Action & Adventure

Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Futurism


Publication year 2020

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Natural World: Environment, Self Discovery

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


Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

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


Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Teams

Tags Mythology, Fantasy, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Animals, Arts / Culture, Climate Change, History: European, American Literature, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure

The Battle of the Labyrinth is a fantasy-adventure novel inspired Greek mythology and written in 2008 by Rick Riordan. It is the fourth in the Percy Jackson series.The novel begins with Percy Jackson is at his freshman orientation at Good High School. Rachel Elizabeth Dare helps him fight two empousai, spectres who were disguised as cheerleaders. Percy flees to Camp Half-Blood, but Rachel remains. Percy is reunited with Annabeth, and they learn Grover is in... Read The Battle of the Labyrinth Summary


Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Society: Globalization, Society: Community, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Action / Adventure, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Travel Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Mental Illness, Military / War, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

The Beach is an adventure fiction novel written by Alex Garland and originally published in 1996. Garland wrote the book during his time in the Philippines and was inspired by the landscape there, as well as historical events such as the Vietnam War. It was adapted into a successful major motion picture starring Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Danny Boyle in 2000, and the novel was included on a BBC list of most-read novels in... Read The Beach Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Natural World: Animals, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

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


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Aging, Relationships: Grandparents, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Family

Tags Holidays & Occasions, Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure


Publication year 1982

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

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

IntroductionBritish author Roald Dahl first made his mark as a leading writer of children’s literature in 1961, when he published James and the Giant Peach. His subsequent books include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Matilda, and his 1982 novel The BFG (Big Friendly Giant), which was illustrated by Quentin Blake and based on a segment of Dahl’s 1975 book Danny, the Champion of the World. His books have been viewed as darker... Read The BFG Summary


Publication year 1967

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Class

Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Relationships, Religion / Spirituality, American Literature, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Action / Adventure

American author Scott O’Dell’s The Black Pearl is a young adult novel and bildungsroman (coming-of-age story) that was first published in 1967. The Black Pearl was a runner-up for the Newbery Medal, which recognizes distinguished American children’s literature. The work’s literary influences include Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, and John Steinbeck’s The Pearl—another novel set among the pearl divers of La Paz. Scott O’Dell is best known for historical children’s fiction and his novel Island of... Read The Black Pearl Summary


Publication year 1941

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Natural World: Animals, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Classic Fiction, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, Realism, Animals, Historical Fiction

Walter Farley was only 26 years old when he published The Black Stallion, the fictional adventure story of the friendship between a boy and a majestic, powerful horse. Farley’s book, first available in 1941, was an instant bestseller. The Black Stallion and its 20 sequels have sold more than 12 million copies. The novel won the 1944 Young Reader’s Choice Award and inspired three Black Stallion movies and a TV series. At the heart of... Read The Black Stallion Summary


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

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

Published in 2015, The Blackthorn Key is a children’s historical fantasy novel by Kevin Sands. Set in 17th-century London, the story follows Christopher Rowe, the young apprentice to a successful apothecary, as he puts all his skills to the test to uncover a terrible secret that is threatening the city’s apothecaries. After earning his degree in theoretical physics, Sands has worked as a business consultant and teacher. The Blackthorn Key, his debut novel, is the first book in... Read The Blackthorn Key Summary


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Regret

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


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Place, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

Tags Fantasy, Mythology, Action / Adventure, Leadership/Organization/Management, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Animals, History: European, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Children's Literature

Originally published in 2014, The Blood of Olympus is the fifth and final book in Rick Riordan’s young adult fantasy series The Heroes of Olympus, inspired by Greek and Roman mythologies. The series follows seven demigods—children of one divine and one mortal parent—as they try to stop the earth goddess, Gaea, from rising to power. The novel won several awards, including the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Middle Grade and Children’s Book of 2014. The... Read The Blood of Olympus Summary


Publication year 1982

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Classic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Action / Adventure, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Bullying, Relationships, American Literature


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

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


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Action / Adventure

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly is a coming-of-age novel for young adults. It follows the voyage and return plot structure, in which the hero, David, is transported to a magical land, Elsewhere, where he encounters an evil power and eventually returns home having learned a valuable lesson. Published in 2006, The Book of Lost Things is Connolly’s first non-mystery novel and was a nominee for the Hughes & Hughes Irish Novel of... Read The Book of Lost Things Summary


Publication year 1964

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Classic Fiction

Published in 1964, The Book of Three is a high-fantasy adventure novel for middle-grade readers. The first of five books in the series The Chronicles of Prydain, The Book of Three tells the story of Taran, a farm boy who treks with three companions across an ancient kingdom on a mission to inform its rulers of an impending attack by evil forces. The book won an ALA Notable Book award, and the series won a... Read The Book of Three Summary


Publication year 1952

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Society: Class, Relationships: Family

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

Introduction Written by British author Mary Norton in 1952, The Borrowers is the first in a five-part series along with The Borrowers Afield (1955), The Borrowers Afloat (1959), The Borrowers Aloft (1961), and The Borrowers Avenged (1982). The book follows the story of the Clock family, a trio of tiny people who live beneath the kitchen floorboards in a large house in the British countryside. Norton was born in London in 1903 and grew up... Read The Borrowers Summary


Publication year 1924

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth

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


Publication year 2015

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Tags History: European, Children's Literature, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World, Action / Adventure, Biography

The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club by Phillip Hoose is a young adult (YA) nonfiction book published in 2015. Hoose, who previously received a Newbery Honor for Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice, was inspired to write the book after learning about the Churchill Club on a visit to the Museum of Danish Resistance in Copenhagen. The book is composed of Hoose’s research-based narration of the actions and events surrounding the... Read The Boys Who Challenged Hitler Summary