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.

Bystander

by James Preller

Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Fear, Hate & Anger, Fathers, Loneliness, Family

Tags Bullying, Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction

Bystander (2011) is a teen/young adult novel by James Preller that explores middle school bullying and the factors that enable it. Griffin Connelly, a two-faced bully, uses his charisma and good looks to keep members of his school clique in line as he perpetrates acts of cruelty against weaker classmates. No one stands up to Griffin until Eric Hayes, a newcomer, disrupts the status quo—questioning Griffin’s bullying and the silent complicity of the other students.The... Read Bystander Summary

Caliban's War

by James S. A. Corey

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Space, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Grief, Hope, Love, Disability, Indigenous Identity, Mental Health, Future, Climate, Environment, Objects & Materials, Family, Teamwork, Social Class, Colonialism, Globalization, Politics & Government, War, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Science & Technology

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Military & War

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Camino Ghosts

by John Grisham

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Hope, Memory, Shame & Pride, Race, The Past, Environment, Place, Family, Community, Politics & Government, Equality, Justice, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Historical Fiction, Crime & Law

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Cane River

by Lalita Tademy

Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Fear, Race, The Past, Daughters & Sons, Social Class, Politics & Government, War, Justice, Safety & Danger

Tags Historical Fiction, Race & Racism, Southern Literature, African American Literature

Cane River (2001) by Lalita Tademy is a story about four generations of women from Tademy’s family. Set in the United States, the novel progresses from the era of enslavement to Post-Reconstruction. In retelling her family’s history, Tademy chooses to pen a work of historical metafiction, blurring the boundary between recorded events and imaginative stories in order to capture the essence of who the women in her family truly were. In the final reckoning, the... Read Cane River Summary

Captive Prince

by C. S. Pacat

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Hate & Anger, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Masculinity, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Future, The Past, Family, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Beauty, Fate, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Wins & Losses, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Love & Sexuality, Romance

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Caramelo

by Sandra Cisneros

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Latin American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

Caramelo (2002) is a multi-generational family epic by American-Chicana author Sandra Cisneros. The novel follows the coming-of-age stories of Soledad Reyes; her son, Inocencio Reyes; and her granddaughter, Celaya “Lala” Reyes. The narrative takes place as the family moves among Chicago, Mexico City, and San Antonio. Written in a unique bilingual English and Spanish voice, Caramelo features themes of memory, Mexican-American heritage, female strength, and the search for a “home” between and beyond national borders.In interviews... Read Caramelo Summary