Brothers & Sisters

Whether marked by protective tenderness or tense rivalry, sibling bonds are like none other. This thematic collection offers insights into the unique dynamics of brothers and sisters.

Sometimes a Great Notion

by Ken Kesey

Publication year 1964

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Place, Siblings, Masculinity

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Dramatic Literature, Realistic Fiction, Business & Economics, Social Class, Relationships, Science & Nature, American Literature, The Beat Generation, US History, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction

Sometimes a Great Notion (1964) is American author Ken Kesey’s second novel. The plot revolves around the Stampers, a family of independent loggers who choose to continue working in opposition to a logging union’s dispute with company leadership. The novel uses an experimental structure, switching between first-person and omniscient narrators and telling the story from the perspectives of multiple characters.Kesey and his counterculture group, the “Merry Pranksters,” were the precursors to the hippies of the... Read Sometimes a Great Notion Summary

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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Starship Troopers

by Robert A. Heinlein

Publication year 1959

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Siblings, Space

Tags Science Fiction, Military & War, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

One of the most controversial works of speculative fiction, Robert A. Heinlein’s Starship Troopers tells of a war between Earth and two alien species, as seen through the eyes of a young soldier. First published in 1959, the book became an early sci-fi bestseller and won a Hugo award. The e-book version of the 2018 Ace Premium edition is the basis for this guide.Plot SummaryHundreds of years in the future, Juan “Johnnie” Rico goes against... Read Starship Troopers Summary

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

Stranded

by Jeff Probst, Chris Tebbetts

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Childhood & Youth, Appearance & Reality, Objects & Materials, Place, Family, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Fate, Order & Chaos, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt

Tags Action & Adventure, Survival Fiction, Realistic Fiction

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Summer of '69

by Elin Hilderbrand

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Hope, Loneliness, Love, Family, Mothers, Daughters & Sons, Siblings, Marriage, Friendship

Tags Historical Fiction, Military & War, Relationships, Race & Racism, Modern Classic Fiction, World History, Romance

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Superfudge

by Judy Blume

Publication year 1980

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Siblings, Coming of Age, Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Humor, Coming of Age, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

Superfudge is a children’s novel written by Judy Blume first published in 1980. Blume is an author of children’s novels that have won several awards. Superfudge won the Children’s Choice Award in 1981 and the Early Readers Award in 1991. It was adapted into a television series which ran from 1995-1997. Superfudge is the third book in the Fudge series. This guide utilizes the 1988 publication of this novel.Plot SummaryAt the beginning of the novel... Read Superfudge Summary

Surviving the Applewhites

by Stephanie S. Tolan

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Coming of Age, Fathers, Friendship, Grandparents, Mothers, Siblings, Self Discovery, Community, Education, Art, Order & Chaos

Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction

Surviving the Applewhites is a children’s novel written by American author Stephanie S. Tolan and was first published in 2002.The narrative follows Jake Semple, a troubled teenager forced to move in with the unconventional and eccentric Applewhite family following an incident at school. Jake struggles to fit in at first but gradually sheds his past transgressions and undergoes a transformative journey toward self-discovery and redemption. The novel touches on Personal Growth and Transformation, Individuality Versus... Read Surviving the Applewhites Summary

Sylvia And Aki

by Winifred Conkling

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Education, Race, Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Family, Fathers, Mothers, Siblings, Social Class, Community, Equality, Justice

Tags Historical Fiction, Social Justice, World War II, Children`s Literature, Military & War, World History, Arts & Culture

... Read Sylvia And Aki Summary

Tell the Wolves I'm Home

by Carol Rifka Brunt

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Friendship, Conflict, Forgiveness, Family, Siblings, Art, Truth & Lies

Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, LGBTQ+

Tell the Wolves I’m Home is the 2012 debut novel of author Carol Rifka Brunt. In it, 14-year-old narrator June Elbus wrestles with her grief over the death of her uncle Finn Weiss, who died of AIDS. Set in 1987 New York at the height of the AIDS crisis, the novel confronts the stigmas surrounding the disease through June’s parents and sister, who blame Finn’s long-term partner, Toby Aldshaw, for transmitting AIDS to Finn. As... Read Tell the Wolves I'm Home Summary

Tex

by S. E. Hinton

Publication year 1979

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Siblings, Coming of Age, Fathers, Childhood & Youth, Family, Friendship, Social Class

Tags Realistic Fiction, Relationships, Animals

In small town Oklahoma during the 1970s, a rough-and-tumble teenager learns to navigate the world with his older brother and a mostly absent father in S. E. Hinton’s young adult fiction novel Tex. Published in 1979, the book was subsequently made into a popular movie starring young Matt Dillon in the title role. Hinton herself has written that Texas McCormick is the favorite of all her iconic characters, so good natured and even tempered that... Read Tex Summary