20 Best Action And Adventure Books (2023 Update)

A young boy relates his adventures during the year he spends living alone in the catskill mountains including his struggle for survival, his dependence on nature, his animal friends, and his ultimate realization that he needs human companionship.

"real power is always a step ahead…" when lad markham aesher is attacked in the capital's slums weeks before the start of the 16th election of the people's monarchy of aldahad, staella – an ex-cage fighting champion hiding from the law, is employed as his protector.she arrives to find a city on the precipice of chaos. markham's fellow representatives are disappearing. a rebellion is brewing in yaekós' underbelly. and a dark presence haunts the aesher manor at nightfall.as staella uncovers markham's secrets, she is sucked into a world more dangerous than she could ever have imagined. "to wear a crown is a thrilling ride, from its compelling characters and suspenseful storytelling to its dastardly villains and incredible worldbuilding. this is one read you won't regret." kate argus, author of the wyndshaper

#1 new york times bestseller – from the author of the martian, a lone astronaut must save the earth from disaster in this “propulsive” (entertainment weekly), cinematic thriller full of suspense, humor, and fascinating science—in development as a major motion picture starring ryan gosling. – hugo award finalist – one of the year’s best books: bill gates, gates – notes, new york public library, parade, newsweek, polygon, shelf awareness, she reads, kirkus reviews, library journal – “an epic story of redemption, discovery and cool speculative sci-fi.”—usa today“if you loved the martian, you’ll go crazy for weir’s latest.”—the washington post – ryland grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish. – except that right now, he doesn’t know that. he can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it. – all he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. and he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company. – his crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. – and with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone. – or does he? an irresistible interstellar adventure as only andy weir could deliver, project hail mary is a tale of discovery, speculation, and survival to rival the martian—while taking us to places it never dreamed of going.

A new york times bestselling series a usa today bestselling series a california young reader medal–winning series in this riveting series opener, a telepathic girl must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new world before the wrong person finds the answer first.twelve-year-old sophie has never quite fit into her life. she’s skipped multiple grades and doesn’t really connect with the older kids at school, but she’s not comfortable with her family, either. the reason? sophie’s a telepath, someone who can read minds. no one knows her secret—at least, that’s what she thinks… but the day sophie meets fitz, a mysterious (and adorable) boy, she learns she’s not alone. he’s a telepath too, and it turns out the reason she has never felt at home is that, well…she isn’t. fitz opens sophie’s eyes to a shocking truth, and she is forced to leave behind her family for a new life in a place that is vastly different from what she has ever known. but sophie still has secrets, and they’re buried deep in her memory for good reason: the answers are dangerous and in high-demand. what is her true identity, and why was she hidden among humans? the truth could mean life or death—and time is running out.

Couples edition – theres nothing like a game of pickup baseballwhere the pitcher throws you an orange to whack across the lawnto bring people closer together. this scrapbook offers 50 opportunities to make zany memories with loved ones while doing things youd never think of. pick a category, scratch off a hidden challenge, and complete whatever is revealed. like baking a cake together, except this time, blindfold the person with less baking experience while the other person can only read the instructions. choose from the couples, friends, or family editions and go crazy, you rascals. made in china.

Whalen vankin is the world's greatest wizard, and he has only ever personally trained two other wizards. one is alexander taylor, a young man who has earned a reputation as a brave adventurer, a warrior, and man of honor. the other is jabez, vankin's nephew and a man whose choices have led him down a different, darker path. dark magic has covered westland, and evil is stirring. whalen and alex must journey together into the heart of danger, confronting a sea serpent, battling their way through a goblin army, and facing down more than one dragon. alex must find the legendary axe of sundering, the one weapon that offers a chance to defeat jabez and protect the land from the dark wizard's plans. but finding it will be an adventure of its own as the only pathway to the axe leads through the underground tunnels and secret passages of castle conmar. but jabez has one final weapon at his disposal: the powerful orion stone, which could spell the end to whalen and alex both.

A new york times bestselling series a usa today bestselling series a california young reader medal–winning series a telepathic girl is the key to an unknown world and it’s up to her to save it in the thrilling keeper of the lost cities series. the first five books are now available as a collectible paperback boxed set! sophie foster has never quite fit into her life. the reason? sophie’s a telepath, someone who can read minds. no one knows her secret—at least, that’s what she thinks… it turns out the reason sophie has never felt at home is that, well…she isn’t. and as she sets out for a new life that is vastly different from what she has ever known, telepathy is just the first of many shocking secrets that will be revealed.

