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All Books are jFiction (shelved alphabetically by author's last name) unless otherwise noted
Abel's Island by William Steig
Castaway on an uninhabited island, Abel, a very civilized mouse, finds his resourcefulness and endurance tested to the limit as he struggles to survive and return to his home.
Abernathy Boys by L.J. Hunt
A fictionalized account of the adventurous 1909 journey of nine-year-old Bud Abernathy and his five-year-old brother, Temp, who traveled alone, mostly on horseback, from their home in Oklahoma to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and back again, crossing the vast, desertlike no-man's-land in the Texas Panhandle known as the caprock.
Adaline Falling Star b y Mary Pope Osborne
Feeling abandoned by her deceased Arapaho mother and her explorer father, Adaline Falling Star runs away from the prejudiced cousins with whom she is staying and comes close to death in the wilderness, with only a mongrel dog for company.
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Details the adventures of a young boy traveling down the Mississippi River with an escaped slave.
Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi
Presents the adventures of Pinocchio, a mischievous wooden puppet, who wants more than anything else to become a real boy.
Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
The adventures and pranks of a mischievous boy growing up in a Mississippi River town in the early nineteenth century.
Adventures of King Midas by Lynne Reid Banks
King Midas comes to regret his wish to turn all he touches into gold and must deal with a magician, a witch, and a dragon as he tries to undo the magical spell.
Alabama Moon by Watt Key
After the death of his father, ten-year-old Moon leaves their forest shelter home and is sent to an Alabama institution, becoming entangled in the outside world he has never known and making good friends, a relentless enemy, and finally a new life
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
A little girl falls down a rabbit hole and discovers a strange world inhabited by all sorts of unusual characters.
Bartlett and the Ice Voyage by Odo Hirsch (also try Bartlett and the City of Flames )
When an impatient queen longs to taste the delicious but fragile melidrop fruit, two explorers use "Inventiveness, Desperation, and Perseverance" to try to bring it to her.
Boy Who Spoke Dog by Clay Morgan
After being marooned on an island near New Zealand , Jack, an orphaned cabin boy from San Francisco , becomes allied with a group of dogs who protect the local sheep from wild dogs.
Broken Blade by William Durbin
When an injury prevents his father from going into northern Canada with fur traders, thirteen-year-old Pierre decides to take his father's place as a voyageur.
Copper Treasure by Melvin Burgess
In mid-nineteenth century London , three young boys try to retrieve a valuable roll of copper from the bottom of the Thames River .
Corby Flood by Paul Stewart
While traveling with her family aboard the S.S. Euphonia, eight-year-old Corby Flood accidentally attracts the murderous attentions of five men, clad in bowler hats, called the Brotherhood of the Clowns as she investigates the mysterious singing coming from the ship's hold.
Dolphin Freedom by Wayne Grover (also try Dolphin Treasure )
A diver and his friends rescue a family of dolphins from Bahamian poachers who are selling the dolphins to marine parks.
Earthquake Terror by Peg Kehret
When an earthquake hits the isolated island in northern California where his family had been camping, twelve-year-old Jonathan Palmer must find a way to keep himself, his partially paralyzed younger sister, and their dog alive until help arrives.
Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
A group of children, entranced with the study of Egypt , play their own Egypt game, are visited by a secret oracle, become involved in a murder, and befriend the Professor before they move on to new interests, such as Gypsies.
Farthest Away Mountain by Lynne Reid Banks
A girl embarks on a dangerous adventure to fulfill her three desires: to visit the farthest-away mountain, to meet a gargoyle, and to find a prince for a husband.
Fear Place by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
When he and his older brother Gordon are left camping alone in the Rocky Mountains, twelve-year-old Doug faces his fear of heights and his feelings about Gordon--with the help of a cougar.
Firework-Maker's Daughter by Philip Pullman
In a country far to the east, Chulak and his talking white elephant Hamlet helps Lila seek the Royal Sulphur from the sacred volcano so that she can become a master maker of fireworks like her father.
Floodland by Marcus Sedgwick
After global warming causes the sea to rise until cities in England become islands, ten-year-old Zoe goes on a harrowing solitary boat journey to search for her parents.
