Daughters & Sons

"How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child," exclaims William Shakespeare's King Lear. The fragility or strength of the bond between parents and their children is an eternally relevant theme in literature. In this study guide collection, we've put together texts that examine what it means to be a son or daughter.

The Rocking Horse Winner

by D. H. Lawrence

Publication year 1926

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Power & Greed, Mothers, Daughters & Sons, Social Class, Childhood & Youth

Tags Classic Fiction, British Literature, Modernism, Finance, Social Class, Education, Education, Horror & Suspense, World History, Fantasy

D. H. Lawrence published “The Rocking Horse Winner” in 1926, just four years before his death in 1930. He had written a story, “Glad Ghosts,” for inclusion in Lady Cynthia Asquith’s supernatural fiction anthology Ghost Book. She did not like the story, partly because of the celebration of male sexuality and other erotic undertones. Lawrence wrote “The Rocking Horse Winner” for her instead. Lawrence sets the story in a haunted house, appropriate for a “ghost”... Read The Rocking Horse Winner Summary

The Seagull

by Anton Chekhov

Publication year 1895

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Regret, Fame, Conflict, Love, Art, Daughters & Sons, Appearance & Reality

Tags Drama, Tragedy, Comedy & Satire, Russian Literature, Education, Education, World History, Classic Fiction

While Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull is now regarded as one of his most famous plays, it was not until the second time it premiered in Russia that it garnered success. Written in 1895 and first produced the following year, The Seagull is set against the backdrop of a summer country home, and tackles The Consequences of Disillusionment, The Purpose of Art, and the price of Living in the Shadow of a Renowned Parent. Chekhov relies... Read The Seagull Summary

The Setting Sun and the Rolling World

by Charles Mungoshi

Publication year 1987

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Colonialism, Daughters & Sons, Religion & Spirituality

Tags History: African , Religion & Spirituality, Race & Racism, African Literature, Colonialism & Postcolonialism

The Setting Sun and the Rolling World is a short story collection published in 1987 by Zimbabwean author Charles Mungoshi. Across 17 stories, Mungoshi explores profound cultural divides in his native country between tradition and modernization, rural and urban life, and colonialism and African nationalism. Although the characters are different in each piece, taken together the stories comprise a coming-of-age narrative, as the protagonist of each tale is generally a little older and more experienced... Read The Setting Sun and the Rolling World Summary

The Seven Daughters of Dupree

by Nikesha Elise Williams

Publication year 2026

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Love, Memory, Femininity, Race, The Past, Daughters & Sons, Family, Mothers, Colonialism, Fate, Literature, Religion & Spirituality, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction

The Seven Daughters of Dupree (2026) is a multi-generational historical novel by Nikesha Elise Williams. The narrative begins in 1995 with 14-year-old Tati Washington, whose quest to learn the identity of her absent father uncovers a long and painful history of matrilineal secrets. Tati’s story is interwoven with the lives of six generations of her ancestors, tracing their lineage back to an enslaved woman on an Alabama plantation in the 1860s. Through the interconnected stories... Read The Seven Daughters of Dupree Summary

The Sicilian Inheritance

by Jo Piazza

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Forgiveness, Hope, Loneliness, Memory, Nostalgia, Revenge, Femininity, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Death, The Past, Daughters & Sons, Family, Mothers, Equality, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Horror & Suspense, Italian Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, World History, Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction

... Read The Sicilian Inheritance Summary

The Sisters

by Jonas Hassen Khemiri, Transl. Rachel Willson-Broyles

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Fear, Hate & Anger, Memory, Shame & Pride, Mental Health, Race, Aging, The Past, Nature Versus Nurture, Daughters & Sons, Fathers, Mothers, Siblings, Self Discovery, Community, Globalization, Immigration, Nation, Truth & Lies, Grief

Tags Literary Fiction, Humor, Scandinavian Literature

... Read The Sisters Summary

The Son

by Philipp Meyer

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Conflict, Perseverance, Guilt, Loneliness, Regret, Femininity, Indigenous Identity, Masculinity, Race, The Past, Environment, Place, Daughters & Sons, Fathers, Grandparents, Social Class, Colonialism, Community, Nation, War, Fate, Power & Greed, Wins & Losses

