Sexual Harassment & Violence

We've carefully curated a Collection of titles that center the experiences and impacts of Sexual Harassment & Violence. Representing a broad range of voices and genres, these titles explore the personal and social effects of violation through violence and sexual harassment through literary forms that include memoirs, poetry, and fiction.

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Flora/plants, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Fantasy, Mythology, Romance, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, LGBTQ, Depression / Suicide, Mental Illness, Grief / Death, Love / Sexuality, Psychology, Trauma / Abuse / Violence


Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Historical Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence

The Swallows of Kabul (2002) is the 11th published work by Mohammed Moulessehoul. It is published under the pen name Yasmina Khadra, derived from Moulessehoul’s wife’s first two names, to circumvent military censorship of works published by soldiers. Moulessehoul has written extensively regarding his experiences in the military as an Algerian, exploring themes and events across the Arab and French worlds. The Swallows of Kabul is a work of historical fiction, taking place during the... Read The Swallows of Kabul Summary


Publication year 2025

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: The Past, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Memoir / Autobiography, Trauma / Abuse / Violence


Publication year 1848

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Victorian Period, Classic Fiction, Romance, British Literature, Gothic Literature, Gender / Feminism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Addiction / Substance Abuse, History: World, Historical Fiction, Victorian Literature / Period

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is the second and final novel written by Anne Brontë (1820-1849), the youngest of the three celebrated Brontë sisters. The novel was published in 1848 under Anne’s pseudonym, Acton Bell. Unlike Anne’s first novel, Agnes Grey (1847), The Tenant of Wildfell Hall was an immediate sensation and stirred strong reactions to its subject matter, which touched on adultery, marital separation, alcohol use disorder, and domestic abuse. After her death, Anne’s... Read The Tenant of Wildfell Hall Summary


Publication year 1928

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Play: Comedy / Satire, Classic Fiction, Poverty, Trauma / Abuse / Violence


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Aging, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Humor, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1959

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Society: War, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags Magical Realism, Historical Fiction, Military / War, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, German Literature, Classic Fiction

The Tin Drum is a 1959 novel by German author Gunther Grass. In the novel, a man named Oskar tells the story of his life, particularly focusing on his experiences during World War II. The novel employs satire, absurdism, magical realism, and allegory to wrestle with the pain and trauma of life under Nazi rule. The Tin Drum was adapted into an Oscar-winning film in 1979 and has been hailed as a landmark in literary... Read The Tin Drum Summary


Publication year 1996

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Play: Drama, Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Drama / Tragedy, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Siblings

Tags Historical Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Gender / Feminism, Psychology, British Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World

Maggie O’Farrell’s novel The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, published in 2006, is the author’s fourth novel and tackles the grim history of forced incarcerations of women and the devastating effects of family secrets. O’Farrell’s work often focuses on women trapped physically, emotionally, and psychologically by forces over which they have no control, and this novel is no exception. Through a twisted entanglement of three different perspectives, O’Farrell tells the story of not only Esme... Read The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery

Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Science / Nature, History: World


Publication year 1989

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Race / Racism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Gender / Feminism, History: African , American Literature


Publication year 1984

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger

Tags Lyric Poem, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, American Literature


Publication year 2005

Genre Poem, Nonfiction

Themes Society: War

Tags Lyric Poem, Military / War, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, History: World, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1984

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

The Wasp Factory is a 1984 novel by Iain Banks. It is equal parts family drama and horror story, focusing on the teenage narrator, Frank (Frances) Cauldhame. It explores topics of mental health, gender and sexism, revenge, and free will. The Wasp Factory is a controversial novel, given its graphic depictions of violence against animals, and the affectless manner with which Frank describes his crimes against family members and animals. Content Warning: The novel contains... Read The Wasp Factory Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Mental Illness, Trauma / Abuse / Violence

The Way I Used to Be is a YA novel written by author Amber Smith. The book, published in 2016, is a New York Times bestseller. Smith, an advocate for spreading awareness about issues related to gendered violence, tackles themes of sexual and domestic abuse in her young adult novels. The Way I Used to Be follows Eden McCrorey, a teenager who is raped by her older brother’s best friend, Kevin. The novel is divided... Read The Way I Used to Be Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Fathers

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, Crime / Legal, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Relationships, Parenting, Modernism, Modern Classic Fiction

The Whisper Man, released in August 2019, is a crime thriller by British author Alex North about the potential resurgence of a serial child murderer known as the Whisper Man and how it entangles various characters in a small town. North claims he got the idea for the book after his son mentioned “the boy in the floor.” Through criminal investigation and the lives of a father and son, North explores the nature of intergenerational... Read The Whisper Man Summary


Publication year 1979

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Life/Time: The Past, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags History: U.S., Journalism, Politics / Government, Arts / Culture, Class, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Grief / Death, American Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction, Biography


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Immigration

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Class, History: World, History: The Americas, History: U.S., Immigration / Refugee, Military / War, Politics / Government, Social Justice, Music, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Race / Racism


Publication year 2021

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Family

Tags Gender / Feminism, History: U.S., Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), History: World, Psychology, Psychology, Mental Illness, Biography


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Historical Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Military / War, History: World, Romance