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.

Invisible Girl

by Lisa Jewell

Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Grief, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Masculinity, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Family, Justice, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Self Discovery

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

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Iqbal

by Francesco D'Adamo

Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Childhood & Youth, Truth & Lies, Justice

Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Social Justice, Poverty, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, World History, Arts & Culture

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I, Robot

by Isaac Asimov

Publication year 1950

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Science & Technology, Justice, Safety & Danger

Tags Science Fiction, Classic Fiction, Fantasy

I, Robot, a science fiction novel by Isaac Asimov, is a set of stories about the first robotic machines and the problems and pitfalls of living with and working alongside them. The book is the first in a series of several novels about robots; it is famous for its Three Laws of Robotics that govern machine behavior, and for its device, the positronic brain, which contains a robot’s conscious intelligence.Asimov (1920-1992) is one of the... Read I, Robot Summary

Iron Lake

by William Kent Krueger

Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Grief, Memory, Indigenous Identity, Death, Climate, Environment, Place, Family, Colonialism, Justice, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction

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Iron Widow

by Xiran Jay Zhao

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, Equality, Justice, Good & Evil

Tags Fantasy, Science Fiction, Action & Adventure, Historical Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ+

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I Will Find You

by Harlan Coben

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Guilt, Regret, Masculinity, Daughters & Sons, Family, Fathers, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Trust & Doubt

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction

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I Write What I Like

by Steve Biko

Publication year 1978

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Race, Justice, Politics & Government, Community, Colonialism

Tags Race & Racism, History: African , Politics & Government, Social Justice, Philosophy, Philosophy, World History, Biography

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J'Accuse

by Émile Zola

Publication year 1898

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Hate & Anger, Nation, Equality, Justice, Truth & Lies

Tags Politics & Government, European History, Journalism, French Literature, Sociology, World History, Classic Fiction

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jasper texas 1998

by Lucille Clifton

Publication year 1998

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Death, Safety & Danger, Forgiveness, Hate & Anger, Race, Justice, Good & Evil, Hope

Tags Lyric Poem, Poetry: Dramatic Poem, Race & Racism, Trauma & Abuse, Black Lives Matter, US History, African American Literature

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Jesus and John Wayne

by Kristin Kobes Du Mez

Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Fear, Nostalgia, Masculinity, Race, Sexual Identity, Family, Social Class, Colonialism, Community, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses

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Jews Without Money

by Michael Gold

Publication year 1930

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Immigration, Social Class, Justice

Tags Life-Inspired Fiction, Historical Fiction, Trauma & Abuse, Social Class, Poverty, Social Justice, American Literature, Education, Education, Jewish Literature, World History, Classic Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

Jews Without Money is a semi-autobiographical 1930 novel by Itzok Isaac Granich, published under Granich’s pseudonym, Mike Gold. The book charts the impoverished conditions of the Lower East Side of New York City and the experiences of growing up in a community of predominantly Jewish immigrants in the early 20th century. Growing up in such a difficult environment informed the author’s socialist politics as an adult. Plot SummaryMike Gold is born and raised by a... Read Jews Without Money Summary

Johnny Tremain

by Esther Forbes

Publication year 1943

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Safety & Danger, Loyalty & Betrayal, Justice, War, Politics & Government, Self Discovery, Coming of Age, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Action & Adventure, American Revolution, Education, Education, Military & War, World History, Classic Fiction

Originally published in 1943, Esther Forbes’s Johnny Tremain is a classic middle-grade historical fiction/adventure novel. After a prideful accident ends 14-year-old Johnny Tremain’s promising career as a silversmith, his search for a new trade leads to his direct involvement in the early events of the American Revolution. The novel won a Newbery Medal and explores themes of self-sacrifice, humility, and change. Citations in this study guide refer to the 2018 eBook edition released by Houghton... Read Johnny Tremain Summary

Journey to Topaz

by Yoshiko Uchida

Publication year 1971

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Race, Coming of Age, Family, Immigration, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Justice

Tags Historical Fiction, World War II, US History, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Military & War, World History

Published in 1971 by Japanese American author and educator Yoshiko Uchida (1921-1992), Journey to Topaz is the first children’s novel to address the United States government’s forced relocation of people of Japanese descent to wartime prison camps during World War II. The novel follows the Sakane family’s life as they are forced to move from their comfortable home in Berkeley, California, to the Topaz War Relocation Center, a concentration camp, in the harsh Utah desert... Read Journey to Topaz Summary