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.

Bluebird, Bluebird

by Attica Locke

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Community, Safety & Danger, Family, Hate & Anger, Music, Race, Mothers, Food, Trust & Doubt, Justice, Equality, Marriage, Grief, Fear, Perseverance, Conflict

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Race & Racism, African American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

Bluebird, Bluebird (2017) by Texas native Attica Locke, published by Little, Brown and Company, is a 2018 Edgar and Anthony award-winning mystery novel. It was also selected as a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice Finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and Kirkus Best Mysteries and Thrillers of 2017. The first in the Highway 59 series follows Texas Ranger Darren Mathews through the backroads of Texas in search of justice and reform... Read Bluebird, Bluebird Summary

Bluefish

by Pat Schmatz

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Apathy, Perseverance, Grief, Loneliness, Shame & Pride, Family, Grandparents, Mothers, Self Discovery, Education, Truth & Lies

Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age, Grief & Death, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction

Bluefish (2011) is a young adult novel by Pat Schmatz. This text is also sometimes classified as middle grade. The novel centers around Travis, an eighth grader who has lost his parents and dog and recently moved to a new school. Travis befriends Velveeta, a charismatic girl who is grieving the loss of her stand-in father figure, Calvin. As Travis and Velveeta’s friendship develops, they explore the challenges of coping with loss and family trauma... Read Bluefish Summary

Blue Sisters

by Coco Mellors

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Love, Memory, Regret, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Siblings, Self Discovery

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, LGBTQ+

... Read Blue Sisters Summary

Bob

by Wendy Mass, Rebecca Stead

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Conflict, Perseverance, Loneliness, Fear, Guilt, Hope, Joy, Love, Memory, Gratitude, Childhood & Youth, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Climate, Environment, Food, Family, Grandparents, Mothers, Literature, Safety & Danger

Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, Children`s Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction

... Read Bob Summary

Bone

by Jeff Smith

Publication year 1991

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Good & Evil, Family

Tags Fantasy, Children`s Literature, Action & Adventure, Humor

... Read Bone Summary

Booked

by Kwame Alexander

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Sports, Modern Classic Fiction

Kwame Alexander’s Booked is a young adult novel in verse about the life of Nick Hall, an eighth-grader and soccer aficionado who struggles to meet his parents’ expectations and honor his own self-identity in the wake of his parents’ separation. The book is both a sports novel and a reflection on Nick’s experiences struggling with an injury and major changes in his home life. The book is geared toward 10- to 12-year-old readers and includes... Read Booked Summary

Borders

by Thomas King

Publication year 1993

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Race, Colonialism, Nation, Family

Tags Satirical Literature, Colonialism & Postcolonialism, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction

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Born Behind Bars

by Padma Venkatraman

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Nation, Social Class, Politics & Government, Community, Friendship, Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Love, Hope

Tags Realistic Fiction, Social Justice, Poverty, Indian Literature, Social Class, Politics & Government, Incarceration, Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

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Born on a Blue Day

by Daniel Tammet

Publication year 2006

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Disability, Family, Friendship

Tags Disability, Psychology, LGBTQ+, Science & Nature, Psychology, Mental Illness, Biography

Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant is Daniel Tammet’s memoir and his first published book. In it, he recalls his childhood, adolescence, and adulthood leading up to the point in his life when he became independent with a partner and a career. Born on a Blue Day was a New York Times best seller following its publication in 2006.Tammet is, as identified in the subtitle, an autistic savant... Read Born on a Blue Day Summary

Born to Rock

by Gordon Korman

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Fathers, Self Discovery, Fame, Music, Truth & Lies, Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Music, Humor

Gordan Korman’s 2006 young adult coming-of-age novel Born to Rock follows teenager Leo Caraway as he sets out to get to know his biological father—the frontman of a legendary punk rock band—hoping to fund his college tuition while navigating the foreign world of punk rock and gets to know his roots. The novel, which was written for and dedicated to Korman’s son, also named Leo, explores themes of genetics, identity, self-expression, and lying.Korman is a... Read Born to Rock Summary

Born to Run

by Bruce Springsteen

Publication year 2016

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Perseverance, Hope, Joy, Memory, Love, Coming of Age, Midlife, Childhood & Youth, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Community, Politics & Government, Fate, Art, Fame, Justice, Music, Equality, Loyalty & Betrayal, Trust & Doubt, Religion & Spirituality, Truth & Lies

Tags Music, Arts & Culture, Mental Illness, Social Justice, US History, Biography

... Read Born to Run Summary

Bound

by Donna Jo Napoli

Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Grief, Hope, Animals, Place, Family, Social Class, Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Fairy Tale & Folklore

... Read Bound Summary

Bound For Oregon

by Jean Van Leeuwen

Publication year 1994

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Hope, Indigenous Identity, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Environment, Family, Fathers, Self Discovery, Colonialism, Nation, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt

Tags Children`s Literature, Education, Education, US History, World History, Historical Fiction

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Boy Overboard

by Morris Gleitzman

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes War, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Hope, Gender Identity, Coming of Age, Death, Family, Siblings, Teamwork, Immigration, Politics & Government, Justice, Safety & Danger

Tags Children`s Literature, Action & Adventure, Contemporary Literature

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Boy: Tales of Childhood

by Roald Dahl

Publication year 1984

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Memory, The Past, Childhood & Youth, Good & Evil, Justice, Nostalgia, Family

Tags Humor, Children`s Literature, Classic Fiction, Biography

IntroductionMany readers are familiar with Roald Dahl (1916-1990) as the author of popular stories such as James and the Giant Peach (1961) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964). Dahl published 19 novels and short story collections for children. He was born in Wales to a Norwegian family and spent most of his life in England. He was an intelligence officer and fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force during World War II and suffered... Read Boy: Tales of Childhood Summary

Bread Givers

by Anzia Yezierska

Publication year 1925

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Fathers, Immigration, Equality, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Historical Fiction, Immigration & Refugeeism, Jewish Literature, Education, Education, World History, Classic Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

Bread Givers is a 1925 novel by Anzia Yezierska. As a Jewish-American who emigrated to America from Poland, Yezierska uses her life experience growing up in New York as a basis for the novel. The novel follows Sara Smolinsky, a Jewish-American girl, as she grows up in New York in the 1920s with her sisters. Sara pushes the bounds of her father Reb Smolinsky’s patriarchal belief system as she pursues an education and career. The... Read Bread Givers Summary

Bread of Angels

by Patti Smith

Publication year 2025

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Marriage, Family, Perseverance, Grief, Love, Memory, Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Midlife, Death, The Past, Objects & Materials, Place, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Art, Beauty, Fame, Literature, Music

Tags Memoir & Autobiography, Music, Arts & Culture, Love & Sexuality, Grief & Death

... Read Bread of Angels Summary