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.

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

Switzy

by Emma Cline

Publication year 2026

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Aging, Guilt, Loneliness, Memory, Death, Friendship

Tags Literary Fiction

David Hastings, a man in his seventies with progressive dementia, flies on a private jet toward London with his young assistant, Cody. The plane belongs to Bill Stearns, David's longtime friend and former colleague, who has lent it as a farewell gesture. London is only a stopover; David's true destination is Zurich, Switzerland, where he has arranged to end his life through the country's legal assisted suicide program.David's consciousness drifts throughout the flight. He plays... Read Switzy 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

System Collapse

by Martha Wells

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Space, Fear, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Colonialism, Justice

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Humor

Published in 2023, Martha Wells’s science fiction novel System Collapse is the seventh installment in the critically acclaimed and bestselling series, The Murderbot Diaries. The story continues the journey of Murderbot, a rogue security android that has hacked its own control module. In this entry, Murderbot is struggling with the aftermath of a traumatic event that causes it to have system-crashing flashbacks. It must overcome this internal crisis to help its human allies rescue a... Read System Collapse Summary

Taiwan Travelogue

by Yáng Shuāng-Zǐ, Transl. Lin King

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Food, Place, Friendship, Social Class, Colonialism, Immigration, Loyalty & Betrayal, Trust & Doubt

Tags Contemporary Literature, Historical Fiction

Yáng Shuāng-zǐ’s novel Taiwan Travelogue was originally published in Mandarin in 2020. A work of historical metafiction, the story is set in 1938, when Taiwan was a Japanese colony. The novel follows Aoyama Chizuko, a young, celebrated Japanese writer who travels to Taiwan on an official lecture tour. Disinterested in imperial propaganda, Aoyama seeks authentic Taiwanese culture, especially its food, and develops an intense relationship with her brilliant Taiwanese interpreter, Ō Chizuru (or Ōng Tshian-hòh... Read Taiwan Travelogue Summary

Taming 7

by Chloe Walsh

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Guilt, Shame & Pride, Masculinity, Mental Health, Coming of Age, Friendship, Safety & Danger

Tags Romance, Sports, New Adult

... Read Taming 7 Summary