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.

Stung

by Bethany Wiggins

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Perseverance, Friendship

Tags Science Fiction, Romance, Arts & Culture, Horror & Suspense, Fantasy, Action & Adventure

Stung is a 2013 work of young adult fiction by Bethany Wiggins. The setting is a near-future dystopia in which honeybees are extinct, resulting in famine and a breakdown of societal infrastructures. As 17-year-old Fiona Tarsis battles both beasts and humans in an effort to stay alive and learn the truth, the novel explores themes of humanity and violence through the lens of gender dynamics. Stung earned a Starred Review from Kirkus; a sequel, Cured... Read Stung Summary

Stupid Fast

by Geoff Herbach

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Mental Health, Family, Self Discovery, Friendship, Mothers

Tags Humor, Coming of Age, Sports, Realistic Fiction, Depression & Suicide, Mental Illness, Trauma & Abuse, Modern Classic Fiction

Fifteen-year-old Felton Reinstein hits puberty and transforms from a nerd to an athlete but struggles to cope with his mom’s growing mental health struggles in Geoff Herbach’s young adult novel, Stupid Fast (2011). Bullied and teased most of his young life, Felton has anxiety caused by his dad’s death by suicide. Now, he grows huge and fast, joins the football team, and gains new jock friends and a smart, talented girlfriend named Aleah. Outwardly things... Read Stupid Fast Summary

Sugar

by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Family, Friendship, Social Class, Equality, Race

Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Diversity, Race & Racism, US History, Reconstruction Era, Children`s Literature, World History, Arts & Culture

... Read Sugar Summary

Sula

by Toni Morrison

Publication year 1973

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Gender Identity, Community

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Race & Racism, Trauma & Abuse, Relationships, African American Literature, Education, Education, World History, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction

Sula, written by Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison, was first published in 1973. It was her second novel, following her 1970 debut The Bluest Eye. Morrison published both novels while still working as an editor at Random House, where she edited books by Angela Davis, Muhammad Ali, and Gayl Jones. Morrison would go on to win the National Book Critics Circle Award for Song of Solomon (1977) and the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for Beloved (1987)... Read Sula Summary

Summer Ball

by Mike Lupica

Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Appearance & Reality

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, US History, Sports, Action & Adventure

In Mike Lupica’s Summer Ball, published in 2007, 13-year-old Danny Walker heads to an elite basketball summer camp called Right Way. Here, he will match his nationally-recognized skills against some of the best young basketball players in the country. The New York Times-bestselling novelpicks up where Lupica’s previous novel, Travel Team, leaves off: Walker, cut from his local Middletown basketball travel team because he’s too short, leads his new team to the seventh-grade national championship... Read Summer Ball Summary

Summerland

by Michael Chabon

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Childhood & Youth, Nature Versus Nurture, Daughters & Sons, Fathers, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Religion & Spirituality, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses

Tags Fantasy, Children`s Literature, Action & Adventure, Sports

... Read Summerland Summary

Summer of '69

by Elin Hilderbrand

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Hope, Loneliness, Love, Family, Mothers, Daughters & Sons, Siblings, Marriage, Friendship

Tags Historical Fiction, Military & War, Relationships, Race & Racism, Modern Classic Fiction, World History, Romance

... Read Summer of '69 Summary

Summer of the Monkeys

by Wilson Rawls

Publication year 1976

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Coming of Age, Friendship

Tags Historical Fiction, Animals, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, World History, Classic Fiction

Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls is a middle grade historical novel first published in 1976. Set in rural Oklahoma’s Ozark Mountains in the late 1800s, the story follows 14-year-old Jay Berry Lee as he tries to capture a group of monkeys that escaped from their circus train. The monkeys, and especially the chimpanzee who leads them, prove themselves wily adversaries for Jay Berry, who desperately wants the reward money that will accompany their... Read Summer of the Monkeys Summary

Summer Romance

by Annabel Monaghan

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Apathy, Perseverance, Grief, Hope, Joy, Love, Memory, Sexual Identity, Midlife, Daughters & Sons, Family, Friendship, Marriage, Mothers, Self Discovery, Beauty, Order & Chaos

Tags Romance, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Summer Romance Summary

Summer Sisters

by Judy Blume

Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Power & Greed, Family

Tags Coming of Age, Romance, Love & Sexuality, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

Judy Blume is the author of the bildungsroman and romance Summer Sisters, which she published in 1998. A prolific author, Blume is famous for her young-reader books, including the canonized Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret (1970), but Summer Sisters is for adults. The book follows the friendship of two girls from different socioeconomic classes from adolescence through adulthood as it addresses themes like The Elusive Power of Sex, The Fluidity of Families, and... Read Summer Sisters Summary

Summit Lake

by Charlie Donlea

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Fear, Hate & Anger, Memory, Revenge, Death, Place, Friendship, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Education, Politics & Government, Fate, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense

... Read Summit Lake Summary

Supergifted

by Gordon Korman

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Self Discovery, Fame, Loyalty & Betrayal

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

... Read Supergifted Summary

Surviving the Applewhites

by Stephanie S. Tolan

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Coming of Age, Fathers, Friendship, Grandparents, Mothers, Siblings, Self Discovery, Community, Education, Art, Order & Chaos

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

Surviving the Applewhites is a children’s novel written by American author Stephanie S. Tolan and was first published in 2002.The narrative follows Jake Semple, a troubled teenager forced to move in with the unconventional and eccentric Applewhite family following an incident at school. Jake struggles to fit in at first but gradually sheds his past transgressions and undergoes a transformative journey toward self-discovery and redemption. The novel touches on Personal Growth and Transformation, Individuality Versus... Read Surviving the Applewhites Summary

Swim Team

by Johnnie Christmas

Publication year 2022

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Family, Friendship, Perseverance

Tags Sports, Realistic Fiction, African American Literature, Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Swim Team Summary

Sylvia And Aki

by Winifred Conkling

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Education, Race, Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Family, Fathers, Mothers, Siblings, Social Class, Community, Equality, Justice

Tags Historical Fiction, Social Justice, World War II, Children`s Literature, Military & War, World History, Arts & Culture

... Read Sylvia And Aki Summary