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.

Ruth

by Elizabeth Gaskell

Publication year 1853

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Community, Perseverance

Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Victorian Period, Social Justice, Social Class, British Literature, World History, Romance, Victorian Era

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Saturday

by Ian McEwan

Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Apathy, Family, Community, Art, Science & Technology, Order & Chaos, Death, War

Tags Historical Fiction, British Literature, Iraq War, Modern Classic Fiction, World History

Saturday is a novel by Ian McEwan, first published in 2005 by Jonathan Cape. Ian McEwan is an acclaimed British author who has been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize numerous times, winning the award for Amsterdam in 1998. In Saturday, McEwan delves into the inner life of a single individual, Henry Perowne, a successful neurosurgeon living in London. The novel takes place over the course of a single day, February 15, 2003, against the... Read Saturday Summary

Saving Noah

by Lucinda Berry

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Love, Memory, Shame & Pride, Mental Health, Death, Fathers, Mothers, Siblings, Community, Justice, Safety & Danger

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

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Saving Shiloh

by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Publication year 1997

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Animals, Justice, Family, Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Forgiveness, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Community

Tags Realistic Fiction, Action & Adventure, Relationships

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Scar Island

by Dan Gemeinhart

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Power & Greed, Fear, Guilt, Conflict, Shame & Pride, Safety & Danger, Childhood & Youth, Community

Tags Children`s Literature, Action & Adventure, Horror & Suspense, Realistic Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction

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Second Treatise of Government

by John Locke, C. B. Macpherson, ed.

Publication year 1689

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Politics & Government, Community, Power & Greed

Tags Politics & Government, Philosophy, Age of Enlightenment, Education, Education, World History, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

The Second Treatise of Government is a philosophical text written by Enlightenment thinker and “Father of Liberalism” John Locke in 1689. When the treatise was published in the late 17th century, England was in a state of political unrest. King William III and Queen Mary II were in power, as monarch King James II had been deposed two years earlier. This period of history is known as the Glorious Revolution, and it followed years of... Read Second Treatise of Government Summary

Seedfolks

by Paul Fleischman

Publication year 1997

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Community

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Diversity, Education, Education, Arts & Culture

Paul Fleischman’s multi-perspective young adult novella Seedfolks presents a modern parable for community-building over 13 chapters, each narrated by a different character in monologue. Fleischman first published the work in 1997; the 2002 HarperCollins edition, which this study guide references, includes the author’s note “From seeds to Seedfolks.” Son of children’s book writer Sid Fleischman, Paul Fleischman began his career as a writer in college. Inspired by folklore, music, and verse, Fleischman soon found success... Read Seedfolks Summary

Seveneves

by Neal Stephenson

Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Space, Order & Chaos, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Memory, Death, Future, The Past, Teamwork, Community, Politics & Government, Fate, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Truth & Lies

Tags Science Fiction, Survival Fiction

Neal Stephenson’s Seveneves (2015) is a work of speculative fiction that blends hard science fiction with political and social commentary. Known for his meticulous research and technical expertise, Stephenson crafts a narrative that begins with the sudden destruction of the moon and follows humanity’s desperate attempts to survive the ensuing Hard Rain: a millennia-long bombardment of debris that renders Earth’s surface uninhabitable. Divided into three parts spanning thousands of years, Seveneves traces both the immediate... Read Seveneves Summary

Shadow of Night

by Deborah Harkness

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Love, Regret, Revenge, Femininity, Gender Identity, Birth, Death, The Past, Fathers, Self Discovery, Community, Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Fantasy, Science Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Historical Fiction, Romance

Shadow of Night (2012) is a historical fantasy romance novel by Deborah Harkness, and the second book in the All Souls Trilogy, preceded by A Discovery of Witches (2011) and followed by The Book of Life (2014). A prequel novel, Time’s Convert (2019), follows the origin story of Matthew’s son Marcus, who is a minor character in Shadow of Night.Harkness holds a PhD from the University of California, Davis and teaches early modern European history... Read Shadow of Night Summary

Shaken

by Tim Tebow

Publication year 2016

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Mental Health, Self Discovery, Community, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Inspirational, Christian, Sports, Disability, Biography, Self-Improvement, Religion & Spirituality

Shaken is a 2018 book by NFL quarterback Tim Tebow. In his book, Tebow shares personal experiences, inspirational stories, and biblical scriptures and parables to encourage readers to develop a strong Christian faith. Tebow reveals how his faith has helped him develop a strong identity, find his life’s purpose, and remain hopeful throughout life’s challenges. He coaches the reader to remain open to God’s influence in their life by maintaining strong friendships and asking for... Read Shaken Summary

Shift

by Hugh Howey

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Power & Greed, Fate, Science & Technology, Safety & Danger, Appearance & Reality, Future, The Past, Death, Community, Politics & Government, Order & Chaos, Trust & Doubt, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Good & Evil

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Survival Fiction, Health, Education, Food, Technology, Horror & Suspense

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Shirley

by Charlotte Brontë

Publication year 1849

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Femininity, Friendship, Community

Tags Classic Fiction, Victorian Period, Historical Fiction, Romance, Gender & Feminism, British Literature, World History, Victorian Era

Shirley is a historical novel by Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855). Written in 1849, it is Brontë’s second novel and followed the overwhelming success of Jane Eyre (1847). It was also very popular when it was published. Set in Yorkshire in 1812-1813, a time of financial depression, its setting engages directly with the Luddite uprisings in the North of England, when textile workers protested the unemployment caused by new mechanical equipment in mills and factories. Shirley follows... Read Shirley Summary