Literary theme analysis, by a book like {foo}
Books about Overcoming Adversity
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
by J.K. Rowling
A young wizard's quest to save the magical world from a rising evil.
During the summer, Harry Potter and his cousin Dudley are attacked by Dementors . Forced to use magic to fend them off, Harry is expelled from Hogwarts, but his expulsion is postponed pending a ... (Wikipedia)
The Glass Castle
by Jeannette Walls
A story of resilience and strength in the face of poverty and struggle.
Young Jeannette Walls lives with her parents, Rex and Rose Mary, her older sister, Lori, her younger brother, Brian, and her younger sister, Maureen. When Jeannette is seven, the family moves to ... (Wikipedia)
The Mist
by Stephen King
A group of survivors confront terror and terrorizing creatures in a thick mist.
The morning after a severe thunderstorm , an unnaturally thick mist gradually envelopes the small town of Bridgton, Maine. Artist David Drayton, along with his son Billy and neighbor Brent Norton ... (Wikipedia)
It's Kind of a Funny Story
by Ned Vizzini
A young man's struggle with mental illness, finding his path to recovery.
Craig Gilner, the narrator, is 15 years old and lives with his family in a middle-class Brooklyn neighborhood. He attends the prestigious Executive Pre-Professional High School, having studied ... (Wikipedia)
The Cricket in Times Square
by George Selden
A friendship between a mouse, a cricket, and a cat in New York City.
The story is about a cricket from Connecticut named Chester who gets caught on a train for New York. After stumbling on the subway, Chester ends up in Times Square. Mario Bellini, who helps his ... (Wikipedia)
Finding Me: A Decade of Darkness, a Life Reclaimed - A Memoir of the Cleveland Kidnappings
by Michelle Knight
A survivor's account of her abduction, captivity and eventual escape from a decade of torture and abuse.
The #1, New York Times, Bestseller and inspirational memoir by Michelle Knight, whose survival story gripped the world and continues to inspire and offer hope. Michelle was a young single mother when ... (Goodreads)
Fish in a Tree
by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
A young girl discovers her own unique talents with the help of a supportive teacher.
"Fans of R.J. Palacio’s, Wonder, will appreciate this feel-good story of friendship and unconventional smarts.” —,Kirkus Reviews, Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time ... (Barnes & Noble)
Let the Great World Spin
by Colum McCann
Interconnected stories of ordinary lives in 1970s New York, inspired by a high-wire artist's death-defying feat.
The events of the story are told in a largely non-linear fashion, with several different narrators telling the story from different perspectives. The story is interspersed with fictionalized accounts ... (Wikipedia)
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
by Daniel James Brown
An inspiring story of a rowing crew battling against the odds to win gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
This novel is about the University of Washington eight-oared crew that represented the United States in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, and narrowly beat out Italy and Germany to win the gold medal. The ... (Wikipedia)
Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened
by Allie Brosh
A humorous and candid account of the author's life, exploring the highs and lows of everyday life.
#1, New York Times, Bestseller “Funny and smart as hell” (Bill Gates), Allie Brosh’s, Hyperbole and a Half, showcases her unique voice, leaping wit, and her ability to capture complex emotions with ... (Barnes & Noble)
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis
by J.D. Vance
An exploration of the struggles of working-class Americans, and the power of family and culture to shape one's life.
Hillbilly Elegy is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisis—that of white working-class Americans. The disintegration of this group, a process that has been slowly occurring now for ... (Goodreads)
The Boxcar Children
by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Four orphaned siblings find adventure and solace in a deserted boxcar, learning the value of family and friendship.
The Aldens begin their adventure by making a home in a boxcar. Their goal is to stay together, and in the process they find a grandfather. ... (Goodreads)
David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants
by Malcolm Gladwell
An exploration of unlikely success stories, examining conventional wisdom and biases.
In his #1 bestselling books The Tipping Point , Blink , and Outliers , Malcolm Gladwell has explored the ways we understand and change our world. Now he looks at the complex and surprising ways the ... (Goodreads)
Seabiscuit: An American Legend
by Laura Hillenbrand
An inspiring story of the rise of champion racehorse Seabiscuit and his unlikely jockey.
There's an alternate cover edition, here, Seabiscuit was one of the most electrifying and popular attractions in sports history and the single biggest newsmaker in the world in 1938, receiving more ... (Goodreads)
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption
by Laura Hillenbrand
An extraordinary tale of struggle and survival, showing the power of resilience in the face of adversity.
On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood. Then, on the ocean ... (Goodreads)
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
by Malcolm X
A gripping account of one man's transformation from criminal to civil rights leader.
Alternate cover for ISBN 9780345350688 Through a life of passion and struggle, Malcolm X became one of the most influential figures of the 20th Century. In this riveting account, he tells of his ... (Goodreads)
Water for Elephants
by Sara Gruen
An elderly man's reminiscences of his time as a circus performer during the Great Depression.
The story is told through a series of memories by Jacob Jankowski, a 93-year-old man who lives in a nursing home. In the nursing home, Jacob's life lacks excitement and he's now a tired old man whose ... (Wikipedia)
These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901
by Nancy E. Turner
A young woman's struggle for independence, chronicles her journey through the American Southwest.
“Belongs on your must-read list. This novel is a gem.” — Omaha World-Herald Nancy E. Turner's unforgettable, These Is My Words, melds the sweeping adventures and dramatic landscapes of, Lonesome ... (Barnes & Noble)
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine
by Gail Honeyman
An introverted woman's journey to finding her voice, opening up to the beauty of life.
Librarian's note: An alternative cover edition can be found, here, No one’s ever told Eleanor that life should be better than fine Meet Eleanor Oliphant: she struggles with appropriate social skills ... (Goodreads)
Invisible Man
by Ralph Ellison
A black man's journey towards self-actualization in a world of racial oppression.
The narrator, an unnamed black man, begins by describing his living conditions: an underground room wired with hundreds of electric lights, operated by power stolen from the city's electric grid. He ... (Wikipedia)
Fantastic Mr. Fox
by Roald Dahl
Wild and wily fox outwits three mean farmers in an epic battle of wit and courage.
Mr. Fox is an anthropomorphic, tricky, and clever fox who lives underground beside a tree with his wife and four children. In order to feed his family, he makes nightly visits to farms owned by three ... (Wikipedia)
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood
by Trevor Noah
Memoir of a young boy’s struggle to survive in a dangerous and divided apartheid South Africa.
The memoir of one man’s coming-of-age, set during the twilight of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed. Trevor Noah’s unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of ... (Goodreads)
Britt-Marie Was Here
by Fredrik Backman
A woman's quest for independence and self-discovery, learning to embrace life and take risks.
The plot of the novel focuses on a "nag-hag" woman who has recently left her cheating husband and has taken on a job in the city of Borg, working at the recreation center. The city itself is barely a ... (Wikipedia)
I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban
by Malala Yousafzai
A young girl's fight for the right to education despite Taliban oppression.
I come from a country that was created at midnight. When I almost died it was just after midday. When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai ... (Goodreads)
The Help
by Kathryn Stockett
A group of African-American maids in 1960s Mississippi challenge the racial and social norms of the time.
The Help is set in the early 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi , and told primarily from the first-person perspectives of three women: Aibileen Clark, Minny Jackson, and Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan. ... (Wikipedia)
Matilda
by Roald Dahl
A young girl's magical journey of standing up for herself and her classmates against a tyrannical school principal.
In a small Buckinghamshire village, Matilda Wormwood , a five-and-half-year-old girl of unusual precocity, whose parents treat her with disdain, resorts to pranks like gluing her father's hat to his ... (Wikipedia)
The Waste Lands
by Stephen King
A post-apocalyptic adventure of survival and courage in a world of chaos.
The story begins five weeks after the end of, The Drawing of the Three, . Roland , Susannah , and Eddie have moved east from the shore of the Western Sea, and into the woods of Out-World. After an ... (Wikipedia)
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
by Fannie Flagg
A nostalgic tale of friendship, courage and resilience set in the American South.
Throughout the novel the narrator and time period change, and the reader relies on the chapters' headings to establish the date and the source of the chapter. Some of the narration comes in the form ... (Wikipedia)
Out of My Mind
by Sharon M. Draper
A young girl with cerebral palsy struggles to overcome obstacles and prove her ability.
Melody Brooks is a girl who was born with cerebral palsy . Also, who is ten years old. Her parents have done everything they can to help her live a normal life, but life is often frustrating for ... (Wikipedia)
Bossypants
by Tina Fey
A collection of humorous and personal essays about life and career.
