Community

A community can come together for the common good or be torn apart by disagreement and strife. This collection explores what makes a community and how individuals struggle or succeed in finding their place within it.

Dragonsong

by Anne McCaffrey

Publication year 1976

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Loneliness, Shame & Pride, Femininity, Coming of Age, Animals, Environment, Family, Community, Music, Safety & Danger

Tags Fantasy, Science Fiction, Action & Adventure

... Read Dragonsong Summary

Dragonwings

by Laurence Yep

Publication year 1975

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Community, Family, Fathers, Coming of Age, Race

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Coming of Age, Asian Literature, Education, Education, World History, Chinese Literature

Originally published in 1975, Dragonwings is a children’s historical novel by Chinese American author Laurence Yep. The story was inspired by the life of Fung Joe Guey (Feng Ru), a Chinese immigrant who came to the United States in the early 1900s and earned acclaim for his work as a pioneer airplane designer and aviator. The book is part of Yep’s Golden Mountain Chronicles, a series of 10 novels that explore the long history of... Read Dragonwings Summary

Drenched in Light

by Zora Neale Hurston

Publication year 1924

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Race, Coming of Age, Community

Tags Harlem Renaissance, African American Literature, Southern Literature, Classic Fiction

Zora Neale Hurston’s “Drenched in Light” is set in 1920s Florida and follows a single day of a young girl named Isis Watts, or Isie. The setting of a small town right outside of Orlando resembles Hurston’s own childhood in Eatonville. Published in 1924 by Opportunity: A Journal of Negro Life, “Drenched in Light” debuted early in Hurston’s career and includes some of her recurring themes dealing with race, gender, and identity. Hurston went on... Read Drenched in Light Summary

Drive

by Kate Stewart

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Guilt, Hope, Love, Memory, Language, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Midlife, Future, The Past, Family, Friendship, Marriage, Siblings, Self Discovery, Community, Art, Fate, Literature, Loyalty & Betrayal, Music, Order & Chaos, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Romance, New Adult, Music

... Read Drive Summary

Drive

by Daniel H. Pink

Publication year 2009

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Economics, Community, Education, Science & Technology

Tags Psychology, Self-Improvement, Business & Economics

... Read Drive Summary

Dry

by Augusten Burroughs

Publication year 2003

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Community, Grief, Apathy, Perseverance

Tags Humor, LGBTQ+, Psychology, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Trauma & Abuse, Psychology, Mental Illness, Biography

... Read Dry Summary

Ducks

by Kate Beaton

Publication year 2022

Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction

Themes Coming of Age, Social Class, Gender Identity, Loneliness, Economics, Environment, Femininity, Masculinity, Friendship, Community, Safety & Danger

Tags Biography

... Read Ducks Summary

Dust

by Hugh Howey

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Future, Animals, Climate, Environment, Plants, Place, Teamwork, Community, Education, Politics & Government, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Truth & Lies

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy

... Read Dust Summary

Each Tiny Spark

by Pablo Cartaya

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Disability, Justice, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Memory, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Fathers, Self Discovery, Community, Education, Immigration, Politics & Government

Tags Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Mental Illness, Disability, Trauma & Abuse

... Read Each Tiny Spark Summary

Earth Abides

by George R. Stewart

Publication year 1949

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Community, Religion & Spirituality, Power & Greed

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Survival Fiction, Action & Adventure, Classic Fiction

Earth Abides, by George R. Stewart, was originally published in 1949. The novel was one of the first of the post-apocalyptic science-fiction genre and a direct inspiration for Stephen King’s 1978 dark-fantasy novel The Stand.Stewart’s novel is unique given its historical context. Written during the early years of the Cold War when the threat of nuclear annihilation loomed in the American mind, the narrative portrays a world devastated not by bombs but by microscopic organisms—a... Read Earth Abides Summary

Eat a Bowl of Tea

by Louis Chu

Publication year 1961

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Regret, Shame & Pride, Femininity, Masculinity, Race, Sexual Identity, Daughters & Sons, Family, Fathers, Friendship, Marriage, Community, Immigration, Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Asian Literature, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction

... Read Eat a Bowl of Tea Summary

Efuru

by Flora Nwapa

Publication year 1966

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Colonialism, Femininity, Community

Tags African Literature, Gender & Feminism, Women`s Studies, Education, Education, African American Literature, World History, Classic Fiction

... Read Efuru Summary

Eldritch

by Keri Lake

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Love, Memory, Revenge, Femininity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Race, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Animals, Environment, Place, Community, Politics & Government, War, Fate, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Horror & Suspense

... Read Eldritch Summary

Emako Blue

by Brenda Woods

Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Social Class, Coming of Age, Grief, Safety & Danger, Race, Justice, Community, Death

Tags Realistic Fiction, Poverty, Trauma & Abuse, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Grief & Death, Urban Development, Arts & Culture

Emako Blue is a novel for young adults written by Brenda Woods. Set in Los Angeles, California, Emako's friends and schoolmates relay the events leading up to Emako Blue’s gang-related murder in alternating first-person narration, primarily through flashbacks. The text explores the effects of poverty, gang violence, guns, and how these issues have far-reaching impacts on each member of a community. As the events of the story unfold, each narrator must consider what they want... Read Emako Blue Summary