Leo Tolstoy famously begins the novel Anna Karenina with the sentence: "All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." In this thematic collection, we have gathered noteworthy texts that navigate the joyous and sorrowful emotional terrain of the family unit.
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family
Tags Historical Fiction, September 11 Attacks, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Romance, Arts / Culture
All We Have Left is a historical novel written by Wendy Mills. The book was published in 2016, and was included on Best Book of the Year lists by Kirkus, Amazon and Bank Street. The work is based upon the impact of the terrorist bombings of the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001, and is directed at a young-adult audience. The story is told from the perspective of two teenaged... Read All We Have Left Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Race, Self Discovery, Society: Immigration, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Mothers, Identity: Language
Tags Parenting, Race / Racism, Biography
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Disability, Self Discovery, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family
Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Korean Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, Mental Illness
Publication year 2020
Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Race, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Society: Community
Tags Immigration / Refugee, Race / Racism, Modern Classic Fiction, Biography
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Natural World: Place, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness
Tags Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Place, Natural World: Space & The Universe, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Mental Illness
Publication year 2009
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Romance, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen is a contemporary YA romance novel published in 2009. The story follows protagonist Auden West, an academically accomplished, shy insomniac and child of divorce. When Auden decides to spend her summer before college with her father Robert, stepmother Heidi, and newborn half sister in a small beach town, she undergoes a personal transformation. Auden meets Eli, a fellow insomniac and professional biker, who helps her find her inner... Read Along for the Ride Summary
Publication year 2009
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Military / War, WWII / World War II, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Children's Literature, History: African , Education, Education, Military / War, Realistic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction
The middle-grade novel A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park follows the life of one of the Lost Boys from South Sudan during the Second Sudanese Civil War. Based on a true story, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt published the bestselling novel in 2010, and Park later wrote a companion picture book, Nya’s Long Walk. The story follows Salva Dut, based on a family friend of Park’s, who is chased from his village and family... Read A Long Walk to Water Summary
Publication year 2013
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Poverty, Parenting, Indian Literature, Biography
A Long Way Home is a 2013 memoir by Saroo Brierley, an Indian-born author who was accidentally separated from his biological family at the age of five and adopted by an Australian couple. The memoir traces Saroo’s remarkable journey from India to Australia and back again 25 years later. The book inspired the 2016 film Lion and became a New York Times Best Seller after the film’s release. This guide refers to the 2015 edition published... Read A Long Way Home Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Education, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Gender, Relationships: Family
Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Class, Social Justice, History: Asian, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Arts / Culture
Twelve-year-old Amal’s dreams of becoming a teacher are shattered when she disrespects the powerful landlord of her Pakistani village and is forced into a life of servitude in the New York Times bestselling Amal Unbound (2018). Author Aisha Saeed is a Pakistani-American teacher, writer, and attorney as well as a founder of the We Need Diverse Books organization. In Amal Unbound, Saeed calls attention to contemporary global inequities, exploring themes of social injustice, education, and... Read Amal Unbound Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Race / Racism, Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, LGBTQ, Edwardian Era
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: The Past
Tags British Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor
Publication year 2018
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Immigration, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Humor, Immigration / Refugee, Diversity, Race / Racism, Modern Classic Fiction, Biography
Publication year 2008
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government
Tags History: U.S., History: World, Biography, Politics / Government
American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House is a Pulitzer Prize–winning biography of President Andrew Jackson written in 2008 by historian Jon Meacham. The book focuses on Jackson’s transformative and often controversial time in the White House, exploring themes of democracy, the Expansion of Executive Power, leadership, and the interaction of the personal and public, including the Impact of Personal Character on Public Duty and the Intersection of Private Lives and Public Roles. Meacham... Read American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Romance, Humor, Asian Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Class
Tags Romance, Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2012
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings
Tags History: U.S., War On Terrorism / Iraq War, Military / War, History: World, Biography
American Sniper is the autobiography of Chris Kyle, the single deadliest sniper in the history of the United States military. The narrative, co-written by Chris Kyle, Jim deFelice, Scott McEwen, and Chris’s wife Taya, opens with events that took place in 2003 in Iraq. At the time, Chris was providing protective fire for a group of Marines; a female insurgent attempted to attack the Marines with a grenade, but Chris shot her, registering his first... Read American Sniper Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Life/Time: The Future, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Fear
Tags Lyric Poem, Race / Racism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Black Lives Matter, African American Literature