Before Liz Lemon, before "Weekend Update," before "Sarah Palin," Tina Fey was just a young girl with a dream: a recurring stress dream that she was being chased through a local airport by her ... (Goodreads)
The Martian
by Andy Weir
A lone astronaut fights against the odds to survive on a hostile alien planet.
In 2035, , the crew of NASA 's Ares 3 mission have arrived at Acidalia Planitia for a planned month-long stay on Mars. After only six sols , an intense dust and wind storm threatens to topple their ... (Wikipedia)
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
by Maya Angelou
Autobiographical account of a Black woman's journey to find her identity in a prejudiced society.
Maya Angelou’s debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide. Her life story is told in the documentary film And Still I Rise, as seen on PBS’s American Masters. Here is a book as ... (Goodreads)
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
by Phil Knight
The story of one man's dream to start a business and the obstacles he encountered along the way.
In this candid and riveting memoir, for the first time ever, Nike founder and CEO Phil Knight shares the inside story of the company’s early days as an intrepid start-up and its evolution into one of ... (Goodreads)
Open
by Andre Agassi
Autobiographical account of a tennis star's career, struggles, and personal growth.
From Andre Agassi, one of the most beloved athletes in history and one of the most gifted men ever to step onto a tennis court, a beautiful, haunting autobiography. Agassi’s incredibly rigorous ... (Goodreads)
Wonder
by R.J. Palacio
A charming story of a boy with facial deformities navigating the complexities of school life.
The book begins with the words: "You could say I'm just like any normal kid. I have a family, I have a computer, I have an Xbox ". August "Auggie" Pullman then talks about his family, and then it ... (Wikipedia)
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
by Cheryl Strayed
A woman confronts her past and finds herself through a solo hike on the Pacific Crest Trail.
Wild is Cheryl Strayed's memoir of her 1,100-mile solo hike along the Pacific Crest Trail . Strayed's journey begins in the Mojave Desert and she hikes through California and Oregon to the Bridge of ... (Wikipedia)
Room
by Emma Donoghue
A young boy's struggle to survive and escape after being held captive in a small room.
Jack lives with his Ma in Room , a secured single-room outbuilding containing a small kitchen, a basic bathroom, a wardrobe, a bed, and a TV set. Because it is all he has ever known, Jack believes ... (Wikipedia)
Speak
by Laurie Halse Anderson
A young woman's process of healing from trauma, reclaiming her voice.
The first ten lies they tell you in high school. "Speak up for yourself—we want to know what you have to say." From the first moment of her freshman year at Merryweather High, Melinda knows this is a ... (Goodreads)
Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage
by Alfred Lansing
True story of a remarkable Antarctic expedition, a testament to the power of courage and tenacity.
The harrowing tale of British explorer Ernest Shackleton's 1914 attempt to reach the South Pole, one of the greatest adventure stories of the modern age. In August 1914, polar explorer Ernest ... (Goodreads)
Island of the Blue Dolphins
by Scott O'Dell
A young girl is stranded on an island and must find a way to survive on her own.
The main character is a Nicoleño girl named Won-a-pa-lei, whose secret name is Karana. She has a brother named Ramo, whose curiosity usually leads to trouble, and a sister named Ulape. Her people ... (Wikipedia)
The Lost Boy
by Dave Pelzer
A heart-wrenching story of a boy's survival of extreme childhood abuse and neglect.
The book continues after the ending of the previous book,, A Child Called "It", with David Pelzer, 9 years old, running away from his home in Daly City, California . He ends up in a bar, getting ... (Wikipedia)
The Wrath and the Dawn
by Renée Ahdieh
A thrilling adventure of love and revenge in a mystical, ancient land.
One Life to One Dawn. In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new ... (Goodreads)
Where the Heart Is
by Billie Letts
A journey of resilience and courage, as a young woman faces her struggles with poverty and hardship.
This novel opens with Novalee and Willy Jack, her then boyfriend, traveling from Tennessee to California , where Willy Jack claims he was promised by his cousin, J. Paul, a job working at a train ... (Wikipedia)
Me Before You
by Jojo Moyes
A woman and a disabled man form an unlikely bond as she helps him rediscover the joy of life.
