With classics like J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan and contemporary hits like Min Jin Lee's Pachinko, this collection gathers texts that grapple with the complex and archetypal role of the mother.
Publication year 2004
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Magical Realism
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self Discovery, Relationships: Family
Tags Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure
Publication year 1996
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Class, Society: War, Society: Economics, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Disability, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Birth, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Class, Politics / Government, Religion / Spirituality, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Grief / Death
A Game of Thrones is a 1996 epic fantasy novel by George R. R. Martin and is the first in his long-running A Song of Ice and Fire series. The novel introduces the audience to the fictional world of Westeros, where characters become embroiled in a complicated web of plots, conspiracies, and betrayals as they pursue power. A Game of Thrones won numerous awards on publication and was adapted for television in 2011. This guide... Read A Game of Thrones Summary
Publication year 1928
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Community
Tags History: World, Historical Fiction, Western, Romance, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers
Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness, Trauma / Abuse / Violence
A List of Cages is a 2017 young adult novel by Robin Roe. The story centers on the friendship between two teenagers, Adam Blake and Julian Harlow. Adam and Julian first become friends when Adam is Julian's reading buddy in grammar school. The friendship deepens when Julian's parents die, and he lives in Adam’s house as a foster child. Although they knew each other in grammar school, the main action of this story takes place... Read A List of Cages Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Social Justice, History: World, Biography
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge
Tags Historical Fiction, Holocaust, Drama / Tragedy, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Grief
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Grief / Death, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1936
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Relationships: Mothers, Life/Time: Coming of Age
"All the Years of Her Life" is a short story by Canadian author Morley Callaghan, first published in his collection Now That April’s Here and Other Stories in 1936. Set in a drugstore in an unknown city, it centers around a young man named Alfred Higgins, who is caught by his boss stealing items from his workplace. Instead of calling the police, the owner, Mr. Carr, calls Alfred’s mother to discuss her son’s actions. Exploring... Read All the Years of Her Life Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Race, Self Discovery, Society: Immigration, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Mothers, Identity: Language
Tags Parenting, Race / Racism, Biography
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Romance, Drama / Tragedy, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2020
Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Race, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Society: Community
Tags Immigration / Refugee, Race / Racism, Modern Classic Fiction, Biography
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: The Past
Tags British Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor
Publication year 2009
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: War, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Historical Fiction, Animals, WWII / World War II, Children's Literature, Military / War, History: World, Action / Adventure
Publication year 1985
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Colonialism
Tags Classic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Education, Education, History: World, Historical Fiction
Annie John, published in 1985, is the second book by the Antiguan American author Jamaica Kincaid (née Elaine Cynthia Potter Richardson). Annie John is a coming-of-age novel that follows the life of a young girl from age 10 to 17, until she leaves her home in Antigua, bound for nursing school in England. In the novel, Annie describes her most important relationships, and the bond with her mother is chief among them. Life is heaven... Read Annie John Summary
Publication year 1897
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness
Tags Classic Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Southern Literature, Education, Education, American Literature, History: World
“A Pair of Silk Stockings” (1897) is a short story (2000-words) written by Kate Chopin, first published in Vogue magazine. The story is a work of Literary Realism, set at the time of publication and told from the third-person point of view. It describes the experience of Mrs. Sommers, a married, middle-class woman raising a family on a modest income, who unexpectedly comes into $15, a considerable amount of money in 1897. The interest of... Read A Pair of Silk Stockings Summary
Publication year 2005
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Grief
Tags Education, Education, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1982
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Identity: Gender, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Historical Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Immigration / Refugee, British Literature, Japanese Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, History: World
A Pale View of Hills (1982) is Kazuo Ishiguro’s first novel. Born in Nagasaki in 1954, Ishiguro immigrated with his family to the United Kingdom when he was five years old. Despite his family’s Japanese origins, the author frequently states in interviews that his experience with Japanese culture is very limited, as he spent all his adult life in England. Simultaneously, however, growing up in a Japanese family developed in Ishiguro a different perspective compared... Read A Pale View of Hills Summary
Publication year 2009
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Colonialism, Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Society: War
Tags Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Historical Fiction, African American Literature
Publication year 1970
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Grandparents, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is a 1970 middle-grade novel by bestselling American author Judy Blume. The story focuses on 11-year-old Margaret Ann Simon and her family’s move to New Jersey at the beginning of her sixth-grade year. As Margaret navigates her new public school and new friend dynamics, she struggles to form a positive self-image about her changing body and starts exploring her religious beliefs. Although it was not Blume’s first novel... Read Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret Summary