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.

Marley And Me

by John Grogan

Publication year 2005

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Family

Tags Animals, Modern Classic Fiction, Biography, Humor

Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog (2005) is an autobiography by journalist John Grogan. This guide is based on the 2005 first edition. The story was inspired by the overwhelmingly positive reaction to Grogan’s obituary for his dog Marley.The book was adapted into a full-length film in 2008 and has also been adapted into a series of children’s stories about Marley. The title is borrowed from a chapter near the... Read Marley And Me Summary

Mary Barton

by Elizabeth Gaskell

Publication year 1848

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Femininity, Family, Social Class, Equality

Tags Classic Fiction, Victorian Period, Historical Fiction, Romance, Social Class, British Literature, World History, Victorian Era

Mary Barton: A Tale of Manchester is the 1848 debut novel of Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. It tells of the Victorian working class in Manchester, England, from 1839 to 1842, focusing on the story of the eponymous young female heroine. Through the experiences of two families—the Bartons and the Wilsons—it explores contemporary political and domestic issues during a time of increased industrialization and class tensions. As with much of Gaskell’s work, Mary Barton is narrated by... Read Mary Barton Summary

Matilda

by Roald Dahl

Publication year 1988

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Literature, Perseverance

Tags Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Bullying, Education, Education, Humor

Roald Dahl’s 1988 children’s fantasy Matilda tells the darkly humorous story of a brilliant and kindly little girl who reads grown-up books, plays pranks on her emotionally abusive parents, and uses her telekinetic ability in her battles with a tyrannical school principal.Dahl is widely considered one the greatest children’s storytellers. His books have sold more than 250 million copies worldwide; they include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, The BFG, and... Read Matilda Summary

Matriarch

by Tina Knowles

Publication year 2025

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Perseverance, Femininity, Race, Coming of Age, Midlife, The Past, Family, Mothers, Fame

Tags Memoir & Autobiography

... Read Matriarch Summary

Maus

by Art Spiegelman

Publication year 1986

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Nonfiction

Themes Friendship, Family, Fate

Tags World History, World War II, Holocaust, European History, Postmodernism, Military & War, Biography

Maus by Art Spiegelman was the first graphic novel to win the Pulitzer Prize. It originally ran in Spiegelman’s Raw magazine between 1980 and 1991 before receiving mainstream attention as two collected volumes, Maus I in 1986 and Maus II in 1991. This guide is based on the 1996 complete edition. This historic memoir interlaces two narratives, one of Spiegelman’s Jewish father as he survives World War II Poland and the Auschwitz concentration camp, and... Read Maus Summary

Max the Mighty

by Rodman Philbrick

Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Truth & Lies, Family, Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Action & Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Bullying, Grief & Death, Trauma & Abuse, Relationships, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

Published in 1998, Rodman Philbrick’s Max the Mighty is a novel for middle grade and young adult readers. The sequel to the award-winning book Freak the Mighty, it continues the story of Max Kane, a giant of a 14-year-old who rescues book-loving schoolmate Rachel from her abusive stepfather, after which she and Max go on the run from the authorities.Max the Mighty won a place on the National Council of Teachers of English annual annotated... Read Max the Mighty Summary

Maybe Next Time

by Cesca Major

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Marriage, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Hope, Joy, Love, Memory, Midlife, Daughters & Sons, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Community, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Truth & Lies

Tags Science Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Magical Realism, Romance, Fantasy

... Read Maybe Next Time Summary

Me Before You

by Jojo Moyes

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Self Discovery, Family, Death

Tags Romance, Grief & Death, Love & Sexuality, Depression & Suicide, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Dramatic Literature

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes chronicles the burgeoning romance between Will Traynor, a quadriplegic man, and Louisa Clark, his caregiver. Published in 2012, Me Before You is the first novel in Moyes’s trilogy and is followed by After You (2015) and Still Me (2018). The novel was adapted into a 2016 film starring Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin. Written from various perspectives, Me Before You explores the complexities of disability, love, and euthanasia.This guide... Read Me Before You Summary

Medea

by Seneca

Publication year 49

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Femininity, Family, Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Tragedy, Mythology, Ancient Rome, Philosophy, Philosophy, Dramatic Literature, Classical Period, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

... Read Medea Summary

Medicine Walk

by Richard Wagamese

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Canadian Literature

Richard Wagamese’s Medicine Walk (2014) follows 16-year-old Franklin Starlight on his journey to find the perfect burial site for his terminally ill father, Eldon Starlight, a member of the Ojibway tribe of Indigenous peoples. Frank carries Eldon on horseback into the wilderness where Eldon wishes to die in the traditional manner of Ojibway warriors—facing East so that he can see the last sunrise of his last day on earth.Eldon abandoned Franklin, who goes by Frank... Read Medicine Walk Summary

Memphis

by Tara M. Stringfellow

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Hate & Anger, Race, Art, Justice

Tags Historical Fiction, Race & Racism, African American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, World History

... Read Memphis Summary

Merci Suárez Changes Gears

by Meg Medina

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Aging, Gender Identity, Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Social Class, Coming of Age, Modern Classic Fiction, Arts & Culture

Merci Suárez Changes Gears (2018), a contemporary middle-grade novel by Meg Medina, centers on a young girl facing major changes to her family dynamics. The book won numerous awards, including the 2019 Newbery Medal. Medina, a founding member of the “We Need Diverse Books” movement, has written many picture books, young adult books, and middle-grade novels about strong girls who overcome adversity and step up to challenges.Plot SummaryEleven-year-old Merci Suárez is the child of Cuban... Read Merci Suárez Changes Gears Summary

Mercy

by Jodi Picoult

Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Mental Health, Equality, Love, Conflict

Tags Realistic Fiction, Romance, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Health, Modern Classic Fiction, Dramatic Literature

... Read Mercy Summary