Dogsong, first published in 1985, is a young adult novel by American author Gary Paulsen, who wrote Dogsong while he was training his dog sled team for his first Iditarod run. It was awarded the Newbery Honor Award in 1986. Paulsen, who was a popular author of young adult and children’s contemporary literature, is best known for books in the coming-of-age genre, often dealing with surviving the wilderness and embracing nature. He authored more than... Read Dogsong Summary

Dogtown

by Katherine Applegate, Gennifer Choldenko

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

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

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Doll Bones

by Holly Black

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth

Tags Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Religion / Spirituality

Doll Bones (2013) is a middle grade novel written by Holly Black and illustrated by Eliza Wheeler. It blends gothic, horror, and fantasy elements. The novel follows three friends, Zach, Poppy, and Alice, as their make-believe games take a turn for the supernatural, sending them on an eerie quest to return a haunted doll to a gravesite before it wreaks havoc on their lives. The novel explores the challenges of growing up and the strain... Read Doll Bones Summary

Dorothy Must Die

by Danielle Paige

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness

Tags Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Action / Adventure, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige (Harper Collins, 2014) is the first installment in the 4-book Dorothy Must Die series, followed by The Wicked Will Rise. The story follows a girl from Kansas through a dystopian land of Oz in which Dorothy rules with an iron will and unforgiving hand. Dorothy Must Die is set in the world of the Oz books by L. Frank Baum and was a New York Times bestseller. Danielle Paige... Read Dorothy Must Die Summary

Double Indemnity

by James M. Cain

Publication year 1936

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Action / Adventure, American Literature, Classic Fiction

Double Indemnity (1936) is a crime thriller novel by American novelist, journalist, and screenwriter James Mallahan Cain. Double Indemnity follows Walter Huff, an insurance agent who is seduced by Phyllis Nirdlinger into killing Phyllis’ husband for an insurance fraud scheme to collect 50 thousand dollars. “Double indemnity” is a clause in a life insurance policy that doubles the policy’s value if the policyholder dies in an accident. James M. Cain was a pioneer of American... Read Double Indemnity Summary

Downsiders

by Neal Shusterman

Publication year 1999

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

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

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Dragonflight

by Anne McCaffrey

Publication year 1968

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Natural World: Space & The Universe, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Relationships, Science / Nature, Technology, American Literature, Classic Fiction

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Dragonfly in Amber

by Diana Gabaldon

Publication year 1992

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, History: European, Health / Medicine, History: World

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Dragon Pearl

by Yoon Ha Lee

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Economics, Life/Time: Coming of Age

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

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Drowning

by T. J. Newman

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Family

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

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Dry

by Neal Shusterman, Jarrod Shusterman

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Climate

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Natural Disaster, Grief / Death, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure

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Dune

by Frank Herbert

Publication year 1965

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Natural World: Environment, Society: Politics & Government, Natural World: Space & The Universe

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

Dune is a 1965 science fiction novel by American author Frank Herbert. As the first in a series of novels, Dune introduces Paul Atreides and his gradual emergence as a unifying, powerful figure in a galaxy filled with political intrigue and the threat of religious war. Now considered one of the foremost examples of American science fiction, Dune won numerous prestigious awards and has been adapted several times in films and television series, most recently... Read Dune Summary

Earth Abides

by George R. Stewart

Publication year 1949

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

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

Earth Abides, by George R. Stewart, was originally published in 1949. The novel was one of the first of the post-apocalyptic science-fiction genre and a direct inspiration for Stephen King’s 1978 dark-fantasy novel The Stand.Stewart’s novel is unique given its historical context. Written during the early years of the Cold War when the threat of nuclear annihilation loomed in the American mind, the narrative portrays a world devastated not by bombs but by microscopic organisms—a... Read Earth Abides Summary

Earthquake Terror

by Peg Kehret

Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Natural Disaster, Education, Education

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Eaters Of The Dead

by Michael Crichton

Publication year 1976

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Relationships, History: Middle Eastern, History: U.S., Post Modernism, American Literature, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: World, Fantasy

Eaters of the Dead is a 1976 historical novel by Michael Crichton. Crichton (1942-2008) is known for his best-selling novels, many of which have been adapted into movies, as well as TV and filmmaking. His books include Jurassic Park, The Andromeda Strain, The Lost World, Prey, and Disclosure. Crichton also worked in filmmaking and in the TV industry, most notably on Westworld (writer, director), ER (creator), and on the Jurassic Park franchise based on his... Read Eaters Of The Dead Summary

Echo Mountain

by Lauren Wolk

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Self Discovery

Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Poverty, Animals, Gender / Feminism, Relationships, Science / Nature, Great Depression, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, History: World

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Elatsoe

by Darcie Little Badger

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Indigenous, Relationships: Family

Tags Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, LGBTQ, Magical Realism, Action / Adventure, Grief / Death, Race / Racism, Religion / Spirituality

... Read Elatsoe Summary