Truth & Lies

Whether exploring the consequences of concealing the truth or excavating the mysterious nature of truth itself, the titles in this collection discuss the intersections among honesty, factualness, legitimacy, deception, falsehood, and lies.

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Gender, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

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


Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Identity: Sexuality

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, LGBTQ, Gothic Literature, Victorian Period, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Love / Sexuality, History: World, Romance

A thrilling tale of thievery, betrayal, and mistaken identity, Fingersmith, by Welsh author Sarah Waters, tells the story of two women from two very different stations of life whose fates are inextricably linked. Set in the 1860s, Fingersmith is narrated alternately by Sue Smith (also known as Sue Trinder) and Maud Lilly. One is a young “fingersmith”—slang for a thief—lovingly protected from the worst of her world by Mrs. Sucksby; the other is an aristocratic... Read Fingersmith Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

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


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Indigenous, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies


Publication year 2023

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Flora/plants, Society: Economics, Society: Globalization, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Science / Nature, Climate Change, Natural Disaster, Politics / Government, History: World


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

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


Publication year 1947

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Holocaust, History: World, WWII / World War II, Military / War, Biography


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Masculinity, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

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


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Holidays & Occasions, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Fathers, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Romance, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Grief / Death, Jewish Literature, History: World


Publication year 1986

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Identity: Femininity

Tags Gender / Feminism, Historical Fiction, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction

Foe is a 1986 novel by J. M. Coetzee. Foe is a parallel novel, reimagining the story of Daniel Defoe’s 1719 novel Robinson Crusoe from the perspective of a shipwrecked woman named Susan Barton, who then tries to convince a fictionalized version of Defoe to write her story. This guide refers to the 2015 Penguin edition. Content Warning: The source material uses outdated, offensive terms for Black people throughout, which is replicated in this guide... Read Foe Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

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


Publication year 1962

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Lyric Poem, Post Modernism, Love / Sexuality


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, History: Asian, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World


Publication year 2023

Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Bullying


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Society: War, Society: Politics & Government, Identity: Disability

Tags Fantasy, Romance, New Adult, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: Middle Eastern, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Military / War, Modern Classic Fiction, Magical Realism, Fantasy

Frankenstein in Baghdad, written by Ahmed Saadawi, was originally published in Arabic in 2013; it was published in English in 2018 in a translation by Jonathan Wright. It is a modern, magical realist take on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, updated to take place in post-war, US-occupied Iraq. It won the International Prize for Arabic Fiction in 2014. Plot SummaryIn Bataween, a neighborhood in Baghdad, Iraq, live a series of interrelated characters: Elishva, an old widow who... Read Frankenstein in Baghdad Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Immigration, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Romance, Asian Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

Frankly in Love is a coming-of-age novel written by David Yoon and published in 2019 by Penguin Young Readers, Putnam. The story revolves around Frank Li, a Korean American teenager torn between his American identity and the traditional expectations of his Korean parents. With its engaging storyline and exploration of cultural identity, Frankly in Love tackles themes of love, family expectations, and self-discovery. David Yoon’s writing skillfully portrays the complexities of Frank’s experiences as he... Read Frankly in Love Summary


Publication year 1978

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: Community

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