / Adventure, Military / War


Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Community, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

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

Pretties by Scott Westerfeld is the second book of the Uglies quartet. It is a dystopian science fiction novel set in a world where people believe they are leading lives of luxury, but the cost is more than they can imagine. Published in 2005, Pretties debuted as a New York Times bestseller in both its hardcover and paperback formats. Westerfeld has published more than 20 young adult novels, although he is best known for the... Read Pretties Summary


Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

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

Introduction Prey is a 2002 science-fiction novel by Michael Crichton. Like his more popular novels in the Jurassic Park series, Prey employs the misuse of technology—and the hubris of opportunistic scientists—to pit his characters against a threat. In this case, the danger comes in the form of nanobots, microscopic agents that are rapidly evolving to destroy the people in a Nevada molecular fabrication lab. This guide uses the 2009 HarperCollins eBook edition of Prey. Content... Read Prey Summary


Publication year 1951

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Christian literature, Children's Literature, Religion / Spirituality

Prince Caspian is a young adult fantasy adventure novel by British author C. S. Lewis. Published in 1951, the novel was Lewis’s second addition to the popular Chronicles of Narnia series. In this story, the Pevensie children suddenly return to Narnia, where hundreds of years have passed since they defeated the evil White Witch and reigned as kings and queens at Cair Paravel. The children now confront the new challenge of helping their ally Prince... Read Prince Caspian Summary