Books on Justice & Injustice

James Baldwin said, "It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have." In this collection, we've compiled texts that explore the idea of what justice is — and how it can thrive.

Chains

by Laurie Halse Anderson

Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Community, Family, Power & Greed, Hope, Perseverance, Justice, Equality

Tags Historical Fiction, American Revolution, Race & Racism, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Military & War, World History

Laurie Halse Anderson's middle-grade novel Chains (2008), a National Book Award finalist and Scott O’Dell Historical Fiction Award winner, is the first installment in her Seeds of America series. The historical fiction, set in 18th-century New York City, follows a young Black girl on her journey to escape slavery while the sparks of the colonists’ rebellion gradually ignite the American Revolution. The protagonist, 13-year-old Isabel Finch, narrates her search for identity while caring for her... Read Chains Summary

Chapterhouse: Dune

by Frank Herbert

Publication year 1985

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Space, Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Hate & Anger, Hope, Memory, Regret, Revenge, Femininity, Race, Sexual Identity, Death, Future, Appearance & Reality, Climate, Self Discovery, Politics & Government, War, Justice, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy

... Read Chapterhouse: Dune Summary

Chasing the Scream

by Johann Hari

Publication year 2015

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Community, Justice

Tags Sociology, Health, Politics & Government, Social Justice, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Science & Nature, World History, Psychology, Psychology

Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs is a 2015 work of investigative nonfiction by British-Swiss author Johann Hari. Hari explores the so-called international war on drugs by looking deeply into its historical roots, its legal and social implications, and the possibility for reform. He examines addiction and the consequences of past and present drug laws across nine continents and 30,000 miles. A major focus is the criminalization and... Read Chasing the Scream Summary

Child 44

by Tom Rob Smith

Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Politics & Government, Justice, Safety & Danger

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

Tom Rob Smith’s historical thriller, Child 44 (2008), is the first novel in the Leo Demidov trilogy. Set in the post-World War II Soviet Union, the story follows Leo Demidov, a decorated war hero and idealistic MGB (secret police) officer. When a series of brutal child murders surfaces, Leo’s attempt to investigate puts him in direct conflict with a state that officially denies the existence of such crimes. Demoted and exiled, Leo must hunt a... Read Child 44 Summary

Child of God

by Cormac McCarthy

Publication year 1973

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Fate, Justice

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Southern Gothic, American Literature, Southern Literature, Southern Gothic, Gothic Literature

Child of God (1973) is the third novel by American Pulitzer Prize–winning author Cormac McCarthy. Like McCarthy’s first two novels, The Orchard Keeper (1965) and Outer Dark (1968), Child of God is a Gothic horror set in Appalachia. The story follows the deterioration of 27-year-old Lester Ballard after he is violently dispossessed of his family farm and becomes a serial killer. Through Lester’s extreme isolation and moral corruption, McCarthy explores the themes of Fate in... Read Child of God Summary

Chomp

by Carl Hiaasen

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Animals, Environment, Family, Justice

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

Written in 2012 by Carl Hiaasen, Chomp is a young adult novel set in Hiaasen’s native Florida (specifically, Everglades National Park). Hiaasen, who began his career as a journalist, is the author of six other books for young readers (as well as numerous adult novels). Because his work blends humor with grim realism, Chomp features characters who are just as “bizarre” as their Florida setting. Primarily known for his crime fiction, Hiaasen also crafts stories... Read Chomp Summary

Chronicle of a Death Foretold

by Gabriel García Márquez

Publication year 1981

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Death, Femininity, Justice, Revenge, Family, Memory

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Magical Realism, Latin American Literature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction

Chronicle of a Death Foretold is a 1981 novella by Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez. Told in non-chronological order and in journalistic fashion by an unnamed narrator, it pieces together the events leading up to and after the murder of Santiago Nasar by Pedro and Pablo Vicario. Chronicle of a Death Foretold is a classic example of Márquez's use of magical realism in his writing. The novella has been adapted several times as a film... Read Chronicle of a Death Foretold 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

Claudette Colvin

by Phillip Hoose

Publication year 2009

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Race, Safety & Danger, Justice, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags US History, Race & Racism, Social Justice, Civil Rights & Jim Crow South, Children`s Literature, World History, Biography

... Read Claudette Colvin Summary

Clay

by James Joyce

Publication year 1914

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Midlife, Justice, Equality

Tags Irish Literature, Classic Fiction, British Literature, World History, Arts & Culture

... Read Clay Summary

Clean Getaway

by Nic Stone

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Conflict, Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Hate & Anger, Fear, Grief, Guilt, Love, Shame & Pride, Race, Aging, Death, Grandparents, Childhood & Youth, The Past, Fathers, Equality, Politics & Government, Justice, Safety & Danger

Tags African American Literature, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, Action & Adventure, Civil Rights & Jim Crow South, US History, Black Lives Matter, Grief & Death, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Clean Getaway Summary

Clear

by Carys Davies

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Loneliness, Love, Masculinity, Sexual Identity, The Past, Place, Justice, Power & Greed

Tags World History, LGBTQ+, Historical Fiction

... Read Clear Summary

Cloud Atlas

by David C. Mitchell

Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Power & Greed, Loyalty & Betrayal, Religion & Spirituality, Colonialism, Social Class, Future, The Past, Justice, Order & Chaos, Truth & Lies

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Social Justice, Anthropology, Social Class, Depression & Suicide, Finance, Politics & Government, Love & Sexuality, Race & Racism, Sociology, Religion & Spirituality, Modern Classic Fiction, World History

Cloud Atlas is a 2004 dystopian novel by British author David Mitchell. The sprawling narrative is composed of a series of nested stories, spanning centuries into the past and the future. In addition to winning numerous literary and science fiction awards, the novel was adapted into a 2012 film of the same name. This guide uses the 2014 Sceptre edition of Cloud Atlas.Content Warning: The novel and this guide depict slavery and discuss racism, death... Read Cloud Atlas Summary