The books in this collection navigate themes and ideas appropriate for younger readers. Whether you're looking for contemporary hits like Front Desk by Kelly Yang or beloved classics like Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, you can explore this collection to find a title that will excite the young readers in your life.
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Realistic Fiction, Bullying, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor
Publication year 2009
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Society: Immigration
Tags Children's Literature, Immigration / Refugee, Arts / Culture, Latin American Literature, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Relationships: Grandparents, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Animals, Identity: Indigenous
Tags Animals, Health / Medicine, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction
Publication year 1997
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Immigration, Values/Ideas: Art, Relationships: Family
Tags Chinese Literature, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Realistic Fiction, LGBTQ, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1998
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Animals, History: World, Historical Fiction
Riding Freedom, written by Pam Muñoz Ryan, was originally published in 1998 and won several awards, including the 2000 California Young Reader Medal. This fictionalized biography of the real Charlotte Parkhurst, better known as One-eyed Charley, tells the story of the first female to vote in the United States. She became a famous stagecoach driver and a property owner. How she accomplished these things before women were granted suffrage is detailed in this fast-paced narrative... Read Riding Freedom Summary
Publication year 1957
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Military / War, History: World, Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Classic Fiction
Harold Keith published Rifles for Watie in 1957; the book earned a Newbery Medal in 1958. The novel mixes historical fact and fiction, and tells the story of Jefferson Davis Bussey, a 16-year-old Kansas boy who enlists in the Union army in 1861 and serves until the war ends. Jeff begins his service as an infantryman. He falls in love with a Confederate girl and eventually becomes a scout, infiltrating the rebel camp. He joins... Read Rifles for Watie Summary
Publication year 2008
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Identity: Masculinity, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Education, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons
Tags Humor, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2015
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Realistic Fiction, Sports, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1976
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Race / Racism, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction
Mildred D. Taylor’s semi-autobiographical Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is a middle grade novel first published in 1976. The novel received the 1977 John Newbery Medal and was recognized by the Coretta Scott King Book Awards. With more than 6.5 million copies in print, the novel anchors Taylor’s “Logan saga,” a series of novels about the same family. A 1978 TV movie of the novel was nominated for two Emmy Awards. This guide references... Read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Summary
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Disability, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1999
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Fate, Self Discovery, Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Realistic Fiction, Romance, Race / Racism, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2013
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Children's Literature, History: World
Publication year 2002
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings
Tags Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Relationships
Ruby Holler (2002) is a middle grade novel by Sharon Creech. It tells the story of twins, a brother and sister, who are orphaned and live at a children’s home. Their lives change unexpectedly when they are given the opportunity to travel with an elderly couple during their summer vacation.The author of 21 books, Creech was awarded the Newbery Medal for Walk Two Moons (1994) and received a Newbery honor for The Wanderer (2000). Ruby... Read Ruby Holler Summary
Publication year 2006
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Disability, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Realistic Fiction, Disability, Diversity, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Rules was the first novel published by Cynthia Lord. Rules is a book for middle-grade readers that has remained popular and in print from the time of its initial publication. The Scholastic paperback version summarized here first appeared in 2018. For a debut novel, Rules was immediately accepted by young readers and by the literary community. The book won a prestigious Newberry Honor Book award and received the Schneider Family Book Award. It was named... Read Rules Summary
Publication year 1998
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Aging
Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Travel Literature, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor
Rules Of The Road is a contemporary young adult novel by established author Joan Bauer, first published in 1998. It is the first book in the Rules of the Road series. The second book, Best Foot Forward, was published in 2005. Joan Bauer’s own complicated childhood with an alcohol-addicted father inspired Rules of the Road, which was met with critical acclaim. It won both the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and the Golden Kite Award... Read Rules of the Road Summary
Publication year 1975
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Masculinity, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger
Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Bullying, Relationships, American Literature, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction
Susan Eloise Hinton was born in 1948 and lives in Oklahoma, where most of her novels are set. She wrote her first novel, The Outsiders, while still in high school. It was published in 1967 and earned Hinton her reputation as a pioneer of the young adult genre. The work “grew out of her dissatisfaction with the way teen-age life was being portrayed in the books she read” (Michaud, Jon. “S.E. Hinton and the Y.A... Read Rumble Fish Summary
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Fairy Tale / Folklore
Publication year 1970
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Children's Literature, Animals, Fantasy, Classic Fiction