These texts explore the concept of the nation, an idea of community that inspires patriotism and nostalgia. What makes a nation? And why are people willing to die—or to kill—to protect it? These are just a couple of the questions examined in the texts in this collection.
Publication year 2022
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Climate, Relationships: Family, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Realistic Fiction, Social Justice, Race / Racism, Modern Classic Fiction, Arts / Culture
Publication year 1987
Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Race / Racism, Education, Education, Anthropology, Anthropology, Sociology, Social Justice, Poverty
Publication year 2025
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure
Publication year 1985
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Relationships: Family, Society: Nation
Tags History: U.S., Drama / Tragedy
A Lie of the Mind is a play by American playwright Sam Shephard. A Lie of the Mind was first performed at the Promenade Theater in New York City on December 5, 1985, and ran for 186 performances, closing on June 1, 1986. A work of psychological realism, the play charts the dysfunction of two American families in the 1980s. The premise is that a man named Jake has severely beaten his wife, Beth, forcing... Read A Lie Of The Mind Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Society: Nation
Tags Arts / Culture, History: U.S., African American Literature, Creative Nonfiction, Gender / Feminism, Music, Race / Racism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, History: World
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Food, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Globalization, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Historical Fiction
Publication year 2009
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Military / War, WWII / World War II, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance
Publication year 1921
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Nation, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Lyric Poem, Harlem Renaissance, Race / Racism
Publication year 1888
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Nation, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Equality, Natural World: Place, Society: Community
Tags Free verse
Publication year 1998
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Nation, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Society: Immigration
Tags Immigration / Refugee
Publication year 1946
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Nation
Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Race / Racism, History: World, Classic Fiction, Biography
America is in the Heart is a semi-autobiographical novel published in 1946 by the Filipino American author Carlos Bulosan. A coming of age narrative told in four parts, the story begins in the Philippines, ends in America, and spans decades. Scholars compare it to other social activism classics like John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, but America is in the Heart is unique in that it portrays the plight of Filipino immigrants in America during... Read America is in the Heart Summary
Publication year 1971
Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: War, Society: Colonialism, Society: Class, Society: Economics, Society: Community, Society: Education, Society: Immigration, Society: Globalization, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Education, Education, History: World, History: U.S.
Publication year 2008
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government
Tags History: U.S., History: World, Biography, Politics / Government
American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House is a Pulitzer Prize–winning biography of President Andrew Jackson written in 2008 by historian Jon Meacham. The book focuses on Jackson’s transformative and often controversial time in the White House, exploring themes of democracy, the Expansion of Executive Power, leadership, and the interaction of the personal and public, including the Impact of Personal Character on Public Duty and the Intersection of Private Lives and Public Roles. Meacham... Read American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House Summary
Publication year 2005
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Society: War, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Identity: Mental Health
Tags Biography, History: U.S., History: World, Science / Nature, Politics / Government, Military / War, WWII / World War II
Publication year 2016
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War
Tags History: U.S., Politics / Government, American Revolution, Military / War, American Literature, History: World
Publication year 1997
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Nation, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government
Tags History: U.S., Politics / Government
American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence (1997) is a nonfiction history by Pauline Maier (1938-2013), a historian specializing in the American Revolution. A revisionist historian, Maier uses narrative techniques to bring to life the era in which the Declaration of Independence was created, seeking to demystify this foundational American document and to raise questions about how history is constructed. American Scripture was shortlisted for the National Book Critics Circle Award in 1997. This study... Read American Scripture Summary
Publication year 1893
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Nation
Tags Lyric Poem, Inspirational, American Literature
Publication year 1990
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Family, Society: Nation
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction, Irish Literature, Classic Fiction
Amongst Women by John McGahern is a contemporary Irish novel published in 1990. This novel explores themes of The Individual in a Changing World, The Individual Versus the Collective, and The Importance of Women. Amongst Women is also specific to Irish history and culture, as it portrays a rapidly modernizing Ireland that threatens the protagonist Moran’s sense of self. Considered McGahern’s greatest work, Amongst Women is the fifth of his six published novels. It was... Read Amongst Women Summary
Publication year 2002
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Teams, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction
Among The Betrayed (2002) is a speculative fiction novel for young adult readers by Margaret Peterson Haddix. The book is the third installment of the Shadow Children series, which consists of seven novels in total. Set in a dystopian future society that resembles the United States, the novel shows the characters’ struggle against a totalitarian government that enforces fascist and dehumanizing laws to control overpopulation and resources. Margaret Peterson Haddix is a New York Times bestselling... Read Among the Betrayed Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Politics / Government, Social Justice, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Gender / Feminism, Black Lives Matter, Sociology, History: World