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.

P.S. Be Eleven

by Rita Williams-Garcia

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Gender Identity, Race, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Friendship, Politics & Government, War, Justice, Self Discovery

Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Race & Racism, Children`s Literature, World History

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Python's Kiss

by Louise Erdrich

Publication year 2026

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Fear, Memory, Revenge, Indigenous Identity, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, Animals, Environment, Nature Versus Nurture, Place, Self Discovery, Justice, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology

Tags Literary Fiction

Python's Kiss by Louise Erdrich is a collection of 13 stories ranging across time and place, from midwestern childhoods to speculative futures, linked by animal encounters, the persistence of memory, and the bonds between people who love and harm one another.The title story is narrated by a woman recalling the summer she was eight and sent to stay with her German grandparents, who run a butcher shop. A guard dog named Nero patrols at night;... Read Python's Kiss Summary

Quit India

by Mahatma Gandhi

Publication year 1942

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes War, Colonialism, Perseverance, Hope, Community, Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Justice

Tags Philosophy, Politics & Government, Asian History, World War II

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Race

by Elizabeth Alexander

Publication year 2001

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Equality, Race, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Hate & Anger, Love, Shame & Pride, Nation, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies, Safety & Danger

Tags Narrative Poem, Race & Racism

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Radio Golf

by August Wilson

Publication year 2005

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Memory, Race, Place, Social Class, Community, Economics, Politics & Government, Justice, Power & Greed

Tags Dramatic Literature, Race & Racism, Classic Fiction

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Ragged Company

by Richard Wagamese

Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Fate, Family, Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Hope, Love, Memory, Forgiveness, Guilt, Indigenous Identity, Justice, Community

Tags Poverty, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Grief & Death, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction, Canadian Literature

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Rape Fantasies

by Margaret Atwood

Publication year 1977

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Fear, Hate & Anger, Hope, Loneliness, Shame & Pride, Femininity, Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, Appearance & Reality, Friendship, Self Discovery, Politics & Government, Equality, Justice, Safety & Danger

Tags Gender & Feminism, Trauma & Abuse, Humor

Margaret Atwood’s “Rape Fantasies” (1977) is a short story written from the first-person point of view of the protagonist Estelle. The short story revolves around Estelle’s attempts to understand why recent magazine articles feature frequent discussions of rape. After she and her office coworkers share their rape fantasies, Estelle delves into her own sexual imaginings. Rooted in the cultural context of the 1970s Women’s Movement, “Rape Fantasies” explores themes including the Conflation of Fantasy and... Read Rape Fantasies Summary

Raybearer

by Jordan Ifueko

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Appearance & Reality, Daughters & Sons, Friendship, Politics & Government, Justice

Tags Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ+

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Reading with Patrick

by Michelle Kuo

Publication year 2017

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Justice

Tags Race & Racism, Education, Education, Biography

Michelle Kuo’s memoir, Reading with Patrick: A Teacher, a Student, and a Life-Changing Friendship, was published in 2017 to high acclaim. Kuo has won numerous fellowships and awards for her work in teaching, writing, and law. In addition to her memoir, she has also published essays and articles. She is currently an associate professor at American University in Paris where, since 2015, she has taught in its History, Law, and Society department.In the mid-2000s, Michelle... Read Reading with Patrick Summary

Real Tigers

by Mick Herron

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Teamwork, Politics & Government, Justice, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Espionage, British Literature

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Rebel Witch

by Kristen Ciccarelli

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Love, Memory, Family, Friendship, Marriage, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, Politics & Government, War, Equality, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses

Tags Fantasy, Romance

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Reckless

by Lauren Roberts

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Love, Coming of Age, Death, Family, Fathers, Friendship, Siblings, Self Discovery, Community, Politics & Government, Fate, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Children`s Literature, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Action & Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction

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Reckless Girls

by Rachel Hawkins

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Trust & Doubt, Loyalty & Betrayal, Grief, Gender Identity, Friendship, Social Class, Equality, Justice, Revenge

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

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Red City

by Marie Lu

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Regret, Race, Coming of Age, Mothers, Self Discovery, Social Class, Justice, Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy

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Red Harvest

by Dashiell Hammett

Publication year 1929

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Masculinity, Justice, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense

Red Harvest (1929) is a detective novel by American author Dashiell Hammett. The plot is loosely based on the Anaconda Road massacre, a 1920 labor dispute that escalated after a mining company fired upon its miners who were on strike, wounding 16 men and killing another. In 2005, Time magazine named Red Harvest one of the 100 best novels of the 20th century. The novel has influenced many works of noir fiction. This guide uses the... Read Red Harvest Summary