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.

Sidewalk

by Mitchell Duneier

Publication year 1999

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Safety & Danger

Tags Sociology, Race & Racism, Education, Education, Anthropology, Anthropology, Social Science, Urban Development, Poverty

Sidewalk tells the true story of sociologist Mitchell Duneier’s years-long effort to understand the informal sidewalk economy of 1990s Greenwich Village, in New York City. The story begins when Duneier meets Hakim Hasan, who is a vendor of books on Sixth Avenue, one of the commercial hubs of the Village and the main focus of this book. Through Hakim, Duneier becomes acquainted with several of the lower-income book and magazine vendors, scavengers, and panhandlers that... Read Sidewalk Summary

Siege and Storm

by Leigh Bardugo

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Power & Greed, Wins & Losses, Safety & Danger, Religion & Spirituality, Good & Evil, War, Self Discovery, Animals, Loneliness

Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Leadership, Love & Sexuality, Military & War, Politics & Government, Trauma & Abuse, Religion & Spirituality, Romance

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Simon Sort of Says

by Erin Bow

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Memory, Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, Space, Family, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness, Humor

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Skeleton Man

by Joseph Bruchac

Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Indigenous Identity, Coming of Age, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Family, Safety & Danger

Tags Children`s Literature, Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Religion & Spirituality

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Sky Daddy

by Kate Folk

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Apathy, Fear, Loneliness, Love, Nostalgia, Femininity, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Objects & Materials, Friendship, Self Discovery, Fate, New Age, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger

Tags Literary Fiction, Contemporary Literature, Humor

Kate Folk’s 2025 novel, Sky Daddy, is a work of satirical literary fiction. The novel is narrated by Linda, a content moderator in San Francisco who harbors a secret and all-consuming desire: to achieve a spiritual marriage with an airplane by dying in a spectacular crash. The novel uses this surreal premise to explore themes of deep disconnection and The Alienating Nature of Modern Life.Folk is also the author of the acclaimed story collection Out... Read Sky Daddy Summary

Slay

by Brittney Morris

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Femininity, Masculinity, Race, Coming of Age, Friendship, Self Discovery, Equality, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger

Tags Realistic Fiction, Science Fiction, Race & Racism, Sports, Modern Classic Fiction

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Slob

by Ellen Potter

Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Apathy, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Forgiveness, Grief, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Memory, Regret, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Trust & Doubt, Safety & Danger, Justice, Science & Technology, Equality, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses, Appearance & Reality, Food, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Family, Siblings, Friendship, Mothers, Teamwork, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Community, Education

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Humor, Children`s Literature, Coming of Age, Bullying, Grief & Death, Trauma & Abuse

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Small as an Elephant

by Jennifer Jacobson

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Perseverance, Hope, Love, Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, Animals, Place, Family, Mothers, Self Discovery, Community, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt

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

Small as an Elephant is a middle grade realistic fiction novel written by Jennifer Richard Jacobson and originally published in 2011. In addition to writing, Jacobson teaches literacy workshops across the US. She grew up in Maine, which is the inspiration for the setting of many of her stories. Small as an Elephant examines several themes related to unstable attachment, support, and hardship. The novel received more than 10 awards, including the Maine Lupine Award... Read Small as an Elephant Summary

Snapdragon

by Kat Leyh

Publication year 2020

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Hope, Joy, Loneliness, Love, Memory, Shame & Pride, Regret, Forgiveness, Femininity, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Race, Sexual Identity, Fate, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Animals, Appearance & Reality

Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, LGBTQ+, Children`s Literature

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Solaris

by Stanislaw Lem

Publication year 1961

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Science & Technology, Self Discovery, Memory, Fear, Guilt, Love, Trust & Doubt, Safety & Danger

Tags Science Fiction, Philosophy, Fantasy, Psychological Fiction, Science & Nature, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

Stanisław Lem, a prominent Polish philosopher, essayist, and literary critic who achieved notoriety in the mid-20th century, is best known for his science fiction novels. Among these books, Solaris is regarded by most reviewers and critics as Lem’s masterpiece. Published in Polish in 1961, the English version was translated from the French version in 1970—which Lem allegedly referred to as “poor” (Flood, Alison. “First Ever Direct English Translation of Solaris Published.” The Guardian, 15 June... Read Solaris Summary

Soldier X

by Don L. Wulffson

Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Guilt, Memory, Language, Race, Coming of Age, The Past, Friendship, War, Safety & Danger

Tags Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure, Military & War, World War II, Holocaust, Education, Education, World History

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So Much Water So Close to Home

by Raymond Carver

Publication year 1981

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Marriage, Trust & Doubt, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies, Gender Identity

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Education, Education

Content Warning: Both the story and the guide reference the graphic murders of women and feature ambiguously consensual sex as well as general misogyny.“So Much Water So Close to Home” is a short story by American writer Raymond Carver; it first appeared in his 1981 collection What We Talk About When We Talk About Love. The story’s earlier iteration, which this guide discusses, embodies the extreme minimalism Carver employed during this phase of his career... Read So Much Water So Close to Home Summary

Spare

by Prince Harry

Publication year 2023

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Family, Perseverance, Conflict, Grief, Hope, Loneliness, Love, Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self Discovery, Social Class, Colonialism, Politics & Government, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Loyalty & Betrayal, Justice, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger

Tags European History, Politics & Government, British Literature, Animals, Grief & Death, Depression & Suicide, Social Class, Relationships, Journalism, Bullying, World History, Biography

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Sphere

by Michael Crichton

Publication year 1987

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Loneliness, Mental Health, Death, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Space, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Action & Adventure

Sphere (1987) is a novel by best-selling author Michael Crichton, the sixth novel he released under his own name but his 16th novel overall. The novel follows protagonist Norman Johnson as he travels to the bottom of the ocean with a team of scientists to explore an unknown spacecraft. Inside the craft is a sphere that when entered enhances imagination and allows people to manifest reality from their unconscious mind. Sphere was made into a... Read Sphere Summary

Spilled Milk

by K.L Randis

Publication year 2013

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Safety & Danger, Justice, Family, Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Crime & Law, Trauma & Abuse, Psychology, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Biography

... Read Spilled Milk Summary