Adventure and Survival Fiction for Kids

Updated June 15, 2026
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Across the desert
Bowling, Dusti
Paper Book
One girl sets out on a journey across the treacherous Arizona desert to rescue a young pilot stranded after a plane crash in this gripping story of survival, friendship, and rescue from a bestselling and award-winning author. ​ Twelve-year-old Jolene spends...
The wild robot
Brown, Peter
Paper Book
Now a DreamWorks movie available on Prime Video! This #1 New York Times bestselling illustrated middle grade novel from a Caldecott Honor winner tells an extraordinary story full of action and thought-provoking questions as a robot learns to survive--and...
Storm blown
Courage, Nick
Paper Book
"Beautiful, vivid writing and a power-packed plot . . . I truly loved it."--Lauren Tarshis, bestselling author of the I SURVIVED series "Awesome. Super-intense, suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat stuff."--Max Brallier, New York Times bestselling author of the LAST KIDS ON...
Alone
Freeman, Megan E.
Paper Book
A New York Times bestseller! Perfect for fans ofHatchet and the I Survived series, this "riveting, immersive" (Kirkus Reviews) middle grade debut novel in verse from a Pushcart Prize-nominated poet tells the story of a young girl who wakes up one day to...
Two degrees
Gratz, Alan
Paper Book
The instant #1 New York Times bestseller! #1 New York Times bestselling author Alan Gratz (Refugee; Ground Zero) is back, tackling the urgent topic of climate change in this breathtaking, action-packed novel that will keep readers turning pages while making...
Lalani of the distant sea
Kelly, Erin Entrada
Paper Book
"A lush and mysterious fable, full of beauty, full of wonder."--Rebecca Stead, Newbery Medal-winning author of When You Reach Me Newbery Medalist Erin Entrada Kelly's debut fantasy novel is a gorgeous, literary adventure about bravery, friendship, self-reliance, and the...
Masterminds
Korman, Gordon
Paper Book
Eli Frieden lives in the most perfect town in the world: Serenity, New Mexico. In this idyllic place, every lawn is perfectly manicured and everyone has a pool and a tree house. Honesty and integrity are valued above all else. The thirty kids who live there never lie--they know it's...
Iceberg
Nielsen, Jennifer A.
Paper Book
As disaster looms on the horizon, a young stowaway onboard the Titanic will need all her courage and wits to stay alive. A thrilling tale from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen! Hazel Rothbury is traveling all alone from her home in England aboard...
A whale of the wild
Parry, Rosanne
Paper Book
"A spellbinding, heart-stopping adventure." --Booklist (starred review) "A dreamily written, slyly educational, rousing maritime adventure." --New York Times Book Review In the stand-alone companion to the New York Times-bestselling A Wolf Called...
Northwind
Paulsen, Gary
Paper Book
The stunning New York Times bestseller from three-time Newbery Honor winner and survival story master Gary Paulsen, whose books have sold over 35 million copies worldwide. Set centuries ago along a rugged coastline, Northwind does for the ocean what Hatchet does for the...
Pax
Pennypacker, Sara
Paper Book
New York Times Bestseller * National Book Award Longlist  From bestselling and award-winning author Sara Pennypacker comes a beautifully wrought, utterly compelling novel about the powerful relationship between a boy and his fox. Pax is destined to become a classic,...
Wild wave : a novel
Philbrick, W. R.
Paper Book
A WILD adventure from Rodman Philbrick, author of Wildfire and Wild River. When two kids become trapped in the aftermath of a tsunami, they must figure out a way to find help. It's kids vs. nature in another edge-of-your seat read! When a tsunami heads for the coast,...
The Amazon
Smith, Roland
Paper Book
Ring and Asia Wilde's life is anything but ordinary. Some of their closest friends are endangered monkeys and rare birds. Instead of attending middle school, they accompany their parents (scientists who work to save endangered species) on adventures around the world. They spend more time climbing...
The Swiss Family Robinson
Wyss, Johann
Paper Book
The authoritative original English version of a beloved classic. One of the world's best-loved stories of shipwreck and survival,The Swiss Family Robinsonportrays a family's struggle to create a new life for themselves on a strange and fantastic tropical island. Blown off...

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