My Account Wish List Shopping Cart Log In
Store Location

Fiction by Genre

Fiction is good. It's not just lies—lies are the dishonest things we tell other people out of selfishness, while fiction is (or should be) those stories used to reveal truth. Not that all stories have to be tied up with a neat moral at the end. Truth wears many faces, and our favorite stories are as varied, and often as unresolved, as life itself.

A good book always has something to say, however. Even if the message is as simple as "it's good to have friends" or "growing up is difficult no matter who you are," there is a message and it can be understood. There are books that are all plot....but they aren't good books. There are books that are all blatant morality and character-building....also not good books, at least in the sense we mean here.

For those of you about to stop reading, know this: we aren't promoting immoral books. Just because there isn't an obvious "and Johnny was happy because he knew that stealing was bad" ending doesn't mean we support kids reading about worldly characters doing worldly things as though this was normal and healthy. But we also don't think Pathway Readers are the only appropriate fiction available to children.

What we mean by "good book" is one which accurately depicts human nature, demonstrates an engaging style, displays a consistent worldview, and doesn't use cheap tricks to get readers interested. That excludes a lot of books. It also includes a lot of books, and they typically aren't the ones filling the new release racks at Barnes & Noble.

We emphasize classic fiction at Exodus Books. That's not to say we shun all modern fiction, but typically good writing survives for years and years and years on its own merits, and those books that fit that description can be trusted more than those still in their infancy. Genres we find particularly problematic are those built around cheap formulas and plots with little to say (fantasy, sci-fi and mystery series come immediately to mind).

Books that rely on non-stop action and thrills are also avoided by our charming and discerning book-buying staff. Kids need to learn to enjoy reading because it's good for them and offers new ways to look at the world, not simply for a book's entertainment value. It's not enough just to read—if you read a steady diet of trash or sub-standard fiction you're really no better off than watching hours of television.

There is a difference between children's and adult literature. Kids shouldn't be sheltered, but they also aren't prepared to deal with the themes and darker elements adults must confront. Most of the titles in this section are "safe"—not a lot of extreme violence, sexual content, profanity, etc. here (though there is some overlap with the adult and children's genres).

Along the same lines, we don't encourage letting kids read abridged versions of classics or advanced material. Everything we offer is unabridged unless explicitly stated—it's far better to have kids read stories at their level than to have them read edited and often misrepresented versions of books not intended for children. If they read Charlotte's Web and Rufus M. as kids, they'll be ready for Great Expectations when they're older.

Nowhere in the Bible does God say "Read fiction. It'll make you a better person." But neither does He say "Have a time set aside for daily devotions. It's the only path to true spirituality." Simply because there's no command in Scripture doesn't mean a particular activity isn't a really good idea. Not that reading the Bible and reading fiction are in any way on the same level. Reading God helps us understand Him better—reading fiction helps us understand ourselves.

