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 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Mothers, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Food, Values/Ideas: Equality, Relationships: Fathers, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Grandparents

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


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Friendship

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

We Are All Made of Molecules (May 2015) is by young adult and middle-grade author Susin Nielsen. Nielsen spent many years as a scriptwriter for Canadian television shows, including Degrassi Junior High. Her writing focuses humorously on the trials and tribulations of being a teenager. Like the characters in We Are All Made of Molecules, Nielsen lives in Vancouver, Canada. Her other titles include Word Nerd (2010), Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Mom (2010)... Read We Are All Made of Molecules Summary


Publication year 1990

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: World


Publication year 2005

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Music

Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, Inspirational, Biography

We Beat the Street: How A Friendship Pact Led to Success is a New York Times best-selling nonfiction work published in 2005 that examines the lives and choices of three friends and now-doctors Sampson Davis, Rameck Hunt, and George Jenkins. The book was co-authored with the help of award-winning children's author Sharon M. Draper. Plot SummarySampson, Rameck, and George hail from dangerous and underprivileged neighborhoods in Newark, NJ. Though the boys come from loving families... Read We Beat the Street Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Space & The Universe, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

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


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Equality, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Society: War

Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Military / War, History: World, Japanese Literature, Arts / Culture, WWII / World War II, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman

Weedflower, Cynthia Kadohata’s 2006 historical fiction young adult novel, tells the story of 12-year-old Japanese American Sumiko amid Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor and the US government’s ensuing involvement in World War II. Kadohata depicts the conditions of Japanese internment camps from Sumiko’s perspective, providing unique insight and education on the racism that Japanese Americans faced and the US government’s poor decisions.This guide references the 2009 paperback reprint edition from Atheneum Books for Young Readers.Plot... Read Weedflower Summary


Publication year 1992

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Self Discovery

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


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Natural World: Space & The Universe

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Humor, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Art

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


Publication year 1971

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Immigration / Refugee, Children's Literature, Military / War, History: World, Classic Fiction

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit (1971) is a children’s novel by Judith Kerr. The novel is set between 1933 and 1936, and traces the life of protagonist Anna, who is nine years old at the novel’s opening, as her family flees Germany for Switzerland, France, and, finally, England. Although the novel is a work of fiction, it is semi-autobiographical. Kerr is of German-Jewish heritage, and her family left Germany once Hitler rose to power in... Read When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit Summary


Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Community

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

When My Name Was Keoko (2002) is a young adult work of historical fiction by Linda Sue Park about the Japanese occupation of Korea during World War II. Many praise the novel for how it exposes this often overlooked topic in history, authentically portraying Korean life, culture, and perspective in the 1940s. Park wrote the narrative in alternating chapters from the first-person perspective voices of two Korean siblings: 10-year-old Sun-hee (aka Keoko) and 13-year-old Tae-yul... Read When My Name Was Keoko Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

Tags Immigration / Refugee, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Biography


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Grandparents, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

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

When the Sea Turned Silver by Grace Lin takes readers on a journey through a richly imagined world full of imagery and Chinese folklore. The novel follows the adventures of Pinmei and Yishan as they navigate themes of Finding and Creating Identity, The Power of Stories, and how Perception Shapes Reality. Recognized for its storytelling and cultural depth, When the Sea Turned Silver was a 2016 National Book Award Finalist. Critics praise the novel for... Read When the Sea Turned to Silver Summary


Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

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


Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Bullying, Parenting, Race / Racism, Relationships, American Literature, Children's Literature, Historical Fiction, Fantasy

When You Reach Me (2009) is a middle-grade novel by Rebecca Stead. It won the Newbery Medal and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for fiction and has been included in numerous best book lists for young adult readers. Stead's Liar and Spy won the 2013 Guardian Children's Fiction Award. She is also the author of Goodbye Stranger (2015) and The List of Things That Will Not Change (2020), and co-authored The Lost Library (2023) with... Read When You Reach Me Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Magical Realism, Fantasy, Children's Literature


Publication year 1969

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Flora/plants

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Poverty, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction

Where the Lilies Bloom (1969) is a middle-grade historical fiction novel written by married authors Vera Cleaver and Bill Cleaver. The couple collaborated on stories and novels for middle-grade and young adult readers throughout their life, believing that writing for adolescent age groups was a meaningful endeavor. They often wrote about realistic settings and themes, exploring the intricacies of human nature. Where the Lilies Bloom is their most famous work. It is a coming-of-age novel... Read Where the Lilies Bloom Summary


Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin is a middle grade fantasy fiction novel that takes inspiration from Chinese folklore and details the journey of a young girl, Minli, as she embarks on a hero's quest to improve her family’s circumstances. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon became a New York Times bestseller and received a Newbery Honor Award and the 2010 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children’s Literature. Lin penned a companion book... Read Where The Mountain Meets The Moon Summary


Publication year 1961

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Classic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Animals, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction

Wilson Rawls was born in 1913 in the Ozark Mountains in the Oklahoma/Arkansas region of the United States, where Rawls time spent roaming the hills with his dogs. His level of formal education left him unsure of his formal writing ability, and he disposed of his manuscripts. However, his wife encouraged him to start again, leading to the publication of Where the Red Fern Grows in 1961 and The Summer of the Monkeys 15 years... Read Where the Red Fern Grows Summary