Abstract: Backpacks for carrying one or more items therein and related methods are provided. The backpack can include an outer shell forming a bottom and a top and front, back and side walls with the outer shell defining an interior space. The backpack also can include a divider extendable between the front wall and the back wall of the outer shell to form a shelf between the top and bottom of the outer shell. When the divider is extended between the front wall and the back wall, a first storage compartment is formed between the bottom of the outer shell and the shelf and a second compartment is formed between the shelf and the top of the outer shell. The divider can be detachably secured between the front wall and the back wall so that one or more books are supportable by the shelf formed by the divider.