Action & Adventure

Publication year 1989

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Place, Self Discovery

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

Written by Gary Paulsen in 1989, The Voyage of the Frog by Gary Paulsen depicts a young boy’s coming of age through an adventure in the wilderness. Fourteen-year-old David Alspeth sets sail out into the Pacific to fulfill his uncle’s last wishes and ends up lost and alone at sea. Paulsen was an avid outdoorsman who spent a great deal of time sailing the Pacific Ocean, and his nautical experience is evident in the details... Read The Voyage of the Frog Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: Class

Tags Action / Adventure, History: World, Crime / Legal, Colonialism / Postcolonialism


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Society: War

Tags Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: World, Magical Realism, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Fantasy, Religion / Spirituality, Class, Narrative / Epic Poem, Action / Adventure

The Way of Kings (2010) is the first book in Brandon Sanderson’s ongoing epic fantasy series, The Stormlight Archive. The Way of Kings won Best Novel at the 2011 David Gemmell Legend Awards for fantasy literature and is considered an exemplary and influential entry to the epic fantasy genre. DMG Entertainment purchased the rights to a film adaptation of The Stormlight Archive in 2016, and Arcturus VR released a videogame adaptation of the novel in... Read The Way of Kings Summary


Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Mental Health, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure


Publication year 1986

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship

Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, History: World, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

The Whipping Boy is a middle grade historical novel written by American author Sid Fleischman and published in 1986. The novel won the Newbery Medal (awarded by the American Library Association) in 1987. When it was published, Fleischman had already written many books for both young and adult readers, often incorporating his interest in history, and setting books in different locales and time periods. In 1994, the novel was adapted into a film called Prince... Read The Whipping Boy Summary


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Natural World: Animals, Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Tags Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Action / Adventure, Animals

Written by Lauren St. John and published in 2006, The White Giraffe is the first book in the Legend of the Animal Healer series. It tells the story of orphan Martine Allen, who goes to live with her grandmother in Cape Town, South Africa after her parents’ tragic deaths. Her grandmother lives in a wildlife sanctuary called Sawubona. As Martine wrestles with losing her family and adapting to life on another continent, she learns the... Read The White Giraffe Summary


Publication year 1967

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

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

The White Mountains is a 1967 young adult dystopian novel by John Christopher. It is the first volume in a trilogy known as The Tripods. Set in a future where enormous mechanical tripods have subjugated humanity, the plot follows a young man’s struggle to reach a distant community of people who resist the tripods’ domination. Against this backdrop, Christopher explores themes related to freedom, human ingenuity, and overcoming obstacles through teamwork. The novel was adapted... Read The White Mountains Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Society: Politics & Government, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Fathers, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Magical Realism, Action / Adventure, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction


Publication year 2024

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Place, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags History: European, Travel Literature, Action / Adventure, Science / Nature, History: World, Biography


Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure

The Wide Window is a middle grade novel first published in 2000. It is published under the name Lemony Snicket, the pen name of novelist, playwright, musician, and screenwriter Daniel Handler. This mock-gothic adventure story blends elements of mystery, humor, and fantasy with a macabre setting in which a family of three orphans—Violet, Sunny, and Klaus Baudelaire—is sent to live with their fearful Aunt Josephine. Throughout the novel, the Baudelaire children must contend with their... Read The Wide Window Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

The Wild Robot is the story of Roz, a newly manufactured robot who becomes a castaway on an island with no human inhabitants when the ship transporting her sinks during a hurricane. The other crates holding the robot cargo are destroyed, but Roz remains the sole survivor. When she is accidentally activated by some curious otters, Roz awakens to find there is no one there to assign tasks to her. She is free to explore... Read The Wild Robot Summary


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Animals

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


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Climate Change, Children's Literature, Animals


Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Literature

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


Publication year 1908

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Flora/plants

Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, Animals, British Literature, Classic Fiction

First published in 1908, The Wind in the Willows by Scottish writer Kenneth Grahame is a story for young readers that recounts the adventures of three animals: Mole, Rat, and Badger. In the woodlands where they live, the trio must deal with various problems—which include frequently rescuing their friend Mr. Toad, who loves thrills and often causes trouble.Widely considered one of the greatest literary works for children, The Wind in the Willows has been reprinted... Read The Wind in the Willows Summary


Publication year 1995

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mythology, Action / Adventure, Military / War, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, History: World

The Winter King is a 1995 novel by Bernard Cornwell. It is the first volume of the Warlord Chronicles series, a reimagining of the legend of King Arthur stripped of magic and romance and instead steeped in the grim realities of Britain after the fall of the Roman Empire. It was followed up by Enemy of God (1996) and Excalibur (1997). By the time Cornwell published The Winter King, he had established his reputation as... Read The Winter King Summary


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Identity: Gender, Society: Education, Society: Class, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, Finance / Money / Wealth, Poverty, Narrative / Epic Poem


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

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


Publication year 1977

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Masculinity, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Fantasy, Humor, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Classic Fiction