Power

This curated selection of titles examines the concept of power and its role in shaping society. The texts in the Power Collection draw upon a wide range of literary traditions and genres to explore concepts related to power and its pursuit, such as equality and injustice, colonialism, authority, and conflict.

Lest Innocent Blood Be Shed

by Philip Paul Hallie

Publication year 1994

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Race, Death, Community, War, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags World War II, Military & War, French Literature, World History, Philosophy, Philosophy, Religion & Spirituality

... Read Lest Innocent Blood Be Shed Summary

Let Me Hear a Rhyme

by Tiffany D. Jackson

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Music, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Hate & Anger, Love, Joy, Hope, Guilt, Memory, Nostalgia, Regret, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Equality, Justice, Safety & Danger, Loyalty & Betrayal, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Power & Greed, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Daughters & Sons, Family, Friendship, Siblings, Mothers, Race, Language, Community

Tags Realistic Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Grief & Death, Modern Classic Fiction, World History, Music

... Read Let Me Hear a Rhyme Summary

Libertie

by Kaitlyn Greenidge

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Power & Greed, Coming of Age, The Past

Tags Coming of Age, Historical Fiction, Race & Racism, Trauma & Abuse, US History, Diversity, African American Literature, Gender & Feminism, World History

... Read Libertie Summary

Lincoln's Grave Robbers

by Steve Sheinkin

Publication year 2013

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Perseverance, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger

Lincoln’s Grave Robbers is a nonfiction book for young readers by Steve Sheinkin. It describes how a gang of counterfeiters attempted to steal the body of Abraham Lincoln from his tomb in Springfield, Illinois, in order to hold it for ransom. Sheinkin’s retelling features rich historical detail, a colorful cast of characters, and probing insights into the fractiousness of the 1870s, as well as some striking parallels to contemporary events. Set in the aftermath of... Read Lincoln's Grave Robbers Summary

Little Brother

by Cory Doctorow

Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Science & Technology, Politics & Government, Coming of Age, Love, Friendship, Power & Greed, Shame & Pride, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Science Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Leadership, Politics & Government, Science & Nature

Little Brother, a dystopian young adult novel written by Cory Doctorow, was published by Tor Teen books in 2008. The book debuted at number nine on The New York Times Bestseller list and was a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2009. Little Brother also won the 2009 White Pine Award, Prometheus Award, and John W. Campbell Memorial Award. The story takes place in the near future and chronicles the efforts of... Read Little Brother Summary

Little Rot

by Akwaeke Emezi

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Regret, Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, Marriage, Self Discovery, Social Class, Good & Evil, Justice, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger

Tags Horror & Suspense, LGBTQ+, Modern Classic Fiction, Literary Fiction

... Read Little Rot Summary

Living a Feminist Life

by Sara Ahmed

Publication year 2017

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Femininity, Sexual Identity, Power & Greed, Justice, Gender Identity, Race, Equality

Tags Philosophy, Gender & Feminism, Politics & Government, Women`s Studies, Social Justice, Education, Education, LGBTQ+, Philosophy

... Read Living a Feminist Life Summary

Lizzie Bright And The Buckminster Boy

by Gary D. Schmidt

Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Grief, Race, Coming of Age, Friendship, Equality, Economics, Justice, Religion & Spirituality, Community, Power & Greed, Fathers, Daughters & Sons, Hate & Anger

Tags Historical Fiction, American Literature, Grief & Death, Race & Racism, Religion & Spirituality, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, World History

Gary D. Schmidt’s Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy (2004), an historical novel for young adults, received the Newbery Honor in 2005. It is based on actual events occurring on Malaga Island, Maine in 1912, when the government of Maine placed the residents of the island in a mental hospital and tore down their homes.Turner Buckminster is the son of a reverend living in Phippsburg, Maine in 1912. Turner has just relocated to Phippsburg from... Read Lizzie Bright And The Buckminster Boy Summary

London

by Samuel Johnson

Publication year 1738

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Place, Power & Greed, Politics & Government, Order & Chaos, Justice, Nation, The Past, Nostalgia, Grief

Tags Satirical Literature, Poetry: Dramatic Poem, Age of Enlightenment, Neoclassicism, British Literature, Finance, European History, Politics & Government

... Read London Summary

London Falling

by Patrick Radden Keefe

Publication year 2026

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Conflict, Economics, Politics & Government, Justice, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags True Crime

London Falling (2026) is a work of narrative nonfiction by acclaimed investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe. The book examines the mysterious 2019 death of Zac Brettler, a 19-year-old from a middle-class London family who fell from a fifth-floor balcony into the River Thames. In the aftermath, his parents discover Zac had been living a secret life, posing as the wealthy son of a Russian oligarch to infiltrate the city’s elite circles. Keefe is known for... Read London Falling Summary

Look Closer

by David Ellis

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Power & Greed, Revenge, Family, Trust & Doubt

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

... Read Look Closer Summary

Lorne

by Susan Morrison

Publication year 2025

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Perseverance, Teamwork, Community, Politics & Government, Art, Fame, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags US History, Arts & Culture

... Read Lorne Summary

Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook

by Christina Henry

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Loyalty & Betrayal, Aging, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Horror & Suspense, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Action & Adventure

Written by American author Christina Henry, Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook is a 2017 dark fantasy retelling of J. M. Barrie’s original play, Peter Pan. Henry has written several dark retellings of fairy tales to date, including Alice, which is based on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll; The Girl in Red, which adapts the story of Little Red Riding Hood; and The Mermaid, which based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The... Read Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook Summary

Love and Hate in Jamestown

by David A. Price

Publication year 2003

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Community, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies, Conflict, Fear, Perseverance, Hate & Anger

Tags US History, Colonial America, Education, Education, American Literature, World History, Biography

Love and Hate in Jamestown: John Smith, Pocahontas, and The Start of a New Nation (2003) is a narrative history of the English’s founding of Jamestown in 1606 written by David A. Price. Price is a journalist for The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and other American publications. In his retelling of the story, Price seeks to puncture some of the romantic mythology surrounding the relationship between John Smith and Pocahontas, while placing their... Read Love and Hate in Jamestown Summary

Love That Dog

by Sharon Creech

Publication year 2001

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Power & Greed, Animals, Literature

Tags Realistic Fiction, Dramatic Literature, Animals, Children`s Literature, Education, Education

Love That Dog is a Newbery Award-winning middle grade book by Sharon Creech. Published in 2001, the book combines comedy and tragedy in detailing young Jack’s journey to loving poetry—a journey that takes form via free verse journal entries. Though Jack initially scoffs at the idea of writing poems, he later learns the value of his own voice. This guide refers to the 2002 Bloomsbury Children’s Books paperback edition.Other works by this author include Ruby... Read Love That Dog Summary