Action & Adventure Stories

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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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	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)
	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 Stallion's Ghost Black Stallion #18 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 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 Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Fiction for 2nd-6th grade 1941 Newbery Medal winner in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $4.99 $3.00 (2 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)
	Call of the Wild Dover Thrift Editions by Jack London from Dover Publications Action/Adventure for 7th-10th grade in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $3.00 $2.00 (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)
	Chestnut King 100 Cupboards Book #3 by N. D. Wilson from Random House Books for Young Readers for 4th-8th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $9.99 $5.50 (1 in stock)
	Choose Your Own Adventure 04 The Lost Jewels of Nabooti 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 05 Mystery of the Maya by R. A. Montgomery from Chooseco for 3rd-6th grade in Series Books (Location: SER-MISC) $3.50 (1 in stock)
	Dolphin Adventure One diver's incredible undersea experience! by Wayne Grover from HarperTrophy for 3rd-7th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $5.99 $3.50 (4 in stock)
	Dolphin Treasure Baby to the Rescue 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) $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) $3.00 (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)
	Frightful's Mountain by Jean Craighead George from Puffin Books Adventure for 4th-8th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $8.99 $4.50 (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 (2 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)
	Horse and His Boy Chronicles of Narnia Book 3 by C. S. Lewis from HarperCollins Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $8.99 $4.50 (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 (4 in stock)
	I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941 by Lauren Tarshis from Scholastic Inc. for 3rd-5th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $2.50 (1 in stock)
	Indian Captive The Story of Mary Jemison by Lois Lenski from HarperCollins Historical Fiction for 4th-9th grade 1942 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99 $4.50 (2 in stock)
	Indian in the Cupboard Indian in the Cupboard #1 by Lynne Banks from HarperCollins Fantasy for 4th-7th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $3.00 (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 (1 in stock)
	Ivan and the Informer Ivan Series #3 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 Ivan Series #5 by Myrna Grant from Christian Focus Publications for 3rd-6th grade in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05) $2.00 (1 in stock)
	Julie of the Wolves "Julie" Trilogy Book 1 by Jean Craighead George from Scholastic Inc. Adventure for 4th-8th grade 1973 Newbery Medal winner in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $1.50 (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 Indian in the Cupboard #5 by Lynne Banks from HarperCollins Fantasy for 4th-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $6.99 $3.50 (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) $8.99 $5.00 (5 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) $2.50 (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) $5.00 (1 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)
	My Brother Sam Is Dead by James & Christopher Collier from Scholastic Inc. Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade 1975 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Mystery of the Cupboard Indian in the Cupboard #4 by Lynne Banks from HarperCollins Fantasy for 4th-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $6.99 $3.00 (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)
	Prince and the Pauper (abridged) Puffin Classics by Mark Twain from Puffin Books Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $6.99 $4.00 (2 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 (3 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 Indian in the Cupboard #3 by Lynne Banks from HarperCollins Fantasy for 4th-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Seven Daughters and Seven Sons by Barbara Cohen & Bahija Lovejoy 1st Beech Tree ed from HarperTeen Realistic Romantic Fiction for 7th-10th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $10.99 $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea by Gary Kinder from Vintage Classics for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Shy Stegosaurus of Cricket Creek by Evelyn Sibley Lampman from Scholastic Inc. for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-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)
	Sink or Swim A Novel of World War II by Steve Watkins from Scholastic Inc. for 4th-6th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $3.00 (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! containing abridged editions of Coot Club and The Big Six by Arthur Ransome from Red Fox Family stories/boating for 7th-9th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Tale of Troy Puffin Classics by Roger Green from Puffin Books Greek Mythology for 6th-9th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $7.99 $4.00 (1 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) $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) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, Michael Clay Thompson from Royal Fireworks Press Action/Adventure for 5th-9th grade in Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts (Location: GRA-MCT) $9.00 (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 Clearance: Fiction (Location: ZCLE-FIC) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Voyage of Patience Goodspeed by Heather Vogel Frederick from Aladdin Paperbacks Historical Fiction for 3rd-6th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $8.99 $4.00 (1 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 (3 in stock)
	White Fang Dover Thrift Editions by Jack London from Dover Publications Action/Adventure for 10th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $6.00 $3.00 (1 in stock)

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