Friendship

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 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Fame, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, History: World


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Identity: Disability, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Mythology, Children's Literature

The Sword of Summer (2015) is the first book in Rick Riordan’s Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard modern fantasy series for young readers. The book takes place in the same universe as Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series (2005-2009) and is followed by The Hammer of Thor. The Sword of Summer won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Middle Grade and Children’s (2015) and has appeared on both the New York Times... Read The Sword of Summer Summary


Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Mythology


Publication year 1955

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Italian Literature, Classic Fiction

The Talented Mr. Ripley, written by Patricia Highsmith, was originally published in 1955 by W. W. Norton & Company. The novel falls within the psychological thriller genre and is the first of five books featuring Tom Ripley, known as The Ripleiad, published between 1955 and 1991. The novel has been adapted twice into film, first in 1960 as a French film titled Purple Noon and again in 1991 under its original title. The 1991 film... Read The Talented Mr. Ripley Summary


Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Class, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

Tags Fairy Tale / Folklore, Fantasy, Animals, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, Classic Fiction


Publication year 1984

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Mothers, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Space & The Universe, Society: War, Relationships: Family

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Action / Adventure

The Talisman is a 1984 novel co-written by Stephen King and Peter Straub. It is a fantasy novel with horror elements and has connections to the works in King’s Dark Tower series. The Talisman is a road trip book that tells the story of Jack Sawyer and his quest to save his mother. The Talisman examines themes of lost innocence, coming of age, friendship, the corrupting nature of power, and more.The Talisman has a sequel... Read The Talisman Summary


Publication year 1998

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness

Tags Health / Medicine, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Sports, Mental Illness, Biography

The Tennis Partner: A Story of Friendship and Loss (1998) is a memoir by physician Abraham Verghese. It follows his friendship with David Smith, a medical student recovering from drug addiction, and the regular games of tennis that lie at the heart of their relationship. The book explores the themes The Disease of Addiction, The Power of Ritual, and Navigating Loneliness and Conflict in Relationships.Verghese is a physician, professor, and best-selling author. His first book... Read The Tennis Partner Summary


Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Society: Education, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family

Tags Poverty, Diversity, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Arts / Culture

The Tequila Worm, published in 2005 by Random House, (first edition) is a middle grade novel about a young Mexican American girl, Sofia, who comes from a family of storytellers. The tales Sofia hears strengthen her ties to her family and their traditions in the Texas barrio where they live. Though poor, the family does not struggle, finding riches in the practice of making Easter cascarones, (colored eggs) celebrating Dia de los Muertos, (Day of... Read The Tequila Worm Summary


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Relationships: Family, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Animals, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Society: Education

Tags Action / Adventure, Humor, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education


Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Historical Fiction, German Literature, Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Italian Literature

The Thief Lord is a middle-grade fantasy novel originally written and published in German by Cornelia Funke in 2000. Its English translation by Oliver Latsch was reprinted in 2002. The story won many national and international awards, including the Mildred L. Batchelder Award for Outstanding Translated Book, the Zurich Children’s Book Award, the Swiss Youth Literature Award, and the Book Award from the Vienna House of Literature. It’s also a New York Times Notable Book... Read The Thief Lord Summary


Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Disability, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies


Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Realistic Fiction, Animals, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy

The Tiger Rising is a children’s novel by two-time Newbery Award-medalist, Kate DiCamillo. Published in 2001, The Tiger Rising is DiCamillo’s second book and was a National Book Award Finalist. Following the death of his mother, 12-year-old Rob Horton packs away his grief the way he packs his clothes when he and his father move to Lister, Florida. However, Rob’s discovery of a caged tiger in the woods and the friendship of an angry girl... Read The Tiger Rising Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Animals, Magical Realism, Children's Literature


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Children's Literature


Publication year 1963

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Friendship, Society: War


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair (in French La Vérité sur l'affaire Harry Quebert), is a novel by Swiss writer Joël Dicker, published originally in 2012 in France and Switzerland, and in 2014 in English translation by Sam Taylor. The edition used in this guide is by MacLehose Press, published in London in 2014, in ebook format. The novel is a postmodern crime fiction story, belonging to the amateur detective subgenre. Set in the... Read The Truth About The Harry Quebert Affair Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Relationships: Teams, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Relationships: Family

Tags Children's Literature, Sports, Race / Racism, Bullying, Realistic Fiction, Biography


Publication year 1954

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: War, Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Tags Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure

The Two Towers (1954) is the second book of the Lord of the Rings trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien. The Two Towers is a work of fantasy fiction set in the world of Middle-earth, the setting that Tolkien also used in his earlier 1937 novel, The Hobbit. It continues the quest of Frodo and his companions to destroy the One Ring that they set out on in The Fellowship of the Ring, interweaving the... Read The Two Towers Summary


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Relationships: Teams, Relationships: Family

Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Sports


Publication year 2016

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship

Tags History: World, Science / Nature, Business / Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Biography

A powerful dichotomy lies at the heart of The Undoing Project: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds (2016), Michael Lewis’s account of how the friendship between two Israeli psychologists—Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky—essentially created the field of behavioral economics and shifted paradigms about human decision making. This dichotomy is the tension between intuition and algorithms, between gut feelings and empirical data. In the Introduction, Lewis explains that The Undoing Project exists largely as a complement... Read The Undoing Project Summary