Friendship

The solace and comfort of true friendship — and the pain of its loss — can rival any romantic or familial relationship. In this collection, we present texts that examine the unique qualities and costs of deep friendships.

Darius the Great Is Not Okay

by Adib Khorram

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Teamwork, Friendship

Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness, LGBTQ+

Darius the Great Is Not Okay is a coming-of-age novel by Iranian American writer Adib Khorram. Originally published in 2018 by Dial Books, the novel echoes Khorram’s experiences growing up in a multiethnic family with a history of mental illnesses. The book, which is Khorram’s first, won the William C. Morris YA Debut Award in 2019 and is a popular BookTok read. A sequel entitled Darius the Great Deserves Better was published in August 2020. Content... Read Darius the Great Is Not Okay Summary

Dash

by Kirby Larson

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Family, Race, Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Justice

Tags Historical Fiction, World War II, Animals, Children`s Literature, Military & War, World History

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Deadly Animals

by Marie Tierney

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Hate & Anger, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Animals, Nature Versus Nurture, Friendship, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Good & Evil, Justice, Safety & Danger

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Dead Poets Society

by N. H. Kleinbaum

Publication year 1989

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Literature, Art, Beauty, Education, Self Discovery, Fear, Fathers, Death, Friendship, Love

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Dramatic Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction

IntroductionN. H. Kleinbaum’s Dead Poets Society is a 1989 novel based on the motion picture written by Tom Schulman. The novel was released as a companion piece to the wildly popular film—also titled Dead Poets Society and released in 1989— which starred famous actors such as Robin Williams as Mr. Keating, and Ethan Hawke as Todd Anderson. The film scored high with critics, winning the Oscar in 1990 for Best Original Screenplay and receiving nominations... Read Dead Poets Society Summary

Death Cloud

by Andrew Lane

Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Self Discovery, Loneliness, Appearance & Reality, Teamwork

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, World History

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Death Comes for the Archbishop

by Willa Cather

Publication year 1927

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Indigenous Identity, Race, Death, Future, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Place, Friendship, Self Discovery, Colonialism, Community, Beauty, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Western, American Literature, Religion & Spirituality, World History, Classic Fiction

Death Comes for the Archbishop (1927) is a novel by American author Willa Cather. The story is loosely based on the experiences of Priests Jean-Baptiste Lamy and Joseph Projectus Machebeuf as they sought to establish a Catholic diocese (an ecclesiastical district under the control of one particular bishop) in the newly acquired territory of New Mexico.A major figure in American literature, Cather is best known for the novels O Pioneers! (1913), The Song of the... Read Death Comes for the Archbishop Summary

Demian

by Hermann Hesse

Publication year 1919

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Friendship, Self Discovery, Good & Evil, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Life-Inspired Fiction, Coming of Age, Philosophy, Religion & Spirituality, German Literature

Hermann Hesse’s Demian (1919) explores the coming-of-age journey of Emil Sinclair as he develops his sense of self and understanding of the duality of humanity. The novel is set in Germany in the early 20th century between World War I and World War II, and it adheres to the Bildungsroman genre. Hesse also utilizes philosophical thought, including Jungian psychology, Gnostic Christianity, and Nietzsche, to shape Sinclair’s self-discovery journey. The novel explores themes regarding the importance... Read Demian Summary

Devolution

by Max Brooks

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Apathy, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Hope, Revenge, Mental Health, Midlife, Death, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Food, Nature Versus Nurture, Objects & Materials, Place, Family, Friendship, Marriage, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Economics, Fate, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Science Fiction

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid

by Jeff Kinney

Publication year 2007

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Family, Loyalty & Betrayal, Siblings, Childhood & Youth, Guilt, Shame & Pride, Truth & Lies

Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Relationships, Bullying, Children`s Literature

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is the first graphic novel in the titular series by Jeff Kinney. Since its initial publication in 2007, Diary of a Wimpy Kid has become a New York Times bestseller and 16 sequels have followed in the series, including Rodrick Rules (2008) and The Last Straw (2009). Diary of a Wimpy Kid is written in a diary format and documents the misadventures of middle school student Greg Heffley, who longs... Read Diary of a Wimpy Kid Summary

Different Seasons

by Stephen King

Publication year 1982

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Fear, Hope, Justice, Death

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Dramatic Literature, Psychological Fiction, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

Introduction Different Seasons (1982) by Stephen King is a collection of four novellas that are tied together by a connection to the four seasons. Three of the four stories (“Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption”, “Apt Pupil”, and “The Body”) have been made into films, and the fourth (“The Breathing Method”) is under consideration for adaptation.This guide refers to the 1983 Signet edition.Content Warning: This book contains references to death by suicide, sexual assault, racism... Read Different Seasons Summary

Dinners With Ruth

by Nina Totenberg

Publication year 2022

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Friendship, Gender Identity, Equality, Politics & Government

Tags Leadership, Crime & Law, Women`s Studies, Gender & Feminism, World History, Politics & Government, Biography

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Dire bound

by Sable Sorensen

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Hope, Love, Memory, Femininity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Death, Future, The Past, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Family, Friendship, Mothers, Siblings, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Politics & Government, War, Beauty, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Romance, Love & Sexuality, Fantasy

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Dog Man

by Dav Pilkey

Publication year 2016

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Good & Evil, Friendship, Childhood & Youth

Tags Humor, Fantasy, Animals, Children`s Literature

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