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.
Did you find this review helpful?
Parent Categories
Fiction by Genre
Subcategories
72 Items found Print
Filter
Active Filters: 2nd grade (Ages 7-8), Mass market paperback, Used Books & Materials
26 Fairmont Avenue
by Tomie De Paola
from Puffin Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$6.99 $4.00 (2 in stock)
Adventures of Don Quixote
Dover Children's Thrift Classics
by Argentina Palacios
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Adapted or Abridged (Location: SER-ABR)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Adventures of Grandfather Frog
Thornton Burgess Peter Cottontail Books #12
by Thornton W. Burgess
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-4th grade
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Aesop's Fables
by Aesop, edited by Ann McGovern
from Scholastic Inc.
for Nursery-2nd grade
$2.50 (3 in stock)
Aesop's Fables
by Aesop
from Wordsworth Classics
for Nursery-2nd grade
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Puffin Classics
by Lewis Carroll
from Puffin Books
Fantasy for 2nd-7th grade
in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF)
$7.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Bargain for Frances
An I Can Read Book Level 2
by Russell & Lillian Hoban
from HarperCollins
Animal Fantasy for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$5.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Big Balloon Race
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by Eleanor Coerr
from HarperCollins
Historical Fiction for 1st-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99 $3.00 (3 in stock)
Brand New Day with Mouse and Mole
Green Light Readers Level 3
by Wong Herbert Yee
from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
for 1st-3rd grade
in Early Readers (Location: EAR-MISC)
$4.99 $3.00 (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)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Canada Geese Quilt
by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock
from Cobblehill Books
Realistic Fiction for 1st-3rd grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$6.00 (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 (2 in stock)
Courage of Sarah Noble
by Alice Dalgliesh
Reissue from Aladdin Paperbacks
Realistic Fiction for Kindergarten-6th grade
1955 Newbery Honor Book
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$5.99 $3.50 (2 in stock)
Deep Black Pond at No. 12
Stories from Canterbury Place
by Catherine Mackenzie
from Christian Focus Publications
for 2nd-5th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Dolphin Treasure
by Wayne Grover
from HarperTrophy
for Ages 8-12
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$5.99 $3.50 (3 in stock)
Drinking Gourd OSI
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by F. N. Monjo
from HarperCollins
Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$2.50 (2 in stock)
Emily's Runaway Imagination
by Beverly Cleary, illustrated by Tracy Dockray
2008 edition from HarperCollins
for 2nd-4th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$9.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
Fables
by Arnold Lobel
from HarperCollins
Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for Preschool-3rd grade
1981 Caldecott Medal winner
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$9.99 $5.00 (2 in stock)
Fantastic Mr. Fox
by Roald Dahl
from Puffin Books
Animal Fantasy for 2nd-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$7.99 $3.50 (1 in stock)
Farthest Shore
by Ursula K. Le Guin
11th Printing from Bantam Books
for 1st-4th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Flat Stanley
by Jeff Brown
from Scholastic Inc.
for 1st-4th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Flip
by Wesley Dennis
from Scholastic Book Services
for 2nd-5th grade
in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Franklin Endicott and the Third Key
Tales from Deckawoo Drive Book 6
by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
from Candlewick Press
for 1st-4th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$6.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Frog and Toad All Year
An I Can Read Book Level 2
by Arnold Lobel
from HarperCollins
Animal Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$5.99 $3.50 (1 in stock)
Frog and Toad Are Friends
An I Can Read Book Level 2 (Reading with Help)
by Arnold Lobel
from HarperCollins
Animal Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade
1971 Caldecott Honor Book
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$5.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Frog and Toad Together
An I Can Read Book Level 2
by Arnold Lobel
from HarperCollins
Animal Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade
1973 Newbery Honor Book
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$5.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Grain of Rice
by Helena Clare Pittman
from Yearling
Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for 2nd-4th grade
$7.99 $4.00 (2 in stock)
Great Rescue Operation
by Jean Van Leeuwen, illustrated by Margot Apple
from Puffin Books
for 1st-4th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Greg's Microscope
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by Millicent Selsam & Arnold Lobel
from HarperCollins
Non-Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99 $3.00 (5 in stock)
Happy Day
by Ruth Krauss; illustrated by Marc Simont
from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$1.50 (2 in stock)
Henry and Ribsy
by Beverly Cleary
from HarperCollins
for 2nd-4th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$9.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Hill of Fire
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by Thomas Lewis & Joan Sandin
from HarperCollins
Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$5.99 $3.00 (2 in stock)
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson
by Bette Bao Lord
from HarperCollins
Immigration for 2nd-6th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$8.99 $4.00 (4 in stock)
Les Miserables (adapted)
Stepping Stones: A Chapter Book
by Victor Hugo, Adapted by Monica Kulling
from Random House
Historical Fiction for 1st-4th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Lion to Guard Us
