Children's Adventure Books

Adventure Books for Grades 1-6

Updated June 18, 2026
C
City of Mission Viejo Library
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15 secrets to survival
Richards, Natalie D.
Paper Book
New York Times bestselling authorNatalieD. Richards's middle grade debut about a group of four classmates forced to navigate the wilderness for an extra credit project with nothing but the pages of a survival handbook-and each other-to save them. When...

AR: 4.8

Lexile: 740

96 miles
Esplin, J. L.
Paper Book
21 days without power. 2 brothers on a desperate trek. 72 hours before time runs out... The Lockwood brothers are supposed to be able to survive anything. Their dad, a hardcore believer in self-reliance, has stockpiled enough food and water at their isolated...

AR: 5.2

Lexile: 760

Ahoy!
Blackall, Sophie
Paper Book
Join a child captain and parent first mate as they embark on a wild high seas adventure...all without leaving the living room! This imaginative romp of a picture book is filled with glorious illustrations from a beloved Caldecott Medalist and New York Times bestselling creator.

AR: 1.7

Lexile: 410

Barb the last Berzerker
Abdo, Dan
Paper Book
The action of Moana meets the humor of books like Dog Man in this sidesplitting graphic novel about a young Berzerker who has to rescue her fellow warriors from the evil villain Witch Head before he destroys the world! Barb is a Berzerker, one of a group of warriors...

AR: 2.5

Lexile: N/A

The candy shop war
Mull, Brandon
Paper Book
Magical candy that gives kids superpowers? Sweet! The possibility of evil overtaking the world? Not so tasty. And so begins The Candy Shop War, a trilogy from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Beyonders and Fablehaven series.

AR: 5.0

Lexile: 750

The cardboard kingdom
Sell, Chad
Paper Book
Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier, Awkward, and All's Faire in Middle School, this graphic novel follows a neighborhood of kids who transform ordinary cardboard into fantastical homemade costumes as they explore conflicts with friends, family, and their own identity. ...

AR: 2.4

Lexile: 150

Charlie Thorne and the last equation
Gibbs, Stuart
Paper Book
"Fast-paced, smart, and action-packed...a real page-burner." --Chris Grabenstein, #1 New York Times bestelling author of the Mr. Lemoncello's Library series A 2020 Texas Lone Star Reading List Pick From New York Times bestselling author...

AR: 6.1

Lexile: 850

City spies
Ponti, James
Paper Book
A New York Times bestseller! A GMA3 Summer Reading Squad Selection! "Ingeniously plotted, and a grin-inducing delight." --People "Will keep young readers glued to the page...So when do I get the sequel?" --Beth McMullen, author of Mrs. Smith's Spy School...

AR: 5.6

Lexile: 750

Dungeon academy : no humans allowed!
Roux, Madeleine
Paper Book
From New York Times bestselling author Madeleine Roux and acclaimed artist Tim Probert comes an all-new original Dungeons & Dragons middle grade series! Welcome to Dungeon Academy, where monsters and creatures train for the dark world that awaits just beyond the dungeon walls! But...

AR: 6.5

Lexile: 930

Elf dog & owl head
Anderson, M. T.
Paper Book
A Newbery Honor Book "A hilarious, heartfelt triumph."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review) From the singular imagination of National Book Award winner M. T. Anderson comes a magical adventure about a boy and his dog--or a dog and her boy--and a forest...

AR: 4.8

Lexile: 660

Haven : a small cat's big adventure
Lloyd, Megan Wagner
Paper Book
When her cherished Ma Millie falls ill, a timid housecat ventures into the wild to seek help in this adventure about love, loss, and finding the truest version of ourselves. A warm, cozy lap. The toasty smell of baking bread. Tasty food served in a bright-blue bowl. These make...

AR: 4.4

Lexile: N/A

Jack gets zapped!
Barnett, Mac
Paper Book
From New York Times bestselling author Mac Barnett and Geisel Award-winning illustrator Greg Pizzoli, an uproarious early reader series about a mischievous rabbit, a cranky old lady, and a lovable dog. On rainy days, Jack loves nothing more than playing video games. But...

AR: 1.7

Lexile: 250

Jonty Gentoo : the adventures of a penguin
Donaldson, Julia
Paper Book
From the creators of The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom, an unforgettable tale of a brave little penguin on the journey of a lifetime. Excited by his aunts' stories of the South Pole, plucky penguin Jonty Gentoo sneaks out of the zoo and sets off to find the land of...

AR: 3.7

Lexile: N/A

Juniper's Christmas
Colfer, Eoin
Paper Book
Kirkus Best Book of the Year Kids' Indie Next List Pick New York Times Bestseller Indie Bestseller New York Times Holiday Gift Guide Pick Publisher's Weekly Holiday Gift Guide Pick BookPage Most Anticipated Children's Book Pick

AR: 6.4

Lexile: N/A

Lei and the fire goddess
Maunakea, Malia
Paper Book
"Lei and the Fire Goddess blends preteen angst and beloved Hawaiian moʻolelo in a way that hasn't been done before." -Auliʻi Cravalho, actress and voice of Disney's Princess Moana Curses aren't real. At least, that's what twelve-year-old, part...

