Brothers & Sisters

Whether marked by protective tenderness or tense rivalry, sibling bonds are like none other. This thematic collection offers insights into the unique dynamics of brothers and sisters.

Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Siblings, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Nation, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Korean Literature, Agriculture


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Community, Relationships: Family

Tags Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Grandparents, Society: Community

Tags Historical Fiction, Food, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1100

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Siblings

Tags Classic Fiction, Romance, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Religion / Spirituality, History: European, French Literature, Education, Education, Mythology, Fantasy

The Lais of Marie de France is a collection of 12 romantic narratives—known as Breton Lais—composed in the late 12th century and credited to the French-English poet Marie de France. The lay or lai is a short tale of octosyllabic rhyming couplets which is generally 600–1000 lines long. It can be accompanied by music and is typical of Brittany, a Northern French region with strong Celtic influences. Themes of love, chivalry and the supernatural are... Read The Lais of Marie de France Summary


Publication year 1978

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Drama / Tragedy, Depression / Suicide, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction


Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Siblings, Identity: Masculinity

Tags Humor, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Fathers, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger

Tags Historical Fiction, Incarceration, Mental Illness, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Class, History: World, Action / Adventure


Publication year 1939

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Play: Drama, Classic Fiction, American Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Drama / Tragedy

Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes (1939) is often considered a classic American 20th-century drama. Set in Alabama in 1900, the play explores themes of greed, passive violence, and female agency in the deep south, not yet 50 years removed from the end of the Civil War. The Little Foxes premiered at The National Theatre on Broadway in New York City in 1939 starring Tallulah Bankhead as Regina, before touring for two seasons across the United... Read The Little Foxes Summary


Publication year 1980

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Relationships: Siblings

Tags Military / War, Southern Literature, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction

The Lords of Discipline, Pat Conroy’s 1980 novel set at a military college, chronicles four years in the life of a cadet in training. Conroy, who attended a military college himself, does not shy away from describing the darker side of military training, including relentless, brutal hazing and racism. The novel is divided into four parts, with a brief opening note preceding the story. Before the plot gets underway, protagonist and narrator Will McLean explains... Read The Lords of Discipline Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Disability, Identity: Gender, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: World


Publication year 1984

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

Tags Relationships, American Literature, French Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family

Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Grief / Death, Relationships, Animals, Action / Adventure

A fortuneteller tells 10-year-old Peter that an elephant will lead him to his lost sister, which starts Peter on a journey of self-discovery and wonder in Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo’s The Magician’s Elephant (2009). When a magician miraculously conjures an elephant, its appearance affects everyone in town. In his efforts to find his sister Adele and rescue the homesick elephant, Peter must overcome obstacles and unite a diverse group of characters that includes a policeman... Read The Magician's Elephant Summary


Publication year 1947

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Class

Tags Play: Drama, Absurdism, French Literature, Drama / Tragedy, LGBTQ, Classic Fiction

Jean Genet’s play The Maids (or Les Bonnes) premiered in Paris at the Théâtre de l’Athénée in 1947. By this time, Genet was already an established novelist and playwright, but this one-act play was his first foray into the conventions and aesthetics of the movement now known as the Theatre of the Absurd. The Maids is based on the true story of the Papin sisters, two maids who shocked France in 1933 by murdering their... Read The Maids Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth chronicles the turbulent family dynamics of the wealthy Goodwin family. Published in 2019, the crime thriller explores the complexities of motherhood as Lucy Goodwin struggles to uncover the truth behind the tragic death of her mother-in-law, Diana Goodwin. Hepworth’s sixth novel, the book features multiple narrators and flashbacks that offer a suspenseful examination of Lucy’s self-discovery while grappling with the violent death of her family’s complicated matriarch.Content Warning: The Mother-in-Law... Read The Mother-in-Law Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Siblings

Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Tags Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Grief / Death, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 1908

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Siblings, Society: Community, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Marriage, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Midlife, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags Historical Fiction, British Literature


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Siblings

Tags Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Gender / Feminism, LGBTQ, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, History: World, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Society: Class, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Community, Relationships: Fathers, Natural World: Place, Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Disability, Identity: Femininity

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Gothic Literature, Realistic Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Depression / Suicide, Disability, Grief / Death, Class