Frozen Stiff by Sherry Shahan
Cousins Cody and Derek take a kayak trip in Alaska and find themselves battling the raw elements of an untamed wilderness.
George Washington's Socks by Elvira Woodruff
In the midst of a backyard campout, ten-year-old Matt and four other children find themselves transported back into the time of George Washington and the American Revolution, where they begin to live out American history firsthand and learn the sober realities of war.
Grand Escape by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
After years of being strictly house cats, Marco and Polo escape into the wonderful, but dangerous outside world and are sent on three challenging adventures by a group of cats known as the Club of Mysteries.
Gypsy Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Six imaginative schoolmates embark on a game in which they pretend to be gypsies, but when one of the boys runs away and takes up with a group of homeless people, the game threatens to become all too real.
Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library by Eth Clifford
Two girls spend an adventurous night trapped inside the public library during a terrible blizzard.
Hero Revealed by William Boniface
Ordinary Boy, the only resident of Superopolis without a superpower, uncovers and foils a sinister plot to destroy the town.
Heroic Adventure of Hercules Amsterdam by Melissa Glenn Haber
A human boy, just three inches tall, finds a home and happiness in a mouse city until he learns of a ancient threat and goes on a dangerous quest to save the city, assisted by old friends and new.
Horse Sense: the Story of Will Sasse, His Horse Star, and the Outlaw Jesse James by Jan Neubert Schultz
When his beloved mare is stolen by the James gang after an attempted bank robbery in the nearby town of Northfield , Will joins the posse looking for the outlaws.
I, Houdini: the Autobiography of a Self-Educated Hamster by Lynne Reid Banks
A boastful hamster with exceptional talent as an escape artist recounts his experiences chewing, wriggling, or squeezing his way out of various closed areas in his quest for the great Outside.
Incredible Journey by Sheila Every Burnford
A Siamese cat, an old bull terrier, and a young Labrador retriever travel together 250 miles through the Canadian wilderness to find their family.
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
Left alone on an island with her brother, a young Indian girl fights for her survival.
Jason and the Gorgon's Blood by Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris
Jason, who will grow up to become the head of the Argonauts, leads five other boys on a dangerous quest to save the kingdom of Iolcus, learning along the way what it means to be in command.
Jim Ugly by Sid Fleischman
The adventures of twelve-year-old Jake and Jim Ugly, his father's part-mongrel, part-wolf dog, as they travel through the Old West trying to find out what really happened to Jake's actor father.
Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson
Sent with her governess to live with the dreadful Carter family in exotic Brazil in 1910, Maia endures many hardships before fulfilling her dream of exploring the Amazon River .
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George (also try Julie's Wolf Pack )
While running away from home and an unwanted marriage, a thirteen-year-old Eskimo girl becomes lost on the North Slope of Alaska and is befriended by a wolf pack.
Kensuke's Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo
When Michael is swept off his family's yacht, he washes up on a desert island, where he struggles to survive--until he finds he is not alone.
Last Dog on Earth by Daniel Ehrenhaft
Logan Moore hates everyone except his dog Jack, but when a mysterious disease turns dogs into vicious, raging animals, Logan decides to run away to keep his dog safe.
Legend of Captain Crow's Teeth by Eoin Colfer
When Will hears the legend of Captain Crow's Teeth from his prank-loving older brother, the nine-year-old fears he will be the bloodthirsty pirate's next victim.
Lewis and Clark and Me: a Dog's Tale by Laurie Myers
Seaman, Meriwether Lewis's Newfoundland dog, describes Lewis and Clark's expedition, which he accompanied from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean .
Lion Boy by Zizou Corder
In the near future, a boy with the ability to speak the language of cats sets out from London to seek his kidnapped parents and finds himself on a Paris-bound circus ship learning to train lions.
Lost at Sea by Jonathan Neale
A brother and sister recount their harrowing experiences as they sail a small yacht across the Atlantic Ocean , after their mentally unstable mother's boyfriend is washed overboard.
Magic Treehouse (series) by Mary Pope Osborne
Their magic tree house takes Jack and Annie to different time periods and to many adventures.
Revenge of the McNasty Brothers by Greg Trine
As Melvin and Candace continue their crime-fighting work as superheroes, the McNasty Brothers, the McNasty Sisters, and the school bullies all plot to get even with them.
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
A young boy relates his adventures during the year he spends living alone in the Catskill Mountains including his struggle for survival, his dependence on nature, his animal friends, and his ultimate realization that he needs human companionship.
Night of the Twisters by Ivy Ruckman
A fictional account of the night freakish and devastating tornadoes hit Grand Island , Nebraska , as experienced by a twelve-year-old, his family, and friends.
Nightmare Mountain by Peg Kehret
Twelve-year-old Molly's visit to her aunt and uncle's llama ranch in the state of Washington leads her into unexpected danger and suspense.
Nim's Island by Wendy Orr
Nim loves her island home and the animals she shares it with even while her scientist father is away doing research, but trouble is on the way and a new e-mail friend could be the only one who can help.
North by Donna Jo Napoli
Tired of his mother's overprotectiveness and intrigued by the life of African American explorer Matthew Henson, twelve-year-old Alvin travels north and spends a season with a trapper near the Arctic Circle .
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
The adventures of the three Darling children in Never-Never Land with Peter Pan, the boy who would not grow up.
Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
A journey through a land where Milo learns the importance of words and numbers and finds a cure for his boredom.
Pirate Diary: the Journal of Jake Carpenter by Richard Platt
The fictional diary of a ten-year-old boy who, in 1716 sets off from North Carolina to become a sailor, but ends up a pirate instead.
Poppy by Avi
Poppy the deer mouse urges her family to move next to a field of corn big enough to feed them all forever, but Mr. Ocax, a terrifying owl, has other ideas.
Red Midnight by Ben Mikaelsen
After soldiers kill his family, twelve-year-old Santiago and his four-year-old sister flee Guatemala in a kayak and try to reach the United States.
Rescue Josh McGuire by Ben Mikaelsen
When thirteen-year-old Josh runs away to the mountains of Montana with an orphaned bear cub destined for laboratory testing, they both must fight for their lives in a sudden snowstorm.
Rescue on the Outer Banks by Candice F. Ransom
Sam Deal and his horse, Ginger, help an African-American lifesaving crew rescue shipwreck victims off the coast of North Carolina in 1896.
Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix
When a diphtheria epidemic hits her 1840 village, thirteen-year-old Jessie discovers it is actually a 1995 tourist site under unseen observation by heartless scientists, and it's up to Jessie to escape the village and save the lives of the dying children.
Secrets of Vesuvius by Caroline Lawrence
Ten-year-old Flavia and her friends encounter the Roman admiral Pliny before making a journey to her uncle's farm near Mt. Vesuvius, where they try to solve a riddle, reunite a family, and get out of the path of a natural disaster.
Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
After the sudden death of their parents, the three Baudelaire children must depend on each other and their wits when it turns out that the distant relative who is appointed their guardian is determined to use any means necessary to get their fortune.
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
When he finds a lost beagle in the hills behind his West Virginia home, Marty tries to hide it from his family and the dog's real owner, a mean-spirited man.
Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
Left alone to guard the family's wilderness home in eighteenth-century Maine, a boy is hard-pressed to survive until local Indians teach him their skills.
Spiderwick Chronicles (series) by Tony DiTerlizzi
When the Grace children go to stay at their Great Aunt Lucinda's worn Victorian house, they discover a field guide to fairies and other creatures and begin to have some unusual experiences.
Spring-Heeled Jack by Philip Pullman
Three children make their escape from a London orphanage and after a series of misadventures are reunited with their father through the efforts of the legendary Spring-Heeled Jack.
Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner
Little Willie hopes to pay the back taxes on his grandfather's farm with the purse from a dog sled race he enters.
Stowaway by Karen Hesse
A fictionalized journal relates the experiences of a young stowaway from 1768 to 1771 aboard the Endeavor which sailed around the world under Captain James Cook.
Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
Relates the fortunes of a shipwrecked family as they imaginatively adapt to life on an island with abundant animal and plant life.
Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
Two brothers, having run away from the aunt who plans to adopt the younger one, are sought by a detective hired by their aunt, but they have found shelter with--and protection from--Venice's "Thief Lord." Welcome to the magical world of Venice, Italy, where hidden canals and crumbling rooftops shelter runaways and children with incredible secrets.
