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.
Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Fate
Tags Classic Fiction, Narrative / Epic Poem, Mythology, Ancient Greece, Education, Education, Fantasy, Action / Adventure
Book DetailsThe Odyssey is a classic ancient Greek epic poem attributed to Homer. Often referred to as the beginning of Western literature, The Odyssey draws on conceits and concepts from Near Eastern epics, most notably the Homecoming Husband. The narrative revolves around the restoration of a family after a prolonged separation, exploring themes of The Importance of Home and Family, Reciprocity as Virtue and Obligation, and the Intersection of Fate, the Gods, and Human Choices... Read The Odyssey Summary
Publication year 2010
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Family, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fate
Tags Classic Fiction, Fantasy
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Relationships: Family
Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Fairy Tale / Folklore
Publication year 1852
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, British Literature, Gothic Literature, History: World, Victorian Literature / Period, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2004
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Grief / Death, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 1908
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Siblings, Society: Community, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Marriage, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Midlife, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Historical Fiction, British Literature
Publication year 2025
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Animals
Tags Animals, Fantasy, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags Realistic Fiction, Literary Fiction
Publication year 2019
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Society: Globalization, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags History: U.S., Crime / Legal, September 11 Attacks, History: World, Biography, Politics / Government
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, Arts / Culture
The Only Road (2016) is Alexandra Diaz’s second novel. Diaz is the daughter of Cuban immigrants, and this book focuses on the experience of migration. The novel, written primarily for young adults, follows cousins Jaime and Ángela, who are forced to flee their small Guatemalan village after the local gang kills Ángela’s brother. Faced with either joining the gang responsible for his death or taking the uncertain 4,000-kilometer journey north, Jaime and Ángela reluctantly leave... Read The Only Road Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Literary Fiction, Christian literature, Contemporary Literature
Publication year 2003
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Class, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Realistic Fiction, Poverty, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness
Barbara Haworth-Attard’s young adult novel Theories of Relativity follows the story of Dylan Wallace, a 16-year-old boy living on the streets of a large city in Canada. Through first-person, present-tense narration, Dylan navigates the dangers and risks of street life and deals with the hardships that accompany the lifestyle. This novel was originally published in Canada in 2003 by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd. This study guide follows the First American Edition of the novel, published in... Read Theories of Relativity Summary
Publication year 1884
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Nation
Tags Anthropology, Anthropology, Gender / Feminism, Business / Economics, Sociology, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Politics / Government
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Health / Medicine, History: World
Publication year 1997
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Immigration
Tags Children's Literature, Italian Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Relationships: Family, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Holocaust
The Orphan’s Tale (2017) is a historical novel by American author Pam Jenoff. A New York Times bestseller, the novel is set in a traveling circus in Germany during World War II. It follows the lives of Noa, a Dutch teenager forced to leave her family after she becomes pregnant, and Astrid, a Jewish aerialist hiding her identity, and the powerful bond they form to survive. The novel explores themes of The Strength of Found... Read The Orphan's Tale Summary
Publication year 2001
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Life/Time: The Future, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Society: Nation
Tags Historical Fiction, British Literature, Romance, Auto/Biographical Fiction
The Other Boleyn Girl (2001) is a historical women’s fiction novel by British author and journalist Philippa Gregory. Gregory first reached bestseller status with her debut historical novel Wideacre (1987). The Other Boleyn Girl won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award from the Romantic Novelists’ Association and was adapted into a film. The novel is narrated by Mary, the Boleyn daughter whose more famous sister, Anne, has overshadowed her in the historical record. Mary... Read The Other Boleyn Girl Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction