Leo Tolstoy famously begins the novel Anna Karenina with the sentence: "All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." In this thematic collection, we have gathered noteworthy texts that navigate the joyous and sorrowful emotional terrain of the family unit.
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings
Tags Realistic Fiction, LGBTQ, Parenting, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1933
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Self Discovery, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Animals, Society: Community
Tags Classic Fiction, Children's Literature, Historical Fiction, Agriculture, Animals, History: U.S., Parenting, Religion / Spirituality, Science / Nature, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, History: World
Publication year 1999
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Indian Literature, Asian Literature, Asian Literature, Arts / Culture
Fasting, Feasting is divided into two parts: Part I, set in a strict and authoritarian household in India and Part II, set in a cold and isolating home in the Massachusetts suburbs. Both sections of the novel are told in third-person-limited-omniscient point of view, chronicling two members of the same Indian family. In Part I, the narrator, through flashback, explores Uma’s quest to find independence and identity within the repressive and regimented household atmosphere of Mama... Read Fasting, Feasting Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Sports, Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2023
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, Play: Drama, LGBTQ, Humor
Publication year 1950
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Masculinity, Natural World: Environment
Tags Western
Publication year 1987
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Society: Colonialism
Publication year 1984
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Education, Relationships: Family
Tags Gender / Feminism, Philosophy, Race / Racism, Politics / Government, Social Justice, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Philosophy
Publication year 2000
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Birth, Relationships: Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Colonial America, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Action / Adventure
Set during Philadelphia’s yellow fever outbreak, Fever 1793 is a young adult, historical fiction novel written by Laurie Halse Anderson and first published in 2000. Anderson is a recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award for her contribution to young adult literature, and Fever 1793 is an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults and a New York Public Library Best Book for Teens. Other works by Anderson include Chains (2008), Wintergirls (2009), and... Read Fever 1793 Summary
Publication year 1989
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Lyric Poem, African American Literature
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Relationships: Family
Tags Romance, Love / Sexuality, New Adult, Modern Classic Fiction
Published in 2011, Fifty Shades Darker is E. L. James’s second installment in the Fifty Shades trilogy which includes Fifty Shades of Grey (2011) and Fifty Shades Freed (2012). Anastasia Steele has ended her relationship with entrepreneur Christian Grey after feeling daunted by his specific tastes and shady secrets. However, when Christian proposes a new arrangement, Ana cannot help herself, and they rekindle their romance. As Christian grapples with his inner demons, Ana must face... Read Fifty Shades Darker Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Identity: Language
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Humor, Canadian Literature
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Society: Immigration
Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Arts / Culture, Realistic Fiction
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction
Publication year 2019
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags Inspirational, Parenting, Religion / Spirituality, Biography
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Marriage
Tags Historical Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Relationships, History: World
Publication year 2001
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Music, Relationships: Family
Tags Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Psychology, Psychology, Biography
Finding Fish is a 2001 memoir by Antwone Fisher, a Hollywood screenwriter. The memoir begins in Cleveland in 1959, when Eddie Elkins is shot and killed by his girlfriend. Shortly after, Antwone Fisher is born to Eva Gardner, whom Eddie dated briefly. The Elkins family never speaks about the tragic incident.Antwone’s first memory is looking out of a window at the home of his foster parents, the Picketts. Though he meets his biological mother once... Read Finding Fish Summary
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Language, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Food, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Grandparents, Society: Immigration, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Children's Literature, Military / War, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction, Mental Illness, Realistic Fiction, Korean War
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Music, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, History: World
Finding Langston, Lesa Cline-Ransome’s debut novel for middle-grade readers, is the story of an 11-year-old boy named Langston who loses his home but finds himself. The book received numerous accolades following its publication in 2018, including the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction. In 2020 Cline-Ransome published Leaving Lymon, a companion novel to Finding Langston that tells the story of Langston’s bully Lymon. This study guide refers to the 2018 Holiday House edition.Plot SummaryFinding Langston... Read Finding Langston Summary