New york times bestseller – this official minecraft novel is an action-packed thriller! when a new virtual-reality version of the game brings her dreams–and doubts–to life, one player must face her fears. bianca has never been good at following the plan. she's more of an act-now, deal-with-the-consequences-later kind of person. but consequences can't be put off forever, as bianca learns when she and her best friend, lonnie, are in a terrible car crash. waking up in the hospital, almost paralyzed by her injuries, bianca is faced with questions she's not equipped to answer. she chooses instead to try a new virtual-reality version of minecraft that responds to her every wish, giving her control over a world at the very moment she thought she'd lost it. as she explores this new realm, she encounters a mute, glitching avatar she believes to be lonnie. bianca teams up with esme and anton, two kids who are also playing on the hospital server, to save her friend. but the road to recovery isn't without its own dangers. the kids are swarmed by mobs seemingly generated by their fears and insecurities, and now bianca must deal with the uncertainties that have been plaguing her: is lonnie really in the game? and can bianca help him return to reality? collect all of the official minecraft books: minecraft: the island – minecraft: the lost journals – minecraft: the survivors' book of secrets – minecraft: exploded builds: medieval fortress – minecraft: guide to exploration – minecraft: guide to creative – minecraft: guide to the nether & the end – minecraft: guide to redstone – minecraft: mobestiary – minecraft: guide to enchantments & potions – minecraft: guide to pvp minigames – minecraft: guide to farming – minecraft: let's build! theme park adventure – minecraft for beginners

Learn the tragic origins of the wicked arch-illager in this official minecraft novel, a prequel to minecraft dungeons! brave heroes have banded together to take a perilous journey through the war-torn overworld to defeat the arch-illager and his formidable army. but how did that army come to be? and just where did the arch-illager come from? the terrible truth behind the arch-illager is that he never asked for ultimate power. known as archie, this little illager is bullied by his fellow illagers and mistrusted by fearful villagers. archie only ever wanted a place to call home, but he finds himself shunned by all. as he wanders through deep forests and up craggy mountains, he stumbles upon a dark cavern—with a sinister secret waiting inside. archie discovers an object that whispers to him promises of power: the orb of dominance. with it, archie realizes he can wield incredible magic and reshape a world that turned its back on him. all he needs to do is exactly what it tells him . . . after all, it’s called the orb of dominance for a reason, right? but is it named for the way archie uses it—or is it using him?

Young gamers control the action in this interactive new series from the bestselling author of trapped in a video game. with more than 30 endings and an unlockable bonus adventure, the secret of phantom island promises hours of screen-free fun.cooper hawke and the secret of phantom island is the greatest video game nobody has ever played. the treasure-hunting adventure was supposed to set a new standard for gaming. then, just one month before its release date, it fell off the face of the earth. now, for the first time, you get a chance to play the mysterious game – from the inside. as you outsmart enemies, solve puzzles, and explore the island’s hidden areas, you’ll discover that there’s more to this game than the world realized. escape from a video game is an innovative pick-your-plot story that promises two adventures for the price of one! the main adventure builds critical thinking skills by rewarding young readers for solving puzzles and making sound choices with non-stop action and huge plot twists. once readers beat the video game within the book, they’ll get a chance to hunt for every possible ending. finding all the book’s endings reveals a code that readers can use to unlock a secret story online.fans of the best-selling trapped in a video game series, as well as new readers, will quickly come to appreciate the page-turning action to uncover more secrets about the mysterious video game company bionosoft.

New york times bestseller – the first official minecraft novel! the author of world war z tells the story of a hero—stranded in the world of minecraft—who must unravel the secrets of a mysterious island in order to survive.“ a rollicking adventure yarn; robinson crusoe for the digital age.”—nprwashed up on a beach, the lone castaway looks around the shore. where am i? who am i? and why is everything made of blocks? but there isn’t much time to soak up the sun. it’s getting dark, and there’s a strange new world to explore! the top priority is finding food. the next is not becoming food. because there are others out there on the island . . . like the horde of zombies that appears after nightfall. crafting a way out of this mess is a challenge like no other. who could build a home while running from exploding creepers, armed skeletons, and an unstoppable tide of hot lava? especially with no help except for a few makeshift tools and sage advice from an unlikely friend: a cow. in this world, the rules don’t always make sense, but courage and creativity go a long way. there are forests to explore, hidden underground tunnels to loot, and undead mobs to defeat. only then will the secrets of the island be revealed. – minecraft: the lost journals – minecraft: the survivors’ book of secrets – minecraft: exploded builds: medieval fortress – minecraft: guide to exploration – minecraft: guide to creative – minecraft: guide to the nether & the end – minecraft: guide to redstone – minecraft: mobestiary – minecraft: guide to enchantments & potions – minecraft: guide to pvp minigames – minecraft: guide to farming – minecraft: let’s build! theme park adventure – minecraft for beginners

