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 1978

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Disability, Identity: Race, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction


Publication year 1994

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Society: War, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, Military / War, History: World, Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Action / Adventure, Sports


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Society: Immigration, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family

Tags Drama / Tragedy, Immigration / Refugee, Poverty, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Arts / Culture

Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall is a coming-of-age story about the importance of family, heritage, and perseverance. This young adult novel comes directly from McCall’s own experiences as a young Mexican immigrant, a writer with a dream, and a teenager who watches her mother die from cancer. Under the Mesquite infuses poetic form, free verse, imagery, and sprinkles of the Spanish language in order to portray a bildungsroman in which a young girl... Read Under The Mesquite Summary


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

Ungifted is a 2012 novel for children written by Gordon Korman and is the recipient of the 2014 Red Cedar Award. Narrated from multiple perspectives, the story follows Donovan Curtis, an average student at Hardcastle Middle School who is accidentally sent to an academy for gifted kids. It chronicles the characters’ growth and change as they learn to balance intellectual achievement with experience and social engagement.Donovan is a prankster who struggles to control his impulses... Read Ungifted Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Animals, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness

Tags Realistic Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Humor, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

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


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery

Tags Sports, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Trauma / Abuse / Violence


Publication year 2022

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Life/Time: The Past, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

Tags History: World, Children's Literature, Science / Nature


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Animals, Society: Community

Tags Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Humor, Magical Realism, Animals


Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

Uprising is a novel of historical fiction by Margaret Peterson Haddix. The story revolves around a 1911 New York fire at The Triangle shirtwaist factory that killed 146 immigrant workers. The Triangle firefollowed a citywide strike led by the shirtwaist workers that served to summon great public interest. Thus, the fire was perceived as not only a great tragedy, but an inciting symbol for the Labor Movement in the Industrial Revolution.Haddix’s narrative interweaves the perspectives of... Read Uprising Summary


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Military / War


Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

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


Publication year 1986

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

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

Mary Downing Hahn’s eerie middle grade novel Wait Till Helen Comes (1986) is a ghost story that explores themes of family, friendship, and the emotional toll of death and guilt. Wait Till Helen Comes received a starred review from Booklist and was awarded the Texas Bluebonnet Award in 1989. The novel was also adapted into a Lifetime movie titled Little Girl’s Secret (2016), with Hahn making a cameo appearance in the film as the town... Read Wait Till Helen Comes Summary


Publication year 1994

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

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

Walk Two Moons is perhaps the most famous work of Sharon Creech, a celebrated author of young adult fiction. The novel blends elements of both a coming-of-age narrative and a road story, and is set in the same literary universe as several of Creech’s other works, including Absolutely Normal Chaos (1990) and Chasing Redbird (1997). Following its 1994 publication, Walk Two Moons won numerous awards, including the 1995 Newbery Medal and the 1995 Children’s Book... Read Walk Two Moons Summary


Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Literature

Tags Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Arts / Culture


Publication year 1982

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Military / War, Historical Fiction, Animals, Class, Children's Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction

War Horse is a children’s historical fiction novel by Michael Morpurgo. The book was first published in Great Britain in 1982 by Kaye & Ward and was a runner-up for the Whitbread Book Award in the same year. The book is told from the point of view of a young horse named Joey and chronicles his journey and the relationships he builds with his various owners during World War I. The beloved novel is a... Read War Horse Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Military / War, WWII / World War II, Children's Literature, History: World


Publication year 1972

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Fantasy, Animals, Action / Adventure, Leadership/Organization/Management, Children's Literature, Classic Fiction

Published in 1972, Watership Down, by Richard Adams, is a fantasy-adventure novel for middle-grade readers and above that follows a group of rabbits as they search for a new home and defend it against enemies. Widely considered a children’s literature classic, the book is also beloved by adults for its engaging characters, action sequences, and lyrical descriptions of landscape. Its resemblance to great human sagas such as the Trojan War, the biblical Exodus, and the... Read Watership Down Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride

Tags Children's Literature


Publication year 1989

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Education

Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, Fantasy, Humor