Family

Leo Tolstoy famously begins the novel Anna Karenina with the sentence: "All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." In this thematic collection, we have gathered noteworthy texts that navigate the joyous and sorrowful emotional terrain of the family unit.

The Lost Boy

by Dave Pelzer

Publication year 1997

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Family, Coming of Age

Tags Trauma & Abuse, Psychology, Psychology, Biography

The Lost Boy is the sequel to Dave Pelzer’s first memoir, A Child Called “It,” which tells the story of how he was severely abused by his mother as a young child. In The Lost Boy, Pelzer recounts how he is finally removed from his parents’ custody and placed in foster care. After years of neglect and abuse, David struggles to adjust to his new living situations and the uncertainty that comes with the life... Read The Lost Boy Summary

The Lover

by Marguerite Duras

Publication year 1984

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Siblings, Family, Memory, Guilt, Community, Shame & Pride, Love, Forgiveness, Fear, Hope

Tags Relationships, American Literature, French Literature, World History, Historical Fiction, Romance, Classic Fiction

... Read The Lover Summary

The Love Wager

by Lynn Painter

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Family, Fate, Perseverance, Fear, Forgiveness, Hope, Loneliness, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Self Discovery

Tags Romance, Humor, Contemporary Literature

... Read The Love Wager Summary

The Lying Life of Adults

by Elena Ferrante

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Good & Evil, Femininity, Coming of Age, Family

Tags Coming of Age, Social Class, Love & Sexuality, Gender & Feminism, Italian Literature, Women`s Studies, Modern Classic Fiction

The Lying Life of Adults (2020) by Elena Ferrante is a work of fiction. Set in Naples, Italy, the narrative is a coming-of-age story, also known as a bildungsroman, told by Giovanna Trada. Giovanna details her adolescence from 13 to 16 years of age and the growing pains she endured while searching for identity and autonomy. Themes include the struggle between good and evil, women as either sinners or saints, and compunction and gender roles... Read The Lying Life of Adults Summary

The Madness of Crowds

by Louise Penny

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Fear, Forgiveness, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Disability, Appearance & Reality, Death, Family, Teamwork, Community, Politics & Government, Good & Evil, Justice, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense

... Read The Madness of Crowds Summary

The Mad Wife

by Meagan Church

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Guilt, Loneliness, Femininity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Midlife, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Family, Marriage, Mothers, Community, Equality, Science & Technology

Tags Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Gender & Feminism, Domestic Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Horror & Suspense

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The Magician

by Colm Tóibín

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Literature, Conflict, Sexual Identity, Family, Marriage, Siblings, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Education, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Art, Justice, Music, Order & Chaos, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Life-Inspired Fiction, LGBTQ+, Military & War

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The Magician's Assistant

by Ann Patchett

Publication year 1997

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Grief, Regret, Sexual Identity, Death, The Past, Place, Family

Tags Magical Realism, LGBTQ+

Written by acclaimed American author Ann Patchett, The Magician’s Assistant is a piece of contemporary literature that explores life after grief, the nature of love, and the power of family dynamics. Told in two parts, one set in Los Angeles and the other in small-town Nebraska, the novel emphasizes the importance of setting and environment in the development of identity.The author of nine novels and the recipient of numerous awards, Ann Patchett is an outspoken... Read The Magician's Assistant Summary

The Magician's Elephant

by Kate DiCamillo

Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Siblings, Perseverance, Hope, Love, Coming of Age, Family

Tags Children`s Literature, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Grief & Death, Relationships, Animals, Action & Adventure

A fortuneteller tells 10-year-old Peter that an elephant will lead him to his lost sister, which starts Peter on a journey of self-discovery and wonder in Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo’s The Magician’s Elephant (2009). When a magician miraculously conjures an elephant, its appearance affects everyone in town. In his efforts to find his sister Adele and rescue the homesick elephant, Peter must overcome obstacles and unite a diverse group of characters that includes a policeman... Read The Magician's Elephant Summary

The Man Who Loved Clowns

by June Rae Wood

Publication year 1992

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Grief, Shame & Pride, Disability, Coming of Age, Friendship, Self Discovery

Tags Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age, Disability

The Man Who Loved Clowns by June Rae Wood is a young adult novel about a teenage girl, Delrita, who lives with her Uncle Punky, who has Down syndrome. Wood based the novel on her personal experience growing up with her brother, Richard, who had Down syndrome. The Man Who Loved Clowns was published in 1992 and won the Mark Twain Award in 1995. Wood published a sequel, Turtle on a Fence Post, in 1997.This... Read The Man Who Loved Clowns Summary