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 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Animals, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Race, Identity: Gender

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Action / Adventure, Animals, Great Depression, History: World


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Identity: Language, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Politics & Government, Relationships: Family, Society: Nation

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Love / Sexuality, Military / War, History: European, Politics / Government, History: World, Irish Literature


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Family

Tags Irish Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Historical Fiction


Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Children's Literature, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World, Historical Fiction


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Identity: Gender, Relationships: Family, Society: Nation

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, Cold War, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World


Publication year 1996

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Politics & Government

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


Publication year 1906

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature

Tags Animals, Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature

White Fang (1906) is a short novel by American author Jack London. The novel explores themes of survival, nature versus nurture, and improving oneself through discipline and adaptability. White Fang’s protagonist is a wild-born wolfdog named White Fang whose struggle for survival and eventual domestication comprise the novel’s narrative arc. London’s novel challenges humanity’s claim to superiority over nature and celebrates animals’ resilience, simple logic, and instinct. White Fang has been adapted into over a... Read White Fang Summary


Publication year 2012

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Mothers

Tags Grief / Death, Travel Literature, Relationships, Love / Sexuality, Science / Nature, Action / Adventure, Biography


Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

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


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Identity: Disability

Tags Realistic Fiction, Animals, Bullying, Children's Literature


Publication year 1952

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags History: U.S., Cold War, Politics / Government, Philosophy, Christian literature, History: World, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Biography


Publication year 2014

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Society: War

Tags Politics / Government, History: World, Science / Nature, Business / Economics, Philosophy, Philosophy


Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Identity: Femininity, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Historical Fiction, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, British Literature, History: World, Fantasy, Romance


Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Historical Fiction, Health / Medicine, British Literature, History: World

Year of Wonders (2001) is a historical fiction novel by Geraldine Brooks, tracing the 1666 outbreak of the bubonic plague in the English town of Eyam. When the town’s zealous rector, Michael Mompellion, and the community submit to a voluntary quarantine, young widow Anna Frith serves with the rector and his wife Elinor to minister to the townsfolk as the plague wreaks havoc. Through the eyes of 18-year-old Anna, the novel explores what happens when... Read Year of Wonders Summary


Publication year 1971

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Lyric Poem, Relationships


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Race / Racism, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Equality, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Action / Adventure, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Military / War

David Baldacci’s Zero Day (2011, Grand Central Publishing) is the 23rd of Balducci’s 44 adult novels and the first of three in his John Puller series. Most of Baldacci’s adult novels are in the suspense and legal thriller genres. Baldacci studied law and worked as an attorney for seven years before publication of his first novel, Absolute Power (1996), which was made into a 1997 film directed by Clint Eastwood. His research for Zero Day... Read Zero Day Summary