BISAC Subject Headings List

Use the information provided here to determine the specific codes that describe your book. An asterisk (*) denotes a new heading for the current year’s edition. Not sure how to select your code? Check out our FAQ.

If you can't find the code you're looking for after reviewing all the pages below, we recommend you use whatever codes currently best represent your book. If you want to propose a new code for future BISAC additions, you can submit a suggestion here.

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YOUNG ADULT FICTION

Works of young adult fiction (ages 12-18; grades 7-12) should be assigned subjects in this section only.  Collections containing both young adult fiction and young adult nonfiction may also be assigned subjects in the YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION section.

Works of fiction intended for children (ages 0-11; preschool-grade 6) should be assigned subjects from the JUVENILE FICTIONsection.

Critical works intended for adults should be assigned "LITERARY CRITICISM / Children's & Young Adult Literature" and any other subjects needed in the LITERARY CRITICISM section (and should not be assigned any subjects in the YOUNG ADULT FICTIONsection).  Critical works intended for young adults should be assigned "YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Literary Criticism & Collections".

Use "YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Media Tie-In" when a new ISBN is created and this ISBN represents one of the following:

  • a work (or works) of fiction re-issued because of a movie/television show
  • a novelization of a movie
  • a novelization (or collection of stories) based on an episode (or episodes) of a television show
  • an original story (or collection of stories) using characters or settings from (or based on) a movie/television show

Existing ISBNs that become the basis for a movie or television show do not have to be re-coded.  It is recommended that when "YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Media Tie-In" is used, another subject be assigned as the primary subject.

"YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Own Voices" is intended for works where the main characters(s) are from a marginalized, minority, or under-represented group and where the author is a member of the group being written about.

Use subjects containing the literal "Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island" for works about Indigenous people in Canada.  Turtle Island is a name for Earth or North America, preferred by some Indigenous peoples.  The name is based on a common North American Indigenous creation story and in some cultures is synonymous with "North America."

YAF000000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / General

YAF001000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Action & Adventure / General

YAF001010   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Action & Adventure / Pirates

YAF001020   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Action & Adventure / Survival Stories

YAF046120   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / African American & Black

YAF071000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Alternative History

YAF002000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Animals / General

YAF002010   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Animals / Horses

YAF002020   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Animals / Marine Life

YAF002030   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Animals / Mythical Creatures

YAF002040   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Animals / Pets

YAF004000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Art

YAF046130   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Asian American & Pacific Islander

YAF005000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Biographical

YAF076000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Biracial & Multiracial *

YAF006000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Books & Libraries

YAF007000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Boys & Men

YAF008000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Careers, Occupations, Internships

YAF009000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Classics

YAF072000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Clean & Nonviolent

YAF010000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / General

YAF010050   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Action & Adventure

YAF010190   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / African American & Black *

YAF010200   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Asian American & Pacific Islander *

YAF010060   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Classic Adaptation

YAF010070   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Coming of Age

YAF010180   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Diversity & Multicultural

YAF010080   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Dystopian

YAF010090   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Fairy Tales, Folklore, Legends & Mythology

YAF010100   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Fantasy

YAF010210   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Hispanic & Latino *

YAF010110   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Historical

YAF010120   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Horror

YAF010130   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Humorous

YAF010220   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Indigenous *

YAF010230   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island *

YAF010140   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / LGBTQ+

YAF035000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Light Novel

YAF010010   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Manga

YAF010020   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Media Tie-In

YAF010150   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Mystery & Detective

YAF010240   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Native American *

YAF010160   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Paranormal

YAF010170   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Romance

YAF010030   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Science Fiction

YAF010040   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Superheroes

YAF011000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Coming of Age

YAF012000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Computers & Digital Media

YAF013000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Cooking & Food

YAF058070   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Disabilities

YAF014000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Diversity & Multicultural

YAF015000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Dystopian

YAF016000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Epistolary (Letters & Diaries)

YAF017000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fairy Tales & Folklore / General

YAF017010   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Adaptations

YAF017020   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Anthologies

YAF017030   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Country & Cultural

YAF018000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Family / General (see also headings under Social Themes)

YAF018010   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Family / Adoption

YAF018020   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Family / Alternative Family

YAF018080   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Family / Blended Families

YAF018030   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Family / Marriage & Divorce

