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 2000

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Society: Community, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Historical Fiction, Race / Racism, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, History: World


Publication year 1975

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Gender / Feminism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, African Literature, Social Justice, Education, Finance / Money / Wealth, History: Middle Eastern, Love / Sexuality, Politics / Government, Incarceration, Crime / Legal, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Education, Classic Fiction

Woman at Point Zero, also titled Firdaus, is a 1975 novella by Nawal El Saadawi based on the true account of a woman named Firdaus who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 1974. Saadawi was a prolific Egyptian feminist and physician, and she worked with Egyptian women who experienced various mental conditions that Saadawi saw largely as resulting from living in a patriarchal society. She had the privilege of meeting Firdaus on... Read Woman at Point Zero Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Historical Fiction, Western, Magical Realism, History: World


Publication year 1976

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Life/Time: The Future

Tags Gender / Feminism, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Classic Fiction, Fantasy

Woman on the Edge of Time is a 1976 utopian science fiction novel by Marge Piercy. Piercy is a poet, writer, and feminist activist, and the novel critiques racism, patriarchal gender roles, and medical abuse. The novel is set in the 1970s and follows Connie Ramos, an impoverished Mexican American woman who is visited by a time traveler from a utopian future. The book’s setting alternates between the psychiatric hospital where Connie is unjustly committed... Read Woman on the Edge of Time Summary


Publication year 1981

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Gender / Feminism, Race / Racism, History: U.S., Politics / Government, Social Justice, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Sociology, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Language, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Education, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Military / War, History: World


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Realistic Fiction


Publication year 2024

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Grandparents, Society: Community, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Self Discovery


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Race / Racism, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction


Publication year 1176

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

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

Tags Classic Fiction, Romance, Mythology, Narrative / Epic Poem, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, French Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Fantasy

Completed in the year 1181, Yvain, Or the Knight of the Lion is an epic poem by Chrétian De Troyes that tells the story of Yvain, one of King Arthur’s knights, and the many great deeds he performs as he attempts to earn the love of the Lady Laudine. One of the founding stories of the Arthurian legend, Yvain paints a vivid picture of the knightly code of chivalry during the Middle Ages. Its high... Read Yvain, or the Knight With the Lion Summary


Publication year 1966

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Jewish Literature, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Religion / Spirituality, Animals, Holidays & Occasions, Relationships, Science / Nature, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Class, Natural World: Animals, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Latin American Literature, Class, History: World, Magical Realism, Romance, Classic Fiction

Zorro, first published in 2005, is a historical fiction novel by the Chilean writer Isabel Allende. Taking the form of a biography or bildungsroman, Zorro is the first work to chronicle the origins of Zorro, a fictional character created by American pulp writer Johnston McCulley in 1919.Set against the backdrop of Spanish colonialism at the turn of the 19th century, the novel details the events that led the protagonist, Diego de la Vega, to become... Read Zorro Summary