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.

Freedom Dreams

by Robin Kelley

Publication year 2002

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Equality, Perseverance, Race, Justice

Tags US History, Race & Racism, Social Justice, Gender & Feminism, World History, Philosophy, Philosophy, Politics & Government

... Read Freedom Dreams Summary

Freedom Train

by Dorothy Sterling

Publication year 1954

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Hope, Disability, Femininity, Race, Environment, Family, Teamwork, Colonialism, Politics & Government, War, Equality, Justice, Safety & Danger

Tags World History, Biography, Children`s Literature, US History, Historical Nonfiction, American Civil War

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From #Blacklivesmatter to Black Liberation

by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor

Publication year 2016

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Perseverance, Hope, Hate & Anger, Race, Social Class, Colonialism, Politics & Government, Community, Economics, Education, Nation, Equality, Justice, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt

Tags Black Lives Matter, Race & Racism, Social Justice, Civil Rights & Jim Crow South, US History, Business & Economics, Diversity, Social Class, Education, Finance, Poverty, Politics & Government, Trauma & Abuse, Sociology, World History

... Read From #Blacklivesmatter to Black Liberation Summary

From Sand and Ash

by Amy Harmon

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Religion & Spirituality, Perseverance, Disability, Race, Coming of Age, The Past, Self Discovery, Community, Politics & Government, War, Equality, Good & Evil, Justice

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, World War II

... Read From Sand and Ash Summary

Furia

by Yamile Saied Méndez

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Equality, Family, Femininity

Tags Romance, Sports, Race & Racism, Gender & Feminism, Social Class, Latin American Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Furia Summary

Fuzz

by Mary Roach

Publication year 2021

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Environment, Animals, Death, Equality

Tags Science & Nature, Animals, Crime & Law, Humor, World History

... Read Fuzz Summary

Galapagos

by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

Publication year 1985

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Science & Technology, Order & Chaos, Equality, Power & Greed, Fate, Safety & Danger, Social Class, Economics, War, Hope, Guilt, Nature Versus Nurture

Tags Science Fiction, Humor, Postmodernism, Trauma & Abuse, Finance, Anthropology

Galapagos is a 1985 novel by American author Kurt Vonnegut. The novel’s narrator is the long-dead Leon Trout, a ghost who watched the evolution of humanity of the course of a million years. The story explores the themes Nature Versus Nurture, Pacifism, and Regret.This guide uses an eBook version of the 1985 Dial Press edition.Content Warning: This novel depicts explicit acts of violence and refers to death by suicide.Plot SummaryLeon Trout, the story’s narrator, is... Read Galapagos Summary

Gay New York

by George Chauncey

Publication year 1994

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Sexual Identity, Perseverance, Masculinity, Social Class, Community, Politics & Government, Equality, Justice, Gender Identity

Tags US History, LGBTQ+, Gender & Feminism, Sociology, World History

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Ghost Story

by Peter Straub

Publication year 1979

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Memory, Regret, Shame & Pride, Revenge, Aging, Death, The Past, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Beauty, Fate, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Music, Art, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Religion & Spirituality, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Femininity, Sexual Identity, Friendship, Marriage, Mothers, Siblings, Teamwork, Order & Chaos, Justice, Equality

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Religion & Spirituality

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Girls Like Girls

by Hayley Kiyoko

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Grief, Guilt, Loneliness, Love, Shame & Pride, Femininity, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Equality, Loyalty & Betrayal, Trust & Doubt

Tags Romance, LGBTQ+, Modern Classic Fiction

Girls Like Girls (2023) is the debut young-adult romance novel by American pop singer, actor, and director Hayley Kiyoko. The book expands upon the narrative of Kiyoko’s breakthrough 2015 song and viral music video of the same name, which became an important touchstone for LGBTQ+ representation. Set in the summer of 2006, the story is told from the perspective of 17-year-old Coley, who’s sent to live in rural Oregon with her estranged father following her... Read Girls Like Girls Summary

God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater

by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

Publication year 1965

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Social Class, Mental Health, Equality

Tags Satirical Literature, Humor, Postmodernism, Science Fiction, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, World History, Classic Fiction

God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, or Pearls Before Swine is a 1965 novel by American author Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (1922-2007). The novel is a postmodern satire on wealth, capitalism, and the dark side of the American Dream. Vonnegut’s fifth novel is considered a precursor to Slaughterhouse Five (1969) since it introduces many of the themes that appear in that much-lauded novel. God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater contains elements of science fiction, which emerge in a... Read God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater Summary

Go Down, Moses

by Anonymous

Publication year 1872

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Hope, Fear, Race, Future, Community, Equality, Justice, Trust & Doubt

Tags Race & Racism, Lyric Poem

... Read Go Down, Moses Summary

Good for a Girl

by Lauren Fleshman

Publication year 2023

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Perseverance, Hope, Joy, Femininity, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Fathers, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Equality, Wins & Losses, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Biography, Sports, Gender & Feminism, Health, Women`s Studies

... Read Good for a Girl Summary

Gooseberries

by Anton Chekhov

Publication year 1898

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Fate, Equality, Justice, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Education, Nation

Tags Classic Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Social Class, Finance, Education, World History, Social Justice, Russian Literature, Education, Philosophy, Philosophy

“Gooseberries,” by Russian author Anton Chekhov, is a short story that uses symbolism, subtlety, irony, and keen observation of human behavior to explore themes of the quest for happiness, the meaning of life, social expectations, privilege, and social equality. Written in mid-1898, the story is the second in what was later referred to as The Little Trilogy, together with “The Man in the Case” and “About Love.” All three stories explore the definitions of happiness... Read Gooseberries Summary

Go Tell It on the Mountain

by James Baldwin

Publication year 1953

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Race, Sexual Identity, Family, Shame & Pride, Fathers, Equality

Tags Life-Inspired Fiction, Love & Sexuality, Religion & Spirituality, Race & Racism, American Literature, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction

Go Tell it on the Mountain is a semi-autobiographical novel by James Baldwin. Published in 1953, the novel tells the story of a teenager in 1930s Harlem named John Grimes as well as his wider family, dealing with themes of religion, sexuality, and race. This guide uses an eBook version of the Modern Penguin Classics edition of the novel. Plot SummaryGo Tell it on the Mountain is set on the 14th birthday of the protagonist... Read Go Tell It on the Mountain Summary

Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane

by Suzanne Collins

Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Joy, Love, Revenge, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Nature Versus Nurture, Place, Family, Friendship, Siblings, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, War, Equality, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt

Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, Animals, Science Fiction

... Read Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane Summary

Half the Sky

by Nicholas D. Kristof , Sheryl WuDunn

Publication year 2009

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Equality, Justice, Community

Tags Gender & Feminism, Social Justice, Women`s Studies, Diversity, Education, Education, Sociology, Politics & Government

In their 2009 nonfiction book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, husband-and-wife journalist team Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn document what they consider the paramount moral challenge of the 21st century: the oppression of women and girls. The book was an international bestseller, inspired a four-part PBS documentary of the same name, and launched the Half the Sky movement.Like many journalists, when Kristof and WuDunn first began their careers, they... Read Half the Sky Summary