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.

Theo of Golden

by Allen Levi

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Community, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Love, Memory, Mental Health, Race, Aging, Death, The Past, Family, Fathers, Art, Beauty, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Literary Fiction, Christian, Contemporary Literature

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The Pact

by Jodi Picoult

Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Death, Coming of Age, Friendship

Tags Romance, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Dramatic Literature, Depression & Suicide, Relationships, Trauma & Abuse

The Pact: A Love Story (1998) by Jodi Picoult tells the story of teens Emily Gold and Chris Harte who enter into a pact to die by suicide. Emily’s death has taken place by the novel’s opening, but Chris is swiftly charged with her murder. As the novel unfolds, the complicated dynamics of the lives of the teens—lifelong best friends who grew up next door to one another—are presented. The nature of the “pact” that... Read The Pact Summary

The Paris Novel

by Ruth Reichl

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Loneliness, Coming of Age, The Past, Food, Friendship, Mothers, Self Discovery, Art

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, French Literature, Historical Fiction, Romance, Travel Literature, Food

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The Passenger

by Cormac McCarthy

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Good & Evil, Family, Grief, Friendship, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Psychological Fiction, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

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The Penderwicks

by Jeanne Birdsall

Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Siblings, Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Family, Self Discovery, Coming of Age, Childhood & Youth, Literature, Loyalty & Betrayal, Music, Animals

Tags Realistic Fiction, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, Coming of Age, Animals, Relationships, Social Class, Music, Parenting, Modern Classic Fiction

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The Pigman

by Paul Zindel

Publication year 1968

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Death, Truth & Lies, Mental Health, Friendship

Tags Realistic Fiction, Grief & Death, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction

Published in 1968, Paul Zindel’s The Pigman established the young adult genre in fiction novels and became a classic book that is still read by teenagers in classrooms today. Written from the dual perspective of two high school students, Zindel takes the reader inside the mind of a teenager’s thoughts, fears, and impressions of others and examines what it means to be kind and empathetic. The novel was awarded the New York Times Outstanding Book... Read The Pigman Summary

The Poem of the Cid

by Anonymous

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Masculinity, Fathers, Friendship

Tags Historical Fiction, Medieval, Narrative Poem, Action & Adventure, European History, Military & War

The Song of the Cid, also known as El Cantar de mio Cid, is a Spanish epic written in verse by an unknown author. The only surviving medieval Spanish epic, it is widely considered Spain’s national folktale, telling of fictionalized events at the formation of medieval Spain in the 11th century. It is based on the true story of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, a Castilian knight who in reality fought for both Christian and Muslim... Read The Poem of the Cid Summary

The Power of One

by Bryce Courtenay

Publication year 1989

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Race, Revenge, Friendship

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, World History, Classic Fiction

The Power of One (1989) is a Bildungsroman written by Australian author Bryce Courtenay, largely based on the life and experiences of the author who grew up on a small farm in the Lebombo Mountains in South Africa. It was the only novel published by the author for an American market. He noted that “American publishers [. . .] are interested in books [set] in their own country first and foremost,” but his novel was... Read The Power of One Summary