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 1997
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Community
Tags Realistic Fiction, Romance, African American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Pearl Cleage’s debut novel, What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day, traces one summer in the life of the protagonist, Ava Johnson. Ava’s once independent and exciting life in Atlanta, Georgia, changes forever when she tests positive for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), the virus that can lead to AIDS. As a Black woman living in the 1990s, Ava is immediately met with social and cultural stigmas surrounding the virus. Unable to maintain her hair... Read What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day Summary
Publication year 1885
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Classic Fiction, Philosophy, Christian literature, Russian Literature
Publication year 2012
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Business / Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Politics / Government
Publication year 2022
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Society: Community, Identity: Race
Tags Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Psychology, Inspirational, Science / Nature, Psychology, Mental Illness, Self Help, Health / Medicine, Biography
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Art
Tags Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Humor, Fantasy, Magical Realism
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Society: Community
Tags Romance, Realistic Fiction, Diversity, Bullying, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Self Discovery
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, Magical Realism, Japanese Literature
Publication year 2000
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Community, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags History: Asian, Military / War, History: World, Action / Adventure, Biography
Chanrithy Him’s memoir, When Broken Glass Floats: Growing Up Under the Khmer Rouge, was first published in 2000. This study guide refers to the 2001 Kindle edition. In the text Him details her experiences as a young child in Cambodia. Him was only five when the autocratic communist Khmer Rouge took over the country, and she recounts the trauma she endured during the five years the regime remained in power. Him’s father was beaten to... Read When Broken Glass Floats Summary
Publication year 2014
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Inspirational
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Music
Tags Romance, New Adult
Publication year 2002
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Community
Tags Historical Fiction, Asian Literature, Korean Literature, Children's Literature, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World, Japanese Literature
When My Name Was Keoko (2002) is a young adult work of historical fiction by Linda Sue Park about the Japanese occupation of Korea during World War II. Many praise the novel for how it exposes this often overlooked topic in history, authentically portraying Korean life, culture, and perspective in the 1940s. Park wrote the narrative in alternating chapters from the first-person perspective voices of two Korean siblings: 10-year-old Sun-hee (aka Keoko) and 13-year-old Tae-yul... Read When My Name Was Keoko Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Society: Community, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Race / Racism, Romance, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2024
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags History: World
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Grandparents, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Children's Literature, Chinese Literature
When the Sea Turned Silver by Grace Lin takes readers on a journey through a richly imagined world full of imagery and Chinese folklore. The novel follows the adventures of Pinmei and Yishan as they navigate themes of Finding and Creating Identity, The Power of Stories, and how Perception Shapes Reality. Recognized for its storytelling and cultural depth, When the Sea Turned Silver was a 2016 National Book Award Finalist. Critics praise the novel for... Read When the Sea Turned to Silver Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Publication year 1967
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Race / Racism, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Social Justice, Classic Fiction, Politics / Government, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2010
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Tags History: World, Psychology, Arts / Culture, Business / Economics, Science / Nature, Psychology, Self Help, Technology, Philosophy
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Values/Ideas: Art, Society: Community
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Gothic Literature
Publication year 1995
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Family, Society: Community
Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, Romance
Where the Heart Is was published in 1995 and is the first novel by award winning American novelist Billie Letts. The novel is set in Letts’s home state of Oklahoma and follows the story of teenager Novalee Nation and her ne’er-do-well boyfriend, Willy Jack Pickens. The novel was chosen as a selection for Oprah’s Book Club in December of 1998. It also won the Walker Percy Award in 1994. The novel was made into a... Read Where the Heart Is Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Mental Illness, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction