Family

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.

Judy Moody Gets Famous!

by Megan McDonald

Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Humor, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature

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July's People

by Nadine Gordimer

Publication year 1981

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Race / Racism, Military / War, African Literature

July’s People, a 1981 dystopian novel by South African author Nadine Gordimer, imagines the aftermath of a bloody uprising that topples South Africa’s notorious, white-ruled apartheid regime. Her novel, which follows a white family’s desperate flight from Johannesburg, traces the complex interdependencies of white and Black South Africans, revealing the insidiousness of the regime’s racial disparities and mindsets, even among liberal, well-meaning white people. Through the lens of this hypothetical future, Gordimer’s novel explores racial... Read July's People Summary

Juno and the Paycock

by Seán O'Casey

Publication year 1924

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Society: War, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Play: Drama, Class, Irish Literature, Realism, Education, Education, History: World, Drama / Tragedy, Classic Fiction

Irish-born playwright Sean O’Casey’s Juno and the Paycock was first produced in 1924 at the Abbey Theatre, Ireland’s national theatre, in Dublin. This Realistic play is one of three plays (known as the “Dublin Trilogy”) that O’Casey wrote for the Abbey Theatre. Juno and the Paycock is anthologized in various collections, including Masters of Modern Drama by Haskell Block and Robert Shedd in 1962 (which this guide references).The play is set entirely in a two-room... Read Juno and the Paycock Summary

Just for the Summer

by Abby Jimenez

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery

Tags Romance, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness

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Just Listen

by Sarah Dessen

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Self Discovery, Relationships: Family

Tags Romance, Realistic Fiction, Relationships, Music, Mental Illness, Modern Classic Fiction

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen is a contemporary YA coming-of-age novel published in 2006. The story follows protagonist Annabel Greene, a 16-year-old model who is isolated at school due to a secret trauma that ended her friendship with Sophie. While Annabel tries to forget the past, her older sister, Whitney, deals with anorexia and bulimia. Her eating disorder weighs down the family, and Annabel can’t add another burden on them. When Annabel meets Owen, a... Read Just Listen Summary

Kantika

by Elizabeth Graver

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Immigration, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Jewish Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Religion / Spirituality

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Keeper of Enchanted Rooms

by Charlie N. Holmberg

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Fairy Tale / Folklore

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Keeper of the Lost Cities

by Shannon Messenger

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Society: Community, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Children's Literature

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Keeping 13

by Chloe Walsh

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Community

Tags Romance, Sports, New Adult, Modern Classic Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence

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Keep It in the Family

by John Marrs

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

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

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Keesha's House

by Helen Frost

Publication year 2003

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Realistic Fiction, Narrative / Epic Poem

Keesha’s House (2003) is a coming-of-age novel in verse by Helen Frost. Frost has published several books for young readers, including other novels in verse. Keesha’s House is a Michael L. Printz Honor Book, and it is praised for introducing young readers to poetry. Frost uses sestinas and sonnets to tell the stories of seven teens—Stephie, Jason, Keesha, Carmen, Dontay, Harris, and Katie—who confront different levels of precarity. The narratives alternate and intersect, and they... Read Keesha's House Summary

Key Player

by Kelly Yang

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Gender, Identity: Language, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Sports

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Killers of the Flower Moon (Adapted for Young Readers)

by David Grann

Publication year 2021

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Indigenous, Relationships: Family, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World

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Killing Mr. Griffin

by Lois Duncan

Publication year 1978

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Society: Education, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Education, Education

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Kindred

by Octavia E. Butler

Publication year 1979

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Fate

Tags Historical Fiction, African American Literature, Afrofuturism, American Literature, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Race / Racism, History: World, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

The 1979 novel Kindred was written by Octavia E. Butler, a Black author from California who wrote science fiction that challenged white hegemony. The novel tells the story of Edana “Dana” Franklin, a young Black woman in 1976 whose connection to a young white boy named Rufus Weylin allows her to time travel to 1800s Maryland. As she jumps between 1976 and the 1800s, she learns how she and Rufus are connected, and she must survive... Read Kindred Summary

King Hedley II

by August Wilson

Publication year 1985

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Play: Drama, Historical Fiction, African American Literature, Race / Racism, American Literature, Drama / Tragedy, Classic Fiction

August Wilson’s King Hedley II premiered in 1999 and opened on Broadway in 2001. It is the ninth installment in Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle (also known as the Century Cycle), a series of 10 plays that examine the experiences of Black Americans during the 20th century. It was nominated for multiple awards including a Tony and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Wilson won two Pulitzer Prizes for other Pittsburgh Cycle plays, Fences in 1987... Read King Hedley II Summary

King of Battle and Blood

by Scarlett St. Clair

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Fate, Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Fantasy, Romance

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King of Pride

by Ana Huang

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Romance, New Adult, Fantasy

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