How do we uphold goodness in a world where it can seem impossible? What are the consequences to the human heart when we fail to live up to the ideals of goodness? These are some of the questions posed by the texts in this collection which explores the theme of Good & Evil.
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Fantasy, Religion / Spirituality, Class, Narrative / Epic Poem, Action / Adventure
The Way of Kings (2010) is the first book in Brandon Sanderson’s ongoing epic fantasy series, The Stormlight Archive. The Way of Kings won Best Novel at the 2011 David Gemmell Legend Awards for fantasy literature and is considered an exemplary and influential entry to the epic fantasy genre. DMG Entertainment purchased the rights to a film adaptation of The Stormlight Archive in 2016, and Arcturus VR released a videogame adaptation of the novel in... Read The Way of Kings Summary
Publication year 1954
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Life/Time: Midlife, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Education, Education, Classic Fiction
“The Way Up to Heaven” by Roald Dahl was initially published in 1954 in an issue of The New Yorker magazine and later included in his 1960 short story compilation book Kiss Kiss. The story was also adapted for TV in 1957 and 1979. Dahl is well known for his children’s novels, such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Witches, and The Big Friendly Giant, many of which appeal with elements that are unusually... Read The Way Up To Heaven Summary
Publication year 1947
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Community
Tags Classic Fiction, American Literature, History: U.S., History: World
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction
Competitor... Read The Will of the Many Summary
Publication year 1908
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Flora/plants
Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, Animals, British Literature, Classic Fiction
First published in 1908, The Wind in the Willows by Scottish writer Kenneth Grahame is a story for young readers that recounts the adventures of three animals: Mole, Rat, and Badger. In the woodlands where they live, the trio must deal with various problems—which include frequently rescuing their friend Mr. Toad, who loves thrills and often causes trouble.Widely considered one of the greatest literary works for children, The Wind in the Willows has been reprinted... Read The Wind in the Willows Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Immigration
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Class, History: World, History: The Americas, History: U.S., Immigration / Refugee, Military / War, Politics / Government, Social Justice, Music, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Race / Racism
Publication year 1994
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Fate
Tags Magical Realism, Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Japanese Literature, Love / Sexuality
Publication year 2011
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Identity: Gender, Society: Education, Society: Class, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, Finance / Money / Wealth, Poverty, Narrative / Epic Poem
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Self Discovery, Relationships: Family, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Identity: Disability, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Fear
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Irish Literature
The Witch Elm (2018) is a psychological crime thriller by best-selling American Irish author Tana French. The story follows Toby Hennessy, who unearths harmful family secrets while salvaging his identity after a traumatic assault. A standalone novel separate from French’s award-winning Dublin Murder Squad series, The Witch Elm appeared on NPR’s list of best books from 2018 and the New York Times’s notable books of 2018. Other works by this author include The Trespasser (2016)... Read The Witch Elm Summary
Publication year 1990
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Religion / Spirituality, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Gothic Literature
Publication year 1621
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Classic Fiction, Play: Tragedy, Play: Comedy / Satire, British Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Drama / Tragedy
The Witch of Edmonton is an English Jacobean play. It was written in 1621 by William Rowley, Thomas Dekker, and John Ford, who were all established playwrights of this period. Other playwrights may have also contributed, including John Webster, who was working closely at the time with the play’s credited writers. The play was first performed by Prince Charles’s Men (a theatrical company patronized by Prince Charles’s estate) at the Cockpit Theater in 1621. It... Read The Witch of Edmonton Summary
Publication year 1900
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self Discovery
Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure
Published in 1900, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a beloved children’s classic by L. Frank Baum. It was adapted in 1939 into an iconic film starring Judy Garland. L. Frank Baum went on to write 13 further books set in the Land of Oz. This guide refers to the 2008 Puffin Books edition of The Wizard of Oz.Plot SummaryDorothy is a young girl living with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry on a farm... Read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Summary
Publication year 1816
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Identity: Indigenous
Tags Fairy Tale / Folklore, Mythology, American Literature
Publication year 2008
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Crime / Legal, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Biography
Cylin and John Busby’s The Year We Disappeared is a true crime memoir originally published in 2008. An expanded, 10th-anniversary edition was published in 2018. The book falls into both the memoir and true crime genres and is told from the perspective of the victims rather than a third party, such as a reporter. The Busby’s story was also featured on CBS’s newsmagazine, 48 Hours. It originally aired in 2010.Plot SummaryIn the summer of 1979... Read The Year We Disappeared Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Society: Education, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, LGBTQ, Gender / Feminism
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Siblings, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World
Publication year 1980
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Indigenous, Relationships: Family, Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Education, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Self Discovery
Tags Historical Fiction, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Asian Literature, Class, Education, History: Asian, Race / Racism
Pramoedya Ananta Toer—a famous Indonesian editor, essayist, and social activist—wrote This Earth of Mankind (1980)—the first book of his series The Buru Quartet—while imprisoned in the Buru Concentration Camp following a military coup that overthrew Sukarno, the first democratically elected president of Indonesia. Incarcerated for 14 years and prevented from having writing material, Toer memorized the books of his series and recited them to his fellow inmates each day until his release in 1979. The... Read This Earth of Mankind Summary
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction
Publication year 1986
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Christian literature, Fantasy, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2008
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags History: U.S., American Civil War, Military / War, Grief / Death, History: World
This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War is a nonfiction book published in 2008 by Drew Gilpin Faust, an American historian and the first woman to serve as president of Harvard University. A finalist for both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, This Republic of Suffering details how mass death affected the lives of survivors during and after the Civil War. Other works by Drew Gilpin Faust include Mothers of... Read This Republic of Suffering Summary