A community can come together for the common good or be torn apart by disagreement and strife. This collection explores what makes a community and how individuals struggle or succeed in finding their place within it.
Publication year 2021
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Life/Time: Aging, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Self Discovery
Tags Animals, History: World, Travel Literature, Action / Adventure, Biography
Publication year 1885
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Society: Community, Relationships: Family
Tags Classic Fiction, Gilded Age, American Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Historical Fiction
The Rise of Silas Lapham is an 1885 Realist novel by William Dean Howells. The novel tells the story of Silas Lapham, who rises from poverty but struggles to grasp the social etiquette of elite American society. Howells is credited with establishing Realism as a literary genre in America. Realist novels such as The Rise of Silas Lapham were a response to the time period’s Sentimental novels, which Howells opposed. The novel explores themes of... Read The Rise of Silas Lapham Summary
Publication year 1965
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags African Literature, Historical Fiction, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, African American Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality
The River Between is Kenyan author Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s second novel and was published in 1965 after his debut title, Weep Not, Child. While The River Between is widely interpreted as an anticolonial work, its denouncement of colonial institutions is subtler than that of Ngugi’s later, more critical works on colonialism. His later novels were originally written in the Gikuyu language rather than in English; discourse surrounding the modern-day role of African literature is ongoing... Read The River Between Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Community, Society: War, Identity: Gender
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, WWII / World War II, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction
Publication year 1937
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Society: Class, Society: Community
Tags Social Justice, Class, History: European, British Literature, Journalism, Business / Economics, Sociology, History: World, Classic Fiction, Politics / Government, Biography
The Road to Wigan Pier is a 1937 nonfiction book by George Orwell. The book describes Orwell’s firsthand experiences of life in Great Britain’s working-class communities in the early 20th century and advocates for the adoption of socialism. SummaryThe Road to Wigan Pier begins in a small lodging house in Northern England. The impoverished, rundown house rents crowded rooms to people who work in the nearby mines. The landlord, Mr. Brooker, was once a miner... Read The Road to Wigan Pier Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Courage
Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World, French Literature, Romance
The Room on Rue Amélie (2018) is a historical fiction novel by American author Kristin Harmel. The novel follows the experiences of Ruby Henderson, an American immigrant in Paris, during World War II. Ruby eventually becomes involved in the French Resistance and forms a close friendship with Charlotte, whose Jewish identity leaves her vulnerable to persecution. Both women navigate the risks of resistance and the nature of love in a time of war. The novel... Read The Room on Rue Amélie Summary
Publication year 1982
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2019
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Tags Christian literature, Religion / Spirituality, Self Help
Publication year 1980
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Society: Community, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Society: Politics & Government, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags American Literature, Classic Fiction, Race / Racism, Gender / Feminism, African American Literature
The Salt Eaters (1980) by Toni Cade Bambara is set in the fictional town of Claybourne, Georgia, in the late 1970s. The style of the novel is experimental and nonlinear. It follows stories and characters linked by themes more than plot. It moves between the past, present, and future in the minds and actions of different characters. The novel centers on the spiritual healing Velma receives from Minnie after a mental health crisis and spirals... Read The Salt Eaters Summary
Publication year 2013
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Community, Relationships: Teams, Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Identity: Gender, Relationships: Fathers
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Western, Modern Classic Fiction, Irish Literature
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Society: Community
Tags Historical Fiction, Health / Medicine, Roaring Twenties, History: World, Drama / Tragedy, Romance
Publication year 2019
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Midlife, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Society: Community
Tags Philosophy, Self Help, Psychology, Religion / Spirituality, Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Colonialism, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Asian Literature, History: World, Indian Literature, Arts / Culture
Publication year 1930
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Action / Adventure, Gender / Feminism, Class, Children's Literature, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2001
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Education, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World
Publication year 1888
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Identity: Race
Tags Satire, Humor, Race / Racism, African American Literature, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Paul Beatty is the author of the 2015 novel The Sellout—a satire that makes fun of contemporary norms around race and identity. In the novel, Beatty applies his no-holds-barred idea of comedy to segregation, slavery, police brutality, and countless tragic and fraught issues that people typically treat with extreme seriousness and sensitivity. Through the main character, Me, the book provides an ironic and unexpected take on themes like Racial and Personal Identity and Capitalism’s Power... Read The Sellout Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Community, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Magical Realism, Fantasy, Social Justice, Historical Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Language
Tags Grief / Death, Biography