A community can come together for the common good or be torn apart by disagreement and strife. This collection explores what makes a community and how individuals struggle or succeed in finding their place within it.
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Education
Tags Class, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Social Justice, Modern Classic Fiction, Indian Literature
Publication year 2020
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Community
Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice, Education, Children's Literature, Education, Politics / Government
Publication year 2006
Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Philosophy, Inspirational
This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women (2006) is a collection of 80 short essays written by American people from all walks of life, outlining their personal beliefs and credos. The volume was compiled by co-editors Jay Allison and Dan Gediman, working for the nonprofit organization This I Believe, Inc.. The organization and its publications aim to promote tolerance and understanding, and to facilitate public debate by encouraging members of the... Read This I Believe Summary
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Immigration
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Community
Tags Realistic Fiction, Romance, African American Literature, Race / Racism, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Midlife, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Globalization, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Military / War, History: World, French Literature, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Community
Tags Realistic Fiction, Social Justice, Race / Racism, Immigration / Refugee, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2008
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Relationships: Family, Society: Community
Tags Parenting, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Biography
An international bestseller, Ashley Rhodes-Courter’s 2008 memoir, Three Little Words, provides a moving account of her early life in the foster care system. Ashley is born to a teenage mother, Lorraine, who is not well placed to look after her. After her mother’s new partner, Dusty, moves in, things soon deteriorate. When the family moves to Florida, Lorraine and Dusty are both arrested, and Ashley is placed in foster care along with her younger brother... Read Three Little Words Summary
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Humor, Action / Adventure
Three Times Lucky (2012) is a middle grade mystery fiction novel written by Sheila Turnage. Turnage is the author of the Mo & Dale series and lives in North Carolina, where her books take place. Three Times Lucky was a Newbery Honor Book, a New York Times Best Seller, a Wall Street Journal Best Book of the Year, and an E. B. White Read-Aloud Honor Book. In the story, 11-year-old best friends Mo and Dale... Read Three Times Lucky Summary
Publication year 2006
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Globalization, Society: Immigration, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Crime / Legal, History: European, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Science / Nature, History: World, Biography
Erik Larson’s Thunderstruck is a 2006 work of narrative nonfiction that braids two seemingly unrelated historical events that captured public attention in the pre-World War I years. The first involves the emerging and transformative technology of wireless communication designed by Marconi, the second a gruesome murder in London perpetrated by a seemingly docile and genial doctor named Crippen. Thunderstruck follows the success of Larson’s 2003 Devil in the White City, which coupled America’s first major... Read Thunderstruck Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Education, Society: Community
Tags Sociology, Politics / Government, Poverty, Business / Economics, History: World, Social Justice
Tightrope: Americans Reaching For Hope (Alfred A. Knopf, 2020) is a nonfiction book written by the journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, who are also married. The book chronicles the individual impact of the American approach to poverty and offers prescriptions for how the United States can adopt a more human approach to those who are struggling with deprivation, addiction, and despair. Upon its release, the book was a New York Times best seller.Plot SummaryThe... Read Tightrope Summary
Publication year 1964
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Identity: Race, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Historical Fiction, History: U.S., Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 1973
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Animals, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Lyric Poem
Publication year 1945
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Identity: Gender, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy
Tags Free verse, Disability
Publication year 2020
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Relationships: Family, Society: Community
Tags Psychology, Self Help, Health / Medicine, Relationships, Sociology, Science / Nature, Psychology, Mental Illness
Publication year 1988
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Aging
Tags African American Literature
Alice Walker published her first short story, “To Hell with Dying,” in 1968 and republished it as a children’s book with illustrations by Catherine Deeter in 1988. While suitable for children, its depth, themes, and writing style resonate with readers of all ages with an interest in African American literature.Alice Walker is a prominent author of novels, essays, and poems and was the first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in... Read To Hell with Dying Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Community
Tags Romance, Fantasy, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Action / Adventure, Relationships, Love / Sexuality, Mythology
Publication year 1831
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Community
Tags Social Justice, Race / Racism, History: U.S.
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Race, Society: Community, Relationships: Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Race / Racism, Relationships, Grief / Death, Diversity, American Literature, September 11 Attacks, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, History: World