From the #1, New York Times, bestselling author of, The Giver of Stars, discover the love story that captured over 20 million hearts in, Me Before You,, After You, and, Still Me,. They had nothing in ... (Goodreads)
Ten Tiny Breaths
by K.A. Tucker
A young woman's journey of healing, finding strength and courage to overcome tragedy.
After a terrible car accident destroys her life as she knew it, twenty-year-old Kacey escapes to Florida, where she encounters an irresistible man determined to capture her wounded heart. Just ... (Barnes & Noble)
Man's Search for Meaning
by Viktor E. Frankl
Holocaust survivor's exploration of resilience, suffering and how to find meaning in life.
Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl's memoir has riveted generations of readers with its descriptions of life in Nazi death camps and its lessons for spiritual survival. Based on his own experience and the ... (Goodreads)
Rising Strong: The Reckoning. The Rumble. The Revolution.
by Brené Brown
An exploration of how to courageously confront hardship and use it to build strength and resilience.
Social scientist Brené Brown has ignited a global conversation on courage, vulnerability, shame, and worthiness. Her pioneering work uncovered a profound truth: Vulnerability—the willingness to show ... (Goodreads)
The Long Walk
by Richard Bachman
Fourteen boys face a grueling test of endurance and willpower as they compete in a life-or-death march.
One hundred teenage boys join an annual walking contest called "The Long Walk" or just "The Walk". Each contestant, called a "Walker", must maintain a speed of at least four miles per hour; if he ... (Wikipedia)
Little House on the Prairie
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
A family's journey of settling and persevering on the American Frontier.
Meet Laura Ingalls, the little girl who would grow up to write the Little House books. Pa Ingalls decides to sell the little log house, and the family sets out for Indian country! They travel from ... (Goodreads)
The Story of My Life
by Helen Keller
The extraordinary account of a woman overcoming physical and cognitive obstacles to live an inspiring life.
When she was 19 months old, Helen Keller (1880–1968) suffered a severe illness that left her blind and deaf. Not long after, she also became mute. Her tenacious struggle to overcome these ... (Goodreads)
Lucky
by Alice Sebold
A young woman's story of survival and resilience after being violently attacked.
In a memoir hailed for its searing candor and wit, Alice Sebold reveals how her life was utterly transformed when, as an eighteen-year-old college freshman, she was brutally raped and beaten in a ... (Goodreads)
Hatchet
by Gary Paulsen
A boy must learn to survive in the wilderness after a plane crash leaves him stranded.
Brian Robeson is a thirteen-year-old son of divorced parents. As he travels from Hampton, New York on a single engine Cessna bush plane to visit his father in the oil fields in Northern Canada for ... (Wikipedia)
Burned
by Ellen Hopkins
A young girl's struggle to survive physical and emotional abuse in her family.
Pattyn is seventeen years old and is the oldest of seven girls in a Mormon household. Her father is an alcoholic who beats her mother, believing a wife must succumb to her husband's actions. Her ... (Wikipedia)
Freak the Mighty
by Rodman Philbrick
The story of two unlikely friends, united by a shared sense of bravery and courage.
The novel is set in a version of Portsmouth, New Hampshire . , In the beginning of the book, Maxwell Kane is a young boy with low self-esteem . He lives with his grandfather, Grim, and grandmother, ... (Wikipedia)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
by Betty Smith
A coming of age story set in Brooklyn, depicting a young girl's struggles and growth.
The novel is split into five "books", each covering a different period in the characters' lives. Book One opens in 1912 and introduces 11-year-old Francie Nolan, who lives in the Williamsburg ... (Wikipedia)
Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea
by Chelsea Handler
Humorous memoir of self-discovery, navigating the ups and downs of life with wit and resilience.
When Chelsea Handler needs to get a few things off her chest, she appeals to a higher power - vodka. You would too if you found out that your boyfriend was having an affair with a Peekapoo or if you ... (Goodreads)
The Horse and His Boy
by C.S. Lewis
An adventure of two runaway children through exotic lands, discovering courage and strength.
A boy named Shasta overhears Arsheesh the fisherman negotiating to sell him to a powerful Calormene feudal nobleman. He is relieved to discover that Arsheesh is not his real father, since there was ... (Wikipedia)
Robinson Crusoe
by Daniel Defoe
A shipwrecked sailor's struggle to survive on an isolated island, and his eventual redemption.
