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 FICTION

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 FICTION section). 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

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

YAF005000

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Biographical

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

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

YAF010110

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Historical

YAF010120

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Horror

YAF010130

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Humorous

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

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 & Ethnic

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

YAF019060

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fantasy / Romance

YAF019050

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fantasy / Wizards & Witches

YAF020000

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fashion & Beauty

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

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

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 / Black Comedy

YAF028000

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Interactive Adventures

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+

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

YAF041000

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Monsters

YAF042000

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Mysteries & Detective Stories

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

YAF046000

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / General

YAF046020

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / Africa

YAF046030

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / Asia

YAF046040

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / Australia & Oceania

YAF046050

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / Canada

YAF046060

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / Caribbean & Latin America

YAF046070

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / Europe

YAF046010

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / Indigenous

YAF046170

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island *

YAF046080

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / Mexico

YAF046090

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / Middle East

YAF046100

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / Polar Regions

YAF046110

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / United States / General

YAF046120

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / United States / African American & Black

YAF046130

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / United States / Asian American & Pacific Islander

YAF046140

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / United States / Hispanic & Latino

YAF046160

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / United States / Middle Eastern & Arab American

YAF046150

YOUNG ADULT FICTION / People & Places / United States / Native American

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

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

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

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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