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.

Palace Walk

by Naguib Mahfouz

Publication year 1956

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Femininity, Fathers, Marriage, Colonialism, Nation, Power & Greed

Tags Historical Fiction, African Literature, World War I

Palace Walk is a 1956 novel by Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz. The story takes place in Cairo during World War I and in its immediate aftermath, touching on the political climate of the time as Egypt transitioned from British occupation to nationalism. The novel presents this change through the day-to-day life of the Muslim al-Jawad family. This guide refers to the 1994 Black Swan edition of the novel, which was translated by William Maynard Hutchins... Read Palace Walk Summary

Parable of the Talents

by Octavia E. Butler

Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Hate & Anger, Fear

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Religion & Spirituality, Trauma & Abuse, Afrofuturism

Parable of the Talents is a 1998 novel by Octavia Butler; it is the sequel to her 1995 novel Parable of the Sower. The novel is a dystopian, science fiction narrative set in a futuristic America ravaged by the climate crisis, violence, and racial and religious persecution. Unlike many science fiction authors, Butler focuses her novel mainly on the experiences of racially diverse characters, including many Black and Latinx characters. Parable of the Talents was... Read Parable of the Talents Summary

Paradise of the Blind

by Duong Thu Huong

Publication year 1988

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Women`s Studies, Education, Education, Gender & Feminism, Asian Literature, World History, Classic Fiction

Paradise of the Blind (1988) is a fictional novel written by Duong Thu Huong, a dissident Vietnamese writer and former Communist Party member who openly criticizes the disillusionment of communism through her writings. As a former Communist Youth Brigade leader, Duong was in a unique position to observe the political and social chaos of communist Vietnam. Paradise of the Blind is set against the backdrop of Land Reform, the official state-run attempt at land redistribution... Read Paradise of the Blind Summary

Parvana's Journey

by Deborah Ellis

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Military & War, World History, Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure

Parvana’s Journey by Deborah Ellis follows 13-year-old Parvana as she makes her way across war-torn Afghanistan in search of her mother and siblings. Published in 2002, this novel is a sequel to the international bestseller The Breadwinner, which was adapted as a 2017 animated film, and is the second in a series of four called The Breadwinner series. Although Parvana’s Journey is a work of fiction, Ellis bases the setting of the novel on the... Read Parvana's Journey Summary

Pashmina

by Nidhi Chanani

Publication year 2017

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Race, Coming of Age, Family, Mothers, Self Discovery, Immigration, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Children`s Literature, Magical Realism, Indian Literature, Fantasy

... Read Pashmina Summary

Patina

by Jason Reynolds

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Race, Teamwork, Grief

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

... Read Patina Summary

Patron Saints of Nothing

by Randy Ribay

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature

With the 2019 publication of his third novel Patron Saints of Nothing, Randy Ribay cemented his reputation as one of the new millennium’s most important and popular writers of young adult fiction. Ribay, a high school English teacher in San Francisco, was born in the Philippines but grew up in Michigan. His novels, coming-of-age stories praised for their hard-edged, street-hip lyricism, examine the implications of cultural identity and the problematic process of assimilation. In addition... Read Patron Saints of Nothing Summary

Peace Like a River

by Leif Enger

Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Modern Classic Fiction

Peace Like a River is author Leif Enger’s debut novel. A work of literary fiction marketed for adult audiences but accessible to younger readers, Peace Like a River shares elements from Christian fiction, historical fiction, and coming-of-age literature. The book was named one of the Year’s Best Books by Time Magazine and the LA Times. It won the Book Sense Book of the Year Award for Adult Fiction in 2002, as well as an Independent... Read Peace Like a River Summary

Penpal

by Dathan Auerbach

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Guilt, Hope, Love, Memory, Childhood & Youth, Daughters & Sons, Family, Mothers, Community, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense

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People of the Whale

by Linda Hogan

Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Family, Apathy, Conflict, Guilt, Self Discovery, Community

Tags Historical Fiction, Vietnam War, Animals, Military & War, Modern Classic Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

... Read People of the Whale Summary