YAF018040   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Family / Multigenerational

YAF018050   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Family / Orphans & Foster Homes

YAF018060   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Family / Parents

YAF018070   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Family / Siblings

YAF019000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fantasy / General

YAF019010   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fantasy / Contemporary

YAF019020   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy

YAF019030   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fantasy / Epic

YAF019040   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fantasy / Historical

YAF019070   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fantasy / Indigenous *

YAF019060   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fantasy / Romance

YAF019050   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fantasy / Wizards & Witches

YAF020000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fashion & Beauty

YAF077000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / First Nations *

YAF021000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Ghost Stories

YAF022000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Girls & Women

YAF023000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Health & Daily Living / General

YAF023010   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Health & Daily Living / Diseases, Illnesses & Injuries

YAF046140   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Hispanic & Latino

YAF024000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / General

YAF024010   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Africa

YAF024020   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Ancient Civilizations

YAF024030   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Asia

YAF024190   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Australia & Oceania *

YAF024040   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Canada

YAF024050   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Europe

YAF024060   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Exploration & Discovery

YAF024070   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Holocaust

YAF024080   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Medieval

YAF024090   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Middle East

YAF024100   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Military & Wars

YAF024110   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Prehistory

YAF024120   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / Renaissance

YAF024130   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / United States / General

YAF024140   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / United States / Colonial & Revolutionary Periods

YAF024150   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / United States / 19th Century

YAF024160   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / United States / Civil War Period (1850-1877)

YAF024170   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / United States / 20th Century

YAF024180   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / United States / 21st Century

YAF025000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Holidays & Celebrations

YAF026000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Horror

YAF027000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Humorous / General

YAF027010   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Humorous / Dark Humor

YAF046010   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Indigenous / General

YAF046180   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Indigenous / Cautionary Tales *

YAF046190   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Indigenous / City Life *

YAF046200   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Indigenous / Family Life *

YAF046210   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Indigenous / Historical *

YAF046220   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Indigenous / Life Stories (see also Biographical) *

YAF046230   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Indigenous / Oral Stories *

YAF046240   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Indigenous / Retellings *

YAF046250   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Indigenous / Teachings *

YAF046170   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island

YAF028000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Interactive Adventures

YAF078000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Inuit *

YAF029000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Law & Crime

YAF030000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Legends, Myths, Fables / General

YAF030010   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Legends, Myths, Fables / Arthurian

YAF030020   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Legends, Myths, Fables / Greek & Roman

YAF031000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / LGBTQ+ / General

YAF031010   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / LGBTQ+ / Bisexual *

YAF031020   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / LGBTQ+ / Gay *

YAF031030   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / LGBTQ+ / Lesbian *

YAF031040   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / LGBTQ+ / Transgender *

YAF031050   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / LGBTQ+ / Two-Spirited & Indigiqueer *

YAF032000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Lifestyles / City & Town Life

YAF033000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Lifestyles / Country Life

YAF034000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Lifestyles / Farm & Ranch Life

YAF036000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Literary

YAF037000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Loners & Outcasts

YAF038000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Magical Realism

YAF039000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Media Tie-In

YAF040000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Mermaids & Mermen

YAF079000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Métis *

YAF046160   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Middle Eastern & Arab American

YAF041000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Monsters

YAF042000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Mysteries & Detective Stories

YAF046150   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Native American

YAF074000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Neurodiversity

YAF044000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Novels in Verse

YAF073000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Own Voices

YAF045000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Paranormal, Occult & Supernatural

YAF047000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Performing Arts / General

YAF047010   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Performing Arts / Dance

YAF047020   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Performing Arts / Film

YAF047030   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Performing Arts / Music

YAF047040   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Performing Arts / Television & Radio

YAF047050   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Performing Arts / Theater & Musicals

YAF046000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Places / General

YAF046020   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Places / Africa

YAF046030   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Places / Asia

YAF046040   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Places / Australia & Oceania

YAF046050   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Places / Canada

YAF046060   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Places / Caribbean & Latin America

YAF046070   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Places / Europe

YAF046080   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Places / Mexico

YAF046090   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Places / Middle East

YAF046100   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Places / Polar Regions

YAF046110   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Places / United States

YAF048000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Poetry

YAF049000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Politics & Government

