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 Wolves

by Sarah DeLappe

Publication year 2018

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Coming of Age, Femininity

Tags Drama, Coming of Age, Sports, Women`s Studies, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Dramatic Literature

... Read The Wolves Summary

The Woman in Suite 11

by Ruth Ware

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Memory, Mental Health, Midlife, Death, Future, The Past, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Politics & Government, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Literature, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

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

... Read The Woman in Suite 11 Summary

The Women

by Kristin Hannah

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes War, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Shame & Pride, Femininity, Death, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Safety & Danger

Tags Historical Fiction, Gender & Feminism, Trauma & Abuse, Military & War, World History, Romance

... Read The Women Summary

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

by L. Frank Baum

Publication year 1900

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Good & Evil, Friendship, Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self Discovery

Tags Children`s Literature, Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Action & Adventure

Published in 1900, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a beloved children’s classic by L. Frank Baum. It was adapted in 1939 into an iconic film starring Judy Garland. L. Frank Baum went on to write 13 further books set in the Land of Oz. This guide refers to the 2008 Puffin Books edition of The Wizard of Oz.Plot SummaryDorothy is a young girl living with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry on a farm... Read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Summary

The Young Landlords

by Walter Dean Myers

Publication year 1979

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Perseverance, Race, Coming of Age, Fathers, Social Class, Community, Justice

Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature

Walter Dean Myers first published his middle grade novel, The Young Landlords, in 1979. Like most of the 100 books Myers penned before his death in 2014, the story centers on Black youth. The Young Landlords is particularly personal to Myers, however, because he writes about the neighborhood in Harlem, New York, where he grew up, describing the sort of activities and individuals he encountered as a youth. The main character, 15-year-old Paul Williams, pays... Read The Young Landlords Summary

This Is Our Youth

by Kenneth Lonergan

Publication year 1996

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Apathy, Friendship

Tags Drama

This Is Our Youth is a theatrical play of the realistic fiction genre, written by Kenneth Lonergan. It originally premiered in 1996 off-Broadway. It takes place in the US in 1982, during Ronald Reagan’s presidency, and centers around the lives of privileged youth who lack direction and fear The Disillusionment of Adulthood. Lonergan was inspired by his own experiences of listlessness and feeling lost in his youth in the early 1980s, as well as The... Read This Is Our Youth Summary

This One Summer

by Mariko Tamaki

Publication year 2014

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Memory, Nostalgia, Femininity, Childhood & Youth, Mental Health, Coming of Age, Family, Mothers

Tags Coming of Age, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

This One Summer is a Canadian young adult graphic novel written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by her cousin, Jillian Tamaki. Mariko Tamaki has written several graphic novels, and has worked for both Marvel and DC Comics. This One Summer was originally published in 2014 by Groundwood Books, and follows the summer experiences of two young girls approaching adolescence and watching their parents cope with the various pressures of adulthood. The novel has been the... Read This One Summer Summary