Crusoe (the family name corrupted from the German name "Kreutznaer") set sail from Kingston upon Hull on a sea voyage in August 1651, against the wishes of his parents, who wanted him to pursue a ... (Wikipedia)
I Am Number Four
by Pittacus Lore
An extraordinary teen must use his special abilities to protect himself and those he loves from an alien race of enemies.
Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster ... (Goodreads)
The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea
by Sebastian Junger
A harrowing account of a fishing boat's journey into the heart of an epic storm.
"Takes readers into the maelstrom and shows nature's splendid and dangerous havoc at its utmost". October 1991. It was "the perfect storm"–a tempest that may happen only once in a century--a ... (Goodreads)
Beneath a Scarlet Sky
by Mark T. Sullivan
True story of a young Italian man's courage and heroism during WWII.
Based on the true story of a forgotten hero,, Beneath a Scarlet Sky, is the triumphant, epic tale of one young man’s incredible courage and resilience during one of history’s darkest hours., Pino ... (Goodreads)
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
by Stephen King
A young girl's struggle to survive in a dangerous forest while being pursued by a supernatural force.
The story is set in motion by a family hiking trip, during which Trisha's brother, Pete, and mother constantly squabble about the mother's divorce from their father, as well as other topics. Trisha ... (Wikipedia)
The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey
by Candice Millard
A daring expedition through the Amazon to uncover the secrets of an uncharted river.
At once an incredible adventure narrative and a penetrating biographical portrait, The River of Doubt is the true story of Theodore Roosevelt’s harrowing exploration of one of the most dangerous ... (Goodreads)
In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom
by Yeonmi Park
A young woman's harrowing escape from North Korea and her struggle to survive and thrive in a new country.
Human rights activist Park, who fled North Korea with her mother in 2007 at age 13 and eventually made it to South Korea two years later after a harrowing ordeal, recognized that in order to be ... (Goodreads)
I Am Legend
by Richard Matheson
A man is the last survivor of a zombie-creating virus, struggling to survive in a post-apocalyptic world.
Robert Neville appears to be the sole survivor of a pandemic that has killed most of the human population and turned the remainder into " vampires " that largely conform to their stereotypes in ... (Wikipedia)
On the Banks of Plum Creek
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
A young family's adventures in the American Midwest, settling on a homestead.
Having left their little house on the Kansas prairie, the Ingalls family travels by covered wagon to Minnesota and settles on the banks of Plum Creek. Pa trades 2 ponies for a dugout and a stable. ... (Wikipedia)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter faces a looming war as he battles dark forces and discovers his own power.
During the summer, Harry Potter and his cousin Dudley are attacked by Dementors . Forced to use magic to fend them off, Harry is expelled from Hogwarts, but his expulsion is postponed pending a ... (Wikipedia)
Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things
by Jenny Lawson
A witty memoir of overcoming struggles with mental illness, with a focus on finding joy in the midst of darkness.
#1, New York Times, Bestseller In Furiously Happy , a humor memoir tinged with just enough tragedy and pathos to make it worthwhile, Jenny Lawson examines her own experience with severe depression ... (Barnes & Noble)
Hidden Figures
by Margot Lee Shetterly
The untold story of the African-American women who made invaluable contributions to NASA's space program in the 1960s.
The #1 New York Times Bestseller. Set amid the civil rights movement, the never-before-told true story of NASA’s African-American female mathematicians who played a crucial role in America’s space ... (Goodreads)
Cujo
by Stephen King
An unsuspecting family is terrorized by an unexpected force, leading to a fight for survival.
The story takes place in the setting for many King stories: the fictional town of Castle Rock , Maine . Revolving around two local families, the narrative is interspersed with vignettes from the ... (Wikipedia)
Terrier
by Tamora Pierce
An adventure of discovery, as a young girl discovers her true strength and courage to save her beloved city.
The story is told in the form of a series of journal entries made by Beka Cooper as she trains to become a Provosts Dog, a nickname for the police men and women in the employ of the Lord Provost of ... (Wikipedia)
One Piece, Volume 1: Romance Dawn
by Eiichiro Oda
A young pirate's swashbuckling adventure to become the King of the Pirates.
A new shonen sensation in Japan, this series features Monkey D. Luffy, whose main ambition is to become a pirate. Eating the Gum-Gum Fruit gives him strange powers but also invokes the fruit's curse: ... (Goodreads)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
by Jean-Dominique Bauby
A paralyzed man's memoir, transcribed through blinking his left eye.
