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.

Reviving Ophelia

by Mary Pipher

Publication year 1994

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Femininity, Family, Gender Identity, Coming of Age, Childhood & Youth

Tags Psychology, Gender & Feminism, Parenting, Women`s Studies, Education, Education, Sociology, Psychology, Mental Illness, Self-Improvement

Reviving Ophelia was written in 1994 by Mary Pipher, a psychologist who works with women and teen girls, studying the ways cultural norms impact their mental health. The book comprises a collection of Pipher’s essays, which are based on the interviews and focus groups with adolescent girls she conducted with her daughter, Sara Pipher. She wrote the collection to bring awareness to the cultural trauma and dysfunction experienced by adolescent girls and to assist girls... Read Reviving Ophelia Summary

Rez Ball

by Byron Graves

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Hope, Memory, Shame & Pride, Coming of Age, Death, Family, Fathers, Siblings, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, Equality, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age, Sports, Grief & Death

... Read Rez Ball Summary

Rez Dogs

by Joseph Bruchac

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Family, Community, Grandparents, Love, Animals, Indigenous Identity

Tags Animals, Health, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction

... Read Rez Dogs Summary

Richard III

by William Shakespeare

Publication year 1597

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Power & Greed, Truth & Lies, Fate, Order & Chaos, Appearance & Reality, Family

Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Drama, British Literature, Education, Education, World History, Dramatic Literature, Historical Fiction

Richard III is a history play by William Shakespeare written between 1592 and 1594. It is one of Shakespeare’s earliest plays and his second longest. The play depicts the rise of King Richard III of England, also known as Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Shakespeare portrays Richard as a Machiavellian tyrant who uses lies and violence to unjustly seize the throne during a politically turbulent period of England’s history known as the Wars of the Roses... Read Richard III Summary

Riding The Bus With My Sister

by Rachel Simon

Publication year 2002

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Music, Family

Tags Disability, Women`s Studies, Biography

Riding the Bus With My Sister: A True Life Journey is the New York Times bestselling author Rachel Simon’s 2002 memoir chronicling her experiences with her intellectually disabled sister, Beth. Over the course of a year, Simon rides the bus with Beth and writes about the journey. She learns to confront her own ignorance about her sister’s condition and forms a close bond with her. The book chronicles Rachel’s emotional and spiritual growth, as Rachel’s... Read Riding The Bus With My Sister Summary

Rikki Tikki Tavi

by Rudyard Kipling

Publication year 1894

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Animals, Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Animals

“Rikki-tikki-tavi” is one of Rudyard Kipling’s most famous short stories and was animated into a children’s film in 1975. This children’s story, originally published in 1894, follows a young mongoose named Rikki-tikki-tavi who protects a British family from the snakes in their garden. It is especially known for its themes of Courage as Action and Family Loyalty and Legacy, as well as for its overarching connections to colonialism; Rudyard Kipling, who lived in British colonial... Read Rikki Tikki Tavi Summary

Rise To Rebellion

by Jeff Shaara

Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Hate & Anger, Hope, Revenge, Mental Health, Death, The Past, Place, Family, Fathers, Marriage, Teamwork, Social Class, Colonialism, Community, Economics, Globalization, Politics & Government, War, Equality, Power & Greed

Tags World History, American Revolution, Historical Fiction, Military & War, US History

... Read Rise To Rebellion Summary

Rodrick Rules

by Jeff Kinney

Publication year 2008

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Conflict, Apathy, Fear, Hate & Anger, Shame & Pride, Regret, Childhood & Youth, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Masculinity, Appearance & Reality, Education, Family, Siblings, Mothers, Fathers, Daughters & Sons

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

... Read Rodrick Rules Summary

Root Magic

by Eden Royce

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Race, Family, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Grief, Memory, Gender Identity, Coming of Age, Justice

Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Children`s Literature, World History

... Read Root Magic Summary

Roots

by Alex Haley

Publication year 1976

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Perseverance, Race, Power & Greed

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

Roots is a 1976 historical fiction novel by Alex Haley. Haley served in the United States Coast Guard during World War II and as a military journalist after the war. Prior to writing Roots, Haley interviewed famous Black Americans and ghostwrote The Autobiography of Malcolm X, which has remained a bestselling work since its publication in 1965. In Roots, Haley combines his journalistic experience with Black America and his family’s oral history, bolstered with research... Read Roots Summary