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.

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

Suttree

by Cormac McCarthy

Publication year 1979

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Loneliness, Regret, Social Class, Community

Tags Life-Inspired Fiction, Humor, Southern Gothic, American Literature, Southern Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

Suttree by Cormac McCarthy is a piece of Southern Gothic fiction published in 1979. Considered a modern classic of American literature, it exemplifies McCarthy’s characteristic use of imagery, existentialist exploration, and societal criticism.McCarthy is the author of 12 novels, including bestsellers Blood Meridian (1985), All the Pretty Horses (1992), and the Pulitzer-prize-winning novel The Road (2006). The Road and his novel No Country for Old Men (2005) were adapted into celebrated films. McCarthy was born... Read Suttree Summary

Swan Song

by Elin Hilderbrand

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Marriage, Revenge, Place, Social Class, Community, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses

Tags Science Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Fantasy

... Read Swan Song Summary

Sweat

by Zora Neale Hurston

Publication year 1926

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Marriage, Community, Religion & Spirituality, Perseverance

Tags Harlem Renaissance, Trauma & Abuse, Gender & Feminism, Education, Education, African American Literature, American Literature, World History, Classic Fiction

The short story “Sweat” by American author Zora Neale Hurston was first published in 1926 in Fire!!, a single-issue magazine published during the Harlem Renaissance. Hurston was an anthropologist and writer whose works included many essays on anthropology and folklore focused on African American communities in the American South and the Caribbean, as well as novels and short stories. Her interest in anthropology is reflected in her creative work. For example, she often wrote dialog... Read Sweat Summary

Sycamore Row

by John Grisham

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Forgiveness, Race, Family, Community, Guilt

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Crime & Law, Race & Racism

Sycamore Row (2013) by John Grisham is the sequel to his debut novel and best-selling legal thriller, A Time to Kill (1989). Grisham, a practicing lawyer prior to his career as a novelist, popularized the legal thriller with his prolific work in the genre, frequently highlighting social justice and legal ethics issues. Though marketed as a legal thriller, Grisham himself makes a clear distinction between his legal thrillers and his Ford County novels—aka the Jake... Read Sycamore Row 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

Teaching Critical Thinking

by bell hooks

Publication year 2007

Genre Collection of Letters, Nonfiction

Themes Race, Femininity, Self Discovery, Education, Equality, Community, Politics & Government, Colonialism

Tags Race & Racism, Education, Gender & Feminism, Politics & Government, Leadership, Education, Philosophy, Philosophy, Social Justice

... Read Teaching Critical Thinking Summary

Tell My Horse

by Zora Neale Hurston

Publication year 1938

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Race, Community, Politics & Government, Religion & Spirituality, Truth & Lies

Tags Anthropology, History: African , Religion & Spirituality, Travel Literature, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Anthropology, World History, Classic Fiction

... Read Tell My Horse Summary

Tenth of December

by George Saunders

Publication year 2013

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Social Class, Science & Technology, Justice, Good & Evil, Community, Family, Death, Masculinity, Power & Greed

Tags Satirical Literature, Science Fiction, Relationships, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, World History

Tenth of December: Stories (2013) is American author George Saunders’s fourth short story collection. Saunders is widely regarded as one of the modern masters of the short story form, and this collection features stories written between 1995 and 2012, some of which were previously published in various literary outlets. The book was a bestseller and was widely praised on release, winning both the Story Prize and the Folio Prize. This guide refers to the 2013... Read Tenth of December Summary

Tess of the D'Urbervilles

by Thomas Hardy

Publication year 1891

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Sexual Identity, Gender Identity, Social Class, Community, Environment, Shame & Pride

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

Tess of the D’Urbervilles is Victorian writer Thomas Hardy’s 12th novel. It was first published in 1891 as a serial in the newspaper The Graphic; this serialized publication was followed by a three-volume edition in 1891 and a single volume in 1892. Like many of Hardy’s other realist novels, Tess is set in the fictional, southwestern English region of Wessex, using fictional locations closely modelled after real ones. Hardy’s sympathetic portrayal of a young woman... Read Tess of the D'Urbervilles Summary

Thanatopsis

by William Cullen Bryant

Publication year 1817

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Death, Place, Fate, Community, Environment

Tags Lyric Poem, Science & Nature, Grief & Death, Romanticism, Education, Education, American Literature, World History, Classic Fiction

... Read Thanatopsis Summary

The 21 Balloons

by William Pene du Bois

Publication year 1947

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Community, Science & Technology, Economics

Tags Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Historical Fiction, Finance, World History, Natural Disaster, Politics & Government, Science & Nature, Technology, Post-War Era, Children`s Literature, Education, Education

... Read The 21 Balloons Summary