Sexual Harassment & Violence

We've carefully curated a Collection of titles that center the experiences and impacts of Sexual Harassment & Violence. Representing a broad range of voices and genres, these titles explore the personal and social effects of violation through violence and sexual harassment through literary forms that include memoirs, poetry, and fiction.

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Romance, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence

It Ends with Us is a 2016 romance novel by Colleen Hoover. The novel tells the story of Lily Bloom and her doomed romance with Ryle Kincaid and traces her past history growing up in an abusive home, her fall into an abusive relationship, and her escape from that relationship. Colleen Hoover is the author of several best-selling novels, including Verity, Ugly Love, and All Your Perfects. In 2022, Hoover published a sequel to It... Read It Ends with Us Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Romance, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Identity: Mental Health

Tags Depression / Suicide, Mental Illness, Realistic Fiction, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Trauma / Abuse / Violence

Matt de la Pena’s young adult novel I Will Save You (2010) follows the narrator, Kidd Ellison, after he runs away from a group home to live and work at a campground on the beach. Harboring memories of a traumatic past, he forges new relationships and fosters old ones that test his self-understanding. Through flashbacks, dreams, and journal entries mixed with the present day, the narrative explores themes such as The Impact of Trauma on... Read I Will Save You Summary


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Masculinity, Natural World: Objects, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Gender / Feminism, Leadership/Organization/Management, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Mystery / Crime Fiction


Publication year 1998

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

Tags Lyric Poem, Poetry: Dramatic Poem, Race / Racism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Black Lives Matter, History: U.S., African American Literature


Publication year 1992

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Historical Fiction, African American Literature, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Race / Racism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, American Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction

Jazz by Toni Morrison is the second installment of the Beloved trilogy. Morrison outlines the entirety of the plot in the first paragraph of the novel, allowing the rest of the text to explore the histories and emotional landscapes of the characters. Set in Harlem in the 1920s, Joe Trace has an affair with a young woman named Dorcas. When Dorcas later rejects Joe, he relentlessly searches for her. Joe sees Dorcas dancing with another... Read Jazz Summary


Publication year 1930

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Immigration, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Auto/Biographical Fiction, Historical Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Class, Poverty, Social Justice, American Literature, Education, Education, Jewish Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality

Jews Without Money is a semi-autobiographical 1930 novel by Itzok Isaac Granich, published under Granich’s pseudonym, Mike Gold. The book charts the impoverished conditions of the Lower East Side of New York City and the experiences of growing up in a community of predominantly Jewish immigrants in the early 20th century. Growing up in such a difficult environment informed the author’s socialist politics as an adult. Plot SummaryMike Gold is born and raised by a... Read Jews Without Money Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Anthology/Varied Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Race / Racism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Arts / Culture, History: World, Social Justice, Politics / Government


Publication year 2014

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race

Tags Grief / Death, Social Justice, Trauma / Abuse / Violence


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Community

Tags Romance, Sports, New Adult, Modern Classic Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence


Publication year 1978

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Society: Education, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Education, Education


Publication year 2014

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Immigration / Refugee, Vietnam War


Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Society: Colonialism

Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Animals, Love / Sexuality, LGBTQ, History: World, Historical Fiction, Canadian Literature


Publication year 2024

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Globalization, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Indian Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychology, Psychology, Biography


Publication year 2005

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Education, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger

Tags Crime / Legal, Psychology, Social Justice, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Education, Education, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychology, Mental Illness


Publication year 1964

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Gender, Society: Class, Society: Community

Tags Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Realism, Poverty, Psychological Fiction, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

Last Exit to Brooklyn is a 1958 novel by Hubert Selby Jr. Set in the Brooklyn borough of New York City in the 1950s, the novel portrays the interconnected lives of the residents. The loosely connected stories involve crime, violence, and poverty, as well as drug-use, sex work, and sexual assault. The novel was criticized for its graphic portrayal of controversial themes, resulting in several court cases in the United States and the United Kingdom... Read Last Exit to Brooklyn Summary


Publication year 1924

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Society: War

Tags Lyric Poem, Mythology, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Love / Sexuality


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure, Trauma / Abuse / Violence

Legend is the first book in the titular book trilogy by Chinese-American author Marie Lu. Originally published in 2011, Legend is a dystopian novel that explores topics of love, family, fascism, civil disobedience, inequality, propaganda, poverty, and hope in the face of an oppressive government. Lu was inspired by the classic Victor Hugo story Les Misérables and wanted to explore a similar cat-and-mouse dynamic in a futuristic setting. Just like the law-abiding policeman Javert pursued... Read Legend Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Relationships, Love / Sexuality, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, British Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World


Publication year 1985

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Class

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, History: U.S., American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Classic Fiction

Less than Zero (1985) is the debut novel of Los Angeles-based writer Bret Easton Ellis. It was published when the writer was only 21 and grew out of a creative writing course that he took at Bennington College. The novel brought Ellis fame for his willingness to address controversial topics in contemporary Los Angeles society. Ellis has become known for his deliberately provocative subject matter. A sequel to Less Than Zero, Imperial Bedrooms, was published... Read Less Than Zero Summary