On December 8, 1995, Bauby, the editor-in-chief of French, Elle, magazine, suffered a stroke and lapsed into a coma . He awoke 20 days later, mentally aware of his surroundings, but physically ... (Wikipedia)
Wishful Drinking
by Carrie Fisher
An autobiographical account of the author's life and struggles with fame, addiction, and mental illness.
In Wishful Drinking , Carrie Fisher tells the true and intoxicating story of her life with inimitable wit. Born to celebrity parents, she was picked to play a princess in a little movie called Star ... (Goodreads)
First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers
by Loung Ung
An inspiring true story of survival and resilience during the brutal Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia.
From a childhood survivor of the Cambodian genocide under the regime of Pol Pot, this is a riveting narrative of war crimes and desperate actions, the unnerving strength of a small girl and her ... (Goodreads)
The Goose Girl
by Shannon Hale
A young princess must overcome great obstacles to reclaim her rightful throne.
When crown princess Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee was born, she did not open her eyes until her aunt held her. The woman became her nursemaid and constant companion, nicknaming her Ani and telling ... (Wikipedia)
Batman: Year One
by Frank Miller
The origin story of Batman, tracing his journey to become Gotham City's greatest hero.
Bruce Wayne returns home to Gotham City at the age of twenty-five from training abroad in martial arts, man-hunting, and science for the past 12 years. James Gordon moves to Gotham City with his ... (Wikipedia)
The Mysterious Island
by Jules Verne
A group of castaways survive and escape their strange island through ingenuity and exploration.
During the American Civil War , five Northern prisoners of war escape during the Siege of Richmond, Virginia , by hijacking a hydrogen-filled observation balloon. The escapees are Cyrus Smith , a ... (Wikipedia)
Flyte
by Angie Sage
Adventure of a young wizard apprentice and his magical quest to save his kingdom from a powerful dark force.
The book begins with a "fair haired" boy rowing a canoe to the place where Necromancer DomDaniel drowned, along with his ship. His skeleton climbs into the canoe, while the fair haired boy thinks ... (Wikipedia)
City of Thieves
by David Benioff
Two young men embark on a perilous mission in the besieged Leningrad of WWII.
The story is introduced as the recollections of the narrator's grandfather Lev Beniov, a contemporary Russian Jewish émigré. It is set in the first week of 1942, with the 17-years-old Lev trying to ... (Wikipedia)
Pollyanna
by Eleanor H. Porter
A young girl's journey of optimism and positivity, despite the struggles she faces.
The title character is Pollyanna Whittier, an eleven-year-old orphan , who goes to live in the fictional town of Beldingsville, Vermont , with her wealthy but stern and cold spinster Aunt Polly, who ... (Wikipedia)
A Million Little Pieces
by James Frey
An addict's story of recovery, as he struggles to overcome his demons.
Intense, unpredictable, and instantly engaging, this is a story of drug and alcohol abuse and rehabilitation as it has never been told before. It is also the introduction of a bold and talented ... (Goodreads)
Anne's House of Dreams
by L.M. Montgomery
A young couple's journey to build a life together, overcoming obstacles and finding joy.
The book begins with Anne and Gilbert's wedding, which takes place in the Green Gables orchard. After the wedding, they move to their first home together, which Anne calls their "house of dreams". ... (Wikipedia)
The Swiss Family Robinson
by Johann David Wyss
A family is shipwrecked on a desert island, using their ingenuity and resourcefulness to survive.
The novel opens with the family in the hold of a sailing ship, weathering a great storm. The ship's crew evacuate without them, and William and Elizabeth and their four children (Fritz, Ernest, Jack ... (Wikipedia)
The Little Engine That Could
by Watty Piper
A small engine teaches the power of positive thinking when it faces a difficult task.
In the tale, a long train must be pulled over a high mountain after its engine breaks down. Larger engines, treated anthropomorphically , are asked to pull the train; for various reasons they refuse. ... (Wikipedia)
The Tale of Despereaux
by Kate DiCamillo
An epic adventure of an unlikely hero, on a quest to save his kingdom and restore justice.
A noble mouse named Despereaux saves a princess named Princess Pea. Book one tells a story about a small, sickly mouse named Despereaux who was born in a castle with his eyes open. Despereaux, unlike ... (Wikipedia)
The Last Lecture
by Randy Pausch
Reflection on life and lessons learned, approaching death with courage and optimism.
