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.

Kaikeyi

by Vaishnavi Patel

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, Friendship, Mothers, Self Discovery, Community, Nation, War, Good & Evil, Justice, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality

Tags World History, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mythology, LGBTQ+, Indian Literature

... Read Kaikeyi Summary

Key Player

by Kelly Yang

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Guilt, Shame & Pride, Gender Identity, Language, Race, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Place, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Justice

Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Sports

... Read Key Player Summary

Kidnapped

by Robert Louis Stevenson

Publication year 1886

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Justice, Friendship, Coming of Age

Tags Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure, Classic Fiction, World History

Kidnapped is a historical romance novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson published in 1886. Stevenson was well known for both his travel writing and his adventure stories. Kidnapped was his third novel, a coming-of-age story that follows the adventures of a young heir-apparent after he is abducted and shipwrecked in Scotland. Famous for incorporating real-life events and people into its plot, Kidnapped explores themes of Authority, Treachery, and Justice and The Duality of Human... Read Kidnapped Summary

Killing Mr. Griffin

by Lois Duncan

Publication year 1978

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Apathy, Conflict, Fear, Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Coming of Age, Appearance & Reality, Friendship, Community, Education, Family, Good & Evil, Fate, Justice, Power & Greed, Literature, Trust & Doubt, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Realistic Fiction, Dramatic Literature, Trauma & Abuse, Education, Education

... Read Killing Mr. Griffin Summary

Kill Joy

by Holly Jackson

Publication year 2021

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Childhood & Youth, Justice, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

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

... Read Kill Joy Summary

King Hedley II

by August Wilson

Publication year 1985

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Masculinity, Race, Family, Community, Nation, Justice

Tags Drama, Historical Fiction, African American Literature, Race & Racism, American Literature, Dramatic Literature, Classic Fiction

August Wilson’s King Hedley II premiered in 1999 and opened on Broadway in 2001. It is the ninth installment in Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle (also known as the Century Cycle), a series of 10 plays that examine the experiences of Black Americans during the 20th century. It was nominated for multiple awards including a Tony and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Wilson won two Pulitzer Prizes for other Pittsburgh Cycle plays, Fences in 1987... Read King Hedley II Summary

King Sorrow

by Joe Hill

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Forgiveness, Guilt, Regret, Revenge, Gender Identity, Coming of Age, Death, Appearance & Reality, Teamwork, Social Class, War, Good & Evil, Justice, Power & Greed

Tags Horror & Suspense, Fantasy

... Read King Sorrow Summary

Kira-Kira

by Cynthia Kadohata

Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Grief, Love, Race, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Siblings, Social Class, Economics, Justice, Power & Greed

Tags Historical Fiction, Grief & Death, Asian Literature, Coming of Age, Realistic Fiction, Civil Rights & Jim Crow South, US History, Parenting, Race & Racism, American Literature, Children`s Literature, World History

Cynthia Kadohata’s first novel, Kira-Kira (2004), is a historical coming-of-age novel for middle-grade readers. The novel tells the story of the Japanese American Takeshima family, who live in the Chesterfield, Georgia, in the 1950s. The protagonist and first-person narrator is the younger daughter, Katie. The narrative spans seven years, involving the family’s move from Iowa to the South, where Katie’s parents become workers in the poultry industry. The narrative follows Katie as she awakens to... Read Kira-Kira Summary

Kiss of the Fur Queen

by Tomson Highway

Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Forgiveness, Hate & Anger, Shame & Pride, Justice, Religion & Spirituality, Family, Childhood & Youth, Colonialism

Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age, Trauma & Abuse, Animals, Love & Sexuality, LGBTQ+, World History, Historical Fiction, Canadian Literature

... Read Kiss of the Fur Queen Summary

Kiss the Girls

by James Patterson

Publication year 1995

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Revenge, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Death, Appearance & Reality, Family, Teamwork, Social Class, Community, Politics & Government, Good & Evil, Justice, Safety & Danger

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Psychological Fiction

... Read Kiss the Girls Summary

Knife

by Salman Rushdie

Publication year 2024

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Politics & Government, Perseverance, Love, Self Discovery, Community, Globalization, Art, Good & Evil, Justice, Order & Chaos, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Truth & Lies

Tags Trauma & Abuse, Indian Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Psychology, Psychology, Biography

... Read Knife Summary