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 Wars

by Timothy Findley

Publication year 1977

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, War

Tags Military & War, Education, Education, World History, Historical Fiction, Canadian Literature, World War I, Classic Fiction

The Wars by Timothy Findley is a 1977 novel about Robert Ross, a young Canadian officer who enlists in the military and fights in the First World War. The novel uses first, second, and third person narrative points of view. By switching between the different perspectives, the novel gives the reader the sense that they are a historian searching through archives, looking at photographs, and interviewing people from Robert’s life. The book is an example... Read The Wars Summary

The War That Saved My Life

by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Disability, Family

Tags Disability, Children`s Literature, Historical Fiction, World War II, Military & War, World History

The War That Saved My Life is a work of historical fiction by bestselling author Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. The novel is intended for middle-grade readers and was published in 2015. It has won several awards, including the Newbery Honor for being among the most distinguished American children’s book of its year. The Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly listed the book as among the best children’s books in 2015, and it won 14 state book... Read The War That Saved My Life Summary

The Wasp Factory

by Iain Banks

Publication year 1984

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Gender Identity, Good & Evil

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Coming of Age, Trauma & Abuse, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

The Wasp Factory is a 1984 novel by Iain Banks. It is equal parts family drama and horror story, focusing on the teenage narrator, Frank (Frances) Cauldhame. It explores topics of mental health, gender and sexism, revenge, and free will. The Wasp Factory is a controversial novel, given its graphic depictions of violence against animals, and the affectless manner with which Frank describes his crimes against family members and animals. Content Warning: The novel contains... Read The Wasp Factory Summary

The Waters

by Bonnie Jo Campbell

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Regret, Femininity, Animals, Climate, Environment, Plants, Family, Mothers, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Science & Nature, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read The Waters Summary

The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963

by Christopher Paul Curtis

Publication year 1995

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Race, Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Civil Rights & Jim Crow South, US History, African American Literature, Education, Education, World History, Classic Fiction

Published in 1995, The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis is a realistic middle grade novel told from the point of view of 10-year-old Kenneth Watson. The Watson family lives in Flint, Michigan, in 1963. The early chapters of the book detail Kenny’s family life, school days, classmates, and older brother Byron’s exploits. When Byron takes one of his “adventures” too far, Kenny’s parents decide a family road trip to Birmingham, Alabama, is... Read The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963 Summary

The Way of All Flesh

by Samuel Butler

Publication year 1903

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Family, Marriage, Death, Education, Coming of Age

Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Life-Inspired Fiction, Victorian Period, British Literature, Music, World History, Victorian Era

... Read The Way of All Flesh Summary

The Wednesday Wars

by Gary D. Schmidt

Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, War, Coming of Age, Family

Tags Historical Fiction, US History, Vietnam War, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, World History, Humor

Gary Schmidt’s middle grade novel, The Wednesday Wars, follows seventh grader Holling Hoodhood as he navigates the difficulties of junior high in the late 1960s. Published in 2007, Schmidt’s novel blends historical fiction with a coming-of-age theme, and was given the Newbery Medal in 2008. Other works by Schmidt include Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy (2004), Okay for Now (2011), and The Labors of Hercules Beal (2023).This guide refers to the Clarion Books 2009... Read The Wednesday Wars Summary

The White Giraffe

by Lauren St. John

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Self Discovery, Animals, Grief

Tags Children`s Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Coming of Age, Action & Adventure, Animals

Written by Lauren St. John and published in 2006, The White Giraffe is the first book in the Legend of the Animal Healer series. It tells the story of orphan Martine Allen, who goes to live with her grandmother in Cape Town, South Africa after her parents’ tragic deaths. Her grandmother lives in a wildlife sanctuary called Sawubona. As Martine wrestles with losing her family and adapting to life on another continent, she learns the... Read The White Giraffe Summary

The White Tiger

by Aravind Adiga

Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Globalization, Power & Greed, Loyalty & Betrayal, Politics & Government, Social Class, Family, Self Discovery

Tags Indian Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, Poverty, Social Class, Coming of Age

Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger was published in 2008. Adiga’s first novel, The White Tiger won the Man Booker Prize and was adapted into a movie in 2021. Born in Chennai, India, Adiga has lived in India and Australia, and attended Columbia University in New York and Oxford University in England. A coming-of-age story told through a first-person narrator and letters addressed to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, The White Tiger examines the conflict between tradition... Read The White Tiger Summary

The Wicked King

by Holly Black

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Power & Greed, Death, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Siblings, Hate & Anger, Daughters & Sons, Family, Revenge, Fear, Trust & Doubt, Politics & Government, Appearance & Reality, Truth & Lies, Shame & Pride, Conflict, Fathers, Perseverance, Wins & Losses

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Magical Realism, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction

... Read The Wicked King Summary

The Wide Window

by Lemony Snicket

Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Childhood & Youth, Death, Family, Good & Evil

Tags Fantasy, Children`s Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Action & Adventure

The Wide Window is a middle grade novel first published in 2000. It is published under the name Lemony Snicket, the pen name of novelist, playwright, musician, and screenwriter Daniel Handler. This mock-gothic adventure story blends elements of mystery, humor, and fantasy with a macabre setting in which a family of three orphans—Violet, Sunny, and Klaus Baudelaire—is sent to live with their fearful Aunt Josephine. Throughout the novel, the Baudelaire children must contend with their... Read The Wide Window Summary

The Wild Robot Protects

by Peter Brown

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Future, Animals, Nature Versus Nurture, Family, Community, Science & Technology

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

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The Wind Knows My Name

by Isabel Allende

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Apathy, Shame & Pride, Family, Justice, Equality, Good & Evil, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Politics & Government, Immigration

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, World War II, Holocaust, Social Class, World History, History of the Americas, US History, Immigration & Refugeeism, Military & War, Politics & Government, Social Justice, Music, Trauma & Abuse, Race & Racism

... Read The Wind Knows My Name Summary