The solace and comfort of true friendship — and the pain of its loss — can rival any romantic or familial relationship. In this collection, we present texts that examine the unique qualities and costs of deep friendships.
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Disability, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Realistic Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Relationships: Marriage
Tags Romance, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Fairy Tale / Folklore
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Space & The Universe, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Grief / Death, Climate Change, Technology
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Aging, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Community
Publication year 1973
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Humor, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction
In the novel How to Eat Fried Worms, a boy accepts a $50 bet from a friend to eat 15 worms in 15 days, but as he nears victory, he faces a flurry of nasty tricks and traps that go wildly out of control. Written by Thomas Rockwell, son of the famous American illustrator Norman Rockwell, and published in 1973, the book sold over three million copies, won several awards, was a target of censors... Read How To Eat Fried Worms Summary
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Life/Time: The Past
Tags Romance, Literary Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Publication year 1998
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Language
Tags Self Help, Psychology, Relationships, Leadership/Organization/Management
Publication year 2003
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self Discovery
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Humor, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature
Publication year 1998
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Identity: Language
Tags Business / Economics, Relationships, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help, Classic Fiction
First published in 1936, Dale Carnegie’s book How to Win Friends and Influence People launched the American self-help industry, sold over 30 million copies, and became a template for the thousands of self-improvement books that followed. It asserts that success with others depends on listening, showing appreciation, and empathizing with them. The book was revised in 1981; the 2020 eBook re-issue of that edition is the basis for this study guide. The book is divided... Read How to Win Friends and Influence People Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags History: World, Arts / Culture, Historical Fiction, Race / Racism
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Disability, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Self Discovery
Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Health / Medicine, Disability
Publication year 1981
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Education, Education, Classic Fiction
American author Tobias Wolff, known for memoirs like In Pharaoh's Army (1994) and short stories like “Bullet in the Brain” (1995), published “Hunters in the Snow” in 1981 in his first collection of short stories, In the Garden of North American Martyrs. The story is believed to be inspired by the painting Hunters in the Snow by Pieter Bruegel. The story, narrated from a third-person limited perspective, focuses on the relationship between three characters: Tub... Read Hunters in the Snow Summary
Publication year 1963
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Beauty, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Historical Fiction, History: European, WWII / World War II, Action / Adventure, Religion / Spirituality, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Military / War, History: World, Classic Fiction
I Am David by Anne Holm is a children’s historical fiction novel written in 1963. It was originally written in Danish but has since been translated into many languages, including English, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, German, Dutch, Afrikaans, French, and Konkani. It was first published in the United States under the name North to Freedom but eventually was retranslated into its original title. It was made into a movie in 2003. The novel received several awards... Read I Am David Summary
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Relationships, Science / Nature, Class, Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure, Religion / Spirituality
I Am Number Four (2010) is the first book in the modern young adult science fiction series Lorien Legacies by Pittacus Lore, the pseudonym of authors James Frey and Jobie Hughes. Despite the novel’s mixed reviews, I Am Number Four spent seven successive weeks at the top of the New York Times children’s bestseller list. The novel was adapted into a film of the same name in 2011 by DreamWorks Pictures.Other works by this author... Read I Am Number Four Summary
Publication year 2004
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Objects, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags History: World, Action / Adventure, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2006
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Romance, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2013
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Music, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Realistic Fiction, Bullying, Children's Literature, Arts / Culture, History: World, Historical Fiction, Music
If I Ever Get Out of Here (2013), by Eric Gansworth—a member of Onondaga Nation and Haudenosaunee—is a young adult, contemporary fiction novel about a teenage boy, Lewis “Shoe” Blake. Lewis narrates his struggles fitting into life in junior high and navigating the cultural differences between his life on the reservation, which he refers to as “the rez,” and that of his white classmates.Other work by this author includes Apple: Skin to the Core.Plot SummaryThe... Read If I Ever Get Out of Here Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Gender / Feminism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: War
Tags Romance, Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Religion / Spirituality