Action & Adventure Stories

If pirates, jousting and horseback chases no longer appeal to you, you're too old or too boring. Adventure stories fell out of vogue among 20th century literary types who thought serious fiction had to be boring and depressing, but to those born with fire in their bones, adventure stories are deeply serious.

Not serious like existentialism or keeping a stiff upper lip, but serious like Robin Hood—devoted to protecting the downtrodden, committed to Maid Marian, sworn to fight injustice as long as a soul is in his body, always laughing and ready for a fight or a feast.

G. K. Chesterton wrote adventure stories because they best expressed the eternal joy that supported his generous frame. For those raised on Modern Adventure Stories, joy may seem an inappropriate word for an increasingly dark genre, but the fault lies with those who think adventures are forays into evil rather than romps with Gilbert Keith.

There's nothing evil about a good adventure. There may be bad guys (there ought to be), but if the Good Guy does his job there'll be more of his exploits to talk about than theirs. Because, should he be doing his job, the Hero will be sword-fighting, being clever, wooing, chasing and laughing to the detriment of his enemies on every page.

Average people don't have the adventures Heroes in Books have—they have the adventures of Modern Men in Books. But the way through the prosaic troubles of life isn't to immerse yourself in them, it's to let the Good Guys show The Way Out of Problems, and do your best to imitate them when you meet the less dramatic, but no less real, dangers of everyday existence.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
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Action & Adventure Stories
78 Items found Print
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Adam of the Road
Puffin Newbery Library
by Elizabeth Gray
from Puffin Books
Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade
1943 Newbery Medal winner
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$9.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Adventures of Robin Hood
Puffin Classics
by Roger Green, illustrated by Arthur Hall
from Puffin Books
Legends and Folklore for 5th-9th grade
in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF)
$8.99 $4.50 (2 in stock)
Art of Keeping Cool
by Janet Taylor Lisle
from Scholastic Inc.
for 4th-8th grade
2001 Scott O'Dell Award
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$2.50 (2 in stock)
Banner in the Sky
by James Ramsey Ullman
from HarperCollins
Realistic Fiction for 4th-8th grade
1955 Newbery Honor Book
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$8.99 $4.50 (2 in stock)
Black Stallion
Black Stallion #1
by Walter Farley
from Yearling
Realistic Animal Fiction for 5th-6th grade
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$8.99 $4.00 (2 in stock)
Black Stallion
Black Stallion #1
by Walter Farley
from Harcourt
Realistic Animal Fiction for 5th-6th grade
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Black Stallion and Flame
Black Stallion #15
by Walter Farley
from Random House
Realistic Animal Fiction for 5th-6th grade
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$6.99 $3.50 (1 in stock)
Black Stallion Revolts
Black Stallion #9
by Walter Farley
from Scholastic Press
Realistic Animal Fiction for 5th-6th grade
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Black Star, Bright Dawn
by Scott O'Dell
from Fawcett Books
for 7th-9th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$1.50 (1 in stock)
Call it Courage
by Armstrong Sperry
from Scholastic Inc.
Realistic Fiction for 2nd-6th grade
1941 Newbery Medal winner
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$1.50 (1 in stock)
Call it Courage
by Armstrong Sperry
from Simon Pulse
for 4th-6th grade
1941 Newbery Medal winner
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Cay
by Theodore Taylor
from Yearling
Realistic Fiction for 2nd-6th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$7.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
Chasing Vermeer
Balliet Art Mystery Series
by Blue Balliett, Brett Helquist (Illustrator)
from Scholastic Inc.
Mystery & Suspense for 4th-6th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$7.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Choose Your Own Adventure 04
by R. A. Montgomery
from Chooseco
for 3rd-6th grade
in Series Books (Location: SER-MISC)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Choose Your Own Adventure 06
by R. A. Montgomery
from Chooseco
for 3rd-6th grade
in Series Books (Location: SER-MISC)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Dolphin Adventure
by Wayne Grover
from HarperTrophy
for 3rd-7th grade
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$5.99 $3.50 (4 in stock)
Dolphin Treasure
by Wayne Grover
from HarperTrophy
for Ages 8-12
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$5.99 $3.50 (2 in stock)
Door in the Dragon's Throat
The Cooper Kids Adventure Series #1
by Frank Peretti
from Crossway Books
for 5th-9th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$6.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Door in the Dragon's Throat
The Cooper Kids Adventure Series #1
by Frank Peretti
from Crossway Books
for 5th-9th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Escape from the Island of Aquarius
The Cooper Kids Adventure Series #2
by Frank Peretti
from Crossway Books
for 5th-9th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$6.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Five Get Into Trouble
Famous Five #8
by Enid Blyton
from Hodder Children's
for 3rd-6th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Five Go Adventuring Again
Famous Five #2
by Enid Blyton
2001 Printing from Hodder Children's
for 3rd-6th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Five On Kirrin Island Again
Famous Five #6
by Enid Blyton
Revised 2010 edition from Hodder Children's
for 3rd-6th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Ghost in the Tokaido Inn
by Dorothy & Thomas Hoobler
from Puffin Books
for 4th-7th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$7.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
Gods and Generals
by Jeff Shaara
from Ballantine Books
Historical Fiction for 9th-Adult
in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
$8.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Golden Goblet
by Eloise J. McGraw
from Puffin Books
Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade
1962 Newbery Honor Book
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$9.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Hobbit
by J.R.R. Tolkien
17th Printing from Ballantine Books
for 9th-Adult
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
$15.00 (1 in stock)
House of Dies Drear
by Virginia Hamilton
Reissue from Aladdin Paperbacks
for 4th-6th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$7.99 $4.00 (3 in stock)
I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005
by Lauren Tarshis
from Scholastic Inc.
for 1st-4th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
I Survived the Attack of the Grizzlies, 1967
I Survived #17
by Lauren Tarshis
from Scholastic Inc.
for 1st-4th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$3.00 (4 in stock)
Indian in the Cupboard
Indian in the Cupboard #1
by Lynne Banks
from Yearling
Fantasy for 4th-7th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$8.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
Island Stallion's Fury
Black Stallion #7
by Walter Farley
from Random House
Realistic Animal Fiction for 5th-6th grade
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$7.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
It's a Jungle Out There!
Rani Adventures #1
by Ron Snell
from Hannibal Books
for 4th-8th Grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$7.50 (2 in stock)
Ivan and the Informer
by Myrna Grant
from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Ivan and the Secret in the Suitcase
by Myrna Grant
from Christian Focus Publications
for 3rd-6th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Julie's Wolf Pack
"Julie" Trilogy Book 3
by Jean Craighead George
from HarperCollins
Adventure for 4th-8th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Kensuke's Kingdom
by Michael Morpurgo
from Scholastic Inc.
for 4th-7th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$5.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Key to the Indian
by Lynne Banks
from HarperCollins
Fantasy for 4th-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$6.99 $3.50 (1 in stock)
King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table
Puffin Classics
by Roger Green
from Puffin Books
Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for 6th-10th grade
in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF)
$8.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Last Battle
Chronicles of Narnia Book 7
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$9.99 $5.00 (4 in stock)
Last Battle
Chronicles of Narnia Book 7
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Last of the Mohicans
Leatherstocking Tales #2
by James Fenimore Cooper, introduction by A.B. Guthrie, Jr.
Reprint from Bantam Books
Realistic Action/Adventure Novel for 9th-Adult
in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Moccasin Trail
Puffin Newbery Library
by Eloise J. McGraw
from Puffin Books
Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade
1953 Newbery Honor Book
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$8.99 $5.00 (3 in stock)
Mr. Tucket
Tucket Adventures #1
by Gary Paulsen
from Yearling
Adventure for 5th-8th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$2.80 (1 in stock)
Mystery of the Cupboard
by Lynne Banks
from HarperCollins
Fantasy for 4th-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$6.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
On the Far Side of the Mountain
by Jean Craighead George
from Puffin Books
Adventure for 4th-8th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$8.99 $4.50 (2 in stock)
Outlaw Red
by Jim Kjelgaard
