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.

Auggie & Me

by R. J. Palacio

Publication year 2014

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Coming of Age, Forgiveness, Childhood & Youth, Conflict

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

... Read Auggie & Me Summary

A Very Large Expanse of Sea

by Tahereh Mafi

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Religion & Spirituality, Friendship

Tags Life-Inspired Fiction, Race & Racism, 9/11, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi is a 2018 semi-autobiographical young adult novel set in America one year after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Sixteen-year-old Shirin, a Muslim girl born in America to Persian immigrant parents from Iran, experiences intolerance and hatred in her school and the outside world. Shirin tries to maintain emotional distance from peers to protect herself, but the hesitant romance that develops between Shirin and Ocean... Read A Very Large Expanse of Sea Summary

Awake

by Jen Hatmaker

Publication year 2025

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Marriage, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Grief, Hate & Anger, Hope, Joy, Loneliness, Love, Memory, Femininity, Midlife, Future, The Past, Daughters & Sons, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Colonialism, Community, Equality, Justice, Literature, Loyalty & Betrayal, Music, Order & Chaos, Religion & Spirituality, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Memoir & Autobiography, Relationships

... Read Awake Summary

A Walk in the Woods

by Bill Bryson

Publication year 1998

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Place, Friendship, Animals, Plants, Environment, Appearance & Reality, Community

Tags Travel Literature, Humor, Science & Nature, Animals, Anthropology, US History, Relationships, Politics & Government, Sports, World History, Action & Adventure, Biography

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail is a 1998 travel book by American-British author Bill Bryson. The book was a New York Times bestseller, and a 2014 Cable News Network (CNN) poll named it the funniest travel book ever written. In addition, it inspired the 2015 film A Walk in the Woods starring Robert Redford as Bryson, Nick Nolte as Stephen Katz (his primary hiking companion), and Emma Thompson as... Read A Walk in the Woods Summary

A Wizard of Earthsea

by Ursula K. Le Guin

Publication year 1968

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Good & Evil, Friendship, Safety & Danger, Fate, Coming of Age

Tags Fantasy, Coming of Age, Science Fiction, Action & Adventure, Classic Fiction

First published in 1968, Ursula K. Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea follows Ged, a young man in training to be a wizard, as he embarks on a necessary journey of self-discovery and self-mastery. It is the first in a series of six novels aimed at young adult readers. The novel has won numerous awards and is regarded as a classic of young adult fantasy literature. Le Guin is also known for The Left Hand... Read A Wizard of Earthsea Summary

Awkward

by Svetlana Chmakova

Publication year 2015

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Art, Wins & Losses, Science & Technology, Teamwork, Education, Childhood & Youth, Regret

Tags Realistic Fiction, Science & Nature, Education, Children`s Literature, Bullying, Trauma & Abuse, Education, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Awkward Summary

Babylon's Ashes

by James S. A. Corey

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Space, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Hate & Anger, Hope, Revenge, Death, Future, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Objects & Materials, Place, Family, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Colonialism, Community, Economics, Globalization, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Literature, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Action & Adventure

... Read Babylon's Ashes Summary

Bamboo People

by Mitali Perkins

Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Education, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Good & Evil, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Conflict, Hope, Coming of Age

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Military & War, Asian Literature, Trauma & Abuse, Social Class, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, World History, Action & Adventure, Arts & Culture

Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins is a young adult, coming-of-age, historical fiction novel about two boys—one Burmese, the other Karenni—growing up during an intense period of violence between the Burmese military and the Karenni people. The book was named an “ALA APALA Honor Book, Indies Choice Honor Book of the Year for Young Adults, ALA Top Ten Book in Best Fiction for Young Adults, [and] International Reading Association Notable Book for a Global Society [and... Read Bamboo People Summary

Ban This Book

by Alan Gratz

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Literature, Friendship, Community, Siblings, Childhood & Youth, Family, Education, Guilt, Fear, Trust & Doubt, Politics & Government, Perseverance, Conflict

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

... Read Ban This Book Summary

Barakah Beats

by Maleeha Siddiqui

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Music, Religion & Spirituality, Family, Coming of Age, Friendship

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Music, Religion & Spirituality

... Read Barakah Beats Summary

Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life

by William Finnegan

Publication year 2015

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Coming of Age, Friendship, Perseverance, Self Discovery, Environment, Appearance & Reality, Social Class, Politics & Government, Safety & Danger, Community, Literature

Tags Sports, Travel Literature, Action & Adventure, Bullying, Arts & Culture, Social Class, Race & Racism, Relationships, Poverty, Politics & Government, Science & Nature, Social Justice, World History, Biography

Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life is a 2015 memoir by William Finnegan, a writer for The New Yorker and the author of several social journalism books such as A Complicated War: The Harrowing of Mozambique and Dateline Soweto: Travels with Black South African Reporters. In Barbarian Days, Finnegan reflects on his upbringing in California and Hawaii, as well as his coming of age in the late 1960s. He relays his experience of the surfing counterculture... Read Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life Summary

Bear

by Julia Phillips

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Guilt, Hope, Joy, Loneliness, Love, Memory, Nostalgia, Death, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Place, Family, Friendship, Mothers, Community, Economics, Beauty, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Animals, Romance, Canadian Literature, Classic Fiction

... Read Bear Summary

Becket

by Jean Anouilh

Publication year 1959

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Friendship, Power & Greed

Tags Historical Fiction, Tragedy, Religion & Spirituality, European History, Politics & Government, French Literature, Modernism, Medieval, World History, Dramatic Literature, Classic Fiction

Becket or The Honor of God is a 1959 play by the French dramatist Jean Anouilh. It portrays a fictionalized version of the conflict that took place between King Henry II of England and the archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket, in the 12th century. The English translation of the play premiered on Broadway in 1960 to great acclaim and was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film in 1964.The central conflict of Becket, which ended in... Read Becket Summary