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 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Crime / Legal, Social Justice, Race / Racism, Incarceration, Politics / Government


Publication year 1957

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Classic Fiction, French Literature, Absurdism, Education, Education, Philosophy, Philosophy

“The Guest,” a short story by French author and philosopher Albert Camus, was first published in 1957 in his only short story collection, Exile and the Kingdom. Having also published The Stranger, The Plague, The Myth of Sisyphus, and The Fall, Camus, an existentialist writer who wrote extensively in support of the French Resistance, was awarded the Nobel prize in Literature in 1957. In crafting his works, Camus took inspiration from French Algeria, where he... Read The Guest Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Siblings, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Life/Time: The Past

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

The Guest List by Lucy Foley is a contemporary murder mystery novel published in 2020. Foley, an English author, weaves a tale of intrigue, secrets, and betrayal upon the backdrop of an isolated island in West Ireland. Foley is also known for the thrillers The Hunting Party (2018) and The Paris Apartment (2022), among others. Often likened to Agatha Christie, Foley’s novel is a slow-burn whodunit.Plot SummaryMany perspectives compose The Guest List; each chapter jumps... Read The Guest List Summary


Publication year 1968

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Society: Community

Tags Magical Realism, Latin American Literature

“The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World” is a short story written by Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez. Originally published in 1968 and titled “El ahogado más hermoso del mundo,” the story is a work of magical realism, a genre that treats magical or fantastical elements as though they were normal, everyday occurrences.Set on a summer day in a small coastal village in South America, the story concerns the villagers’ reaction to the discovery of... Read The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World Summary


Publication year 1917

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Identity: Race

Tags Lyric Poem, Harlem Renaissance, American Literature


Publication year 1981

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers, Identity: Race, Self Discovery

Tags Gender / Feminism, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Race / Racism, American Literature, Classic Fiction, Biography


Publication year 1971

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Relationships: Family

Tags History: European, Holocaust, WWII / World War II, Christian literature, Religion / Spirituality, History: World, Biography, Classic Fiction

The Hiding Place, published in 1971, is written by Corrie ten Boom and co-authors John and Elizabeth Sherrill. Ten Boom’s autobiographical account centers on her family’s work with the Dutch underground during World War II. The authors consistently center the way the family's Christian faith shaped their experiences and inspired them to persevere. The Hiding Place was adapted into a 1975 movie and another film, Return to the Hiding Place (2013), expands on the story... Read The Hiding Place Summary


Publication year 1906

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Lyric Poem, Love / Sexuality

English poet Alfred Noyes wrote and published “The Highwayman” in 1906 during the early period of his literary career. The poem was written during the Edwardian Period of English literature but reflects influences from the romantic period a century earlier. Told as a narrative, “The Highwayman” recounts the doomed romance between a highwayman and a landlord’s daughter, Bess, who he visits in the night. Their love is sabotaged by jealousy; the poem romanticizes Bess’s sacrifice... Read The Highwayman Summary


Publication year 1964

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Identity: Masculinity, Life/Time: Aging, Society: Class, Society: Community, Identity: Gender

Tags Play: Drama, Psychological Fiction, Education, Education, British Literature, History: World, Drama / Tragedy, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: Education, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Science / Nature, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Community

Tags Romance, Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Fate, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Mythology, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, LGBTQ, Love / Sexuality, Relationships, Children's Literature, Romance

The House of Hades is the fourth of five books in the Heroes of Olympus series, which follows seven Greek and Roman demigods on a quest to prevent the rise of the earth goddess Gaea, who is bent on destroying the world.The House of Hades was written by Rick Riordan, a New York Times bestselling author who explores Roman and Greek Mythology in these two series. Riordan is the publisher of an imprint with Disney... Read The House of Hades Summary


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Friendship

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


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags History: U.S., Southern Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance


Publication year 1973

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Anthropology, Sociology, Philosophy, Science / Nature, Psychology, Politics / Government, Education, Education, Anthropology, Social Science, History: World, Philosophy, Arts / Culture


Publication year 1896

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Natural World: Animals, Emotions/Behavior: Fear

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Classic Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction

The Island of Doctor Moreau is an 1896 science fiction novel written by the English novelist H.G. Wells. Wells’s experiences researching and teaching biology inform the novel, as do contemporary debates about the practice of vivisection (the practice of performing experiments on live animals). By describing frightening and fantastical events, Wells explores themes of power structures, violence, and what it means to be human. This guide references the 2005 Penguin Classics edition. Content Warning: The... Read The Island of Doctor Moreau Summary


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Relationships: Mothers, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Action / Adventure, Afro-Caribbean Literature, Children's Literature


Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Humor, Politics / Government, Satire, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction


Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Action / Adventure, Magical Realism

First published in 2005, Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark is a fantasy-adventure for middle-grade readers by Ridley Pearson. Young Finn Whitman and his fellow Disney Hosts each night turn into holograms who visit the Magic Kingdom, where they must defeat a cadre of evil Disney characters trying to break out of the park and take over the world. Winner of the Sunshine State Young Readers Award, the book is the first of more than a... Read The Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark Summary


Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Social Justice, Diversity, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure