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.

The Mistake

by Elle Kennedy

Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Hope, Love, Regret, Shame & Pride, Femininity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Future, Appearance & Reality, Daughters & Sons, Family, Fathers, Friendship, Marriage, Mothers, Siblings, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Education, Politics & Government, Beauty, Fame, Fate, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses

Tags New Adult, Romance

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The Mothers

by Brit Bennett

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Shame & Pride, Religion & Spirituality, Mothers, Community, Friendship, Forgiveness, Guilt, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Race, Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Social Class, Truth & Lies

Tags Coming of Age, African American Literature

The Mothers (2016) is the debut literary fiction novel by American author Brit Bennett. Set within a contemporary Black church community in Southern California, the story follows Nadia Turner, a grieving teenager whose decision to terminate a pregnancy creates ripples effects for her, the baby’s father, and her best friend for years to come. The narrative, framed by the collective voice of the church’s elderly women, explores themes including The Corrosive Power of Secrets, Motherhood... Read The Mothers Summary

The Mountain in the Sea

by Ray Nayler

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Animals, Apathy, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Hope, Loneliness, Memory, Future, Appearance & Reality, Climate, Environment, Place, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Colonialism, Community, Globalization, Politics & Government, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror & Suspense, Science & Nature, Animals

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The Music of Bees

by Eileen Garvin

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Community, Friendship, Environment, Perseverance, Mental Health, Self Discovery, Animals, Plants, Beauty, Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Hope

Tags Animals, Science & Nature, Disability, Coming of Age, Agriculture, Education, Health, Grief & Death, Depression & Suicide, Mental Illness, Social Justice, Modern Classic Fiction

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The Mysterious Island

by Jules Verne

Publication year 1875

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Friendship, Community, Safety & Danger, Order & Chaos, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Animals, Place

Tags Classic Fiction, Science Fiction, Action & Adventure, Fantasy, Survival Fiction, French Literature

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The Name of This Book Is Secret

by Pseudonymous Bosch

Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Good & Evil, Friendship

Tags Fantasy, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, Humor

The Name of This Book Is Secret (2007) is the first book in the middle grade fantasy series The Secret Series by Pseudonymous Bosch, the pen name of writer Raphael Simon. The book is told by an intrusive narrator, the author, Pseudonymous Bosch. The narrator frequently breaks the fourth wall to address the reader directly and interrupts the story to warn the reader of the dangerous nature of the story he is telling, sometimes considering... Read The Name of This Book Is Secret Summary

The New Couple in 5B

by Lisa Unger

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Love, Memory, Regret, Revenge, Gender Identity, Friendship, Marriage, Social Class, Community, Art, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Psychological Fiction, Horror & Suspense

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The Nickel Boys

by Colson Whitehead

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Race, Coming of Age

Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age, Civil Rights & Jim Crow South, Education, Incarceration, African American Literature, Race & Racism, World History, Historical Fiction

Like his 2016 bestseller, The Underground Railroad, Colson Whitehead’s The Nickel Boys (2019) won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (Whitehead is only the fourth writer in history to win two Pulitzers). The Nickel Boys describes life in a reform school from the point of view of young Black teenager. Whitehead based Nickel Academy on the real life Dozier School, a Florida facility that ran for over a century, until a university investigation publicized its racist... Read The Nickel Boys Summary

The Note

by Alafair Burke

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Nostalgia, Regret, Race, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Friendship, Social Class, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction

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The Octoroon

by Dion Boucicault

Publication year 1859

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Friendship

Tags Classic Fiction, Race & Racism, Education, Education, World History, Dramatic Literature, Historical Fiction

The Octoroon; or, Life in Louisiana by Dion Boucicault premiered in New York City on December 6, 1859. The title refers to a person who is one-eighth black. The Octoroon was a controversial play when it debuted, given its focus on slavery when the pre-Civil War United States was engaged in a heated debate over the institution. Abolitionist John Brown was hanged just three days before the play’s debut, which is seen as one of... Read The Octoroon Summary

The Odd Couple

by Neil Simon

Publication year 1965

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Marriage, Loneliness, The Past

Tags Drama, Comedy & Satire, Relationships, Depression & Suicide, Education, Education, American Literature, Dramatic Literature, Humor, Classic Fiction

The Odd Couple is a satirical play by American playwright Neil Simon. It opened on Broadway in 1965 and chronicles the unconventional relationship between friends turned roommates, Oscar Madison and Felix Ungar. The play found enduring success and inspired subsequent film and television adaptations. It was nominated for a New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award in 1965.Many of Simon’s plays are influenced by his own upbringing. Simon was born in the Bronx and grew up... Read The Odd Couple Summary