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.

Cannery Row

by John Steinbeck

Publication year 1945

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Community, Place, Good & Evil, Truth & Lies, Beauty, Environment, Friendship

Tags American Literature, World History, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, Arts & Culture, Anthropology, Animals, Social Class, Education, Philosophy, Poverty, Relationships, Science & Nature

Cannery Row by John Steinbeck was originally published in 1945. A Nobel Prize-winning writer, Steinbeck grew up in Salinas, California, which is near Monterey—the location of Cannery Row. Aside from a few years in Palo Alto, New York, and Los Angeles, Steinbeck spent most of his adult life living in Monterey County, and he drew on his personal experiences to write Cannery Row.Considered literary fiction or classic literature, Cannery Row is realistic and was written... Read Cannery Row Summary

Captain Underpants

by Dav Pilkey

Publication year 1997

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Childhood & Youth, Friendship

Tags Humor, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature

Dav Pilkey’s graphic novel for children, The Adventures of Captain Underpants (1997), spawned a long list of sequels and adaptations in other media. The Captain Underpants series has won numerous awards, including the Garden State Children's Book Awards (Children's Fiction) 2000, the Buckeye Children's Book Award (Grades 3-5) 2001, and the Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Grades K-3) 2000.Plot SummaryThe story begins by introducing two best friends, George and Harold. They love to pull pranks... Read Captain Underpants Summary

Captive Prince

by C. S. Pacat

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Hate & Anger, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Masculinity, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Future, The Past, Family, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Beauty, Fate, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Wins & Losses, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Love & Sexuality, Romance

... Read Captive Prince Summary

Capture The Flag

by Kate Messner

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes The Past, Appearance & Reality, Friendship, Teamwork, Social Class, Immigration, Nation, Politics & Government, Justice, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies

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

... Read Capture The Flag Summary

Career of Evil

by Robert Galbraith

Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Hate & Anger, Disability, Femininity, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, Death, The Past, Place, Friendship, Mothers, Equality, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense

Career of Evil (2015) is the third novel in the Cormoran Strike detective series by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling’s pseudonym). The story begins when Strike’s assistant, Robin Ellacott, receives a package containing a woman’s severed leg. The gruesome delivery sparks the investigative duo’s pursuit of a sadistic killer of women. As Strike and Robin investigate suspects from Strike’s troubled past, the story delves into themes of trauma, misogyny, and the lasting effects of violence. A... Read Career of Evil Summary

Carry On

by Rainbow Rowell

Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fate, Power & Greed, Friendship, Loneliness

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Parody, LGBTQ+, Social Class, Education, Love & Sexuality, Science Fiction

Published in 2015, Rainbow Rowell’s young-adult fantasy novel Carry On: The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow is a spinoff of her young-adult novel Fangirl (2013) and the first book of the Simon Snow trilogy. Other works by this author include Slow Dance, Eleanor and Park, and Landline.Carry On, which was awarded a place on the Rainbow Project Book List in 2016, examines themes of love, power, and free will. Simon Snow is the Chosen... Read Carry On Summary

Catalyst

by Laurie Halse Anderson

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship

Tags Coming of Age, Realistic Fiction, Grief & Death, Modern Classic Fiction, Dramatic Literature

Catalyst, by YA author Laurie Halse Anderson, investigates the emotional and psychological profile of high-achieving high school students. These model adolescents excel in the classroom and athletics, often at the expense of their personal and emotional development. Catalyst was published in 2002 and shortlisted for numerous YA awards. It is part of Anderson’s series set in fictional Merryweather High School in Syracuse, New York. The novel introduces Kate Malone, a high school senior determined to... Read Catalyst Summary

Chances Are . . .

by Richard Russo

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Memory, Regret, Masculinity, Mental Health, Death, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Family, Friendship, Social Class, Music, Truth & Lies

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

... Read Chances Are . . . Summary

Charlotte's Web

by E. B. White

Publication year 1952

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Death, Aging, Community, Safety & Danger, Friendship, Fate, Coming of Age, Animals, Childhood & Youth, Love, Grief, Fear, Loneliness, Gratitude

Tags Classic Fiction, Symbolic Narrative, Children`s Literature, Coming of Age, Animals, Education, Education, Fantasy

Charlotte’s Web was written by E. B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams, and first published in 1952. It is considered a quintessential American children’s fiction novel and has been adapted into two films (1973, 2006) and a stage musical. Over the years, Charlotte’s Web has been awarded the Newbery Honor Award for children’s books, the George C. Stone Center for Children’s Books Recognition of Merit Award, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, and the Massachusetts Children’s... Read Charlotte's Web Summary

Christine

by Stephen King

Publication year 1983

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Safety & Danger, Conflict, Fear, Hate & Anger, Nostalgia, Femininity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Death, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Beauty, Fate, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Fantasy, Mystery & Crime Fiction

... Read Christine Summary

Circus Mirandus

by Cassie Beasley

Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Family, Coming of Age, Death, Grandparents

Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, Grief & Death, Children`s Literature

Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley is a middle-grade fantasy/magical realism novel about a young boy named Micah Tuttle who is struggling to come to terms with the impending death of his grandfather, Ephraim. Micah learns from Ephraim that Circus Mirandus, a fantastical traveling circus that Micah thought was a fictional story, is actually real. As Ephraim nears death, Micah and his friend Jenny go to Circus Mirandus to find the Lightbender, who owes Ephraim a... Read Circus Mirandus Summary

City of Glass

by Cassandra Clare

Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Guilt, Truth & Lies, Friendship, Daughters & Sons, Siblings

Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Romance, Grief & Death, Love & Sexuality, Science Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare (Walker Books, 2009) is the third installment of the young adult urban fantasy Mortal Instruments series and chronicles an epic Shadowhunter battle against an old foe’s return. City of Glass was a finalist for the Teen Choice Book of the Year and for the 2009 Goodreads Choice Awards. Clare was born in Iran to American parents. She spent several years traveling before she settled in the United States, where... Read City of Glass Summary

City Spies

by James Ponti

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Gratitude, Joy, Loneliness, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, Justice, Art, Good & Evil, Literature, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Science & Technology, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Teamwork, Family, Climate, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Self Discovery, Community, Wins & Losses, Friendship, Place, Order & Chaos

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction

... Read City Spies Summary

Class Act

by Jerry Craft

Publication year 2020

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Education, Race, Self Discovery, Social Class, Equality, Friendship

Tags Realistic Fiction, Arts & Culture, Social Class, Diversity, Education, Race & Racism, African American Literature, Children`s Literature, Education, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Class Act Summary

Clementine

by Sara Pennypacker

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Friendship

Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

Sara Pennypacker’s Clementine is a short chapter book for elementary-aged readers. Marla Frazee’s black and white illustrations bring the text to life. Clementine and the subsequent books in the series have won numerous awards; notably, Clementine is a New York Times bestseller and the winner of the 2007 Boston Globe/Horn Book Award. Little, Brown and Company published Clementine in 2006. This study guide refers to the 2008 first trade paperback edition of the book.Plot SummaryClementine... Read Clementine Summary