A lot of professors give talks titled 'The Last Lecture'. Professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we ... (Goodreads)
Naruto, Vol. 1: Uzumaki Naruto
by Masashi Kishimoto
A young ninja's quest to gain acceptance and recognition, as he battles a powerful group of evil antagonists.
The world’s most popular ninja comic! Naruto is a young shinobi with an incorrigible knack for mischief. He’s got a wild sense of humor, but Naruto is completely serious about his mission to be the ... (Barnes & Noble)
Wild Magic
by Tamora Pierce
A young girl's journey to reclaim her magical powers and defeat an evil sorcerer.
The reader is introduced to Veralidaine, (who goes by Daine), a thirteen-year-old girl who can speak to animals. Daine meets Onua, the woman in charge of the horses for the "Queen's Riders", (the ... (Wikipedia)
Jaws
by Peter Benchley
A small beach town is terrorized by a great white shark, leading to a thrilling battle of man versus nature.
The story is set in Amity, a fictional seaside resort town on Long Island , New York. One night, a massive great white shark kills a young tourist named Chrissie Watkins while she skinny dips in the ... (Wikipedia)
The Right Stuff
by Tom Wolfe
The heroic story of the first American astronauts, and their incredible feats of courage.
Tom Wolfe began The Right Stuff at a time when it was unfashionable to contemplate American heroism. Nixon had left the White House in disgrace, the nation was reeling from the catastrophe of ... (Goodreads)
Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors
by Piers Paul Read
Story of a group of Uruguayan rugby players who survive a plane crash in the Andes and must fight to stay alive.
On October 12, 1972, a plane carrying a team of young rugby players crashed into the remote, snow-peaked Andes. Out of the forty-five original passengers and crew, only sixteen made it off the ... (Goodreads)
Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World
by William H. McRaven
Collection of inspiring stories and life lessons that show how small actions can have a huge impact.
Based on a Navy SEAL's inspiring graduation speech, this #1, New York Times, bestseller of powerful life lessons "should be read by every leader in America" (,Wall Street Journal,). If you want to ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Choice: Embrace the Possible
by Edith Eger
Overcoming trauma and embracing life through the power of the human spirit.
A, New York Times, Bestseller “I’ll be forever changed by Dr. Eger’s story…,The Choice, is a reminder of what courage looks like in the worst of times and that we all have the ability to pay ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Hostile Hospital
by Lemony Snicket
A series of misadventures as three children investigate the mysterious V.F.D. organization.
After escaping the Village of Fowl Devotees, Violet , Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire arrive at a store to send a telegram to Mr. Poe , explaining their situation and pleading for help. The store's ... (Wikipedia)
Effortless
by S.C. Stephens
A young woman's journey of self-discovery, learning to overcome her past and take control of her future.
After being caught in the middle of a love triangle that led to a devastating betrayal, Kiera pledged to learn from the mistakes she made. She was determined to never again inflict that kind of pain ... (Goodreads)
The Prisoner of Cell 25
by Richard Paul Evans
A man's story of transformation, discovering hope and redemption in the darkest of places.
Michael Vey is a teenager with Tourette's syndrome and an electrical superpower that he desperately works to keep hidden from the world. His abilities allow him to shock people through physical ... (Wikipedia)
Burned
by P.C. Cast
A young girl's struggle to overcome her past and survive in a dangerous supernatural world.
Stark, Darius and Aphrodite follow the clues in Kramisha 's prophetic poems and take Zoey's body to the Isle of Sgiach to find a way of getting Zoey back. They gain entrance because of Stark's being ... (Wikipedia)
The Austere Academy
by Lemony Snicket
Three siblings set out on a mission to uncover the truth behind a mysterious boarding school.
NOW A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES As the three Baudelaire orphans warily approach their new home Prufrock Preparatory School, they can't help but notice the enormous stone arch bearing the school's motto ... (Barnes & Noble)
Left Neglected
by Lisa Genova
A woman's struggle to find balance and acceptance after suffering a traumatic brain injury.
Sarah Nickerson is like any other career-driven supermom in Welmont, the affluent Boston suburb where she leads a hectic but charmed life with her husband Bob, faithful nanny, and three children - ... (Goodreads)
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