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 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Romance, Realistic Fiction, LGBTQ, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1982
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt
Tags Addiction / Substance Abuse, History: U.S., American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, LGBTQ
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Mental Illness, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2019
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Relationships: Family, Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Nation
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Drama / Tragedy, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Military / War, History: World
Publication year 2005
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Children's Literature, Animals, Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Climate, Self Discovery
Tags Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Natural Disaster, Children's Literature, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Health / Medicine, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1926
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Place, Society: Community
Tags Classic Fiction, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Animals, Food, Relationships, Science / Nature
Publication year 2009
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Natural World: Food, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Fathers, Natural World: Appearance & Reality
Tags Realistic Fiction, Mental Illness, Grief / Death, Depression / Suicide, Modern Classic Fiction
Wintergirls is a young-adult novel by Laurie Halse Anderson published in 2009 by Penguin Books. Wintergirls is the winner of the 2010 Milwaukee County Teen Book Award and has received several other award nominations. Wintergirls follows the mental health journey of Lia Overbrook as she attempts recovery from anorexia, depression, and other mental health issues. Lia spends the weeks during Thanksgiving and Christmas struggling to gain closure over her former best friend Cassie’s death. Lia... Read Wintergirls Summary
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Identity: Disability
Tags Realistic Fiction, Animals, Bullying, Children's Literature
Publication year 2025
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Birth, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Courage
Tags Fantasy
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Fantasy
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Music, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Self Discovery
Tags Romance, Holidays & Occasions
Publication year 2001
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Historical Fiction, Health / Medicine, British Literature, History: World
Year of Wonders (2001) is a historical fiction novel by Geraldine Brooks, tracing the 1666 outbreak of the bubonic plague in the English town of Eyam. When the town’s zealous rector, Michael Mompellion, and the community submit to a voluntary quarantine, young widow Anna Frith serves with the rector and his wife Elinor to minister to the townsfolk as the plague wreaks havoc. Through the eyes of 18-year-old Anna, the novel explores what happens when... Read Year of Wonders Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery
Tags Romance, LGBTQ, New Adult
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Midlife, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Literature
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Realistic Fiction, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Mental Illness
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Society: Community
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Bullying, Modern Classic Fiction