Safety & Danger

This collection, spanning books like Nadine Gordimer's Jump and Other Stories and Lois Lowry's Number the Stars, gathers fiction and nonfiction examining how our human craving for safety is compromised, questioned, and challenged by an unpredictable and sometimes dangerous world.

10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World

by Elif Shafak

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Grief, Love, Memory, Femininity, Sexual Identity, Death, The Past, Family, Immigration, Justice, Safety & Danger

Tags Historical Fiction, Trauma & Abuse, Gender & Feminism, Women`s Studies, Modern Classic Fiction, World History

Elif Shafak’s 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World was published in 2019. Shafak is an award-winning British Turkish novelist who advocates for women’s and LGBTQIA+ rights through her fiction. Shafak’s 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World examines the life of a sex worker who was murdered in Istanbul, Turkey, exploring key moments in her life while her friends desperately try to arrange her funeral. The novel investigates topics like violence against... Read 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World Summary

1st to Die

by James Patterson

Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Death, Sexual Identity, Friendship, Safety & Danger, Marriage

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Trauma & Abuse, Grief & Death

1st to Die (2001), by bestselling author James Patterson, is the first novel in The Women’s Murder Club series. The club features four friends—San Francisco homicide detective Lindsay Boxer, medical examiner Claire Washburn, crime reporter Cindy Thomas, and assistant district attorney Jill Bernhardt—who work together, both professionally and personally, to solve crimes. In this first novel, the club works to solve the Honeymoon Murders, the killing of three couples just after their weddings. 1st to... Read 1st to Die Summary

Abduction!

by Peg Kehret

Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Hope, Safety & Danger, Siblings, Family

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature

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Abend Der Worte

by Paul Celan

Publication year 1950

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Memory, Safety & Danger, Art, Fear, The Past, Good & Evil, Guilt

Tags Lyric Poem, Modernism, Post-War Era, Trauma & Abuse, Grief & Death, European History, World War II, Holocaust

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A Bottle in the Gaza Sea

by Valérie Zenatti

Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Forgiveness, Hate & Anger, Mental Health, Race, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Family, Social Class, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Justice, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt

Tags Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction

A Bottle in the Gaza Sea (2005) is a young adult novel by French author and translator Valérie Zenatti. It was first published in French as Une bouteille dans la mer de Gaza. The novel begins when 17-year-old Israeli Tal Levine learns about a bombing at a neighborhood café. She is moved to send a letter in a bottle, which reaches 20-year-old Palestinian Naïm Al-Farjouk. Tal included her email address, and they begin corresponding. Initially... Read A Bottle in the Gaza Sea Summary

A Canticle For Leibowitz

by Walter M. Miller Jr.

Publication year 1959

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Community, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology

Tags Science Fiction, Classic Fiction, Fantasy

A Canticle for Leibowitz is a 1959 science fiction novel by author Walter M. Miller, Jr. Its post-apocalyptic narrative spans thousands of years, focused on a Catholic abbey in the southwest region of the United States of America. The abbey serves as headquarters for the Albertian Order of Leibowitz, a saint Miller invented for the narrative. The monks in the abbey are dedicated to preserving books and scientific knowledge to be used again whenever the... Read A Canticle For Leibowitz Summary

Acceleration

by Graham McNamee

Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Safety & Danger, Fate, Good & Evil, Wins & Losses, Mental Health, Perseverance, Guilt, Conflict

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Relationships, Realistic Fiction

Acceleration (2003) is a young adult novel by Graham McNamee, who is also known for the fantasy-horror novel Bonechiller (2008). Narrated in the first person, Acceleration tells the story of 17-year-old Duncan as he learns of a potential serial killer in his city and his attempt to stop him. It examines themes of guilt, forgiveness, mental health, poverty, and more.Plot SummaryThe story opens with 17-year-old Duncan working a two-month stint at a lost and found... Read Acceleration Summary

A Chance in the World

by Steve Pemberton

Publication year 2012

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Race, Justice, Safety & Danger, Family

Tags Race & Racism, Parenting, Inspirational, Biography

A Chance in the World: An Orphan Boy, a Mysterious Past, and How He Found a Place Called Home is a 2012 memoir by author Steve Pemberton. In three parts, it tells the story of his quest to learn the truth about his past. The book examines themes of identity, abuse, family, racism, and how peoples’ pasts can influence their futures. Part 1 begins with Steve’s recurring memory of the day that his mother abandoned... Read A Chance in the World Summary

Across The Desert

by Dusti Bowling

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Hope, Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Mothers, Social Class, Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self Discovery, Family

Tags Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Action & Adventure

... Read Across The Desert Summary

A Deadly Education

by Naomi Novik

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Teamwork, Fate, Safety & Danger, Fear, Equality, Power & Greed, Good & Evil, Loneliness, Wins & Losses, Appearance & Reality

Tags Horror & Suspense, Romance, Religion & Spirituality, Fantasy, Coming of Age, Social Class

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A Dog's Life

by Ann M. Martin

Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Gratitude, Grief, Hope, Loneliness, Love, Memory, Aging, Childhood & Youth, Death, Animals, Food, Place, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Fate, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt

Tags Animals, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction

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A First Time for Everything

by Dan Santat

Publication year 2023

Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction

Themes Friendship, Love, Perseverance, Fear, Gratitude, Hope, Joy, Memory, Childhood & Youth, Future, The Past, Self Discovery, Community, Art, Beauty, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Children`s Literature, Romance, Biography, Coming of Age, Travel Literature

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A Flicker in the Dark

by Stacy Willingham

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Regret, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Memory, Love, Femininity, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Safety & Danger, Order & Chaos, Childhood & Youth, Death, The Past, Midlife

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Modern Classic Fiction

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After

by Morris Gleitzman

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Safety & Danger, War, Justice

Tags Historical Fiction, Military & War, Trauma & Abuse, Holocaust, World War II, Children`s Literature, World History, Action & Adventure

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After Dark

by Haruki Murakami

Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Siblings, Safety & Danger, Community

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Japanese Literature, Surrealism

After Dark was published in 2004 by acclaimed Japanese author Haruki Murakami. The novel follows protagonist Mari Asai through one night in Tokyo. Mari has run-ins with organized crime, people on the run, and others who do not fit into Tokyo’s often conservative society. After Dark was met with lackluster critical reception, partially due to Murakami’s characteristic ambiguity and apparent lack of an ending; however, others argue that this ambiguity allows readers to interpret events... Read After Dark Summary