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.

The Kite Fighters

by Linda Sue Park

Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Hate & Anger, Shame & Pride, Joy, Daughters & Sons, Fathers, Siblings, Childhood & Youth, Appearance & Reality, Nation, Community, Politics & Government, Fate, Loyalty & Betrayal, Religion & Spirituality, Order & Chaos

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Korean Literature, Agriculture

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The Lais of Marie de France

by Marie De France

Publication year 1100

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Love, Marriage, Siblings

Tags Classic Fiction, Romance, Medieval, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Religion & Spirituality, European History, French Literature, Education, Education, Mythology, Fantasy

The Lais of Marie de France is a collection of 12 romantic narratives—known as Breton Lais—composed in the late 12th century and credited to the French-English poet Marie de France. The lay or lai is a short tale of octosyllabic rhyming couplets which is generally 600–1000 lines long. It can be accompanied by music and is typical of Brittany, a Northern French region with strong Celtic influences. Themes of love, chivalry and the supernatural are... Read The Lais of Marie de France Summary

The Lincoln Highway

by Amor Towles

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Loyalty & Betrayal, Revenge, Siblings, Family, Friendship, Fathers, Hate & Anger

Tags Historical Fiction, Incarceration, Mental Illness, Trauma & Abuse, Social Class, World History, Action & Adventure

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The Little Foxes

by Lillian Hellman

Publication year 1939

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Power & Greed, Siblings, Marriage, Family, Justice, Femininity, Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Drama, Classic Fiction, American Literature, Education, Education, World History, Dramatic Literature

Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes (1939) is often considered a classic American 20th-century drama. Set in Alabama in 1900, the play explores themes of greed, passive violence, and female agency in the deep south, not yet 50 years removed from the end of the Civil War. The Little Foxes premiered at The National Theatre on Broadway in New York City in 1939 starring Tallulah Bankhead as Regina, before touring for two seasons across the United... Read The Little Foxes Summary

The Lords of Discipline

by Pat Conroy

Publication year 1980

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes War, Siblings

Tags Military & War, Southern Literature, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction

The Lords of Discipline, Pat Conroy’s 1980 novel set at a military college, chronicles four years in the life of a cadet in training. Conroy, who attended a military college himself, does not shy away from describing the darker side of military training, including relentless, brutal hazing and racism. The novel is divided into four parts, with a brief opening note preceding the story. Before the plot gets underway, protagonist and narrator Will McLean explains... Read The Lords of Discipline Summary

The Lover

by Marguerite Duras

Publication year 1984

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Siblings, Family, Memory, Guilt, Community, Shame & Pride, Love, Forgiveness, Fear, Hope

Tags Relationships, American Literature, French Literature, World History, Historical Fiction, Romance, Classic Fiction

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The Magician

by Colm Tóibín

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Literature, Conflict, Sexual Identity, Family, Marriage, Siblings, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Education, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Art, Justice, Music, Order & Chaos, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Life-Inspired Fiction, LGBTQ+, Military & War

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The Magician's Elephant

by Kate DiCamillo

Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Siblings, Perseverance, Hope, Love, Coming of Age, Family

Tags Children`s Literature, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Grief & Death, Relationships, Animals, Action & Adventure

A fortuneteller tells 10-year-old Peter that an elephant will lead him to his lost sister, which starts Peter on a journey of self-discovery and wonder in Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo’s The Magician’s Elephant (2009). When a magician miraculously conjures an elephant, its appearance affects everyone in town. In his efforts to find his sister Adele and rescue the homesick elephant, Peter must overcome obstacles and unite a diverse group of characters that includes a policeman... Read The Magician's Elephant Summary

The Maids

by Jean Genet

Publication year 1947

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Love, Siblings, Social Class

Tags Drama, Absurdism, French Literature, Dramatic Literature, LGBTQ+, Classic Fiction

Jean Genet’s play The Maids (or Les Bonnes) premiered in Paris at the Théâtre de l’Athénée in 1947. By this time, Genet was already an established novelist and playwright, but this one-act play was his first foray into the conventions and aesthetics of the movement now known as the Theatre of the Absurd. The Maids is based on the true story of the Papin sisters, two maids who shocked France in 1933 by murdering their... Read The Maids Summary