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 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
Publication year 1827
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags Romanticism / Romantic Period, History: World, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1927
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Beauty
Tags Lyric Poem, Philosophy
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