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!

The Book Thief

by Markus Zusak

Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Literature

Tags Historical Fiction, World War II, Military & War, World History, Classic Fiction

The Book Thief (December 2007) is a young adult novel by Australian author Markus Zusak. Other titles by Zusak include Underdogs (1999), I am the Messenger (2002), and Bridge of Clay (2018). All his works have received multiple literary prizes and reader’s choice awards from countries around the world.When first published, The Book Thief became a #1 New York Times bestseller and was a nominee of PBS’s The Great American Read as one of America’s... Read The Book Thief Summary

The Boxcar Librarian

by Brianna Labuskes

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Gender Identity, Power & Greed, Perseverance, Grief, Revenge, Coming of Age, The Past, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Economics, Politics & Government, Literature

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Social Justice

Brianna Labuskes’s 2025 historical novel, The Boxcar Librarian, continues her focus on book-centric narratives, following titles such as The Librarian of Burned Books and The Lost Book of Bonn. Labuskes is a USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post bestselling author of historical fiction and psychological thrillers. The Boxcar Librarian unfolds across three distinct timelines, weaving together the stories of three women whose lives become connected by a mobile library in Montana. In 1936... Read The Boxcar Librarian Summary

The Castle in the Attic

by Elizabeth Winthrop

Publication year 1985

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Hope, Joy, Love, Loneliness, Regret, Shame & Pride, Family, Friendship, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Good & Evil, Fate, Justice, Literature, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, Classic Fiction

... Read The Castle in the Attic Summary

The Cat Who Saved Books

by Sōsuke Natsukawa, Transl. Louise Heal Kawai

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Animals, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Hope, Joy, Loneliness, Love, Memory, Coming of Age, Death, Future, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Friendship, Grandparents, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, Economics, Education, Art, Beauty, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Literature, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Science & Technology, Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, Japanese Literature, Contemporary Literature

... Read The Cat Who Saved Books Summary

The Celestial Omnibus

by E. M. Forster

Publication year 1911

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Literature, Beauty, Art, Social Class, Self Discovery, Childhood & Youth

Tags Action & Adventure, Symbolic Narrative

“The Celestial Omnibus” is a short story by British author E. M. Forster, originally published in 1911 in an anthology titled The Celestial Omnibus and Other Stories. Forster primarily saw success as a novelist, penning classics like A Room with a View (1908) and Howard’s End (1910), but all of his works are similarly preoccupied with issues of class, gender, and intellectual hypocrisy. In its eponymous collection, “The Celestial Omnibus” joins other stories of fantastical... Read The Celestial Omnibus Summary

The Christie Affair

by Nina de Gramont

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Forgiveness, Revenge, Hate & Anger, Love, Conflict, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Literature, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, World History, Romance

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The Color of My Words

by Lynn Joseph

Publication year 2000

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Literature, Family, Grief

Tags Coming of Age, Arts & Culture, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction

Published in 2001 by HarperCollins, The Color of My Words is a children’s novel written by lawyer and author, Lynn Joseph. The novel follows an adolescent protagonist, Ana Rosa, as she observes the world around her and eventually discovers the power of her own voice through writing. The Color of My Words received significant critical recognition, and the International Reading Association and the American Library Association named it a notable book. This study guide refers... Read The Color of My Words Summary

The Coral Island

by R.M. Ballantyne

Publication year 1857

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Hope, Loneliness, Love, Memory, Nostalgia, Regret, Indigenous Identity, Language, Masculinity, Race, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, The Past, Animals, Climate, Environment, Plants, Objects & Materials, Place, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Colonialism, Education, War, Literature, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology

Tags Classic Fiction, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, Historical Fiction

... Read The Coral Island Summary