by Clyde Robert Bulla
from HarperCollins
Realistic Fiction for 2nd-6th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$9.99 $4.00 (2 in stock)
Little Mermaid and Other Fairy Tales
by Hans Christian Andersen, illustrated by Thea Kliros
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-5th grade
$3.00 (2 in stock)
Long Way to a New Land
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by Joan Sandin
from HarperCollins
Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99 $2.50 (3 in stock)
Long Way Westward
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by Joan Sandin
from HarperCollins
Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99 $2.50 (3 in stock)
Magic Tree House #47 (Merlin Mission #19)
Magic Tree House
by Mary Pope Osborne
First Scholastic Edition from Random House
in Magic Tree House (Location: SER-MTH)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Matchlock Gun
by Walter Edmonds
from PaperStar Books
Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
1942 Newbery Medal winner
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$8.99 $4.50 (3 in stock)
Minstrel in the Tower
by Gloria Skurzynski
from Random House
Historical Fiction for 1st-4th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$6.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Molly's Pilgrim
A Bantam First Skylark
by Barbara Cohen, illustrated by Daniel Mark Duffy
from HarperTrophy
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$2.00 (4 in stock)
Mouse and the Motorcycle
Mouse & the Motorcycle #1
by Beverly Cleary
Reissue from HarperCollins
Animal Fantasy for 2nd-4th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$9.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Mouse Tales
An I Can Read Book Level 2
by Arnold Lobel
from HarperCollins
Animal Fantasy for Preschool-3rd grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$5.99 $3.00 (2 in stock)
Next Stop, New York City!
The Polk Street Kids on Tour
by Patricia Reilly Giff, illustrated by Blanche Sims
from Yearling
for 2nd-5th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Oh Boy, Boston!
The Polk Street Kids on Tour
by Patricia Reilly Giff, illustrated by Blanche Sims
from Yearling
for 2nd-5th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Ordinary Princess
by M. M. Kaye
from Puffin Books
Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for 2nd-6th grade
$7.99 $3.50 (1 in stock)
Paint Brush Kid
Stepping Stones Chapter Book
by Clyde Robert Bulla
from Random House
for 2nd-5th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$5.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Paper Bag Princess
by Robert Munsch
39th Printing, December 2000 from Annick Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (3 in stock)
Pink & Say
by Patricia Polacco
from Scholastic Inc.
Word Books for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Pippi Longstocking
Pippi Longstocking #1
by Astrid Lindgren
from Puffin Books
Humor for 2nd-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$6.00 $4.50 (1 in stock)
Pippi Longstocking
Pippi Longstocking #1
by Astrid Lindgren
from Scholastic Inc.
Humor for 2nd-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$2.00 (4 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)
Ramona the Pest
Ramona Collection Book 2
by Beverly Cleary
from HarperCollins
for 2nd-4th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$9.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Robin Hood
Stepping Stones: A Chapter Book
by Annie Ingle (adapter), illustrated by Domenick D'Andrea
from Random House
for 1st-3rd grade
$6.99 $3.50 (1 in stock)
Sam the Minuteman
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by Nathaniel Benchley & Arnold Lobel
from HarperCollins
Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Sarah, Plain and Tall
by Patricia MacLachlan
from Scholastic Inc.
Family Stories for 2nd-6th grade
1986 Newbery Medal winner
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
Sarah, Plain and Tall
by Patricia MacLachlan
30th Anniversary from HarperCollins
Family Stories for 2nd-6th grade
1986 Newbery Medal winner
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$7.99 $4.00 (3 in stock)
Stone Fox
by John Reynolds Gardiner
from HarperCollins
Realistic Animal Stories for 2nd-6th grade
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$8.99 $4.00 (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)
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)
Talk, Talk
Legends of the World
by Deborah Newton Chocolate
from Troll Publishing
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Tall Tails
Tall Tails #02
by Dona Smith
from Scholastic Inc.
Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Teddy Roosevelt and the Treasure of Ursa Major
by Tom Isbell (based on the play by), adapted by Ronald Kidd, illustrated by Ard Hoyt
from Simon and Schuster
for 2nd-5th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
The Skirt
by Gary Soto
from Yearling
for 2nd-4th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Trojan Horse
Step Into Reading Level 5
by Emily Little
from Random House
Greek Mythology for 2nd-4th grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$5.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Wagon Wheels
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by Barbara Brenner
from HarperCollins
Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$5.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Ways to Make Sunshine
by Renee Watson
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-5th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Wednesday Surprise
by Eve Bunting
from Clarion Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$9.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Welcome to Silver Street Farm
by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Katharine McEwen
from Candlewick Press
for 2nd-5th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky
by Elphinstone Dayrell
Reprint from Scholastic Inc.
for 1st-3rd grade
1969 Caldecott Honor Book
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Sign Up!

Shop

Support

Hours & Directions

Learn more about our store location and hours

Connect

503.655.1951

hello@exodusbooks.com

19146 Molalla Ave,
Oregon City, OR 97045