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 Swimmer

by John Cheever

Publication year 1964

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Social Class, Family, Midlife

Tags Surrealism, Symbolic Narrative, Education, Education, US History, American Literature, World History, Classic Fiction

“The Swimmer” is a short story by John Cheever that was originally published in The New Yorker in 1964. The story is told in third-person limited narration and utilizes elements of Surrealism. The narrative draws on the myth of Narcissus and alludes to Homer’s The Odyssey while exploring the dynamics of post–World War II American suburbia.Content Warning: The source material and this guide include references to alcohol addiction.“The Swimmer” opens on Neddy Merrill, an upper-middle-class... Read The Swimmer Summary

The Talisman

by Stephen King, Peter Straub

Publication year 1984

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Hate & Anger, Hope, Love, Memory, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Safety & Danger, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Fate, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Friendship, Mothers, Death, The Past, Future, Appearance & Reality, Animals, Space, War, Family

Tags Horror & Suspense, Fantasy, Coming of Age, Action & Adventure

The Talisman is a 1984 novel co-written by Stephen King and Peter Straub. It is a fantasy novel with horror elements and has connections to the works in King’s Dark Tower series. The Talisman is a road trip book that tells the story of Jack Sawyer and his quest to save his mother. The Talisman examines themes of lost innocence, coming of age, friendship, the corrupting nature of power, and more.The Talisman has a sequel... Read The Talisman Summary

The Teacher's Funeral

by Richard Peck

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Future, Family

Tags Humor, Children`s Literature, World History, Historical Fiction

In The Teacher’s Funeral (2004), Richard Peck gives a humorous, heartwarming look back at a changing time in America’s history. Narrator Russell Culver, a mischievous 15-year-old living in rural Indiana, reveals how his delight turned to dismay when his teacher died in August 1904. Peck draws on both his father’s childhood memories and his own recollections of visits to his grandparents’ farm as inspiration for the novel, which won a 2005 Christopher Award. Page citations... Read The Teacher's Funeral Summary

The Tenant

by Freida McFadden

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Family, Self Discovery, War, Marriage

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction

... Read The Tenant Summary

The Tequila Worm

by Viola Canales

Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Education, Coming of Age, Family

Tags Poverty, Diversity, Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Arts & Culture

The Tequila Worm, published in 2005 by Random House, (first edition) is a middle grade novel about a young Mexican American girl, Sofia, who comes from a family of storytellers. The tales Sofia hears strengthen her ties to her family and their traditions in the Texas barrio where they live. Though poor, the family does not struggle, finding riches in the practice of making Easter cascarones, (colored eggs) celebrating Dia de los Muertos, (Day of... Read The Tequila Worm Summary

The Terrible Two

by Mac Barnett, Jory John

Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Conflict, Loneliness, Shame & Pride, Perseverance, Revenge, Forgiveness, Teamwork, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Wins & Losses, Family, Appearance & Reality, Animals, Hate & Anger, Childhood & Youth, Education

Tags Action & Adventure, Humor, Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Education, Education

... Read The Terrible Two Summary

The Thief Lord

by Cornelia Funke

Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Siblings, Friendship, Coming of Age, Family

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

The Thief Lord is a middle-grade fantasy novel originally written and published in German by Cornelia Funke in 2000. Its English translation by Oliver Latsch was reprinted in 2002. The story won many national and international awards, including the Mildred L. Batchelder Award for Outstanding Translated Book, the Zurich Children’s Book Award, the Swiss Youth Literature Award, and the Book Award from the Vienna House of Literature. It’s also a New York Times Notable Book... Read The Thief Lord Summary

The Thing Around Your Neck

by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Publication year 2009

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Family, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Immigration

Tags African American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, African Literature, Colonialism & Postcolonialism, Relationships, Gender & Feminism

The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was published in 2009. Adichie had previously published two novels, making this text her third book and her first short story anthology. Some of the stories had been published previously in publications like The New Yorker and The Iowa Review. The book received praise, situating Adichie as a rising star of Nigerian literature. These short stories deal with problems of political conflict, immigration, artistic integrity, and... Read The Thing Around Your Neck Summary

The Tin Drum

by Gunter Grass

Publication year 1959

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Regret, War, Family, Memory

Tags Magical Realism, Historical Fiction, Military & War, Trauma & Abuse, German Literature, Classic Fiction

The Tin Drum is a 1959 novel by German author Gunther Grass. In the novel, a man named Oskar tells the story of his life, particularly focusing on his experiences during World War II. The novel employs satire, absurdism, magical realism, and allegory to wrestle with the pain and trauma of life under Nazi rule. The Tin Drum was adapted into an Oscar-winning film in 1979 and has been hailed as a landmark in literary... Read The Tin Drum Summary