The Dutch philosopher Erasmus said, “When I have a little money, I buy books; and if I have any left, I buy food and clothes.” Why do we value books and literature so highly? This thematic collection gathers books that offer unique insights into the power, energy, and appeal of, well, books!
Publication year 1925
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Appearance & Reality
Tags Modernism, Education, Education, British Literature, Literary Criticism, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Society: Class, Society: Economics, Society: Immigration, Society: Education, Society: War, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Realistic Fiction, History: World
Moon Over Manifest is a 2010 novel by author Claire Vanderpool. It relates the story of 12-year-old Abilene Tucker, a drifting girl in search of her father, a home, and a sense of belonging. When the novel starts, her father, Gideon Tucker, has just sent Abilene to the Kansas town of Manifest, claiming that he can’t take her to Iowa, where he is allegedly taking a railroad job. It is 1936, and the Great Depression... Read Moon Over Manifest Summary
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Romance, Historical Fiction, British Literature, History: World
Mothering Sunday is a 2016 novella written by British author Graham Swift. Like much of Swift’s writing, it has a psychological bent, exploring the relationship between history and memory. Swift won the Booker Prize for his 2006 novel Last Orders and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. This guide uses the 2016 Scribner edition of the text.Plot SummaryIt is March 30, 1924 in the upper-middle-class house of Beechwood in Berkshire, Southern England... Read Mothering Sunday Summary
Publication year 1929
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Art
Tags Modernism, Education, Education, British Literature, Literary Criticism, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2011
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Magical Realism, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Fairy Tale / Folklore
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Teams, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Action / Adventure, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Fantasy
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1901
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Femininity
Tags Historical Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Romance, History: World, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness, Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Publication year 1942
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Art
Tags Mythology, Classical Period, Education, Education, History: World, Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality
Originally published in 1942, Mythology is primarily a compendium of Greek and Roman myths, with a brief final section on Norse mythology, written by American educator and classicist Edith Hamilton. Hamilton engages with the myths as both a storyteller and a literary critic. She organizes and retells the myths narrated in ancient sources, and she assesses those ancient sources as works of literature. Her approach is grounded in the assumptions that Greek and Roman civilizations... Read Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes Summary
Publication year 1836
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Philosophy, Science / Nature, American Literature, Transcendentalism, Education, Education, History: World, Philosophy, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1966
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Fame, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Gender
Tags Lyric Poem, Arts / Culture, Gender / Feminism, American Literature, Confessional
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Children's Literature
Publication year 2000
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Education, Children's Literature, Education, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Animals
No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman (Hyperion Books, 2002) is a humorous middle-grade fiction book about how one boy’s unwillingness to lie changes his life and the lives of everyone at his school. No More Dead Dogs won the 2002 Young Reader’s Choice Award (intermediate), one of many award-winners penned by Korman. Gordon Korman published his first book (This Can’t be Happening at Macdonald Hall, first in the Macdonald Hall series) when he was... Read No More Dead Dogs Summary
Publication year 1985
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Place, Identity: Language, Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: War
Tags Lyric Poem, Irish Literature, History: European, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Psychological Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Relationships, Arts / Culture, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1967
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Language, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Philosophy
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Romance, Fantasy
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Historical Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Holidays & Occasions, British Literature, Christian literature, History: World, Fantasy, Religion / Spirituality