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.

How to Seal Your Own Fate

by Kristen Perrin

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Memory, Revenge, Death, Family, Social Class, Justice

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction

Kristen Perrin’s How to Seal Your Own Fate (2025) is the second installment in the Castle Knoll Files cozy mystery series. After inheriting the sprawling Gravesdown estate, Annie is drawn into investigating the mysterious 1961 car crash that killed three members of the aristocratic Gravesdown family. Guided by a cryptic fortune-teller, Annie uses her great-aunt’s extensive archives of village secrets to unravel a conspiracy of murder and betrayal, solving a 60-year-old cold case. The novel... Read How to Seal Your Own Fate Summary

How to Stand Up to a Dictator

by Maria Ressa

Publication year 2022

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Hope, Sexual Identity, Teamwork, Colonialism, Community, Economics, Education, Globalization, Nation, Politics & Government, Justice, Literature, Power & Greed, Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Politics & Government, Asian History, Journalism, Social Justice, World History, Biography

... Read How to Stand Up to a Dictator Summary

Human Acts

by Han Kang

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Death, Justice, Politics & Government, Community, Memory

Tags Historical Fiction, Grief & Death, Social Justice, Korean Literature, Trauma & Abuse, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, World History

... Read Human Acts Summary

Hum If You Don't Know the Words

by Bianca Marais

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Family, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Hate & Anger, Hope, Love, Revenge, Race, Coming of Age, Death, Future, The Past, Friendship, Self Discovery, Colonialism, Community, Nation, Politics & Government, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags World History, Arts & Culture, Historical Fiction, Race & Racism

... Read Hum If You Don't Know the Words Summary

Hush

by Jacqueline Woodson

Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Perseverance, Justice, Hope, Loneliness, Mental Health, Race, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Realistic Fiction, Race & Racism, Social Justice, Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

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I Am Not Your Negro

by James Baldwin

Publication year 2017

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Race, Justice

Tags Race & Racism, Black Arts Movement, Existentialism, World History, Social Justice, Classic Fiction, Politics & Government, Biography

I Am Not Your Negro by James Baldwin and Raoul Peck is an accompanying text to the 2016 documentary of the same name, directed by Peck. The documentary was released to critical acclaim. It won Best Documentary award at the BAFTA Film Awards and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. The text is essentially a transcript of the film, incorporating excerpts of interviews, television features, and films.I Am Not Your Negro... Read I Am Not Your Negro Summary

I Am Watching You

by Teresa Driscoll

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Fear, Grief, Femininity, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Death, Appearance & Reality, Fathers, Justice, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Psychological Fiction, Trauma & Abuse, Mental Illness

... Read I Am Watching You Summary

Iceberg

by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Hope, Childhood & Youth, Future, Appearance & Reality, Objects & Materials, Friendship, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Education, Fate, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags World History, Action & Adventure, Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction

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I Cheerfully Refuse

by Leif Enger

Publication year 2024

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Grief, Hate & Anger, Hope, Love, Memory, Revenge, Death, Future, Climate, Environment, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Economics, Nation, Politics & Government, Equality, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Music, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt

Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction

... Read I Cheerfully Refuse Summary

If This Is a Man

by Primo Levi

Publication year 1947

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Grief, Justice, War

Tags European History, Incarceration, World War II, Holocaust, Italian Literature

If This Is a Man is a Holocaust memoir written by Primo Levi, first published by the small publishing house Francesco de Silva in 1947. The text was out of print by 1952. In June 1958, however, the publisher Enaudi, which had previously rejected the manuscript, republished it with slight revisions, and translations began to appear. Re-publication secured Levi’s status as a canonical writer of the Holocaust.This study guide refers to the English translation of... Read If This Is a Man Summary