1986 printing from Bantam-Skylark
Realistic Animal Stories for 4th-8th grade
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Perilous Road
by William O. Steele
from Harcourt
for 5th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$9.99 $3.50 (2 in stock)
Peter Pan
Puffin Classics
by J. M. Barrie, illustrated by Elisa Trimby
from Puffin Books
Fantasy for 4th-8th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$2.40 (1 in stock)
Pirate's Promise
by Clyde Robert Bulla, illustrated by Peter Burchard
from HarperTrophy
for 1st-3rd grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Prince Caspian
Chronicles of Narnia Book 2
by C. S. Lewis
1972 Printing from Collier Books
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Red Badge of Courage
Puffin Classics
by Stephen Crane
from Puffin Books
for 7th-10th grade
in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF)
$7.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
Red Sand, Blue Sky
by Cathy Applegate
from Margaret Hamilton Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$3.00 (2 in stock)
Robinson Crusoe
Signet Classics
by Daniel Defoe
from Signet Classics
Realistic Adventure Novel for 8th-Adult
in 18th Century Literature (Location: LIT5-18)
$5.95 $3.50 (1 in stock)
Sarah Bishop
by Scott O'Dell
from Scholastic Inc.
Historical Fiction for 6th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Secret of the Indian
by Lynne Banks
from HarperCollins
Fantasy for 4th-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea
by Gary Kinder
from Vintage Classics
for 9th-Adult
in Clearance: Fiction (Location: ZCLE-FIC)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Silver Chair
by C. S. Lewis, illustrated by Pauline Baynes
from Scholastic Inc.
for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Silver Chair
Chronicles of Narnia Book 4
by C. S. Lewis
from Macmillan
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Stone Fox
by John Reynolds Gardiner
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-6th grade
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$2.50 (2 in stock)
Stone Fox
by John Reynolds Gardiner
from Trumpet Club
for 2nd-6th grade
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$1.50 (1 in stock)
Story of King Arthur
by Children's Dover Thrift, Tom Crawford
from Dover Publications
for 4th-6th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$1.50 (3 in stock)
Stowaway
by Karen Hesse
from Aladdin Paperbacks
Historical Fiction for 6th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$8.99 $3.50 (1 in stock)
Swallows and Amazons for Ever!
by Arthur Ransome
from Red Fox
Family stories/boating for 7th-9th grade
in Clearance: Fiction (Location: ZCLE-FIC)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Sword in the Tree
by Clyde Robert Bulla
from HarperCollins
Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$5.99 $3.50 (4 in stock)
Tales of Mystery and Terror
Puffin Classics
by Edgar Allan Poe
from Puffin Books
Mystery/Horror for 8th-12th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$7.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
Tombs of Anak
The Cooper Kids Adventure Series #3
by Frank Peretti
from Crossway Books
for 5th-9th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$6.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Tombs of Anak
The Cooper Kids Adventure Series #3
by Frank Peretti
from Crossway Books
for 5th-9th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Trapped at the Bottom of the Sea
The Cooper Kids Adventure Series #4
by Frank Peretti
from Crossway Books
for 5th-9th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$6.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Trapped at the Bottom of the Sea
The Cooper Kids Adventure Series #4
by Frank Peretti
from Crossway Books
for 5th-9th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Tree Castle Island
by Jean Craighead George
from HarperTrophy
for 4th-6th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
by Avi
from HarperTrophy
for 4th-6th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Twenty-One Balloons
by William Pene du Bois
from Puffin Books
Fantasy for 4th-7th grade
1948 Newbery Medal winner
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$8.99 $4.50 (2 in stock)
Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Chronicles of Narnia Book 3
by C. S. Lewis
from Collier Books
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Water Sky
by Jean Craighead George
from HarperTrophy
for 5th-8th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$6.99 $4.50 (2 in stock)
Westing Game
Puffin Modern Classics
by Ellen Raskin
from Puffin Books
Mystery/Suspense for 5th-8th grade
1979 Newbery Medal winner
in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF)
$9.99 $4.50 (2 in stock)
Whipping Boy
by Sid Fleischman
from HarperCollins
Realistic Fiction for 4th-8th grade
1987 Newbery Medal winner
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$6.99 $3.00 (2 in stock)
Wildfire
by Rodman Philbrick
from Scholastic Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$4.00 (1 in stock)