Juvenile Literature

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 1871

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Appearance & Reality

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

Through the Looking-Glass is the sequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, a classic novel by Lewis Carroll. Through the Looking-Glass, written six years later, features the same topsy-turvy portal world known as Wonderland; the sequel is often included in a dual compendium with the first book. In this tale, Alice steps through a mirror into a surreal world where she encounters peculiar characters, navigates curious landscapes, and tries to make sense of nonsensical events. The... Read Through The Looking Glass Summary


Publication year 1992

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

The novel opens with Sound of Running Feet, a young Nez Perce girl and the daughter of Chief Joseph. She runs into a white settler and his wife in a familiar meadow near her village. She challenges the settler and reports the incident to her father, who tells her that white settlers are coming in droves. Chief Joseph is a thoughtful and respectable chief but not a war chief—he is worried about his people.Soon, the... Read Thunder Rolling in the Mountains Summary


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1994

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Grandparents, Self Discovery

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Religion / Spirituality

Time for Andrew: A Ghost Story is a gothic middle grade novel written by Mary Downing Hahn and published in 1994. Hahn is known for incorporating elements of the thriller and gothic genres into stories for young readers. This novel follows 12-year-old Drew as he spends the summer with his Aunt Blythe and an irritable great-grandfather in their creaky, shadowy ancestral home. When a dying boy who looks strikingly similar to Drew mysteriously appears in... Read Time for Andrew: A Ghost Story Summary


Publication year 1964

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Class, Identity: Race, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Historical Fiction, History: U.S., Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, History: World


Publication year 1968

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Nation

Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction, Biography

To Be a Slave is a nonfiction children’s book written by Julius Lester and published in 1968. In 1969, the book was named a John Newbery Honor Book in recognition of its important contribution to children’s literature.The book focuses on the history of enslavement in the United States. Julius Lester compiled slave narratives and wrote his own historical commentary to accompany them. Lester was writing in the context of the civil rights movement of the... Read To Be a Slave Summary


Publication year 1976

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Society: War

Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: U.S., History: World, Historical Fiction, American Revolution, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Sexuality

Tags LGBTQ, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Gender

Tags LGBTQ, Fantasy, Relationships, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness

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

Touching Spirit Bear is a young adult fiction novel written by Ben Mikaelsen and originally published in 2002. It is a bildungsroman and adventure story and the first in a two-part series. Ben Mikaelsen was inspired by his own pet black bear, Buffy, to whom he dedicated the book; the novel also takes cultural inspiration from the Tlingit Tribe of Alaska. Touching Spirit Bear is the recipient of nine awards, including the Nevada Young Readers’... Read Touching Spirit Bear Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Race, Society: Community, Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Race / Racism, Relationships, Grief / Death, Diversity, American Literature, September 11 Attacks, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, History: World


Publication year 1978

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Animals

Tags Action / Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Animals, Science / Nature


Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship

Tags Realistic Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Poverty, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure

Published in 2010, Andy Mulligan’s dystopian young adult novel Trash examines themes of poverty, homelessness, corruption, and friendship. Set in the near future in an unnamed country, it follows the adventures of three boys who take turns narrating the story: Raphael, Gardo, and Jun-Jun (known as Rat throughout most of the book). The boys are poor, as are the majority of the people in their region. They live, as do most, by picking through trash... Read Trash Summary


Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Teams, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Family

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

Travel Team is a young adult novel by Mike Lupica published in 2004. Lupica is a former newspaper columnist with experience writing sports commentary for the New York Daily News. In addition to his young adult novels, Lupica has written several books for adults, including autobiographies co-written with Reggie Jackson and Bill Parcells. Lupica has also appeared on ESPN and on several sports-oriented radio shows. This guide refers to the 2006 edition published by Puffin... Read Travel Team Summary


Publication year 1883

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

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

Treasure Island is an adventure novel for young adults written by Robert Louis Stevenson, which was serialized in 1881 and 1882 and published in 1883. It is frequently dramatized in plays, television, and film, and has had an enormous influence on popular culture, particularly on public perceptions of pirate and sea-faring life. It is considered a coming-of-age tale and belongs to a genre of sea novels popular in the 19th century.Plot SummaryTreasure Island is told... Read Treasure Island Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Children's Literature, History: African , Race / Racism, African American Literature, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Historical Fiction, African American Literature, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World


Publication year 1975

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family

Tags Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Children's Literature, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, American Literature, Education, Education, Historical Fiction, Romance

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt follows the journey of a young girl’s decision to live forever or remain mortal. The book received many honors and awards, including the Janusz Korczak Medal and the 1976 Christopher Award as best book for young people, among others, and it was named an ALA Notable Book. Tuck Everlasting was adapted twice into a full-length feature film (1981 and 2002), and it appeared on Broadway as a stage musical in... Read Tuck Everlasting Summary


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

Tuesdays at the Castle, originally published in 2011, is the first book in the series of the same name by author Jessica Day George. Other titles in the series include Wednesdays in the Tower (2013), Thursdays with the Crown (2014), Fridays with the Wizards (2016), and Saturdays at Sea (2017). The series is categorized as children’s fantasy fiction suitable for grades 4-6 and above.George is a New York Times bestselling author who pens multiple series... Read Tuesdays at the Castle Summary