Time Warp Trio (series) by Jon Scieszka
Joe receives a magic book for his birthday present from his uncle, which allows him and his friends, Fred and Sam, to transport themselves to different time periods.
Toad Rage by Morris Gleitzman
Determined to understand why humans hate cane toads and to improve relations between the species, Limpy embarks on a dangerous trek from his swamp to the Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
Tracker by Gary Paulsen
Only thirteen, John must track a deer in the Minnesota woods for his family's winter meat, and in doing so finds himself drawn to the doe who leads him and hating his role as hunter.
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
While going through the possessions of a deceased guest who owed them money, the mistress of the inn and her son find a treasure map that leads them to a pirate's fortune.
Tree Castle Island by Jean Craighead George
After building his own canoe, fourteen-year-old Jack Hawkins goes to try it out in his beloved Okefenokee Swamp, where an accident tests his survival skills and leads him to a shocking discovery.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
Retells the adventures of a French professor and his two companions as they sail above and below the world's oceans as prisoners on the fabulous electric submarine of the deranged Captain Nemo.
Voyage of the Arctic Tern by Hugh Montgomery
A simple fisherman betrays his village for a handful of jewels, a group of courageous Englishmen foils a traitorous Spanish pirate, and a lost soul seeks to redress an ancient wrong by finding a treasure chest.
Weasel by Cynthia DeFelice
Alone in the frontier wilderness in the winter of 1839 while his father is recovering from an injury, eleven-year-old Nathan runs afoul of the renegade killer known as Weasel and makes a surprising discovery about the concept of revenge.
Week in the Woods by Andrew Clements
The fifth grade's annual camping trip in the woods tests Mark's survival skills and his ability to relate to a teacher who seems out to get him.
When Eagles Fall by Mary Casanova
Still coping with her brother's death and her parents' subsequent divorce, thirteen-year-old Alex finds herself stranded on a small, deserted island in Minnesota with an injured eaglet.
Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman
A bratty prince and his whipping boy have many adventures when they inadvertently trade places after becoming involved with dangerous outlaws.
White Star: a Dog on the Titanic by Marty Crisp
Twelve-year-old Sam, a passenger on the Titanic's maiden sea voyage, volunteers to help care for the dogs in the ocean liner's kennel and becomes fast friends with the Irish setter of J. Bruce Ismay, the ship's owner.
White Water by P.J. Petersen
Greg confronts his own fears and assumes a leadership role when his father is bitten by a rattlesnake during a white-water rafting trip.
Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken (also try Midwinter Nightingale )
Surrounded by villains of the first order, brave Bonnie and her gentle cousin, Sylvia, conquer all obstacles in this Victorian melodrama.
In Paperback
Andrew Lost (series)- Series A-K
Choose Your Own Adventure (series)- Series A-K
Dive (series)- Series A-K
Everest (series)- Series A-K
Gary Paulsen's World of Adventure (series)- Series L-Z
Island (series)- Series A-K
Littles (series)- Series L-Z
Real-Life Adventure Books
Caught By the Sea: a Life on Boats by Gary Paulen jPS3566 .A834 Z4635 2001
Crisis in Space: Apollo 13 by Mark Beyer jTL789.8 .U6 A5215 2002
Dangerous Crossings by Carole G. Vogel jG525 .V556 2003
Disaster!: Three Real-Life Stories of Survival by Ellen Leroe jTL553.7 .L47 2000
DK Illustrated Book of Great Adventures: Tales of Real-Life Adventurers Throughout History by Richard Platt jG525 .D54 1999
Dolphin Adventure: a True Story by Wayne Grover jQL795.D7 G76 1990
Guts: True Stories Behind Hatchet and the Brian Books by Gary Paulsen jPS3566 .A834 Z466 2001
Jon Krakauer's Adventure on Mt. Everest by Scott P. Werther jGV199.44 .E85 W47 2002
Life on the Oregon Trail by Sally Isaacs jF597 .I77 2001
Shackleton Expedition by Jil Fine jG850 1914.S53 F56 2002
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