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 2007
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Disability, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Community, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Health / Medicine, Psychology, Disability, Japanese Literature, Psychology, Mental Illness, Biography
Publication year 1951
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: War, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Philosophy, Politics / Government, Absurdism, French Literature, History: World, Philosophy, Classic Fiction
Publication year 400
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Classic Fiction, Play: Drama, Romance, Indian Literature, Asian Literature, Drama / Tragedy
AbhijnanaSakuntala or The Recognition of Sakuntala is a Sanskrit play written by the playwright Kalidasa in the fifth century CE. The play follows the love story between forest-dwelling Sakuntala and the valorous king Dusyanta. When Dusyanta stumbles into a grove while on a hunt for deer, he meets the beautiful Sakuntala. Sakuntala and Dusyanta fall in love, marry in secret, and conceive a child. Called away for court business, Dusyanta promises to send for Sakuntala... Read The Recognition of Sakuntala Summary
Publication year 1895
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Identity: Race, Society: Community, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Race / Racism, History: U.S., Social Justice, African American Literature
Publication year 2014
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Confessional, Grief / Death, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Relationships, Mental Illness, Disability
Publication year 2021
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Class, Society: Economics, Society: Education, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation, Society: Community
Tags Politics / Government, History: U.S., Poverty, Social Justice, Class, Education, Russian Literature, Business / Economics, History: World, Biography
Publication year 2022
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: The Future, Relationships: Teams, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Tags History: U.S., Politics / Government, American Revolution, Military / War, History: World, Biography
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Society: Immigration, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, History: World, Arts / Culture
Written by Sonia Manzano in 2012, The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano is a middle grade coming-of-age story set in the heart of Spanish Harlem, New York, in 1969. The novel introduces Evelyn Serrano, a young Puerto Rican girl caught between her conservative family and the vibrant, radical spirit of the Young Lords Movement. As Evelyn becomes more involved with the movement, she starts to uncover her family’s complex history and the struggles of the Puerto... Read The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano Summary
Publication year 1971
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Music, Society: Community
Tags Lyric Poem, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Music, African American Literature
Publication year 2018
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Community, Society: Class
Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice, Class, Gender / Feminism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), LGBTQ, Biography
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