Fear

Should we heed our fears, or work to overcome them? Suppress and ignore them, or face them head-on? Do we fight—or should we flight? These books unpack the universal human emotion of fear.

The Birds

by Daphne du Maurier

Publication year 1952

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Fear, Memory, War

Tags Horror & Suspense, Animals, Cold War, Mystery & Crime Fiction, British Literature, Gothic Literature, Classic Fiction

Daphne du Maurier’s short story “The Birds” was first published in her 1952 collection, The Apple Tree: A Short Novel and Several Long Stories. It is a Gothic horror story about a man who must protect his family from the brutal and inexplicably organized attacks perpetrated by the birds. Du Maurier’s tale evokes the social isolation of individuals in 1950s England, the British civilians’ memories of helplessness during the Blitz, and the fear of destructive... Read The Birds Summary

The Black Stallion

by Walter Farley

Publication year 1941

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Death, Loyalty & Betrayal, Animals, Safety & Danger, Childhood & Youth, Fear, Trust & Doubt, Perseverance

Tags Classic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Action & Adventure, Realism, Animals, Historical Fiction

Walter Farley was only 26 years old when he published The Black Stallion, the fictional adventure story of the friendship between a boy and a majestic, powerful horse. Farley’s book, first available in 1941, was an instant bestseller. The Black Stallion and its 20 sequels have sold more than 12 million copies. The novel won the 1944 Young Reader’s Choice Award and inspired three Black Stallion movies and a TV series. At the heart of... Read The Black Stallion Summary

The Boarded Window

by Ambrose Bierce

Publication year 1891

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Grief, Fear, Environment

Tags Historical Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Western, Grief & Death, Animals, American Literature, Gothic Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction, US History, Classic Fiction

Not far from Cincinnati in 1830 lies a “great forest” occupied by the scattered homes of early settlers. Among them is an old, neglected cabin with a front door and boarded-up window. For decades, a white-haired man named Murlock has lived there; he looks 70 but is really 50. He lets his yard grow wild and provides for himself by selling animal skins.Murlock is found dead at his cabin, apparently of natural causes. He’s buried... Read The Boarded Window Summary

The Body

by Stephen King

Publication year 1982

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Fear, Love, Coming of Age

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Classic Fiction, Coming of Age, Action & Adventure, Horror & Suspense, Trauma & Abuse, Bullying, Relationships, American Literature

... Read The Body Summary

The Body in the Woods

by April Henry

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Death, Friendship, Place, Safety & Danger, Teamwork, Mental Health, Fear, Trust & Doubt

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Poverty, Mental Illness, Trauma & Abuse, Social Class, Psychology, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

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The Breakdown

by B.A. Paris

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Trust & Doubt, Memory, Perseverance, Fear, Revenge, Mental Health, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Psychological Fiction, Relationships, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

The Breakdown (2017) is a psychological thriller and B. A. Paris’s follow-up to her internationally bestselling debut, Behind Closed Doors. The Breakdown was a Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Mystery and Thriller in 2017. It has been adapted into a film titled Blackwater Lane, released in 2024 and starring Minka Kelly, Maggie Grace, and Dermot Mulroney. The novel portrays Cass Anderson’s battle with guilt and fear after a woman is murdered near her home... Read The Breakdown Summary

The Brooklyn Nine

by Alan Gratz

Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Guilt, Hope, Loneliness, Memory, Daughters & Sons, Friendship, Grandparents, Fathers, Mothers, Teamwork, Disability, Indigenous Identity, Gender Identity, Race, Immigration, Social Class, Community, Education, War, Nation, Self Discovery, Politics & Government, Place, Equality, Fate, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Wins & Losses, Truth & Lies, Aging, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, The Past, Midlife, Death

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Sports, Realistic Fiction, World History

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The Buddha in the Attic

by Julie Otsuka

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Race, Justice

Tags Historical Fiction, Immigration & Refugeeism, Social Class, US History, Race & Racism, American Literature, World War II, Asian Literature, World History, Japanese Literature

Julie Otsuka is a Japanese American writer who was born in 1962 in Palo Alto, California. Both The Buddha in the Attic (2011) and her 2002 novel, When the Emperor was Divine, portray the Japanese American experience of internment camps following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. The subject is close to Otsuka’s heart; the FBI arrested her grandfather on suspicion of being an enemy spy, while her mother, uncle, and grandmother were... Read The Buddha in the Attic Summary

The Bully

by Paul Langan

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Loneliness, Shame & Pride, Masculinity, Coming of Age, Place, Fathers, Self Discovery, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger

Tags Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Sports, Urban Development, Dramatic Literature

... Read The Bully Summary

The Burning Bridge

by John Flanagan

Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Loyalty & Betrayal, Friendship, Perseverance, Fear, Hope, Gender Identity, Coming of Age, Death, Appearance & Reality, Teamwork, Self Discovery, War, Good & Evil, Safety & Danger

Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure

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The Butcher Game

by Alaina Urquhart

Publication year 2024

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Fear, Hate & Anger, Love, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Mental Health, Death, Environment, Plants, Good & Evil, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction

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The Call of Cthulhu

by H. P. Lovecraft

Publication year 1928

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Mental Health, Race, Religion & Spirituality, Fate, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Order & Chaos, Good & Evil, Fear, Conflict

Tags Science Fiction, Gothic Literature, Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Race & Racism

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