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.

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

... Read Brain Damage Summary

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

... Read Bright Young Women Summary

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

... Read Broken Bonds Summary

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

Bruiser

by Neal Shusterman

Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Family, Coming of Age, Marriage, Siblings, Self Discovery

Tags Fantasy, Trauma & Abuse, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Religion & Spirituality

Bruiser by Neal Shusterman, first published in 2010, is a young adult novel. It explores the life of Brewster “Bruiser” Rawlins, a high school student who has the ability to take pain away from those he cares about. Through his supernatural ability, the novel explores themes of Finding Emotional Balance, The Complications of Empathy, and The Dangers of Excessive Dependence on Others. Shusterman is the author of dozens of young adult novels, short stories, and works... Read Bruiser Summary

Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery

by Deborah Howe, James Howe

Publication year 1979

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Fear, Trust & Doubt

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Children`s Literature, Relationships

James and Deborah Howe’s 1979 children’s novel Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery is the first book in a series of seven. The novel was written by the husband-and-wife duo, but Deborah Howe died before their work was published. Bunnicula has been adapted for the stage and turned into various animated series.Plot SummaryBunnicula follows the Monroe family, which consists of Mr. and Mrs. Monroe, their two sons Pete and Toby, Chester the cat, and Harold... Read Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery Summary

Bunny

by Mona Awad

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Loneliness, Art, Appearance & Reality, Mental Health

Tags Horror & Suspense, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Bunny Summary

Burn

by Peter Heller

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Fear, Forgiveness, Guilt, Memory, Regret, Death, Environment, Fathers, Friendship, Politics & Government, War, Safety & Danger

Tags Science Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Action & Adventure

... Read Burn Summary

Bye, Baby

by Carola Lovering

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Social Class, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Relationships, Psychological Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Bye, Baby Summary

Bystander

by James Preller

Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Fear, Hate & Anger, Fathers, Loneliness, Family

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

Bystander (2011) is a teen/young adult novel by James Preller that explores middle school bullying and the factors that enable it. Griffin Connelly, a two-faced bully, uses his charisma and good looks to keep members of his school clique in line as he perpetrates acts of cruelty against weaker classmates. No one stands up to Griffin until Eric Hayes, a newcomer, disrupts the status quo—questioning Griffin’s bullying and the silent complicity of the other students.The... Read Bystander Summary