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 1771
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Identity: Gender, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage
Tags Classic Fiction, Humor, Satire, Travel Literature, British Literature, Georgian Era, Education, Education, History: World
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Bullying, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 1953
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, American Literature, Fantasy, Humor, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1990
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Children's Literature, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Caroline B. Cooney’s The Face on the Milk Carton is a work of young adult fiction originally published in 1990. The first of “The Janie Books,” it has sold over 4 million copies, spawned five sequels, and was adapted into a 1995 TV movie starring Kellie Martin. The novel was often challenged or banned after its publication due to its references to cults and sexual activity. This guide references the 2012 paperback edition.Plot SummaryFifteen-year-old Janie... Read The Face on the Milk Carton Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Romance, Fantasy
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Siblings
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Asian Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1978
Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Identity: Gender, Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Education, Education, Psychology, Psychology, Relationships, Mental Illness, Self Help
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Finance / Money / Wealth, Holidays & Occasions, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Family, Natural World: Place, Life/Time: The Past, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1958
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Society: Class
Tags Historical Fiction, Poverty, Holidays & Occasions, Children's Literature, French Literature, Classic Fiction
The Family Under the Bridge is a work of realistic historical fiction set in Paris in the early 1900s. It was originally published in 1958 and then reprinted in 1989. The author, Natalie Savage Carlson, is an American of French-Canadian descent who spent many years living in Paris. The book, which follows an unhoused man as he meets and befriends a young family, won a Newbery Honor Award in 1959 and a Horn Book Fanfare... Read The Family Under The Bridge Summary
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Parenting, Psychology, LGBTQ, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1970
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Family
Tags Gender / Feminism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Sociology, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Politics / Government
Publication year 2003
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Family
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Modern Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Relationships: Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Music, Arts / Culture
The First Rule of Punk is Celia C. Pérez’s 2017 debut YA novel. It was a 2018 Pura Belpré Author Honor Book, a 2018 ALSC Notable Children’s Book, and a 2018 Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award Winner. Pérez, as a long-time punk zine author and Mexican Cuban woman, drew from her adoration of “outsiders” and “weirdos” to craft her first novel. Pérez then penned her second YA novel, Strange Birds: A Field Guide... Read The First Rule of Punk Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Romance, Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, LGBTQ, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2003
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: Aging, Values/Ideas: Fate, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Fathers, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Inspirational, Magical Realism, Religion / Spirituality, Grief / Death, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction
The Five People You Meet in Heaven is a novel by best-selling writer Mitch Albom. Published in 2003, it sold more than 10 million copies and appeared on the New York Times bestseller list. In 2004, the story was adapted into a made-for-television movie starring Jon Voight. In 2018, Albom penned a follow-up called The Next Person You Meet in Heaven. The novel follows the story of Eddie, a man who believes his life was... Read The Five People You Meet In Heaven Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family
Tags Grief / Death, Modern Classic Fiction, Business / Economics, Inspirational, Humor
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags LGBTQ, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction