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 1973

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth

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

In the novel How to Eat Fried Worms, a boy accepts a $50 bet from a friend to eat 15 worms in 15 days, but as he nears victory, he faces a flurry of nasty tricks and traps that go wildly out of control. Written by Thomas Rockwell, son of the famous American illustrator Norman Rockwell, and published in 1973, the book sold over three million copies, won several awards, was a target of censors... Read How To Eat Fried Worms Summary


Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Class, Natural World: Animals, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Animals, Children's Literature, Class


Publication year 1980

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Language, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Food, Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Society: Education

Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, Parenting, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help


Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self Discovery

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Humor, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Disability, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Self Discovery

Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Health / Medicine, Disability


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, LGBTQ, Afro-Caribbean Literature, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Magical Realism

Hurricane Child is a middle-grade debut novel by Kacen Callender. The realistic fantasy and coming-of-age book was published in March 2018 by Scholastic Press and received the Stonewall Book Award and the Lambda Literary Award in 2019. (While the author’s name on the cover is Kheryn, they are trans and prefer to be called Kacen.) Callender was born in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, where Hurricane Child is set. Kacen is a queer Black writer... Read Hurricane Child Summary


Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Realistic Fiction, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1963

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Beauty, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Historical Fiction, History: European, WWII / World War II, Action / Adventure, Religion / Spirituality, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Military / War, History: World, Classic Fiction

I Am David by Anne Holm is a children’s historical fiction novel written in 1963. It was originally written in Danish but has since been translated into many languages, including English, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, German, Dutch, Afrikaans, French, and Konkani. It was first published in the United States under the name North to Freedom but eventually was retranslated into its original title. It was made into a movie in 2003. The novel received several awards... Read I Am David Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Indigenous, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Life/Time: Coming of Age

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


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Music, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Realistic Fiction, Bullying, Children's Literature, Arts / Culture, History: World, Historical Fiction, Music

If I Ever Get Out of Here (2013), by Eric Gansworth—a member of Onondaga Nation and Haudenosaunee—is a young adult, contemporary fiction novel about a teenage boy, Lewis “Shoe” Blake. Lewis narrates his struggles fitting into life in junior high and navigating the cultural differences between his life on the reservation, which he refers to as “the rez,” and that of his white classmates.Other work by this author includes Apple: Skin to the Core.Plot SummaryThe... Read If I Ever Get Out of Here Summary


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Disability, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery

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


Publication year 1965

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

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

Elizabeth Borton de Treviño’s I, Juan de Pareja is a young adult historical fiction novel published in 1965. Its complicated portrayal of slavery, art, and self-expression earned it the Newbery Medal in 1966. In 1656, Spanish Golden Age painter Diego Velázquez unveiled his newest portrait: a simple study of one of his enslaved workers entitled Portrait of Juan de Pareja. Upon viewing the painting, de Treviño was inspired to imagine the story of this man... Read I, Juan de Pareja Summary


Publication year 1891

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Fame, Natural World: Animals

Tags Lyric Poem, American Literature, Children's Literature, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

Tags Children's Literature, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Action / Adventure, Humor


Publication year 1941

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: War

Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Auto/Biographical Fiction, History: U.S., Colonial America, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Action / Adventure, German Literature, Children's Literature

Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart (2003) is a novel of magical realism—the story takes place in the real world, but magic figures into the plot and character development. Funke went on to write other books in the Inkworld series: Inkspell (2005), and Inkdeath (2007). A fourth, The Colour of Revenge, will be released in October 2023. A movie adaption of Inkheart, produced by Funke, was released in 2008. Inkheart has received numerous literary accolades, including the 2004... Read Inkheart Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Magical Realism, Children's Literature, Humor, Arts / Culture, Fantasy


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature

The story opens in February 1975. Hà lives with her mother and three older brothers (Brother Quang, Brother Vũ, and Brother Khôi) in Saigon, South Vietnam. Hà knows her father, a naval officer, only through Mother’s stories and memories; he disappeared nine years earlier, a victim of the Communist Army of North Vietnam. Hà learns fractions, practices embroidery, and celebrates the start of the new lunar year on Tết (February 11). As spring and Hà’s... Read Inside Out And Back Again Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Disability, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Diversity, Disability, Bullying, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Indigenous, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Grandparents, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community

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