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.

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

by Maggie O'Farrell

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Femininity, Memory, Mental Health, Regret, Sexual Identity, Childhood & Youth, Daughters & Sons, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies, Siblings

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

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

The Vaster Wilds

by Lauren Groff

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Colonialism, Nature Versus Nurture, Femininity, Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery

Tags Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure, Survival Fiction, Gender & Feminism, Trauma & Abuse, Science & Nature, World History

... Read The Vaster Wilds Summary

The Wasp Factory

by Iain Banks

Publication year 1984

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Gender Identity, Good & Evil

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Coming of Age, Trauma & Abuse, 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

The Way I Used to Be

by Amber Smith

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Mental Illness, Trauma & Abuse

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

The Whisper Man

by Alex North

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Memory, Fathers

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Dramatic Literature, Crime & Law, Trauma & Abuse, 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

The White Album

by Joan Didion

Publication year 1979

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes The Past, Self Discovery, Literature, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt

Tags US History, Journalism, Politics & Government, Arts & Culture, Social Class, Women`s Studies, Trauma & Abuse, Grief & Death, American Literature, World History, Classic Fiction, Biography

... Read The White Album Summary

The Wind Knows My Name

by Isabel Allende

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Apathy, Shame & Pride, Family, Justice, Equality, Good & Evil, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Politics & Government, Immigration

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, World War II, Holocaust, Social Class, World History, History of the Americas, US History, Immigration & Refugeeism, Military & War, Politics & Government, Social Justice, Music, Trauma & Abuse, Race & Racism

... Read The Wind Knows My Name Summary

The Women

by Kristin Hannah

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes War, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Shame & Pride, Femininity, Death, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Safety & Danger

Tags Historical Fiction, Gender & Feminism, Trauma & Abuse, Military & War, World History, Romance

... Read The Women Summary

They Cage the Animals at Night

by Jennings Michael Burch

Publication year 1984

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Family

Tags Education, Education, Psychology, Psychology, Trauma & Abuse, Biography

They Cage the Animals at Night is an autobiographical work by Jennings Michael Burch, published by Berkley in 1984. The bestselling memoir follows a period in the childhood of Jennings Michael Burch in which he passed in and out of the American foster care system. Jennings is forced to cope with abusive and negligent foster homes as well as a family that is constantly on the verge of collapsing. Over the course of these years... Read They Cage the Animals at Night Summary

Those Empty Eyes

by Charlie Donlea

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Guilt, Memory, Revenge, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, The Past, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, Justice, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Trauma & Abuse

... Read Those Empty Eyes Summary

Three Little Words

by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

Publication year 2008

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Mothers, Trust & Doubt, Family, Community

Tags Parenting, Trauma & Abuse, Biography

An international bestseller, Ashley Rhodes-Courter’s 2008 memoir, Three Little Words, provides a moving account of her early life in the foster care system. Ashley is born to a teenage mother, Lorraine, who is not well placed to look after her. After her mother’s new partner, Dusty, moves in, things soon deteriorate. When the family moves to Florida, Lorraine and Dusty are both arrested, and Ashley is placed in foster care along with her younger brother... Read Three Little Words Summary