In this first book of an epic middle grade series, katherine applegate takes us on an unforgettable journey. – a new york times bestseller from the beloved author of the action-packed animorphs series and the award-winning the one and only ivan. – byx is the youngest member of her dairne pack. believed to possess remarkable abilities, her mythical doglike species has been hunted to near extinction in the war-torn kingdom of nedarra. – after her pack is hunted down and killed, byx fears she may be the last of her species. so byx sets out to find safe haven, and to see if the legends of other hidden dairnes are true. – along the way, she meets new allies—both animals and humans alike—who each have their own motivations for joining her quest. and although they begin as strangers, they become their own kind of family—one that will ultimately uncover a secret that may threaten every creature in their world. – building on the success of her critically acclaimed novels the one and only ivan, crenshaw, and wishtree, while also returning to her action-packed fantasy roots of animorphs, the endling series is katherine applegate at her finest. with its enthralling characters, unique setting, and gripping adventure, this series is the perfect next read for fans of rick riordan, brian jacques, and tui t. sutherland. – don't miss the second book in the series, endling #2: the first!

New york times bestseller – in this thrilling novel from danielle steel, a small community is tested when their children go missing while exploring a dangerous local peak, forcing them to band together during the crisis. – fishtail, montana, is home to anne and pitt pollock, local royalty, high school sweethearts, and owners of the successful pollock ranch. the sprawling foothills of the beartooth mountains surround the town, overlooking the pollocks’ property and the nearby ranch belonging to bill and pattie brown. the two couples have known each other since childhood. – their sons peter pollock and matt brown are also the best of friends. when they and two other local kids meet juliet marshall, new to town after her parents’ bitter divorce, the five of them are soon inseparable, spending their summer days swimming, horseback riding, hiking, and fishing. – but one august afternoon, their latest adventure takes a dangerous turn—and quickly escalates into a battle for survival—when they find themselves trapped on granite peak. fear reverberates through the town as their parents grow ever more desperate to hear word that their children have been found. they must place their own trials aside amid a massive search-and-rescue operation. as they come to lean on one another for support, a media frenzy ensues, heightening tensions and testing some already fragile relationships. – in the aftermath of this one fateful event, devastating secrets are revealed, new love appears on the horizon, and families are forced to reconsider what they once held dear. in the challenge, danielle steel deftly weaves a story that is a portrait of courage and a striking tale of the bonds of love and family.

A netflix original series! the new york times, usa today, and wall street journal bestselling last kids on earth series presents quint baker and dirk savage in their own epic adventure! june del toro went on a wild flight in a super-rad solo episode; now get ready for the dynamic duo: it's quint and dirk! picking up after the events of the last kids on earth and the doomsday race, adventure abounds as the best buddies encounter new monsters and embark on a postapocalyptic quest for the ages. you won't want to miss this essential last kids story that includes crucial details about the next book in the series!

Time has run out! the fuse can't burn any shorter. an insane media megastar, thelma justice, and her power-hungry lover, a russian nuclear arms dealer, are close to unleashing hell on earth.cia field agents jack cody and sara durrell have gone rogue. on the run, operating without official sanction, they're the only two people on earth with any chance of preventing a mad scheme of imminent global destruction. but now their own country is after them! with a young, hot-blooded dubai princess to deal with and with more than one hit team closing in from every side, sara and the man they call suicide cody must try to stay alive as they track a twisting trail of deceit and sudden death from the blood-soaked desert sands of syria to the icy killing fields high atop the rugged italian alps in a race against time to prevent the ultimate doomsday scenario." stephen mertz is the best action writer i've read in a long time . . . the cody's war series is filled with everything you want from a master writer!" -brent towns, bestselling author of the team reaper series.

A mindbending, relentlessly surprising thriller from the author of the bestselling wayward pines trilogy.“ are you happy with your life?” those are the last words jason dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious. before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits. before a man jason’s never met smiles down at him and says, “welcome back, my friend.” in this world he’s woken up to, jason’s life is not the one he knows. his wife is not his wife. his son was never born. and jason is not an ordinary college physics professor, but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. something impossible. is it this world or the other that’s the dream? and even if the home he remembers is real, how can jason possibly make it back to the family he loves? the answers lie in a journey more wondrous and horrifying than anything he could’ve imagined—one that will force him to confront the darkest parts of himself even as he battles a terrifying, seemingly unbeatable foe.

