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.

Weedflower

by Cynthia Kadohata

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Community, Safety & Danger, Coming of Age, Justice, Race, Shame & Pride, Loneliness, Family, Order & Chaos, Trust & Doubt, Equality, Fear, War

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Military & War, World History, Japanese Literature, Arts & Culture, World War II, Coming of Age

Weedflower, Cynthia Kadohata’s 2006 historical fiction young adult novel, tells the story of 12-year-old Japanese American Sumiko amid Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor and the US government’s ensuing involvement in World War II. Kadohata depicts the conditions of Japanese internment camps from Sumiko’s perspective, providing unique insight and education on the racism that Japanese Americans faced and the US government’s poor decisions.This guide references the 2009 paperback reprint edition from Atheneum Books for Young Readers.Plot... Read Weedflower Summary

We Fell Apart

by E. Lockhart

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Loneliness, Love, The Past, Daughters & Sons, Family, Fathers, Friendship, Siblings, Self Discovery, Art, Animals

Tags Romance, Grief & Death, Mystery & Crime Fiction

... Read We Fell Apart Summary

We Have Always Been Here

by Samra Habib

Publication year 2019

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Sexual Identity, Religion & Spirituality, Gender Identity, Community, Friendship, Family, Self Discovery, Conflict, Immigration

Tags Gender & Feminism, LGBTQ+, Immigration & Refugeeism, Religion & Spirituality, Biography

... Read We Have Always Been Here Summary

What Comes After

by JoAnne Tompkins

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Hope, Loneliness, Coming of Age, Midlife, Death, Future, The Past, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Nature Versus Nurture, Family, Friendship, Mothers, Self Discovery, Community, Fate, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

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

... Read What Comes After Summary

Whatshisface

by Gordon Korman

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Loneliness, Coming of Age, Friendship, Self Discovery, Community, Art

Tags Children`s Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Humor, Fantasy, Magical Realism

... Read Whatshisface Summary

What to Say Next

by Julie Buxbaum

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Mental Health, Friendship, Grief, Disability, Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Community

Tags Romance, Realistic Fiction, Diversity, Bullying, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness

... Read What to Say Next Summary

When I Was the Greatest

by Jason Reynolds

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Friendship, Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Race & Racism, Social Class, Disability, Modern Classic Fiction

When I Was the Greatest, published in 2014 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, is the debut novel by award-winning young adult fiction writer Jason Reynolds. It tells a nuanced and often emotional coming-of-age story in a low-income and predominantly Black New York borough. This is not a romanticized portrait but rather an earnest one that does not shy away from representing the harsher effects of poverty alongside heartfelt depictions of friendship, family, and community... Read When I Was the Greatest Summary

When Life Gives You Lululemons

by Lauren Weisberger

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Loneliness, Nostalgia, Femininity, Midlife, Love

Tags Humor, Realistic Fiction

When Life Gives You Lululemons is a novel by American author Lauren Weisberger. Originally published in 2018 by Simon & Schuster, the novel is the third installment in Weisberger’s The Devil Wears Prada universe. The title is preceded by the bestselling 2003 novel The Devil Wears Prada and its 2013 sequel, Revenge Wears Prada. In this third novel, Weisberger continues Emily Charlton’s story, years after leaving her life and career at the fashion magazine Runway... Read When Life Gives You Lululemons Summary