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 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Community, Relationships: Family
Tags Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy
Publication year 1999
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Teams, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Realistic Fiction, Journalism, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor
The Landry News is a young adult novel by Andrew Clements, published in 1998. It centers on a school newspaper and the lives it touches, the lessons it teaches, and the power it gives people to stand up for their beliefs. The book received the William Allen White Children's Book Award in 2002 and has been translated into five languages. American author Andrew Clements (1949-2019) penned many books for young readers, including his most famous work, Frindle... Read The Landry News Summary
Publication year 1956
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Christian literature, Children's Literature, Religion / Spirituality
The Last Battle, first published in England in 1956, is the seventh and final novel in The Chronicles of Narnia. The Chronicles of Narnia, a series of fantasy novels by celebrated British writer and literary scholar C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), is considered a classic of children’s literature. The Last Battle represents the culmination of the series’ themes and characters and won the Carnegie Medal, which annually recognizes an outstanding book for children. Although The Last... Read The Last Battle Summary
Publication year 2000
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Beauty
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Fantasy, Action / Adventure
Rodman Philbrick’s The Last Book in the Universe, originally published in 2000, is a young adult novel geared toward children ages 8 to 12. It depicts a dystopian future where “normals” (genetically-unaltered humans) live in the Urb, a place of filth and unrest, while “proovs” (genetically improved people) live in Eden, a place of joy and happiness. This has been the status quo ever since the Big Shake, the environmental disaster that marked the region’s... Read The Last Book In The Universe Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: The Future, Society: Community
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Children's Literature, Diversity, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Animals
Publication year 2015
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family
Tags Humor, Children's Literature, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure
The Last Kids on Earth—a New York Times bestseller and winner of the Texas Bluebonnet Award, which is determined by the popular vote of grade school students throughout Texas—is a post-apocalypse graphic novel for young readers, filled with illustrations, humor, friendship, and zombie survival. The story is written by Max Brallier and drawn by Douglas Holgate, and was originally published in 2015, but has since gone on to become a seven-book series; this is the... Read The Last Kids on Earth Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Action / Adventure, Fantasy, Humor, Children's Literature, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
Publication year 2017
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
Publication year 2016
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear
Tags Action / Adventure, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Humor
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Fathers, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Asian Literature, Children's Literature, Asian Literature
Publication year 1974
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Education
Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2009
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Fate
Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Mythology, Action / Adventure
Rick Riordan’s The Last Olympian is the fifth and final installment of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Published in 2009, this fantasy children’s book was a #1 bestseller on the lists of USA Today, the LA Times, and the Wall Street Journal. The novel follows the teenage demigod Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon and of a mortal woman. He and other demigods spend their summers at Camp Half-Blood, located in Long Island, NY.When... Read The Last Olympian Summary
Publication year 2009
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Siblings, Identity: Masculinity
Tags Humor, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction
Publication year 2011
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Mystery / Crime Fiction
The Lemonade Crime is the sequel to Jacqueline Davies’s elementary school reader novel The Lemonade War. Published in 2011, this follow-up continues the story of entrepreneurial siblings Evan and Jessie, solving the mystery of the theft that ended the first novel. The key question of the novel is about the best way to right a wrongdoing: Is it through vengeance or justice? By setting the climax of The Lemonade Crime at a mock trial organized... Read The Lemonade Crime Summary
Publication year 2007
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family
Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, Science / Nature, Realistic Fiction
Published in 2007, Jacqueline Davies’s The Lemonade War is the first installment in an award-winning series, which also includes The Lemonade Crime (2011) and The Bell Bandit (2012). The fictional children’s novel follows the Treski siblings as they compete for the most successful lemonade stand. The competition takes place the summer before Jessie Treski, an academically minded student, joins her older brother Evan’s fourth-grade class. The chapters alternate between Jessie and Evan’s perspectives.Plot SummaryWhen the... Read The Lemonade War Summary
Publication year 2005
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Children's Literature, Mythology, Fantasy, Action / Adventure
Book DetailsThe Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, published in 2005, is the first installment in Percy Jackson and the Olympians, a six-book fantasy series for young readers. It was named School Library Journal’s Best Book of 2005, an American Library Association Notable Book (2006), and a New York Times Notable Book (2005). The book follows its young protagonist, Percy Jackson, as he discovers that he is a demigod and embarks on a journey save his... Read The Lightning Thief Summary
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Environment
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Animals, Grief / Death, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Community, Natural World: Space & The Universe
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Fantasy
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Children's Literature, Bullying, Realistic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction
The Lions of Little Rock (2012) is the second novel by juvenile fiction author Kristin Levine. Other titles she has written include The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had (2009), Paper Cowboy (2014), and The Jigsaw Jungle (2018). The book is suitable for readers aged 10 to 13 and is categorized as Children’s American Historical Fiction, Children’s Prejudice and Racism Books, and Children’s Friendships. The author felt compelled to tell this story because her mother... Read The Lions Of Little Rock Summary