Class

The titles in the Social Class Collection explore the historical and contemporary implications of social class and class division in cultures around the world. Representing a diverse range of perspectives, cultures, and societies, the selections in this Collection span a broad range of genres and forms, including essays, biographies, and fiction.

Spare

by Prince Harry

Publication year 2023

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Family, Perseverance, Conflict, Grief, Hope, Loneliness, Love, Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self Discovery, Social Class, Colonialism, Politics & Government, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Loyalty & Betrayal, Justice, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger

Tags European History, Politics & Government, British Literature, Animals, Grief & Death, Depression & Suicide, Social Class, Relationships, Journalism, Bullying, World History, Biography

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Sparring Partners

by John Grisham

Publication year 2022

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Wins & Losses, Power & Greed, Justice, Siblings, Teamwork, Social Class, Politics & Government

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Realistic Fiction, Crime & Law, Incarceration, Social Justice, Finance

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Spike Heels

by Theresa Rebeck

Publication year 1990

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Social Class, Gender Identity, Education, Masculinity, Femininity, Self Discovery, Power & Greed

Tags Historical Drama, Comedy & Satire, Gender & Feminism, Love & Sexuality, American Literature, Trauma & Abuse, Dramatic Literature, Education, Education

Theresa Rebeck’s provocative feminist two-act drama Spike Heels, first produced in 1990, is a problem play, that is a drama that looks at cultural, social, and economic issues. Problem plays intended to participate in the cultural conversation have a long and significant history in the theater. Playwrights like the Ancient Greek Euripides, 19th century Henrik Ibsen and George Bernard Shaw (whose presence looms large in Spike Heels), and a wide number of contemporary playwrights have... Read Spike Heels Summary

Squeeze Me

by Carl Hiaasen

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Politics & Government, Social Class, Animals

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor, Politics & Government

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Starling House

by Alix E. Harrow

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Truth & Lies, Power & Greed, Revenge, Memory, Social Class

Tags Fantasy, Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Trauma & Abuse, Gothic Literature, Romance, Religion & Spirituality

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Starters

by Lissa Price

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Aging, Siblings, Death, Social Class, Childhood & Youth, Community, Memory, Science & Technology, Future, The Past, Guilt, Family, Appearance & Reality, Trust & Doubt, Fear, Politics & Government, Power & Greed, Beauty, Truth & Lies, Good & Evil, Conflict

Tags Science Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Action & Adventure

Lissa Price’s Starters is a young adult science fiction novel set in the near future after the Spore Wars, during which biological weapons were used against the United States and wiped out much of the unvaccinated middle-aged population. As a result, many teens were left without families, and the elderly feared for their place in society. Starters without grandparents were barred from essentially every type of work. This led to teens being rounded up to... Read Starters Summary

Still Me

by Jojo Moyes

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Loyalty & Betrayal, Aging, Community, The Past, Perseverance, Social Class

Tags Romance, Relationships, Love & Sexuality, Finance, Social Class, Modern Classic Fiction

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Stone Cold

by Robert Swindells

Publication year 1993

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Trust & Doubt, Equality, Apathy, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Loneliness, Memory, Regret, Shame & Pride, Mental Health, Death, Family, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Economics, Politics & Government, Good & Evil, Justice, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Action & Adventure

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Stone Cold Fox

by Rachel Koller Croft

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Mothers, Social Class, Good & Evil, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Psychological Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

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Strangers

by Belle Burden

Publication year 2026

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Marriage, Family, Conflict, Forgiveness, Grief, Loneliness, Memory, Nostalgia, Regret, Shame & Pride, Femininity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Midlife, Animals, Place, Self Discovery, Social Class, Power & Greed

Tags Memoir & Autobiography, Relationships

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Strangers in Their Own Land

by Arlie Russell Hochschild

Publication year 2016

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Shame & Pride, Death, Climate, Environment, Place, Social Class, Community, Economics, Nation, Politics & Government, Equality

Tags Sociology, Politics & Government, US History, American Literature, Social Science, Business & Economics, World History, Social Justice

Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right (2016) is an in-depth exploration of the rise of the Tea Party movement in Louisiana by sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild. In an effort to understand the Tea Party and bolster her empathy for political opinions oppositional to her own, Hochschild spent five years getting to know residents and conducting interviews in and around Lake Charles, Louisiana. Hochschild argues that by understanding one another’s... Read Strangers in Their Own Land Summary

Strawberry Girl

by Lois Lenski

Publication year 1945

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Childhood & Youth, Environment, Family, Social Class, Gender Identity

Tags Historical Fiction, Agriculture, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, World History, Classic Fiction

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Street Love

by Walter Dean Myers

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Shame & Pride, Race, Coming of Age, Family, Self Discovery, Social Class

Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Urban Development, Romance

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Sugar

by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Family, Friendship, Social Class, Equality, Race

Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Diversity, Race & Racism, US History, Reconstruction Era, Children`s Literature, World History, Arts & Culture

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