Fathers

Italian novelist Umberto Eco wrote, "I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments, when they aren’t trying to teach us." This study guide collection gathers texts that explore what it means to be a father and what profound lessons their presence—or absence—teaches us.

End of Story

by A. J. Finn

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Forgiveness, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Memory, Regret, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Death, The Past, Fathers, Self Discovery, Justice, Truth & Lies

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Equus

by Peter Shaffer

Publication year 1973

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Grief, Guilt, Loneliness, Shame & Pride, Masculinity, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Fathers, Self Discovery, Religion & Spirituality

Tags British Literature, Psychology, Drama, Love & Sexuality, Mental Illness, Religion & Spirituality

Equus is a psychological drama that delves into the complex mind of Alan Strang, a 17-year-old boy who blinds six horses in a fit of passion. The play unfolds through the perspective of Dr. Martin Dysart, a psychiatrist who attempts to understand Alan’s actions, leading to a profound exploration of religion, sexuality, and the nature of mental and emotional wellness. It was inspired by a true story of religious mutilation of horses near Suffolk. It... Read Equus Summary

Everything Sad Is Untrue

by Daniel Nayeri

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Religion & Spirituality, Immigration, Place, Coming of Age, Siblings, Memory, Daughters & Sons, Mothers, Fathers, Childhood & Youth, Animals, The Past, Love, Shame & Pride, Education, Marriage, Perseverance, Politics & Government, Nation, Truth & Lies, Nostalgia, Hope, Loneliness, Grandparents

Tags Life-Inspired Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Immigration & Refugeeism, Middle Eastern History, Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

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Faker

by Gordon Korman

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Fathers, Friendship, Community, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies

Tags Children`s Literature

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Fallen Gods

by Rachel Van Dyken

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Love, Memory, Revenge, Race, Sexual Identity, Death, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Fathers, Siblings, Self Discovery, War, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger

Tags Romance, Fantasy, Mythology

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Fall on your Knees

by Ann-Marie MacDonald

Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Shame & Pride, Truth & Lies, Religion & Spirituality, Music, Good & Evil, Self Discovery, Fathers, Childhood & Youth, Sexual Identity, Race, Fear

Tags Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+, Magical Realism, Coming of Age, Trauma & Abuse, Love & Sexuality, Music, Religion & Spirituality, Race & Racism, World History, Canadian Literature

Fall on Your Knees (1996), first-time novelist Ann-Marie MacDonald’s ambitious multigenerational family saga set in the early decades of the 20th century, moves from the bleak coastal towns of Canada’s Cape Breton Island to the bustling New York City of the Jazz Era. Recalling both the psychological richness of William Faulkner’s family sagas set in Yoknapatawpha County and the dark passions in the Gothic tales of Flannery O’Connor, Fall on Your Knees follows three very... Read Fall on your Knees Summary

Fat Ham

by James Ijames

Publication year 2023

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Family, Fathers, Mothers

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Dramatic Literature, Drama, LGBTQ+, Humor

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Fences

by August Wilson

Publication year 1986

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Fathers, Aging

Tags American Literature, Race & Racism, Education, Education, Dramatic Literature, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction

August Wilson’s play Fences premiered in 1985 at the Yale Repertory Theatre and was published the following year. It opened on Broadway in 1987 with James Earl Jones in the role of Troy. It was the third play to premiere of Wilson’s Century Cycle, although it is the sixth play chronologically. The Century Cycle, also known as the Pittsburgh Cycle, consists of 10 plays, one set in each decade of the 20th century. Each play... Read Fences Summary

Firestarter

by Stephen King

Publication year 1980

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Safety & Danger, Power & Greed, Love, Family, Fathers

Tags Science Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Fantasy, Trauma & Abuse, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Relationships, Religion & Spirituality

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First They Killed My Father

by Loung Ung

Publication year 2000

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Fathers, Gender Identity, Family, Trust & Doubt

Tags World History, Gender & Feminism, Women`s Studies, Military & War, Politics & Government, Biography

First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers is a nonfiction memoir by the Cambodian author Loung Ung. A survivor of the 1970s Cambodian genocide under Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge regime, Ung wrote the story as an adult looking back on her childhood years between the ages of five and nine. Although some experts criticized the book over its historical accuracy, other critics lauded Ung for capturing the emotional truth of her experiences... Read First They Killed My Father Summary

Flight Of The Puffin

by Ann Braden

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Hope, Loneliness, Memory, Shame & Pride, Gender Identity, Childhood & Youth, Fathers, Friendship, Mothers, Siblings, Self Discovery, Art, Equality, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Trust & Doubt

Tags Realistic Fiction, LGBTQ+, Children`s Literature

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Flipped

by Wendelin Van Draanen

Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Love, Forgiveness, Childhood & Youth, Fathers, Family

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

Flipped is a contemporary young adult novel by Wendelin Van Draanen. The main characters, Juli Baker and Bryce Loski, are neighbors in Mayfield, a fictional American town. Now in eighth grade, the two protagonists reveal the story of their relationship in a dual narrative of alternating first-person chapters that recount how Juli “flips” for Bryce at a young age but later decides she is not interested…right around the time Bryce finally “flips” for Juli. The... Read Flipped Summary

Flock

by Kate Stewart

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Shame & Pride, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Fathers, Self Discovery, Social Class, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies

Tags Romance, Modern Classic Fiction

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Football Genius

by Tim Green

Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Masculinity, Coming of Age, Hate & Anger, Teamwork, Fathers

Tags Sports, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction

Football Genius is a middle grade sports fiction novel by former NFL player Tim Green. A graduate of Syracuse University’s College of Law, Green played in the NFL for eight seasons before turning his focus towards broadcasting, law, business, and creative writing. In the novel, protagonist Troy White discovers an almost supernatural ability to predict football plays, wrestles with his father’s abandonment, and pushes back against the nepotism and bullying on his own high school... Read Football Genius Summary

Forever...

by Judy Blume

Publication year 1975

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grandparents, Mothers, Fathers, Sexual Identity, Self Discovery, Friendship

Tags Romance, Coming of Age, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

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For One More Day

by Mitch Albom

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Music, Forgiveness, Memory, Fathers, Mothers, Family

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Dramatic Literature, Inspirational, Fantasy, Self-Improvement

For One More Day, by Mitch Albom, tells the story of Charles “Chick” Benetto, a retired baseball player fallen on hard times. The story is framed by a prologue and epilogue where a narrator explains that they are telling the story from Chick’s perspective, “because I’m not sure you would believe this story if you didn’t hear it in his voice” (7). The book is comprised of short chapters told in the first person, and... Read For One More Day Summary

Friday Night Lights

by Buzz Bissinger

Publication year 1990

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Teamwork, Community, Friendship, Fathers

Tags Sports, Creative Nonfiction, Race & Racism, Sociology, Journalism, World History, Biography

Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream is a 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger that explores the American phenomenon of high school football in the small Texan town of Odessa. Friday Night Lights is a New York Times bestseller and inspired a television show and film of the same name. Bissinger, who left his job as a journalist and editor to write the book, moved his family to Odessa for... Read Friday Night Lights Summary