Childhood & Youth

"We look at the world once, in childhood," writes poet Louise Glück. "The rest is memory." As adults, our childhood may lie in the past, but its influence never leaves us. This collection gathers texts that depict and examine the innocence and insights of childhood and youth.

The Shape of Thunder

by Jasmine Warga

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Fear, Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Hope, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Memory, Regret, Shame & Pride, Childhood & Youth, Justice, Safety & Danger, Family

Tags Race & Racism, Trauma & Abuse, Depression & Suicide, Realistic Fiction, Christian, Grief & Death, Science Fiction, Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

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The Shards

by Bret Easton Ellis

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Sexual Identity, Hate & Anger, Coming of Age, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, The Past, Social Class, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Psychological Fiction, LGBTQ+

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The Shoemaker's Wife

by Adriana Trigiani

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Family, Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Hope, Joy, Memory, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Midlife, Death, Future, The Past, Animals, Place, Marriage, Mothers, Self Discovery, Community, Economics, Immigration, Politics & Government, War, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Trust & Doubt

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance

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The Sisters

by James Joyce

Publication year 1904

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Childhood & Youth, Community, Good & Evil

Tags Classic Fiction, Irish Literature, Religion & Spirituality, British Literature, Arts & Culture, World History

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The Skeleton Tree

by Iain Lawrence

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Masculinity, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, Animals, Environment, Plants, Food, Objects & Materials, Fathers, Siblings, Self Discovery, Fate, Safety & Danger

Tags Action & Adventure, Survival Fiction, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction

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The Someday Birds

by Sally J. Pla

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Animals, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Grief, Disability, Childhood & Youth, Environment

Tags Realistic Fiction, Disability, Children`s Literature, Animals, Modern Classic Fiction

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The Sound of Gravel

by Ruth Wariner

Publication year 2016

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Memory, Childhood & Youth, Family, Mothers, Self Discovery, Community, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Biography, Religion & Spirituality

The Sound of Gravel is a memoir by Ruth Wariner about her experiences growing up in a polygamist colony in Mexico. Originally published in 2015, the memoir is a rare, detailed examination of the life of children in polygamist colonies, and it examines several themes, including The Consequence of Childhood Neglect, The Flaws and Dangers of Fundamentalism, Courage and Resilience in the Face of Adversity, and The Joys, Pains, and Sacrifices of Familial Love. Ruth... Read The Sound of Gravel Summary

The Stationery Shop

by Marjan Kamali

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Forgiveness, Grief, Hope, Joy, Love, Memory, Nostalgia, Regret, Race, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Midlife, Death, Future, The Past, Family, Marriage, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Economics, Immigration, Politics & Government, War, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Middle Eastern Literature, Romance

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The Stories Julian Tells

by Ann Cameron

Publication year 1981

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Perseverance, Joy, Loneliness, Childhood & Youth, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Plants, Food, Nature Versus Nurture, Objects & Materials, Family, Fathers, Friendship, Mothers, Siblings, Self Discovery, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Relationships, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Humor

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The Strangers

by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Childhood & Youth, Mothers, Coming of Age

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Science Fiction, Technology, American Literature, Children`s Literature, Horror & Suspense, Fantasy, Action & Adventure

The Strangers is a young adult mystery novel published in 2019 by the American author Margaret Peterson Haddix. It tells the story of the three Greystone children who seek to unravel a kidnapping mystery. It is Volume 1 in the Greystone Secrets series, which Haddix returned to in 2020 with Volume 2, The Deceivers. Haddix is the author of more than 40 books for kids and teens, including the Shadow Children series, the Missing series... Read The Strangers Summary

The Summer Book

by Tove Jansson

Publication year 1972

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Nature Versus Nurture, Family, Love, Place, Grief, Grandparents, Childhood & Youth, Aging

Tags Grief & Death, Scandinavian Literature, Science & Nature, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

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The Surgeon

by Leslie Wolfe

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Grief, Memory, Revenge, Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, Death, The Past, Family, Siblings, Self Discovery, Social Class, Education, Politics & Government, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Health

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The Sweet Hereafter

by Russell Banks

Publication year 1991

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Childhood & Youth

Tags Education, Education, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Dramatic Literature

In the novel The Sweet Hereafter, published in 1991, author Russell Banks tells the story of a fatal school bus accident and its aftermath through four first-person narrators. As the novel unfolds in the small town of Sam Dent, New York the characters reveal exactly what happened on the day of the accident—January 27, 1990—the immediate reaction of the people involved, and how each of the four characters is changed by the accident. Fourteen children... Read The Sweet Hereafter Summary