Equality

The titles in this Collection examine the concept of social equality through a broad array of literary genres and forms. These curated selections represent a diversity of voices and perspectives that examine social disparities through the lenses of gender, race, socioeconomics, and other factors.

Whistling Past the Graveyard

by Susan Crandall

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Race, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Mothers, Nation, Politics & Government, Equality, Justice

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Southern Literature, World History

Whistling Past the Graveyard (2013) is a coming-of-age novel by Midwest American fiction writer Susan Crandall. The title comes from an English phrase that references how people often try to act unafraid in dangerous situations. The story follows nine-year-old Starla as she runs away from life with her strict grandmother and travels with a cast of characters to find her estranged mother in Nashville. This story takes place during the civil rights movement, exposing Starla... Read Whistling Past the Graveyard Summary

White Lilacs

by Carolyn Meyer

Publication year 1993

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Race, Social Class, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Hate & Anger, Shame & Pride, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Community, Equality, Justice

Tags Historical Fiction, Race & Racism, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, World History

White Lilacs by Carolyn Meyer is a middle grade historical fiction novel first published in 1993. It tells the story of Rose Lee, a young Black girl living in Dillon, Texas, in 1921. When the white citizens of Dillon vote to force the Black community out of their homes to turn the area into a city park, Rose Lee and her family battle against racism, violence, and injustice as they search for options.Meyer is the... Read White Lilacs Summary

Why Fish Don't Exist

by Lulu Miller

Publication year 2020

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Race, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Equality, Justice, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses, Conflict

Tags Science & Nature, Philosophy, Animals, Race & Racism, World History, Philosophy, Biography

... Read Why Fish Don't Exist Summary

Why Liberalism Failed

by Patrick J. Deneen

Publication year 2018

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Power & Greed, Politics & Government, Community, Equality, Science & Technology, Order & Chaos, Environment

Tags Politics & Government, Philosophy, World History, Education, Education, Social Science, Business & Economics, Sociology, Philosophy, Arts & Culture

... Read Why Liberalism Failed Summary

Wicked

by Gregory Maguire

Publication year 1995

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Good & Evil, Justice, Family, Social Class, Fate, Equality, Gender Identity

Tags Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Classic Fiction

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1995) by Gregory Maguire reimagines the central antagonist of the iconic story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which was published in 1900 by author L. Frank Baum and became central to American popular culture through the 1939 film adaptation starring Judy Garland. Allusions to the original story recur throughout film, television, and novels. Decades later, expressions like “we’re not in Kansas anymore” or... Read Wicked Summary

Winners Take All

by Anand Giridharadas

Publication year 2018

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Economics, Equality, Social Class, Justice, Power & Greed, Community, Wins & Losses

Tags Politics & Government, Business & Economics, Social Justice, Civil Rights & Jim Crow South, Social Class, Sociology, World History

... Read Winners Take All Summary

wishes for sons

by Lucille Clifton

Publication year 1987

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Coming of Age, Childhood & Youth, Love, Shame & Pride, Fear, Perseverance, Conflict, Hope, Justice, Equality, Power & Greed, Mothers

Tags Lyric Poem, Gender & Feminism

... Read wishes for sons Summary

Woman at Point Zero

by Nawal El Saadawi

Publication year 1975

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Justice, Equality, Perseverance, Guilt, Self Discovery, Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Politics & Government, Education, Safety & Danger, Fate, Power & Greed

Tags Gender & Feminism, Trauma & Abuse, African Literature, Social Justice, Education, Finance, Middle Eastern History, Love & Sexuality, Politics & Government, Incarceration, Crime & Law, Women`s Studies, Education, Classic Fiction

Woman at Point Zero, also titled Firdaus, is a 1975 novella by Nawal El Saadawi based on the true account of a woman named Firdaus who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 1974. Saadawi was a prolific Egyptian feminist and physician, and she worked with Egyptian women who experienced various mental conditions that Saadawi saw largely as resulting from living in a patriarchal society. She had the privilege of meeting Firdaus on... Read Woman at Point Zero Summary

Wordslut

by Amanda Montell

Publication year 2019

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Language, Femininity, Sexual Identity, Politics & Government, Equality, Power & Greed

Tags Gender & Feminism, World History, Women`s Studies, Social Justice, Sociology

... Read Wordslut Summary

Words of Radiance

by Brandon Sanderson

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Climate, Self Discovery, Social Class, Politics & Government, War, Equality, Fate, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction

Words of Radiance is the second novel in the high fantasy series, The Stormlight Archive, by Brandon Sanderson. It is the sequel to The Way of Kings and is followed by Oathbringer, Rhythm of War, and Wind and Truth. It was originally published on March 4, 2014, by Tor. It enjoyed critical success on its publication, winning the 2015 David Gemmel Legend Award for best novel. Brandon Sanderson is a popular fantasy and high fantasy... Read Words of Radiance Summary

Year of Yes

by Shonda Rhimes

Publication year 2015

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Hope, Regret, Femininity, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Race, Mothers, Siblings, Self Discovery, Community, Equality, Fame

Tags Self-Improvement, Gender & Feminism, Memoir & Autobiography

Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person (2015) is a memoir by television writer and producer Shonda Rhimes. The book recounts the life changes that Rhimes made in 2014 when she committed herself to saying “yes” to opportunities and invitations. In 2013, Rhimes was immersed in both a successful career and a busy life, parenting three daughters. An off-hand comment by her older sister complaining... Read Year of Yes Summary

Yellow Face

by David Henry Hwang

Publication year 2007

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Race, Equality, Art, Immigration

Tags Drama, Comedy & Satire, Life-Inspired Fiction, Race & Racism, Politics & Government, Education, Education, Asian Literature, Dramatic Literature, Humor

... Read Yellow Face Summary

Zero Day

by David Baldacci

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Environment, Equality, Conflict

Tags Horror & Suspense, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Military & War

David Baldacci’s Zero Day (2011, Grand Central Publishing) is the 23rd of Balducci’s 44 adult novels and the first of three in his John Puller series. Most of Baldacci’s adult novels are in the suspense and legal thriller genres. Baldacci studied law and worked as an attorney for seven years before publication of his first novel, Absolute Power (1996), which was made into a 1997 film directed by Clint Eastwood. His research for Zero Day... Read Zero Day Summary