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.

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Jewish Literature, Military / War, History: World


Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Disability, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth

Tags Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, British Literature, Disability, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

The London Eye Mystery (2007), by Siobhan Dowd, is a novel for young readers about a boy named Ted who teams up with his sister to figure out how their cousin disappeared while riding a giant Ferris wheel.The novel was nominated for a Carnegie Medal, was listed as a 2008 Booklist Children’s Editors’ Choice title, and a School Library Journal Best Book of 2008. It was also shortlisted for many English awards, including the Red... Read The London Eye Mystery Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Society: Class

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: World, LGBTQ, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Literature

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Romance


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, British Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Natural World: Space & The Universe

Tags LGBTQ, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy

Originally published via a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2014 and then by Hodder & Stoughton in 2016, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is Becky Chambers’ debut novel set in her fictional universe, the Galactic Commons. The novel is a science-fiction space opera concerned with the crew of the Wayfarer, a ship that bores wormholes between systems. Much of the plot serves as a backdrop for exploration of the emotional connections between the... Read The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet Summary


Publication year 1940

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place

Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fame, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Literature

Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance


Publication year 1997

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Psychology, Psychology, Biography

The Lost Boy is the sequel to Dave Pelzer’s first memoir, A Child Called “It,” which tells the story of how he was severely abused by his mother as a young child. In The Lost Boy, Pelzer recounts how he is finally removed from his parents’ custody and placed in foster care. After years of neglect and abuse, David struggles to adjust to his new living situations and the uncertainty that comes with the life... Read The Lost Boy Summary


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Family, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Identity: Language

Tags Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Gender / Feminism, Modern Classic Fiction, Italian Literature


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Natural World: Flora/plants, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Grandparents, Self Discovery

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, Romance


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: The Past, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Children's Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction


Publication year 1984

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

Tags Relationships, American Literature, French Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery

Tags Romance, Humor, Contemporary Literature


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Class, Love / Sexuality, Gender / Feminism, Italian Literature, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Modern Classic Fiction

The Lying Life of Adults (2020) by Elena Ferrante is a work of fiction. Set in Naples, Italy, the narrative is a coming-of-age story, also known as a bildungsroman, told by Giovanna Trada. Giovanna details her adolescence from 13 to 16 years of age and the growing pains she endured while searching for identity and autonomy. Themes include the struggle between good and evil, women as either sinners or saints, and compunction and gender roles... Read The Lying Life of Adults Summary


Publication year 1997

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family

Tags Magical Realism, LGBTQ

Written by acclaimed American author Ann Patchett, The Magician’s Assistant is a piece of contemporary literature that explores life after grief, the nature of love, and the power of family dynamics. Told in two parts, one set in Los Angeles and the other in small-town Nebraska, the novel emphasizes the importance of setting and environment in the development of identity.The author of nine novels and the recipient of numerous awards, Ann Patchett is an outspoken... Read The Magician's Assistant Summary


Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family

Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Grief / Death, Relationships, Animals, Action / Adventure

A fortuneteller tells 10-year-old Peter that an elephant will lead him to his lost sister, which starts Peter on a journey of self-discovery and wonder in Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo’s The Magician’s Elephant (2009). When a magician miraculously conjures an elephant, its appearance affects everyone in town. In his efforts to find his sister Adele and rescue the homesick elephant, Peter must overcome obstacles and unite a diverse group of characters that includes a policeman... Read The Magician's Elephant Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Relationships: Family

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy


Publication year 1992

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery

Tags Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Disability

The Man Who Loved Clowns by June Rae Wood is a young adult novel about a teenage girl, Delrita, who lives with her Uncle Punky, who has Down syndrome. Wood based the novel on her personal experience growing up with her brother, Richard, who had Down syndrome. The Man Who Loved Clowns was published in 1992 and won the Mark Twain Award in 1995. Wood published a sequel, Turtle on a Fence Post, in 1997.This... Read The Man Who Loved Clowns Summary