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.

Bleak House

by Charles Dickens

Publication year 1853

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Justice, Love, Family

Tags Classic Fiction, Victorian Period, Satirical Literature, British Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction, World History, Historical Fiction, Victorian Era

Bleak House is a novel by English Victorian author Charles Dickens, published between 1852-1853. The expansive narrative covers many plots, including the first-person account of the life of Esther Summerson and an ongoing court case concerning a large inheritance thrown into chaos by the existence of contradictory wills. Bleak House has been adapted for the theater, radio, film, and television (most recently in 2005) and is considered among Dickens’ greatest novels. This guide uses an... Read Bleak House Summary

Blood Meridian

by Cormac McCarthy

Publication year 1985

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Loyalty & Betrayal, Fate, Safety & Danger, Justice, Order & Chaos, Good & Evil, Power & Greed, Wins & Losses, Revenge, Hate & Anger, Fear, Conflict

Tags Western, Historical Fiction, American Literature, Horror & Suspense, World History, Classic Fiction

Blood Meridian, a 1985 historical fiction novel by Cormac McCarthy, is one of the most celebrated works of modern American literature. The novel was inspired by people and events of the mid-19th century in the borderlands of the United States and Mexico. McCarthy’s works have won many honors including the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize. Blood Meridian is often considered his greatest novel. This guide uses an eBook version of the 1992 First Vintage... Read Blood Meridian Summary

Blood Moon

by Sandra Brown

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Love, Regret, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Death, Appearance & Reality, Fathers, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Politics & Government, Good & Evil, Justice, Safety & Danger

Tags Horror & Suspense, Romance

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Blood Over Bright Haven

by M. L. Wang

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Hope, Regret, Revenge, Femininity, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Coming of Age, Death, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Place, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Colonialism, Community, Equality, Justice, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Truth & Lies, Race

Tags Fantasy

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Bluebird, Bluebird

by Attica Locke

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Community, Safety & Danger, Family, Hate & Anger, Music, Race, Mothers, Food, Trust & Doubt, Justice, Equality, Marriage, Grief, Fear, Perseverance, Conflict

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Race & Racism, African American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

Bluebird, Bluebird (2017) by Texas native Attica Locke, published by Little, Brown and Company, is a 2018 Edgar and Anthony award-winning mystery novel. It was also selected as a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice Finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and Kirkus Best Mysteries and Thrillers of 2017. The first in the Highway 59 series follows Texas Ranger Darren Mathews through the backroads of Texas in search of justice and reform... Read Bluebird, Bluebird Summary

Bonk

by Mary Roach

Publication year 2008

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Fear, Gratitude, Love, Shame & Pride, Disability, Femininity, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Self Discovery, Community, Education, Politics & Government, Justice, Literature, Order & Chaos, Science & Technology, Truth & Lies

Tags Science & Nature, Love & Sexuality, Health, Psychology, Humor

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Born to Run

by Bruce Springsteen

Publication year 2016

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Perseverance, Hope, Joy, Memory, Love, Coming of Age, Midlife, Childhood & Youth, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Community, Politics & Government, Fate, Art, Fame, Justice, Music, Equality, Loyalty & Betrayal, Trust & Doubt, Religion & Spirituality, Truth & Lies

Tags Music, Arts & Culture, Mental Illness, Social Justice, US History, Biography

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Boy Overboard

by Morris Gleitzman

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes War, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Hope, Gender Identity, Coming of Age, Death, Family, Siblings, Teamwork, Immigration, Politics & Government, Justice, Safety & Danger

Tags Children`s Literature, Action & Adventure, Contemporary Literature

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Boy: Tales of Childhood

by Roald Dahl

Publication year 1984

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Memory, The Past, Childhood & Youth, Good & Evil, Justice, Nostalgia, Family

Tags Humor, Children`s Literature, Classic Fiction, Biography

IntroductionMany readers are familiar with Roald Dahl (1916-1990) as the author of popular stories such as James and the Giant Peach (1961) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964). Dahl published 19 novels and short story collections for children. He was born in Wales to a Norwegian family and spent most of his life in England. He was an intelligence officer and fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force during World War II and suffered... Read Boy: Tales of Childhood Summary

Brain Damage

by Freida McFadden

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Memory, Shame & Pride, Disability, Femininity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Midlife, Appearance & Reality, Objects & Materials, Friendship, Marriage, Self Discovery, Community, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Psychological Fiction

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Breakout

by Kate Messner

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Race, Good & Evil, Justice

Tags Realistic Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Incarceration, Race & Racism, Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

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Bright Young Women

by Jessica Knoll

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Friendship, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Good & Evil, Femininity, Perseverance, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Gender & Feminism, US History, Incarceration, Internet & Social Media, Journalism, LGBTQ+, Love & Sexuality, Politics & Government, Psychology, Relationships, Social Justice, Trauma & Abuse, Crime & Law, World History

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Brown Girl Dreaming

by Jacqueline Woodson

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Nonfiction

Themes Race, Justice, Family

Tags Race & Racism, Narrative Poem, Life-Inspired Fiction, Children`s Literature, Biography

Brown Girl Dreaming (2014) is a memoir in verse by Jacqueline Woodson, a children’s and young adult fiction writer. Published by Nancy Paulsen Books, a division of the Penguin Group, the memoir won the National Book Award, the Newberry Honor Book Award, and the Coretta Scott King Award. Other works by this author include Another Brooklyn, Red at the Bone, and Before the Ever After.Plot SummaryBrown Girl Dreaming covers Woodson’s childhood, detailing her family history and... Read Brown Girl Dreaming Summary

Bullet Points

by Jericho Brown

Publication year 2019

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Race, Death, Mothers, Community, Nation, Equality, Justice, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Trauma & Abuse, Race & Racism, Social Justice

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