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 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Relationships: Siblings, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Society: Education, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

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


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Music, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: War

Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Military / War, Latin American Literature, Children's Literature, History: World


Publication year 1982

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery

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


Publication year 1740

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class

Tags Fairy Tale / Folklore, Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Love / Sexuality, Relationships, Children's Literature, French Literature, Romance

Beauty and the Beast by Gabrielle-Suzanna Barbot De Villeneuve first appeared in her collection of fairy tales La jeune américaine, et les contes marins (The Young American and Marine Tales) in 1740 and was abridged into a Christian moral tale by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont in 1756. As a fairy-tale classic, Beauty and the Beast has been retold around the globe and in several mediums, including books, film, theater, and opera. The most well-known adaptations... Read Beauty and the Beast Summary


Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness

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

Because of Mr. Terupt (2010) is a middle-grade novel that takes place in Mr. Terupt’s fifth-grade class at Snow Hill School in Connecticut. The story is told from the perspectives of seven individual students in Mr. Terupt’s class. Mr. Terupt himself is a new teacher who attempts to teach lessons about personal responsibility, but his good intentions backfire when he falls victim to a tragic schoolyard accident that leaves him in a coma. The novel... Read Because of Mr. Terupt Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Animals, Children's Literature, Education, Education


Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief

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

Because of Winn-Dixie is a middle-grade novel by Kate DiCamillo published in 2000 by Candlewick Books. It follows main character Opal as she learns to love her new home in Naomi, Florida with the help of a stray dog named Winn-Dixie. Steeped in the traditions of Southern literature, the book won a Newbery Honor distinction and a Parents’ Choice Gold Award, among other awards. DiCamillo has been a beloved children's author since publication of Because of... Read Because of Winn-Dixie Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

Tags Sports, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Children's Literature, Biography


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Self Discovery

Tags Auto/Biographical Fiction, Historical Fiction, Sports, African American Literature, Race / Racism, Children's Literature, History: World, Biography


Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Community, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Identity: Language, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

Tags Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Arts / Culture


Publication year 1955

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride

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


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Fathers, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Sports, Relationships, American Literature, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

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

When Julia Alvarez’s Before We Were Free (2002) begins, the life of Anita de la Torre, an 11-year-old girl in the Dominican Republic, is about to change forever. The novel investigates themes of family, government corruption, superstition, and the power of the written word, all set against the backdrop of the months before and after the assassination of a brutal dictator, Rafael Trujillo. This study guide uses the 2007 Laurel Leaf Reprint Edition.Plot SummaryDuring the... Read Before We Were Free Summary


Publication year 1988

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Historical Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Military / War, History: U.S., Gender / Feminism, Social Justice, American Civil War, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World

Behind Rebel Lines: The Incredible Story of Emma Edmonds, Civil War Spy by Seymour Reit is a work of historical fiction and children’s literature based on the true story of a young woman who pretends to be a man so that she can join the Union army during the US Civil War. The book’s target audience is ages 10-14, and it uses a simple style to appeal to a young audience. It is categorized as... Read Behind Rebel Lines Summary


Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

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

Behind the Bedroom Wall is a 1996 Young Adult historical fiction novel by Korean American author Laura E. Williams. The novel won the 1997 Jane Addams’ Children’s Book Award. Williams has written several other novels, including The Mystic Lighthouse series, Up a Creek, The Ghost Stallion, The Executioner’s Daughter, The Can Man, and Unexpected.Set in 1942 Germany, Behind the Bedroom Wall follows a 13-year-old Aryan German girl named Korinna Rehme, who is an active member... Read Behind the Bedroom Wall Summary


Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Animals

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


Publication year 2018

Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Immigration, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: Coming of Age

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


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Music, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Self Discovery

Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, LGBTQ, Music, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

Content Warning: Better Nate Than Ever contains sensitive material, such as bullying and LGBTQ-related slurs.Better Nate Than Ever (2013) is the first book in a trilogy about Broadway hopeful Nate Foster; the next two titles in the series are Five, Six, Seven, Nate! (2014) and Nate Expectations (2018). The novel is intended for middle grade and young adult readers but may also appeal to adult fans of theater-related fiction. Author Tim Federle and the fictional... Read Better Nate Than Ever Summary