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 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure, New Adult, Fairy Tale / Folklore


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Fate


Publication year 1984

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past

Tags Classic Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Marriage, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery

Tags Romance, Gender / Feminism, African Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Mothers, Society: War

Tags Historical Fiction, Asian Literature


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Historical Fiction


Publication year 2004

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Community, Society: Globalization, Society: Economics, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation, Society: Colonialism, Society: War, Natural World: Environment

Tags Social Justice, Politics / Government, Gender / Feminism, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Teams, Society: Colonialism, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure, Fairy Tale / Folklore


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Tags Inspirational


Publication year 2017

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Language, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Gender, Identity: Mental Health, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Education, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature

Tags Science / Nature, Psychology, Health / Medicine, Self Help, Psychology


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Leadership/Organization/Management

Published by Minotaur Books in 2013, How the Light Gets In is the ninth book in Louise Penny’s bestselling Chief Inspector Gamache mystery series. The series is famous for its heroic protagonist, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, the head of the homicide division at the Sûreté du Québec. The novel comprises of three narratives: the murder of Constance Ouellet, the internal conflict at the Sûreté, and the mysterious death of a clerk at the Ministry of... Read How the Light Gets In Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Social Justice, Politics / Government, History: World


Publication year 2022

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Mental Health

Tags Philosophy, Humor, Self Help, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy


Publication year 2003

Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Identity: Language

Tags Education, Education, Literary Criticism, Self Help

Thomas C. Foster’s How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines is a nonfiction book that aims to teach readers how to improve their reading skills. Foster, a longtime university professor, focuses on techniques that enable readers to puzzle out some of the deeper meanings of a story that exist below the surface level of the plot. Harper published the book in 2003, and the 2014... Read How To Read Literature Like A Professor Summary


Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Class, Natural World: Animals, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Family

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


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags Historical Fiction, Grief / Death, Social Justice, Korean Literature, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, History: World


Publication year 2019

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags History: World, Psychology, Philosophy, Politics / Government, Sociology, Anthropology, Dutch Literature, Anthropology, Science / Nature, Psychology, Philosophy


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Food, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Survival Fiction, Action / Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Magical Realism, Romance, Realistic Fiction, LGBTQ, Grief / Death, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction

I’ll Give You the Sun (2015) is an award-winning novel penned by Jandy Nelson about relationships, art, and destiny. It follows the story of twins Noah and Jude Sweetwine who once shared a close relationship but find themselves barely speaking to each other two years after their mother’s death.Jandy Nelson is an American author who writes young adult fiction. I’ll Give You the Sun is her second novel, which won numerous awards and honors, including... Read I'll Give You the Sun Summary