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.

Sula

by Toni Morrison

Publication year 1973

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Gender Identity, Community

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Race & Racism, Trauma & Abuse, Relationships, African American Literature, Education, Education, World History, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction

Sula, written by Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison, was first published in 1973. Morrison was the author of 11 novels and four works of nonfiction. Sula was her second novel, following her 1970 début The Bluest Eye. Morrison published both novels while still working as an editor at Random House, where she edited books by Angela Davis, Muhammad Ali, and Gayl Jones. Morrison was the winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Song... Read Sula Summary

Summit Lake

by Charlie Donlea

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Fear, Hate & Anger, Memory, Revenge, Death, Place, Friendship, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Education, Politics & Government, Fate, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense

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Sunburn

by Chloe Michelle Howarth

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Forgiveness, Guilt, Loneliness, Shame & Pride, Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Appearance & Reality, Mothers, Self Discovery, Community, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies

Tags Romance, LGBTQ+

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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

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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

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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