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 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, LGBTQ


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Colonialism, Society: Economics, Society: Globalization, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

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


Publication year 1985

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt

Tags Satire, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, History: U.S., American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Classic Fiction

White Noise is a 1985 novel by American author Don DeLillo. A significant entry in the canon of postmodern literature, White Noise tells the story of a small-town college professor whose suburban routine is shattered when a train crash results in a massive chemical spill. As the characters struggle to accept their own mortality, the book explores a range of contemporary issues including consumerism, mass media, and conspiracy theories. In 2005 Time Magazine included White... Read White Noise Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

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


Publication year 1990

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Incarceration


Publication year 2007

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Education, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Biography, History: World, Children's Literature, Race / Racism, Historical Nonfiction, Spanish Literature


Publication year 2020

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Science / Nature, Philosophy, Animals, Race / Racism, History: World, Philosophy, Biography


Publication year 2023

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Marriage, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Gender / Feminism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction)


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 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 1995

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, British Literature, Classic Fiction

“The Witness for the Prosecution” is a short story by British mystery writer Dame Agatha Christie (sometimes referred to as the “Queen of Crime”). First published in 1925 under the title “Traitor’s Hands,” the story was later included under its current name in Christie’s 1933 collection The Hound of Death. Christie herself adapted the story for the stage in 1953, and it has also gone through several incarnations on TV and in film. Although the... Read Witness for the Prosecution Summary


Publication year 1975

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Gender / Feminism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, African Literature, Social Justice, Education, Finance / Money / Wealth, History: Middle Eastern, Love / Sexuality, Politics / Government, Incarceration, Crime / Legal, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Education, Classic Fiction

Woman at Point Zero, also titled Firdaus, is a 1975 novella by Nawal El Saadawi based on the true account of a woman named Firdaus who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 1974. Saadawi was a prolific Egyptian feminist and physician, and she worked with Egyptian women who experienced various mental conditions that Saadawi saw largely as resulting from living in a patriarchal society. She had the privilege of meeting Firdaus on... Read Woman at Point Zero Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Realistic Fiction, Romance, Psychological Fiction, Mental Illness, Bullying, Depression / Suicide, Love / Sexuality, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

Words on Bathroom Walls by Julia Walton follows a 16-year-old boy with schizophrenia as he navigates mental illness, life at a new school, and a clinical drug trial. The book won the Yalsa Best Fiction for Young Adults award in 2018 and was a nominee for the Rhode Island Teen Book award. Roadside Attractions released a feature film of the same name based on the book in August 2020. This guide follows the 2017 Random... Read Words on Bathroom Walls Summary


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Environment, Society: Community, Society: Education, Society: Nation, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Class, Disability, Depression / Suicide, Leadership/Organization/Management, Military / War, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Politics / Government

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War is a horror fiction novel by Max Brooks published in 2006. The book was a critical and commercial success, generally receiving positive reviews and spending several weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. It has sold millions of copies around the world and was subsequently turned into a successful movie starring Brad Pitt, released in 2013, and a highly rated video game, released in... Read World War Z Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Mental Illness, Trauma / Abuse / Violence

In the juvenile fiction novel Wrecked, Maria Padian portrays a timely narrative about sexual assault on college campuses. Her careful treatment of this subject earned the text several awards, including the Fall 2016 Kids’ Indie Next Pick, the Maine Lupine Honor Award, and the Maine Literary Award. Originally published in hardcover in 2017 by Algonquin Young Readers, Wrecked also received positive recognition from Booklist, Book Riot, Kirkus Reviews, and the School Library Journal, among others.Plot... Read Wrecked Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Race / Racism, Asian Literature


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

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


Publication year 2024

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Grandparents, Society: Community, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Self Discovery


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

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


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

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