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 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Place, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Children's Literature, Historical Fiction, Humor, Auto/Biographical Fiction

Jack Gantos is the author of the coming-of-age, historical fiction novel Dead End in Norvelt (2011). The story is partly autobiographical, as it is based on Gantos’s experiences growing up in the early 1960s in Pennsylvania. Gantos gives the adolescent main character his name. Gantos has published many books for children and young readers including the illustrated Rotten Ralph series (1976-2011), a chapter book series about Joey Pigza (1998-2014), and the memoir Hole in My... Read Dead End In Norvelt Summary


Publication year 1985

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Language, Relationships: Family

Tags Disability, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Health / Medicine, Biography


Publication year 1983

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family

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

Published in 1983 and winner of the 1984 Newberry Award, Beverly Cleary’s Dear Mr. Henshaw marks a departure for the novelist known for her books that celebrate the whimsy and adventurousness of childhood. Dear Mr. Henshaw is an epistolary novel, in which protagonist and aspiring author Leigh Botts narrates his story through letters and diary entries addressed to his favorite author, Mr. Henshaw. Leigh begins writing yearly letters to Mr. Henshaw in second grade but... Read Dear Mr. Henshaw Summary


Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Teams

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


Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

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

Mary Downing Hahn’s Deep and Dark and Dangerous, published in 2007 by Clarion Books, is one of numerous stories in the American artist and former librarian’s extensive catalogue. Hahn has published in the historical fiction, fantasy, and contemporary fiction genres, but some of her most acclaimed novels are ghost stories—including this one. Deep and Dark and Dangerous was well received by critics and was awarded Missouri’s 2010 Mark Twain Award for the best book for... Read Deep and Dark and Dangerous Summary


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Survival Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Humor, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction


Publication year 2007

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Relationships: Siblings, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Relationships, Bullying, Children's Literature

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is the first graphic novel in the titular series by Jeff Kinney. Since its initial publication in 2007, Diary of a Wimpy Kid has become a New York Times bestseller and 16 sequels have followed in the series, including Rodrick Rules (2008) and The Last Straw (2009). Diary of a Wimpy Kid is written in a diary format and documents the misadventures of middle school student Greg Heffley, who longs... Read Diary of a Wimpy Kid Summary


Publication year 1992

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Place

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


Publication year 2012

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger

Tags Inspirational, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Race / Racism, Class, Poverty, Incarceration, Social Justice, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Biography


Publication year 2020

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Community, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, WWII / World War II, Children's Literature, History: World


Publication year 2016

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth

Tags Humor, Fantasy, Animals, Children's Literature


Publication year 2020

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers

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


Publication year 2018

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Disability, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Family

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


Publication year 2021

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Family

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


Publication year 1985

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment, Life/Time: Coming of Age

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

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


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


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


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

Tags Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Humor, Fantasy


Publication year 2016

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Fame, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family

Tags Humor, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction