Books on Justice & Injustice

James Baldwin said, "It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have." In this collection, we've compiled texts that explore the idea of what justice is — and how it can thrive.

Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Grief / Death, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction

No Second Chance is a 2003 thriller novel written by Harlan Coben. The novel follows Marc Seidman, a man who wakes in the hospital with a gunshot wound to find that his wife is dead, his daughter is missing, and he is the main suspect. Plot SummaryDr. Marc Seidman wakes up in the hospital 12 days after being shot in his Kasselton, New Jersey, home. His wife, Monica, is dead, and their infant daughter, Tara... Read No Second Chance Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Natural World: Food, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance


Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Romance, Race / Racism, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Incarceration, Relationships, Allegory / Fable / Parable, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Social Justice, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy


Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Siblings, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: War, Relationships: Fathers

Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Auto/Biographical Fiction, American Civil War, Race / Racism, History: U.S., Military / War, History: World


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Identity: Mental Health, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Teams, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, Narrative / Epic Poem


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Education, Society: Class, Society: Community, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Social Justice, Race / Racism


Publication year 1973

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Science / Nature, Psychology, Psychology, Mental Illness, Health / Medicine


Publication year 1962

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags American Literature, Classic Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Mental Illness, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Health / Medicine, Relationships, Education, Education, Psychology, Psychology

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a historical fiction novel by Ken Kesey, published in 1962. Kesey drew on his experiences working in a veterans’ hospital to develop a critique of then-current psychiatric practices. The novel’s central conflict between a domineering nurse and an unruly patient can also be read as an allegory for the emerging culture wars of the 1960s. The novel was adapted into a Broadway play one year after its publication... Read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Summary


Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Indigenous, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Southern Gothic, Southern Literature, Gothic Literature

One Foot in Eden is a 2002 crime novel by Ron Rash. Rash employs a blend of Southern Gothic and detective fiction to create suspense and explore the psychological inner conflict of the characters. The novel follows five different narrators as the people of Jocassee, South Carolina, discover the murder of Holland Winchester. As the investigation continues, the characters must come to terms with the displacement of their community while Carolina Power evicts the inhabitants... Read One Foot in Eden Summary


Publication year 1977

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Education, Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Self Discovery, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Education, Crime / Legal

One L: The Turbulent True Story of a First Year at Harvard Law School is Scott Turow’s debut memoir, first published in 1977. The book is autobiographical and follows Scott’s first full year at Harvard Law School, where he experiences an intense learning curve and tumultuous emotions as he toils to keep pace with his classmates. The book gained attention for expressing the pitfalls of the Socratic method and is credited for popularizing the term... Read One L Summary


Publication year 2008

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Language, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Place, Self Discovery, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Education, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags History: World, Biography


Publication year 2008

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Latin American Literature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Identity: Disability, Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Social Justice, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance


Publication year 2021

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Social Justice, Black Lives Matter, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Education, Politics / Government, History: World


Publication year 1874

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Society: War, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Ancient Greece, Philosophy, Military / War, Social Justice, History: World, Politics / Government


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World, Mental Illness


Publication year 1963

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: War, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Philosophy, Politics / Government, History: World, American Revolution, Sociology, Philosophy, Classic Fiction