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.
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, LGBTQ, Modern Classic Fiction, Literary Fiction
Publication year 2017
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Philosophy, Gender / Feminism, Politics / Government, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Social Justice, Education, Education, LGBTQ, Philosophy
Publication year 2004
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger
Tags Historical Fiction, American Literature, Grief / Death, Race / Racism, Religion / Spirituality, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, History: World
Gary D. Schmidt’s Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy (2004), an historical novel for young adults, received the Newbery Honor in 2005. It is based on actual events occurring on Malaga Island, Maine in 1912, when the government of Maine placed the residents of the island in a mental hospital and tore down their homes.Turner Buckminster is the son of a reverend living in Phippsburg, Maine in 1912. Turner has just relocated to Phippsburg from... Read Lizzie Bright And The Buckminster Boy Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Race / Racism, History: U.S., Politics / Government, Social Justice, Incarceration, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Sociology, History: World
Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America is a work of nonfiction by James Forman Jr., an American lawyer and legal scholar specializing in racial inequities in criminal justice. Published in 2017, this critically acclaimed book examines the complex role Black leaders played in advancing tough-on-crime policies that ultimately contributed to the mass incarceration of Black people in the United States. Drawing on his experience as a public defender and his extensive... Read Locking Up Our Own Summary
Publication year 1738
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Nation, Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Grief
Tags Satire, Poetry: Dramatic Poem, Age of Enlightenment, Neoclassical, British Literature, Finance / Money / Wealth, History: European, Politics / Government
Publication year 1851
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Economics, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags History: European, Social Justice, Poverty, Journalism, British Literature, Sociology, History: World, Victorian Literature / Period, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Historical Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Music, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Beauty
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Music
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Romance, Realistic Fiction
Publication year 2024
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Sexuality, Self Discovery, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Romance, Education, Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Gender, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ, Bullying, Depression / Suicide, Parenting, Love / Sexuality, Social Justice, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Diversity, Relationships, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year -1
Genre Scripture, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Masculinity, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Indian Literature, Mythology, Religion / Spirituality, Philosophy
David R. Slavitt’s 2015 translation of the Mahabharata is an abridged, modern English rendition of the ancient Indian epic. Slavitt, an American poet, novelist, and translator, is experienced in translating classical texts for contemporary audiences. His translation seeks to make this foundational work of South Asian literature accessible to modern readers.The Mahabharata is traditionally attributed to the sage Vyasa and was composed between approximately 400 BCE and 400 CE. As one of the longest epic... Read Mahabharata Summary
Publication year 1995
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Nation
Tags Education, Education, Sociology, History: World, History: U.S., Gender / Feminism, Race / Racism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction)
Publication year 1965
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Courage
Tags Historical Fiction, Play: Drama, Music, Humor, Play: Historical, Education, Education, Drama / Tragedy, Romance, Classic Fiction
Man of La Mancha, by Dale Wasserman, Joe Darion, and Mitch Leigh, took the world of musical theater by storm when it premiered in 1965. This story of Miguel de Cervantes and his comic knight, Don Quixote, won five Tony Awards as well as the Drama Critics Circle Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award, the Variety Drama Critics Award, and the Saturday Review Award. The original production ran for over 2,000 performances and remains popular... Read Man of La Mancha Summary
Publication year 2013
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Education, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags History: U.S., Politics / Government, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Inspirational, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Black Lives Matter, History: World, Biography
Publication year 2016
Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Civil Rights / Jim Crow, History: U.S., Race / Racism, Social Justice, History: World, Politics / Government, Biography
Publication year 2007
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Community
Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice, Politics / Government, Incarceration, Education, Education, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Sociology
Publication year 1982
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Play: Drama, Race / Racism, African Literature
“Master Harold”…and the boys, a one-act play by South African playwright Athol Fugard, premiered on Broadway at the Lyceum Theater in 1982. The play, which is set in 1950, draws on Fugard’s own experience growing up during South Africa’s apartheid era. It explores a complex relationship between 17-year-old Hally, a white boy, and Sam and Willie, two Black men who are servants in Hally’s family’s tea room. The play was initially banned in South Africa... Read Master Harold and the Boys Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Race / Racism, Black Lives Matter, Education, Education, Social Justice, Sociology, Self Help, Politics / Government
Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad is a New York Times bestselling nonfiction book and workbook published in 2020. Structured around a 28-day antiracism journaling challenge, white readers and participants critically examine their own personal complicity in upholding white supremacy.Stemming from author Saad’s viral challenge on Instagram— #MeAndWhiteSupremacy—over the course of four weeks, Me and White Supremacy breaks open white supremacy as an... Read Me and White Supremacy Summary