Popular Study Guides

The Popular Study Guides Collection brings together a selection of our most-visited Guides in one convenient place. Featuring titles ranging from classic literature with enduring appeal to popular book club picks, this Collection represents a diverse array of literature readers can't get enough of.

100 Cupboards

by N. D. Wilson

Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure

100 Cupboards is the first novel in a series of young adult fantasy books following main character Henry York, a boy who moves to Henry, Kansas with his aunt and uncle after his parents are kidnapped during a bike expedition in South America. One night, Henry and his adventurous cousin, Henrietta, discover a key to their deceased grandfather's locked bedroom; inside, they uncover a network of cupboards that each open into a different, fantastical world... Read 100 Cupboards Summary

101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think

by Brianna Wiest

Publication year 2016

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: New Age

Tags Self Help, Philosophy, Psychology, Education, Education, Psychology, Philosophy, Mental Illness

... Read 101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think Summary

11.22.63

by Stephen King

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Historical Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: U.S., Cold War

... Read 11.22.63 Summary

1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created

by Charles C. Mann

Publication year 2011

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Economics, Society: Globalization, Natural World: Environment, Society: Colonialism

Tags History: World, Science / Nature, Anthropology, History: U.S., Anthropology, Business / Economics

... Read 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created Summary

Abduction!

by Peg Kehret

Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Family

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature

... Read Abduction! Summary

Absolution

by Alice McDermott

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Colonialism, Society: War

Tags Historical Fiction, Vietnam War, Military / War, History: World, Fantasy

... Read Absolution Summary

A Case Of Identity

by Arthur Conan Doyle

Publication year 1891

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Classic Fiction

“A Case of Identity,” published in September 1891, is the fifth episode in the series of four novels and 56 short stories in the Sherlock Holmes canon, written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It follows the first two novel-length Holmes tales, A Study in Scarlet (1887) and The Sign of Four (1890), as well as the shorter stories “A Scandal in Bohemia” and “The Red-Headed League,” both of which appeared earlier that same year in... Read A Case Of Identity Summary

Ace of Spades

by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, LGBTQ, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Ace of Spades Summary

A Children's Bible

by Lydia Millet

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Climate Change, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read A Children's Bible Summary

A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens

Publication year 1843

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Fathers, Society: Class, Life/Time: Birth

Tags Victorian Period, Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Holidays & Occasions, Education, Education, History: World, Historical Fiction

Originally published in 1843, Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol defined and popularized quintessential Christmas tropes while condemning Victorian England’s harsh social division between the rich and poor. The Poor Laws (referenced by Scrooge in Stave 1) were England’s response to pervasive poverty; the workhouses associated with these laws subjected the desperate and destitute to demeaning conditions, and people who could not pay debts were sent to debtors’ prison—a circumstance that Dickens deals with in detail... Read A Christmas Carol Summary

Across Five Aprils

by Irene Hunt

Publication year 1964

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, American Civil War, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Military / War, History: World, Classic Fiction

Across Five Aprils (1964) is a young adult (YA) historical novel written by the American children’s book author Irene Hunt. A coming-of-age story, the novel follows young Jethro Creighton through four years of his life from the beginning to the end of the American Civil War. Irene Hunt based the novel largely on the experiences of her own grandfather who, like Jethro, was only nine years old when the Civil War began.The book was Hunt’s... Read Across Five Aprils Summary

Address Unknown

by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor

Publication year 1938

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge

Tags Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Relationships, Education, Education, Military / War, History: World

Address Unknown (1938) by American writer Kathrine Taylor details the rise of Nazi Germany through the correspondence of two men, one of whom is Jewish and one of whom is not. The short novel explores themes such as Radicalization, The Impact of Paranoia and Fascism, and The Loss of Friendship and Family.Chapter 1 Summary: “November 12, 1932”A Jewish German man named Max writes to his business partner, a German gentile, or individual who isn’t Jewish... Read Address Unknown Summary

A Fever in the Heartland

by Timothy Egan

Publication year 2023

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags History: U.S., Crime / Legal, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, Politics / Government

... Read A Fever in the Heartland Summary

A Good Neighborhood

by Therese Anne Fowler

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Community, Natural World: Environment, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Realistic Fiction, Race / Racism, Class, Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, Romance

... Read A Good Neighborhood Summary

A Great Reckoning

by Louise Penny

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence

A Great Reckoning (2016) is the 12th novel in the Inspector Gamache series. The series consists of contemporary mysteries written by the Canadian author Louise Penny. Like the other novels in the series, A Great Reckoning revolves around the small village of Three Pines, Quebec, and its inhabitants. The novel includes a standalone murder mystery plot and references to events in other novels within the series; Penny explores themes of parenthood, loss, and betrayal. This... Read A Great Reckoning Summary

Alastor; or, The Spirit of Solitude

by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Publication year 1816

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Tags Lyric Poem, Philosophy, Mythology, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

... Read Alastor; or, The Spirit of Solitude Summary

All Thirteen

by Christina Soontornvat

Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Teams, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Action / Adventure, Sports, History: Asian, Leadership/Organization/Management, Science / Nature, Religion / Spirituality, Children's Literature, History: World

... Read All Thirteen Summary