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!
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Family
Tags Fantasy, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Arts / Culture, Grief / Death, Education, Relationships, American Literature, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Magical Realism, Action / Adventure
Publication year 1924
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Philosophy, French Literature, Philosophy, Arts / Culture, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2025
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Race, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Biography
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Literature, Life/Time: The Future, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Self Discovery
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian 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
Publication year 1988
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / 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
Publication year 1998
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Courage
Tags Action / Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Bullying, Grief / Death, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, 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
Publication year 2002
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Immigration, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, 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
Publication year 1946
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Art, Identity: Language
Tags Philosophy, History: European, Western, German Literature, Literary Criticism, History: World, Philosophy
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Literature, Self Discovery, Society: War
Tags History: World
Publication year 1925
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Appearance & Reality
Tags Modernism, Education, Education, British Literature, Literary Criticism, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Society: Class, Society: Economics, Society: Immigration, Society: Education, Society: War, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Realistic Fiction, History: World
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
Publication year 2011
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Japanese Literature, Asian Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Romance
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Romance, Historical Fiction, British Literature, History: World
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
Publication year 1929
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Art
Tags Modernism, Education, Education, British Literature, Literary Criticism, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2011
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Magical Realism, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Fairy Tale / Folklore
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Teams, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Action / Adventure, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Fantasy
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1901
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Femininity
Tags Historical Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Romance, History: World, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness, Trauma / Abuse / Violence