Jewish American Literature

Including Pulitzer Prize winners like Art Spiegelman's groundbreaking Maus and Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, the texts in this collection celebrate the literary contributions and stories of Jewish Americans.

Publication year 1976

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Philosophy, Politics / Government, Military / War, History: World, Philosophy


Publication year 2023

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Nation

Tags Politics / Government, Race / Racism, History: U.S., History: World, Social Justice, Biography


Publication year 2005

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Community, Society: Immigration, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Colonialism

Tags Creative Nonfiction, American Revolution, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: U.S., Military / War, History: World


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Fantasy, Gender / Feminism, Romance, LGBTQ, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2000

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Identity: Mental Health, Natural World: Food, Relationships: Teams

Tags Food, Arts / Culture, Humor

Kitchen Confidential is a nonfiction work by chef, author, and travel television host Anthony Bourdain, based on his 1999 essay, “Don’t Eat Before Reading This,” published in The New Yorker. In part a memoir of Bourdain’s years in the restaurant industry, it is also a candid exposé of New York City’s restaurant scene in the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s. Bourdain takes his readers on a wild ride through his career journey while providing a realistic... Read Kitchen Confidential Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Equality, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: Class, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Satire, Relationships, Agriculture, Arts / Culture, Business / Economics, Class, Finance / Money / Wealth, Food, Health / Medicine, History: U.S., Politics / Government, Poverty, Religion / Spirituality, Social Justice

Landscape with Invisible Hand is a satirical dystopian science fiction novel by M. T. Anderson, written for a young adult audience. A diverse author, Anderson writes both fiction and nonfiction for people of all ages. In 2023, Landscape with Invisible Hand was adapted for film, reflecting the novel’s popularity and relevance. The book depicts a future world in which an alien species, the vuvv, have sold their technology to humans, causing the collapse of the... Read Landscape with Invisible Hand Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Tags Historical Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Magical Realism, Fantasy


Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Sports, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction

Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery (2005) is a sports and mystery novel for young readers by John Feinstein. A sports journalist, Feinstein has written for a variety of publications, including The Washington Post, Golf Digest, and Sports Illustrated. He is also the author of 45 fiction and nonfiction books about sports. His debut nonfiction book, A Season on the Brink (1986), focused on the 1985-86 college basketball season of the Indiana Hoosiers and their... Read Last Shot Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War

Tags Philosophy, Biography, Politics / Government, Leadership/Organization/Management, History: World, Business / Economics, Philosophy


Publication year 1990

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

Tags Psychology, Self Help, Science / Nature, Health / Medicine, Philosophy


Publication year 2017

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Arts / Culture, Biography, History: European

Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson is a 2017 biography that examines the life, mind, and legacy of one of history’s most celebrated polymaths. Isaacson—an acclaimed biographer and former editor of Time magazine—brings a blend of journalistic storytelling and scholarly research to his portrayal of Leonardo. Known for his best-selling works on figures like Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, and Benjamin Franklin, Isaacson turns his attention here to the archetype of Renaissance genius, emphasizing the human... Read Leonardo Da Vinci Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Race, Self Discovery, Society: Immigration, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Latin American Literature, Jewish Literature, Race / Racism, Holocaust, Children's Literature, Military / War, History: World


Publication year 2007

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Education, Society: Class, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Education, Social Justice, Race / Racism, Education, Psychology, Psychology

Jonathan Kozol’s Letters to a Young Teacher, originally published in 2007, is a collection of letters containing Kozol’s teaching advice for a new first grade schoolteacher named Francesca. The format of this book is inspired by Rainer Maria Rilke’s famous Letters to a Young Poet, which has become a model for advice books for young people in different professions and callings. Although some identifying elements have been changed, the book’s letters represent a real correspondence... Read Letters to a Young Teacher Summary


Publication year 2013

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Lincoln’s Grave Robbers is a nonfiction book for young readers by Steve Sheinkin. It describes how a gang of counterfeiters attempted to steal the body of Abraham Lincoln from his tomb in Springfield, Illinois, in order to hold it for ransom. Sheinkin’s retelling features rich historical detail, a colorful cast of characters, and probing insights into the fractiousness of the 1870s, as well as some striking parallels to contemporary events. Set in the aftermath of... Read Lincoln's Grave Robbers Summary


Publication year 1954

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Lyric Poem, Gender / Feminism, Relationships


Publication year 1991

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Society: War, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Play: Drama, Education, Education, Jewish Literature, Drama / Tragedy, Humor, Classic Fiction

Lost in Yonkers is a play by American playwright Neil Simon that premiered in 1991. It centers around Jay Kurnitz, a teenage boy sent with his younger brother, Arty, to live with his grandmother in Yonkers. Many critics consider the play, which debuted to overwhelming critical acclaim, one of Simon’s best works. It explores themes of abbreviated childhood, war, and generational trauma. Lost in Yonkers won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama upon its release, and... Read Lost In Yonkers Summary


Publication year 2001

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality


Publication year 2005

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Free verse, Love / Sexuality


Publication year 2025

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Race, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Literature

Tags Biography


Publication year 2011

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Relationships