Hate & Anger

"In time we hate that which we often fear," a character remarks in William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. Here, we've gathered thematically connected study guides that explore the experience, origin, and consequence of hatred.

A Million Little Pieces

by James Frey

Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Mental Health, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Love, Nature Versus Nurture, Family, Self Discovery

Tags Life-Inspired Fiction, Addiction & Substance Abuse

A Million Little Pieces (2003) is a controversial memoir-style novel by American author James Frey. Characterized by its raw, stream-of-consciousness prose, the book recounts a young man’s experience in drug and alcohol rehabilitation. The narrative graphically explores the nature of addiction and the painful challenges of overcoming it. Initially marketed as a memoir, A Million Little Pieces was selected for Oprah Winfrey’s Book Club and became a New York Times bestseller. However, the book became... Read A Million Little Pieces Summary

Anger Is a Gift

by Mark Oshiro

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Hate & Anger

Tags Realistic Fiction, LGBTQ+

Mark Oshiro’s 2018 debut novel Anger Is a Gift is a work of contemporary fiction for young adults exploring the realities of police brutality and racist oppression people of color experience in America. This study guide uses the 2018 edition published by Tor (ISBN: 978-1-250-16702-6). Oshiro is a queer author of color, and this novel seeks to highlight the racial divide in America. He shows through this book that there is no universal American experience... Read Anger Is a Gift Summary

A People’s History of the United States

by Howard Zinn

Publication year 1980

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Colonialism, Social Class, Immigration, Community, Economics, Hate & Anger, Perseverance, Conflict, Safety & Danger, Justice, Equality, Power & Greed

Tags US History, Politics & Government, Social Justice, Race & Racism, American Literature, World History, Classic Fiction

Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States is one of the most famous American history books published in recent decades. It has sold over two million copies. First published in 1980, the book was nominated for the American Book Award and has gone through at least six major revisions. Although controversial when first published, the book has become comfortably mainstream. It is mentioned by name in the film Good Will Hunting and the... Read A People’s History of the United States Summary

A Small Place

by Jamaica Kincaid

Publication year 1988

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Politics & Government, Colonialism, Conflict, Hate & Anger, Social Class, Education, Economics, Truth & Lies, Justice, Power & Greed

Tags Creative Nonfiction, Afro-Caribbean Literature, World History, Politics & Government, Black Lives Matter, Education, Education, Travel Literature, Classic Fiction

A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid is a work of creative nonfiction originally published in 1988. Kincaid shares memories of her home country, Antigua, both while it was under colonial rule and self-governance. She illustrates how life has and hasn’t changed for Antiguan citizens because of government corruption, the legacies of slavery, and the preoccupation with tourism over public welfare. Though the book won no awards, Kincaid has won a plethora of awards for her... Read A Small Place Summary

A Soldier's Play

by Charles Fuller

Publication year 1981

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Hate & Anger, Race, Justice

Tags World War II, Race & Racism, Trauma & Abuse, African American Literature

A Soldier’s Play (1981) was written by Charles Fuller. It premiered off-Broadway with the Negro Ensemble Company in 1981, and was arguably the company’s most successful work to date. It ran for nearly 500 performances and earned the Critics Circle Best Play Award and the 1982 Pulitzer Prize for drama. The play is loosely based on Herman Melville’s Billy Budd (1924), an unfinished novella about a well-liked, handsome sailor who is falsely accused of a... Read A Soldier's Play Summary

A Thousand Never Evers

by Shana Burg

Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Hate & Anger, Race, Coming of Age, Daughters & Sons, Family, Community, Education, Politics & Government

Tags Children`s Literature, World History, Historical Fiction, Arts & Culture

... Read A Thousand Never Evers Summary

A Thousand Steps into Night

by Traci Chee

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Forgiveness, Hate & Anger, Grief, Hope, Love, Regret, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Beauty, Equality, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Wins & Losses, Appearance & Reality, Space, Animals, Place, Daughters & Sons, Friendship, Fathers, Family, Teamwork, Femininity, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Sexual Identity, Social Class

Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Mythology, Coming of Age, Historical Fiction, Gender & Feminism, Asian Literature, Japanese Literature

... Read A Thousand Steps into Night Summary

A Torch Against the Night

by Sabaa Tahir

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Hate & Anger, Race, Death, Self Discovery, War

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Action & Adventure

A Torch Against the Night (2016) is a young adult fantasy novel by Sabaa Tahir. It is the second installment in the bestselling Ember Quartet, which is set in a brutal world inspired by ancient Rome. Following the commercial and critical success of the first book in the series, An Ember in the Ashes (2015), A Torch Against the Night became a #1 New York Times bestseller. The novel continues the story of fugitives Laia... Read A Torch Against the Night Summary

Attack Of The Black Rectangles

by A.S King

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Hate & Anger, Guilt, Appearance & Reality, Equality, Justice, Literature, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies, Family, Fathers, Grandparents, Friendship, Daughters & Sons, Mothers, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Community, Education, Trust & Doubt

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

... Read Attack Of The Black Rectangles Summary

Autumn

by Ali Smith

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Art, Aging, Love, Friendship, Apathy, Perseverance, Fear, Hate & Anger, Hope, Memory, Femininity, Death, The Past, Environment, Place, Community, Immigration, Nation, Politics & Government, Justice, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed

Tags British Literature

Ali Smith’s 2016 novel Autumn is a work of literary fiction and the first installment in her celebrated Seasonal Quartet. It was shortlisted for the 2017 Man Booker Prize. The story centers on the tender, unconventional friendship between Elisabeth Demand, a young lecturer, and Daniel Gluck, her 101-year-old former neighbor, who lies near death in a care facility. As Elisabeth keeps vigil by his bedside, the narrative drifts between the fractured political landscape of the... Read Autumn Summary

Awake

by Jen Hatmaker

Publication year 2025

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Marriage, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Grief, Hate & Anger, Hope, Joy, Loneliness, Love, Memory, Femininity, Midlife, Future, The Past, Daughters & Sons, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Colonialism, Community, Equality, Justice, Literature, Loyalty & Betrayal, Music, Order & Chaos, Religion & Spirituality, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Memoir & Autobiography, Relationships

... Read Awake Summary

A Woman on a Roof

by Doris Lessing

Publication year 1963

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Sexual Identity, Gender Identity, Social Class, Hate & Anger

Tags Gender & Feminism, Post-War Era, British Literature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction

Originally published in 1963 in the short story collection A Man and Two Women, “A Woman on a Roof” by Doris Lessing emerged during a time of social and political upheaval in the Western world. Like many of Lessing’s other works, the story explores the effects of class inequality and the misunderstandings between men and women that arise in a patriarchal culture. Lessing was born in former Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and moved to London... Read A Woman on a Roof Summary