Popular Study Guides

The Popular Study Guides Collection brings together a selection of our most-visited Guides in one convenient place. Featuring titles ranging from classic literature with enduring appeal to popular book club picks, this Collection represents a diverse array of literature readers can't get enough of.

A Spark of Light

by Jodi Picoult

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Guilt, Love, Politics & Government

Tags Realistic Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Health, Trauma & Abuse, Modern Classic Fiction, Dramatic Literature

Published in 2019, Jodi Picoult’s novel A Spark of Light tells the story of a gunman’s attack on an abortion clinic from multiple points of view, examining the lives of different characters and the events that lead them to the clinic on that day. Picoult is a New York Times best-selling author and has written 28 novels, several of which have been adapted for film and television. Her books are known for tackling social issues... Read A Spark of Light Summary

A Study in Scarlet

by Arthur Conan Doyle

Publication year 1887

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Revenge, Place, Teamwork, Fame, Religion & Spirituality, Science & Technology, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Classic Fiction, Horror & Suspense, World History, Historical Fiction

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s A Study in Scarlet (1887) is a detective novel about a mysterious murder in a vacant house, one man’s lifelong hunt for justice, and the powers of deduction and reason. It marks the introduction of the famed detective character Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick John Watson, along with several other characters and locations that would become important to the 56 short stories and three other novels about Holmes that followed. The... Read A Study in Scarlet Summary

A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again

by David Foster Wallace

Publication year 1997

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Apathy, Loneliness, Self Discovery, Community, Education, Nation, Art, Fate, Literature, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies

Tags Humor, Philosophy, Postmodernism, American Literature

A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again is a 1997 essay collection by David Foster Wallace. The seven essays explore 1990s US social issues through subjects such as television, tennis, and (in the most famous essay) a Caribbean cruise. The essays have been referenced many times in popular culture, particularly the title essay, which recounts Wallace’s experiences on a cruise.This guide references the 1998 Abacus edition of the collection.SummaryIn the first essay, “Derivative Sport... Read A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again Summary

Bad Indians

by Deborah A. Miranda

Publication year 2012

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Family, Indigenous Identity, Colonialism, Memory, Perseverance, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Justice, Self Discovery, Nation, Community

Tags US History, Trauma & Abuse, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Depression & Suicide, Education, History of the Americas, Race & Racism, Social Justice, Women`s Studies, Education, World History, Biography

... Read Bad Indians Summary

Ban This Book

by Alan Gratz

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Literature, Friendship, Community, Siblings, Childhood & Youth, Family, Education, Guilt, Fear, Trust & Doubt, Politics & Government, Perseverance, Conflict

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Ban This Book Summary

Bartleby, the Scrivener

by Herman Melville

Publication year 1853

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Apathy, Loneliness

Tags American Literature, Classic Fiction, Education, Education, US History, World History

Herman Melville’s short story “Bartleby, the Scrivener” was published anonymously in 1853 to little recognition. Today it is considered a masterpiece. Some critics view “Bartleby” as a precursor to absurdist literature like Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis,” highlighting the incredibly modern nature of this mid-19th-century short story. Others read “Bartleby” as commentary on poverty and the harsh nature of menial work on Wall Street, or as an allegory for Melville’s own frustrations with writing. This guide... Read Bartleby, the Scrivener Summary

Beauty

by Robin McKinley

Publication year 1978

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Beauty, Family

Tags Fairy Tale & Folklore, Fantasy, Romance

Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast (1978) is author Robin McKinley’s debut novel. It’s an adaptation of the original Beauty and the Beast fairy tale written in 1740 by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, with genre elements of fantasy and romance and marketed for a middle grade readership. McKinley’s version of the story maintains an 18th-century setting while modernizing thematic explorations of outer versus inner beauty, ideals of faithfulness and selflessness... Read Beauty Summary

Behave

by Robert M. Sapolsky

Publication year 2017

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Science & Technology, Good & Evil

Tags Science & Nature, Psychology, Anthropology, Anthropology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Self-Improvement, Health

... Read Behave Summary

Being and Nothingness

by Jean-Paul Sartre

Publication year 1943

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Fate, Self Discovery, Good & Evil

Tags Philosophy, Existentialism, French Literature, Absurdism, World History, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

Being and Nothingness: An Essay in Phenomenological Ontology (1943) by Jean-Paul Sartre is a foundational text for the philosophical movement of existentialism. Sartre, a 20th-century writer and philosopher, wrote Being and Nothingness while in a prisoner of war camp during World War II. Being and Nothingness addresses theories of consciousness, nothingness, self-identity, essences, and freedom. Sartre’s work builds upon a legacy of existentialist theories while defining and shaping them into a comprehensive ideology. He challenges... Read Being and Nothingness Summary

Black Beauty

by Anna Sewell

Publication year 1877

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Social Class, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Animals

Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure, Animals, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Social Class, European History, Poverty, Religion & Spirituality, Social Justice, Trauma & Abuse, Urban Development, Victorian Period, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature, World History

Black Beauty was written by English novelist Anna Sewell, and published in 1877. It quickly became extremely popular, and led to increased activism and public concern for the humane treatment of horses and other animals. It went on to become one of best-selling novels of all time, and has been adapted numerous times into films and theatre productions. Sewell used her novel to explore themes such as kindness and responsibility, and to critique social problems... Read Black Beauty Summary

Bloom

by Kenneth Oppel

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Safety & Danger, Friendship, Plants

Tags Science Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Action & Adventure, Fantasy, Children`s Literature

... Read Bloom Summary

Blubber

by Judy Blume

Publication year 1974

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship

Tags Bullying, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature, Trauma & Abuse, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

... Read Blubber Summary

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

Borders

by Thomas King

Publication year 1993

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Race, Colonialism, Nation, Family

Tags Satirical Literature, Colonialism & Postcolonialism, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction

... Read Borders Summary