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 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Language, Natural World: Space & The Universe, Society: Community
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy
Publication year 2019
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Language, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Community
Tags Sociology, Science / Nature, Technology, Technology, History: World
Publication year 2021
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Self Help, Inspirational, African American Literature, History: U.S.
Publication year 2004
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Community, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Identity: Language, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2020
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Community, Society: Education, Society: Politics & Government, Identity: Disability
Tags Disability, Social Justice, History: U.S., Politics / Government, History: World, Biography
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Historical Fiction, Social Justice, Race / Racism, African American Literature, Children's Literature, History: World
Publication year 1976
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Future, Society: Globalization, Society: Community
Tags Anthropology, Arts / Culture, Sociology, Anthropology, Science / Nature, History: World, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy
Publication year 1971
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Psychology, Philosophy, Science / Nature, Education, Education, Social Science, Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Politics / Government
Beyond Freedom and Dignity (1971) is a scientific philosophical text written by B. F. Skinner. Skinner (1904-1990) was a psychologist from the United States who is widely recognized for his contributions to behaviorism, the psychological theory that human behavior is determined or based on antecedent and external circumstances. Beyond Freedom and Dignity has been highly criticized for its repudiation of free will and its underlying Victorian ideals; however, this heavy criticism resulted in the popularization... Read Beyond Freedom and Dignity Summary
Publication year 2014
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Society: Community, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Femininity, Self Discovery
Tags LGBTQ, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Gender / Feminism, Biography
Publication year 2019
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Society: Community
Tags Psychology, Race / Racism, Sociology, Social Justice, Science / Nature, Psychology, Politics / Government
Publication year 1936
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Society: Community, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags African American Literature, Race / Racism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Civil Rights / Jim Crow
The short story “Big Boy Leaves Home” (1936) is the first published work of Richard Wright (1908-1960), a celebrated African American author who is best known for his 1940 protest novel Native Son. Most of Wright’s poetry, fiction, and nonfiction deal with the experiences of working-class Black people (especially men) in the United States. His protagonists, like “Big Boy,” struggle against overt racism and racist violence in their communities, ultimately facing crises that force them... Read Big Boy Leaves Home Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Race, Self Discovery, Society: Community
Tags Self Help, Gender / Feminism, Relationships, Psychology, Psychology
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Identity: Race, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Race / Racism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: World, Arts / Culture
Publication year 1924
Genre Novella, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Teams, Society: Community, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags American Literature, Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Education, Education, History: World
Billy Budd, Sailor is a 1924 novella by Herman Melville. The narrative is equal parts philosophical examination and Christian allegory. The story concerns the brief time and tragic death of the eponymous Billy on the British warship Bellipotent. In the story, Billy, happy and naïve, is framed for mutiny and hanged for treason despite his innocence. Melville uses Billy’s story to examine The Struggle Between Morality and Lawfulness, The Vulnerability of Innocence and Naivety, and... Read Billy Budd, Sailor Summary
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Natural World: Place, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Birth, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction
Bird Box is a 2014 post-apocalyptic, dystopian horror novel by Josh Malerman. The story follows a woman’s struggle to protect two children in a world where people are driven to violence by unseen monsters, touching on such themes as paranoia, raising children to deal with an uncertain future, and the dangers of exceptionalism. Bird Box won a Michigan Notable Book Award and was also nominated for the James Herbert Award as well as the Bram... Read Bird Box Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Society: Community
Tags Fantasy, African American Literature
Publication year 2019
Genre Anthology/Varied Collection, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Self Discovery, Society: Community
Tags Race / Racism, LGBTQ, Diversity, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1990
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Community
Tags Gender / Feminism, Race / Racism, Politics / Government, Social Justice, Sociology, Philosophy, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), African American Literature, Philosophy
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Realistic Fiction, African American Literature, Race / Racism
Publication year 1961
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Identity: Race, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Journalism, Sociology, History: World, Classic Fiction, Biography
Black Like Me is a sociological memoir written by John Howard Griffin in 1960. It takes place in 1959 in the deep South of the United States during the end of the segregation era. Griffin, a white man, assumes the appearance and life of a Black man and records his experiences in an attempt to create understanding and bridge gaps between Black and white Americans. Black Like Me was awarded the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for... Read Black Like Me Summary