Books & Literature

The Dutch philosopher Erasmus said, “When I have a little money, I buy books; and if I have any left, I buy food and clothes.” Why do we value books and literature so highly? This thematic collection gathers books that offer unique insights into the power, energy, and appeal of, well, books!

Matched

by Ally Condie

Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fate, Art, Literature, Future, Perseverance, Self Discovery

Tags Science Fiction, Romance, Arts & Culture, Futurism, Fantasy

Matched is a science fiction novel for young adults by best-selling author Ally Condie. Published in 2010, it is the first novel in the Matched trilogy. It was followed by Crossed in 2011 and Reached in 2012. Matched was a critical and commercial success—as were the other two books in the trilogy. It was a New York Times bestseller and named one of the best children’s books of the year by Publisher’s Weekly. The Young... Read Matched Summary

Matilda

by Roald Dahl

Publication year 1988

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Literature, Perseverance

Tags Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Bullying, Education, Education, Humor

Roald Dahl’s 1988 children’s fantasy Matilda tells the darkly humorous story of a brilliant and kindly little girl who reads grown-up books, plays pranks on her emotionally abusive parents, and uses her telekinetic ability in her battles with a tyrannical school principal.Dahl is widely considered one the greatest children’s storytellers. His books have sold more than 250 million copies worldwide; they include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, The BFG, and... Read Matilda Summary

Max the Mighty

by Rodman Philbrick

Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Truth & Lies, Family, Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Action & Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Bullying, Grief & Death, Trauma & Abuse, Relationships, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

Published in 1998, Rodman Philbrick’s Max the Mighty is a novel for middle grade and young adult readers. The sequel to the award-winning book Freak the Mighty, it continues the story of Max Kane, a giant of a 14-year-old who rescues book-loving schoolmate Rachel from her abusive stepfather, after which she and Max go on the run from the authorities.Max the Mighty won a place on the National Council of Teachers of English annual annotated... Read Max the Mighty Summary

Middlesex

by Jeffrey Eugenides

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Perseverance, Guilt, Love, Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Community, Immigration, Equality, Justice, Literature, Religion & Spirituality, Science & Technology, Truth & Lies

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, World History, Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+

Middlesex is a 2002 novel by Jeffrey Eugenides that tells a multigenerational, epic tale of a Greek family who immigrates to the US. The narrator, Calliope (or Cal) tells the story of how his grandparents, Lefty and Desdemona Stephanides, flee their homeland during a time of war and uncertainty, settling in the US. They harbor a family secret that changes the course of the narrator’s life: They’re brother and sister, and carry a genetic mutation... Read Middlesex Summary

Mimesis

by Erich Auerbach

Publication year 1946

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Literature, Place, Art, Language

Tags Philosophy, European History, Western, German Literature, Literary Criticism, World History, Philosophy

... Read Mimesis Summary

Modern Fiction

by Virginia Woolf

Publication year 1925

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Literature, The Past, Appearance & Reality

Tags Modernism, Education, Education, British Literature, Literary Criticism, World History, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

... Read Modern Fiction Summary

Moon Over Manifest

by Clare Vanderpool

Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Guilt, Hope, Loneliness, Regret, Nostalgia, Memory, Shame & Pride, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, The Past, Death, Appearance & Reality, Place, Daughters & Sons, Fathers, Family, Friendship, Community, Social Class, Economics, Immigration, Education, War, Politics & Government, Nation, Equality, Good & Evil, Justice, Literature, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies, Power & Greed, Trust & Doubt

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Coming of Age, Realistic Fiction, World History

Moon Over Manifest is a 2010 novel by author Claire Vanderpool. It relates the story of 12-year-old Abilene Tucker, a drifting girl in search of her father, a home, and a sense of belonging. When the novel starts, her father, Gideon Tucker, has just sent Abilene to the Kansas town of Manifest, claiming that he can’t take her to Iowa, where he is allegedly taking a railroad job. It is 1936, and the Great Depression... Read Moon Over Manifest Summary

Mothering Sunday

by Graham Swift

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Social Class, Literature, Memory

Tags Romance, Historical Fiction, British Literature, World History

Mothering Sunday is a 2016 novella written by British author Graham Swift. Like much of Swift’s writing, it has a psychological bent, exploring the relationship between history and memory. Swift won the Booker Prize for his 2006 novel Last Orders and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. This guide uses the 2016 Scribner edition of the text.Plot SummaryIt is March 30, 1924 in the upper-middle-class house of Beechwood in Berkshire, Southern England... Read Mothering Sunday Summary

Mr. Fox

by Helen Oyeyemi

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Masculinity, Literature

Tags Magical Realism, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Fairy Tale & Folklore

... Read Mr. Fox Summary