This entrancing classic fantasy novel is filled with surprises at every turn. an international bestseller, this much-loved book is the source for the academy award nominee for best animated feature. sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. but when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the witch of the waste, sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the wizard howl's castle. to untangle the enchantment, sophie must handle the heartless howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the witch of the waste head-on. along the way, she discovers that there's far more to howl-and herself-than first meets the eye. in this giant jigsaw puzzle of a fantasy, people and things are never quite what they seem. destinies are intertwined, identities exchanged, lovers confused.

The land beyond time is a non-stop, fast paced, action packed adventure that takes place in the jungles of the amazon river. it is a story about traitors, sabotage, espionage, greed, hate, love and romance, cold blooded murder, and justice. it is the story about the trials and tribulations of a dozen human beings who’s sabotaged aircraft crashes into the amazon jungle. the crash survivors, 6 men and 6 women, including 2 drug cartel bosses, being extradited to the us, now must compete against their individual fears, each other and those unknown unexplained challenges facing them in the hot, wet, dangerous jungle. the terrifying but strange animals that abound there, like the giant spiders, boars, anacondas, and crocodiles; two hostile tribes and the headhunters; a colombian drug cartel group of professional killers coming to rescue their bosses; and a small, but elite team of us marines conducting search and rescue operations for the crash survivors; all are tossed together in the jungles of the amazon. our adventure begins during december 1999, in lima, peru, when a us military aircraft (c141) preparing to take a number of government passengers back to the us, is commandeered by an embassy official. he orders the aircraft to take on10 additional passengers, including two recently captured colombian drug lords being extradited to the us. hours into the flight the plane is sabotaged by someone onboard and it crashes into the amazon river dumping the survivors into the hostile terrain north of manaus, brazil. two of the 12 crash survivors are immediately separated from the main group and have adventures of their own to contend just to remain alive. the remaining survivors are captured by one of two hostile tribes (the in’gou and san’gou). the survivors are taken to the in’gou village and interrogated, while second tribe prepares to attack the in’gou village to pre-empt an escaped prisoner’s arrival there, who possesses information which could change the delicate balance of power in the jungle. back in peru, an embassy official is fingered as an espionage agent for the major drug cartel. the official gets nervous and runs to his new bosses in colombia. meanwhile, the cartel sends 24 professional killers to retrieve their two drug bosses from the sabotaged aircraft. their additional instructions are to eliminate all the remaining passengers. when the aircraft fails to show up at manaus as planned, the cartel’s killers immediately begin a search pattern, and within hours of finding the crashed aircraft, their journey begins. back in lima, the non-commissioned officer in charge (ncoic) of the marine security guard (msg) detachment, a friend of al ranlom, a former marine who is aboard the missing aircraft, hears of the espionage and the plane crash. not one to stand by and watch, the ncoic forms an unofficial search and rescue team, which picks up the trail of the missing craft and her survivors. the dangers to all involved: the survivors, the cartel’s professional killers and the marine security detachment rescuers, are found in every turn they take. they are all around them, in the trees, at ground level, on, under and above the waterways, swamps and mangroves. these hazards eat away at their self confidence, and tears at their moral fabric. they are tested continuously, passing one test only to encounter another challenge. if it isn’t attacks by giant spiders, anacondas, and crocodiles, it’s tigers, flesh eating worms and blood sucking bats. or it’s problems from hostile tribes or from the natural environment, like earthquakes and lava flows or from the failure of their sophisticated equipment, like the gps systems, radios, and walkie-talk

Hal and roger hunt crash-land into the middle of a pioneering expedition to the unmapped regions of the greatest jungle on earth: the amazon. and when their mission to explore the uncharted territory of the pastaza river goes off course… it's the survival of the fittest.

The action bible devotional pairs selected stories from the bestselling action bible with spiritual lessons and action-adventure missions that launch kids' faith into everyday life. covering themes such as friendship, temptation, sibling rivalry, self-esteem, and materialism, the action bible devotional offers a year's worth of activities, questions, and ideas that will keep young readers engaged with the bible every day. looking for adventure? with eye-popping comic illustrations and a week's worth of activities for each bible story, this one-year devotional gives you real-life ways to meet with god and live out his spiritual adventure every day. every week's story includes: key verse- a highlight from the story you just read – x-ray vision- thoughts to connect the story with your life – your mission- three ideas to put the themes into action – your debrief-three questions to spark some brain cells – mission accomplished-your place to make notes it's all about faith in action as you dive into life knowing god is with you. so get ready to read, draw, doodle, create, pray, and discover. the adventure awaits!