The titles in this Collection examine the concept of social equality through a broad array of literary genres and forms. These curated selections represent a diversity of voices and perspectives that examine social disparities through the lenses of gender, race, socioeconomics, and other factors.
Publication year 1995
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Equality, Identity: Gender
Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Classic Fiction
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1995) by Gregory Maguire reimagines the central antagonist of the iconic story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which was published in 1900 by author L. Frank Baum and became central to American popular culture through the 1939 film adaptation starring Judy Garland. Allusions to the original story recur throughout film, television, and novels. Decades later, expressions like “we’re not in Kansas anymore” or... Read Wicked Summary
Publication year 1986
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: Aging
Tags Holidays & Occasions, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, History: U.S.
Publication year 2018
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Politics / Government, Business / Economics, Social Justice, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Class, Sociology, History: World
Publication year 1987
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Lyric Poem, Gender / Feminism
Publication year 1975
Genre Novella, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Gender / Feminism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, African Literature, Social Justice, Education, Finance / Money / Wealth, History: Middle Eastern, Love / Sexuality, Politics / Government, Incarceration, Crime / Legal, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Education, Classic Fiction
Woman at Point Zero, also titled Firdaus, is a 1975 novella by Nawal El Saadawi based on the true account of a woman named Firdaus who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 1974. Saadawi was a prolific Egyptian feminist and physician, and she worked with Egyptian women who experienced various mental conditions that Saadawi saw largely as resulting from living in a patriarchal society. She had the privilege of meeting Firdaus on... Read Woman at Point Zero Summary
Publication year 1999
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Self Discovery, Society: Nation
Tags American Literature, History: World, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Philosophy, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), History: U.S., Transcendentalism
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Race / Racism, Asian Literature
Publication year 2007
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Art, Society: Immigration
Tags Play: Drama, Play: Comedy / Satire, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Race / Racism, Politics / Government, Education, Education, Asian Literature, Drama / Tragedy, Humor
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Community
Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ
Publication year 2011
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Equality, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Action / Adventure, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Military / War
David Baldacci’s Zero Day (2011, Grand Central Publishing) is the 23rd of Balducci’s 44 adult novels and the first of three in his John Puller series. Most of Baldacci’s adult novels are in the suspense and legal thriller genres. Baldacci studied law and worked as an attorney for seven years before publication of his first novel, Absolute Power (1996), which was made into a 1997 film directed by Clint Eastwood. His research for Zero Day... Read Zero Day Summary