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 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Fantasy, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2007
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Identity: Language, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Children's Literature, Military / War, History: World
Someone Named Eva is a 2007 middle-grade historical fiction novel by American teacher and children’s author Joan M. Wolf. The book is set around the 1942 Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and Slovakia) during World War II. The story follows 11-year-old Milada Kralicek and her journey of loss and rediscovery. Milada struggles to remember her Czech family and identity after Nazi soldiers kidnap her and force her to... Read Someone Named Eva Summary
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Classic Fiction
Son is a young adult fiction novel written by award-winning author Lois Lowry. It is the conclusion to The Giver Quartet, which includes The Giver (1993), Gathering Blue (2000), Messenger (2004), and Son (2012). Son follows the journey of Claire, a young girl on a quest to regain her son who has been taken from her. The novel is divided into three sections: Book 1: "Before," Book 2: "Between," and Book 3: "Beyond." All three books have entirely separate settings and... Read Son Summary
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Realistic Fiction, Allegory / Fable / Parable, Children's Literature, Inspirational, Disability, Relationships, Animals, Modern Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Humor, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear
Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Children's Literature, History: World
Publication year 2013
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Teams, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Self Discovery
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Humor
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Politics & Government, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Fathers, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Humor
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Humor, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Animals
Publication year 2020
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Black Lives Matter, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Race / Racism, Children's Literature, History: World, Social Justice, Politics / Government
Jason Reynolds’s Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You (2020) is a nonfiction book by the American authors Jason Reynolds and Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. It is a self-described “remix” of Kendi’s 2016 National Book Award winner Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. An award-winning writer of young adult fiction and poetry, Reynolds frames America’s history of racist ideas for an audience of middle school and high school readers. Reynolds’s remix... Read Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You Summary
Publication year 2005
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Identity: Disability
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Fear
Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Asian Literature, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Realistic Fiction, Free verse, Bullying, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness
Publication year 2019
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Fear
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2000
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Realistic Fiction, Bullying, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance
Stargirl is a young adult fiction novel published in 2000 by the American author Jerry Spinelli. In a coming of age narrative, shy eleventh-grader Leo falls in love with Stargirl, a free-spirited newcomer at Mica High. When his fellow students turn against Stargirl—and Leo—he pressures her to become ordinary like everyone else. Over the course of the novel, Leo learns the importance of staying true to yourself. Spinelli explores themes of individuality, kindness, and the... Read Stargirl Summary
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Fathers, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger
Tags Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Chinese Literature, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Fathers, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Food
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Animals
Tags Realistic Fiction, Animals, Health / Medicine, Grief / Death, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Children's Literature, Disability
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, History: World
Set during the Great Depression in the segregated South, Stella by Starlight is a historical middle grade novel by award-winning author Sharon M. Draper. As the Ku Klux Klan exerts increasing influence over the residents of rural Bumblebee, North Carolina, 11-year-old Stella Mills must confront racism while navigating the challenges of school, family life, and friendship. First published in 2015, the novel won the Charlotte Huck Award, an honor for children’s fiction granted by the... Read Stella by Starlight Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Society: Immigration, Self Discovery
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Latin American Literature