YAF050000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Recycling & Green Living

YAF051000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / General

YAF051010   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Agnostic & Atheist

YAF051020   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Buddhist

YAF051030   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Christian / General

YAF051040   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Christian / Action & Adventure

YAF051050   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Christian / Comics & Graphic Novels

YAF051060   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Christian / Fantasy

YAF051070   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Christian / Historical

YAF051080   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Christian / Mysteries & Detective Stories

YAF051090   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Christian / Relationships

YAF051100   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Christian / Science Fiction

YAF051110   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Christian / Social Issues

YAF051120   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Hindu

YAF051130   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Jewish

YAF051140   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Religious / Muslim

YAF052000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance / General

YAF052010   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance / Clean & Wholesome

YAF052020   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance / Contemporary

YAF052030   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance / Historical

YAF052080   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance / Indigenous *

YAF052040   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance / LGBTQ+

YAF052070   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance / Multicultural & Interracial

YAF052050   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance / Paranormal

YAF052060   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance / Romantic Comedy

YAF053000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Royalty

YAF027020   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Satire

YAF054000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / School & Education / General

YAF054010   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / School & Education / Boarding School & Prep School

YAF054020   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / School & Education / College & University

YAF043000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Science & Nature / General (see also headings under Animals)

YAF043010   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Science & Nature / Environment

YAF056000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Science Fiction / General

YAF056010   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Science Fiction / Alien Contact

YAF003000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Science Fiction / Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic

YAF056040   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Science Fiction / Indigenous Futurism *

YAF056030   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Science Fiction / Romance

YAF056020   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Science Fiction / Space Opera

YAF063000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Science Fiction / Time Travel

YAF057000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Short Stories, Collections & Anthologies

YAF058000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / General (see also headings under Family)

YAF058280   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Activism & Social Justice

YAF058010   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Assimilation

YAF058020   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Bullying

YAF058030   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Class Differences

YAF058230   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Cutting & Self-Harm

YAF058040   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Dating & Sex

YAF058050   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Death, Grief, Bereavement

YAF058060   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Depression

YAF058080   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Drugs, Alcohol, Substance Abuse

YAF058090   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Eating Disorders & Body Image

YAF058100   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Emigration & Immigration

YAF058110   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Emotions & Feelings

YAF058120   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Friendship

YAF058140   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Mental Illness

YAF058150   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / New Experience

YAF058160   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Peer Pressure

YAF058170   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Physical & Emotional Abuse (see also Social Themes / Sexual Abuse)

YAF058130   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Poverty & Homelessness

YAF058180   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Pregnancy

YAF058190   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Prejudice & Racism

YAF058200   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Religion & Faith

YAF058210   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Runaways

YAF058220   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance

YAF058240   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Sexual Abuse

YAF058250   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Suicide

YAF058260   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Values & Virtues

YAF058270   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Violence

YAF059000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / General

YAF059010   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Baseball & Softball

YAF059020   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Basketball

YAF059030   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Camping & Outdoor Activities

YAF059040   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Equestrian

YAF059050   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Extreme Sports

YAF059060   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Football

YAF059070   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Gymnastics

YAF059080   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Hockey

YAF059090   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Martial Arts

YAF059100   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Skateboarding

YAF059110   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Soccer

YAF059120   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Track & Field

YAF059130   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Water Sports

YAF059140   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Winter Sports

YAF060000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Steampunk

YAF061000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Superheroes

YAF055000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Technology

YAF062000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Thrillers & Suspense / General

YAF062010   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Thrillers & Suspense / Crime

YAF062020   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Thrillers & Suspense / Espionage

YAF062030   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Thrillers & Suspense / Psychological

YAF062040   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Thrillers & Suspense / Supernatural

YAF064000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Travel & Transportation / General

YAF064010   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Travel & Transportation / Car & Road Trips

YAF075000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Urban & Street Lit

YAF065000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Vampires

YAF066000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Visionary & Metaphysical

YAF067000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / War & Military

YAF068000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Werewolves & Shifters

YAF069000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Westerns

YAF070000   YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Zombies

If your title does not have subject content, i.e. a blank book, please use the Non-Classifiable term below. Otherwise, use the Subject/General term in the closest descriptive area. NON000000 NON-CLASSIFIABLE

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