AR: 5.2

Lexile: 770

Mabuhay!
Sterling, Zack
Paper Book
An Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature (APALA) Honor Book An Eisner Award Nominee From rising star Zachary Sterling comes a humorous and heartwarming middle-grade graphic novel that celebrates food, family, and folklore. Can two kids save the...

AR: 2.6

Lexile: 300

Mac undercover
Barnett, Mac
Paper Book
A thrilling, hilarious fully-illustrated spy adventure series, from the esteemed New York Times bestselling and multi-award-winning author Mac Barnett!A New York Times bestsellerAn Amazon Best Book of 2018Before Mac Barnett was an author, he was a kid.And while he...

AR: 3.7

Lexile: 460

The many assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams
Nayeri, Daniel
Paper Book
NEWBERY HONOR AWARD WINNER BEST OF THE YEAR: NPR - Booklist - School Library Journal - Chicago Public Library - Evanston Public Library - Kirkus - Wall Street Journal The Silk Road comes to life in this...

AR: 5.4

Lexile: N/A

The nebula secret
Trueit, Trudi Strain
Paper Book
Adventure, danger, and a thrilling global mission await 12-year-old Cruz Coronado as he joins an elite school for explorers. Cruz leaves his tranquil home in Hawaii to join 23 talented kids from around the globe to train at the Explorer Academy with the world's leading scientists...

AR: 4.7

Lexile: 660

The outlaws Scarlett and Browne
Stroud, Jonathan
Paper Book
Action! Humor! Fantasy! "Kicking off a new series with a bang (several bangs, in fact), Stroud sends two young fugitives with murky pasts fleeing murderous pursuers across a fractured future Britain." --Kirkus Reviews, starred Scarlett McCain is a shoot-first ask-questions...

AR: 5.3

Lexile: 700

The princess in Black
Hale, Shannon
Paper Book
A New York Times bestseller! Who says princesses don't wear black? When trouble raises its blue monster head, Princess Magnolia ditches her flouncy dresses and becomes the Princess in Black! Princess Magnolia is having hot chocolate and scones with Duchess...

AR: 3.2

Lexile: 500

Race to the bottom of the Earth : surviving Antarctica
Barone, Rebecca
Paper Book
Equal parts adventure and STEM, Rebecca E. F. Barone's Race to the Bottom of the Earth: Surviving Antarctica is a thrilling nonfiction book for young readers chronicling two treacherous, groundbreaking expeditions to the South Pole--and includes eye-catching photos of the...

AR: 6.9

Lexile: 940

Sea Sirens
Chu, Amy
Paper Book
Dive into this visually stunning, middle-grade graphic novel about a spunky Vietnamese American surfer girl and her cantankerous talking cat who plunge into a fantasy world of oceanic marvels . . . and mayhem! Trot, a Vietnamese American surfer girl, and Cap'n Bill, her cranky...

AR: 2.5

Lexile: 240

Shinji Takahashi and the mark of the coatl
Kagawa, Julie
Paper Book
"One cannot fight destiny, boy. Even if one did not ask for it. The idol calls for you, and you must answer its call..." Shinji Takahashi is just an ordinary kid. An ordinary homeschooled smart-alecky kid being raised by his globe-trotting aunt Yui. But when a magical guardian...

AR: 5.5

Lexile: 760

Sir Ladybug
Tabor, Corey R.
Paper Book
From Caldecott Honoree and two-time Geisel Award-winning author-illustrator Corey R. Tabor, this is a fresh and funny young graphic novel series sure to delight readers. Perfect for fans of Catwad, Bird & Squirrel, and Narwhal & Jelly. Ladies and gentlebugs, presenting the duke of the...

AR: 2.6

Lexile: N/A

Sydney & Taylor explore the whole wide world
Davies, Jacqueline
Paper Book
Best-selling author Jacqueline Davies tells the story of two unlikely friends: Sydney and Taylor, a skunk and a hedgehog who strike out to discover the great unknown, despite how afraid they are of it. Charming full-color illustrations and a laugh-out-loud story make this chapter book ...

AR: 3.2

Lexile: N/A

Wild river : a novel
Philbrick, W. R.
Paper Book
Newbery Honor author Rodman Philbrick sends readers rushing down a raging river on a life-or-death adventure when a white water rafting trip goes terribly wrong! Daniel Redmayne is fast asleep on the first night of a white water rafting trip, when he's awoken by screams. The dam has failed....

AR: 4.2

Lexile: 630


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