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.

Publication year 1974

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Mythology, Love / Sexuality


Publication year 2014

Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Natural World: Animals, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1991

Genre Poem, Fiction

Tags Lyric Poem, Sports, Race / Racism


Publication year 2006

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Identity: Language

Tags Psychology, Self Help, Science / Nature, Sociology, Relationships, Business / Economics, Psychology


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Fear

Tags Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence

Introduction Sold is a young adult novel published in 2006 by American author Patricia McCormick. The protagonist and first-person narrator is Lakshmi, a Nepali girl from a remote mountain village who is 13 when she is trafficked for sex to an illicit organization in a large city in India. Through a series of short, titled poems (or vignettes), Lakshmi chronicles her experiences in the brothel called the “Happiness House,” recording her experiences with the people... Read Sold Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Fame, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Colonialism, Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Prose poetry, Free verse, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Music, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Literature

Tags Historical Fiction, Military / War, Education, Education


Publication year 1609

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Lyric Poem, Play: Comedy / Satire, Relationships, Love / Sexuality

William Shakespeare is the author of “Sonnet 130.” The sonnet is one of 154 sonnets that Shakespeare published in 1609 under the title Shakes-spears Sonnets. The first 126 sonnets address a young man, while Sonnets 127-152 focus on a mysterious woman. As with “Sonnet 130,” the sonnets about the enigmatic woman concern ideas of love and beauty and directly undercut typical representations of both. Thus, “Sonnet 130” is satire; it makes fun of how adored... Read Sonnet 130 Summary


Publication year 1330

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Lyric Poem, Renaissance


Publication year 2011

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, Animals, Philosophy, American Literature


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Humor, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature


Publication year 1986

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Family, Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure

Speaker for the Dead (1986) is the second book in the Ender sextet written by Orson Scott Card. Card is a renowned American science fiction author and has won numerous awards for his writing, including four for Speaker of the Dead—the Hugo Award for Best Novel, the Nebula Award for Best Novel, the Science Fiction Chronicle Reader Award for Best Novel, and the Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel.Speaker for the Dead is set... Read Speaker for the Dead Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Romance, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, History: World


Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Fear

Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Asian Literature, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1972

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Environment, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Philosophy, Psychology, Anthropology, Science / Nature


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Gender

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


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Objects, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Realistic Fiction


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt

Tags Sports, Realistic Fiction, African American Literature, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction