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.

Blubber

by Judy Blume

Publication year 1974

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship

Tags Bullying, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature, Trauma & Abuse, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

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Bluefish

by Pat Schmatz

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Apathy, Perseverance, Grief, Loneliness, Shame & Pride, Family, Grandparents, Mothers, Self Discovery, Education, Truth & Lies

Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age, Grief & Death, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction

Bluefish (2011) is a young adult novel by Pat Schmatz. This text is also sometimes classified as middle grade. The novel centers around Travis, an eighth grader who has lost his parents and dog and recently moved to a new school. Travis befriends Velveeta, a charismatic girl who is grieving the loss of her stand-in father figure, Calvin. As Travis and Velveeta’s friendship develops, they explore the challenges of coping with loss and family trauma... Read Bluefish Summary

Bob

by Wendy Mass, Rebecca Stead

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Conflict, Perseverance, Loneliness, Fear, Guilt, Hope, Joy, Love, Memory, Gratitude, Childhood & Youth, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Climate, Environment, Food, Family, Grandparents, Mothers, Literature, Safety & Danger

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

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Book Scavenger

by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Childhood & Youth, Friendship

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Action & Adventure, Arts & Culture, Relationships, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction

Book Scavenger (2015) is the debut novel by children’s author Jennifer Chambliss Bertman. Upon publication, it immediately became a New York Times bestseller and soon after the book was named an Amazon Book of the Year, Indie Top Ten Pick, and received more than 20 state awards and nominations. Book Scavenger has since been translated into 12 languages. Book Scavenger is the first volume in a Middle Grade Detective series of the same name. Other... Read Book Scavenger Summary

Born Behind Bars

by Padma Venkatraman

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Nation, Social Class, Politics & Government, Community, Friendship, Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Love, Hope

Tags Realistic Fiction, Social Justice, Poverty, Indian Literature, Social Class, Politics & Government, Incarceration, Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

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Born on a Blue Day

by Daniel Tammet

Publication year 2006

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Disability, Family, Friendship

Tags Disability, Psychology, LGBTQ+, Science & Nature, Psychology, Mental Illness, Biography

Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant is Daniel Tammet’s memoir and his first published book. In it, he recalls his childhood, adolescence, and adulthood leading up to the point in his life when he became independent with a partner and a career. Born on a Blue Day was a New York Times best seller following its publication in 2006.Tammet is, as identified in the subtitle, an autistic savant... Read Born on a Blue Day Summary

Born to Run

by Bruce Springsteen

Publication year 2016

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Perseverance, Hope, Joy, Memory, Love, Coming of Age, Midlife, Childhood & Youth, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Community, Politics & Government, Fate, Art, Fame, Justice, Music, Equality, Loyalty & Betrayal, Trust & Doubt, Religion & Spirituality, Truth & Lies

Tags Music, Arts & Culture, Mental Illness, Social Justice, US History, Biography

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Boy21

by Matthew Quick

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fathers, Friendship

Tags Realistic Fiction

Boy21 by Matthew Quick (The Silver Linings Playbook; Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock) tells the story of Finley McManus, the only white student on his high school’s varsity basketball team. Finley narrates this piece of young adult fiction that deals with the violence and, tangentially, the racism prevalent within American society.The novel begins in Finley’s memory: he is learning how to play basketball as an escape from the trauma within his Bellmont community. He meets a... Read Boy21 Summary

Brain Damage

by Freida McFadden

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Memory, Shame & Pride, Disability, Femininity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Midlife, Appearance & Reality, Objects & Materials, Friendship, Marriage, Self Discovery, Community, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Psychological Fiction

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Breaking Dawn

by Stephenie Meyer

Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Family, Friendship, Community, Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Romance

Breaking Dawn (2008) by Stephenie Meyer is the fourth and final novel of the best-selling Twilight book series. It is a young adult fantasy romance novel following the life of Bella Swan, a teenager who falls in love with a vampire, Edward Cullen. The three prior novels explore Bella’s attempts to assimilate into the secret vampire world with Edward and his family, as well as the love triangle with her best friend, Jacob Black, whom... Read Breaking Dawn Summary

Bridget Jones's Diary

by Helen Fielding

Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Femininity, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery

Tags Romance, Humor, British Literature

Written by Helen Fielding in 1996, Bridget Jones’s Diary is a romance novel with a comedic twist. In 1998, it was named the British Book of the Year, and in 2003, it placed at number 75 on a BBC survey of favorite novels. A film adaptation was released in 2001. Renee Zellweger played the titular character and received an Academy Award nomination for her performance.This guide refers to the 1996 MacMillan Publishers print edition. Content... Read Bridget Jones's Diary Summary

Bridge to Terabithia

by Katherine Paterson

Publication year 1977

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Coming of Age, Family, Childhood & Youth, Masculinity, Fear, Grief

Tags Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Grief & Death, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature, Poverty

Bridge to Terabithia is a 1977 children’s novel written by Katherine Paterson. Paterson is best-known for her children’s books, two of which earned Newbery Medals: Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob Have I Loved (1981). She was inspire to write Bridge to Terabithia after her son’s best friend was killed by lightning. It has since become a classic, beloved by readers for its exploration of themes like Finding Connection as an Outsider, The Stages of Grief... Read Bridge to Terabithia Summary

Bright Young Women

by Jessica Knoll

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Friendship, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Good & Evil, Femininity, Perseverance, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Gender & Feminism, US History, Incarceration, Internet & Social Media, Journalism, LGBTQ+, Love & Sexuality, Politics & Government, Psychology, Relationships, Social Justice, Trauma & Abuse, Crime & Law, World History

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Broken Bonds

by J Bree

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Love, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Education, War, Fate, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Romance

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Bruchko

by Bruce Olson

Publication year 1973

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Friendship, Colonialism

Tags Christian, World History, Biography, Religion & Spirituality

Bruchko is a 1978 memoir by American author Bruce Olson about his time working as a Christian missionary in Venezuela and Colombia with an Indigenous tribe, the Barí. Olson depicts his missionary work as based on a divine mission that followed a spiritual experience he had as a youth. At 19, he moved from the United States to South America, where he went to the jungles in the Colombian-Venezuelan border to convert the infamously violent... Read Bruchko Summary