Tags Historical Fiction, Western, US History, World History

... Read The Son Summary

The Sweetness of Water

by Nathan Harris

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Memory, Masculinity, Race, Sexual Identity, The Past, Marriage, Daughters & Sons, Community, War, Safety & Danger, Plants

Tags Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+, Race & Racism, American Civil War, African American Literature, Grief & Death, US History, Love & Sexuality, Post-War Era, Military & War, World History

... Read The Sweetness of Water Summary

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane

by Lisa See

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Mothers, Daughters & Sons

Tags Asian Literature, World History, Historical Fiction, Chinese Literature, Arts & Culture

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane is a novel by contemporary American writer Lisa See. See is one-eighth Chinese, and most of her books feature Chinese history and traditions. First published in 2017, The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane centers around the story of a young girl named Li-yan, who lives with her family in remote tea mountains of China. In their everyday life, her village relies on rituals, belief, and taboos, and they are... Read The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane Summary

The Teenage Brain

by Frances E. Jensen, Amy Ellis Nutt

Publication year 2014

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Childhood & Youth, Safety & Danger, Education, Daughters & Sons

Tags Psychology, Parenting, Science & Nature, Education, Education, Psychology, Self-Improvement, Health

The Teenage Brain: A Neuroscientist’s Survival Guide to Raising Adolescents and Young Adults (2014) is by American neurologist Frances E. Jensen with journalist Amy Ellis Nutt. A New York Times bestseller, the book was nominated for the PEN/E.O. Wilson Prize for Literary Science Writing. The Teenage Brain is a guide to the workings of the adolescent brain aimed at parents. Using scientific research data combined with real-life stories and anecdotes, the author explains the changes... Read The Teenage Brain Summary

The Truth About Forever

by Sarah Dessen

Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Guilt, Loneliness, Love, Memory, Shame & Pride, Regret, Nostalgia, Appearance & Reality, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Death, Coming of Age, Daughters & Sons, Family, Mothers, Fathers, Self Discovery

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Romance, Grief & Death

The Truth About Forever (2004) is a young adult contemporary romance by Sarah Dessen. The novel follows Macy Queen, a teen girl struggling to heal from the tragic death of her father, only to find that the answers lie not in chasing perfection and control but embracing the unpredictable and chaotic joys of life. The Truth About Forever is Sarah Dessen’s sixth published novel and won the 2004 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Urban... Read The Truth About Forever Summary

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street

by Karina Yan Glaser

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Guilt, Grief, Joy, Loneliness, Love, Nostalgia, Regret, Hope, Art, Music, Literature, Order & Chaos, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Daughters & Sons, Family, Friendship, Fathers, Mothers, Siblings, Community, Environment, Animals, Food, Place

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Coming of Age, Urban Development, Special Occasions, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street Summary

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

by Maggie O'Farrell

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Femininity, Memory, Mental Health, Regret, Sexual Identity, Childhood & Youth, Daughters & Sons, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies, Siblings

Tags Historical Fiction, Trauma & Abuse, Gender & Feminism, Psychology, British Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, World History

Maggie O’Farrell’s novel The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, published in 2006, is the author’s fourth novel and tackles the grim history of forced incarcerations of women and the devastating effects of family secrets. O’Farrell’s work often focuses on women trapped physically, emotionally, and psychologically by forces over which they have no control, and this novel is no exception. Through a twisted entanglement of three different perspectives, O’Farrell tells the story of not only Esme... Read The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox Summary

The Viscount Who Loved Me

by Julia Quinn

Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Aging, Death, Loyalty & Betrayal, Social Class, Friendship, Fate, Siblings, Safety & Danger, Coming of Age, Forgiveness, Memory, Daughters & Sons, Childhood & Youth, Love, Literature, Mothers, The Past, Family, Future, Appearance & Reality, Equality, Beauty, Self Discovery, Hate & Anger, Marriage, Loneliness, Conflict, Masculinity, Trust & Doubt, Grief, Femininity, Fathers, Nostalgia, Truth & Lies, Shame & Pride

Tags World History, Regency Era, Romance, Historical Fiction

... Read The Viscount Who Loved Me Summary