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.

The Code Book

by Simon Singh

Publication year 1999

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Science & Technology, Politics & Government, War, Safety & Danger

Tags World History, Military & War, Horror & Suspense, Science & Nature, Technology, Technology

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The Collector

by John Fowles

Publication year 1963

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Wins & Losses, Safety & Danger, Beauty, Art, Social Class, Objects & Materials, Loneliness

Tags Horror & Suspense, Psychological Fiction, British Literature, Realistic Fiction, Trauma & Abuse, Gender & Feminism, Social Class, Love & Sexuality, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Classic Fiction

The Collector is English author John Fowles’s debut novel, published in 1963. The story follows a 20-something lepidopterist, Frederick Clegg, who becomes obsessed with a beautiful art student named Miranda Grey. After winning a fortune, Frederick kidnaps Miranda and imprisons her in his cellar, keeping her like a rare butterfly. Fowles combines psychological thriller, romance, and dark comedy genres into a tale that satirizes romances such as Shakespeare’s The Tempest by exposing their psychological and... Read The Collector Summary

The Color of Death

by Trey Gowdy, Christopher Greyson

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Revenge, Death, Family, Justice, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction

Set in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the novel opens with JD, seeking revenge over a family member's conviction in a case Frank defended, and Knox, JD's imposing accomplice, holding defense attorney Frank Hastings captive in a cabin near the North Pacolet River. JD forces Frank to watch a recording of Assistant District Attorney Colm Truesdale delivering a masterful closing argument in a trial Frank lost due to incompetence. After coercing Frank into writing a confession and... Read The Color of Death Summary

The Comfort of Crows

by Margaret Renkl

Publication year 2023

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Grief, Memory, Aging, Death, Future, The Past, Animals, Climate, Environment, Plants, Food, Nature Versus Nurture, Objects & Materials, Place, Family, Self Discovery, Community, Education, Globalization, Beauty, Equality, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Order & Chaos, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Animals, Science & Nature

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The Coming of the Third Reich

by Richard J. Evans

Publication year 2003

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Conflict, Fear, Hate & Anger, Nostalgia, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Disability, Gender Identity, Race, The Past, Social Class, Colonialism, Community, Economics, Globalization, Politics & Government, War, Art, Good & Evil, Justice, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger

Tags World History, Military & War, World War II, European History, Politics & Government

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The Coral Island

by R.M. Ballantyne

Publication year 1857

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Hope, Loneliness, Love, Memory, Nostalgia, Regret, Indigenous Identity, Language, Masculinity, Race, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, The Past, Animals, Climate, Environment, Plants, Objects & Materials, Place, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Colonialism, Education, War, Literature, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology

Tags Classic Fiction, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, Historical Fiction

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The Cost of Knowing

by Brittney Morris

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Mental Health, Siblings, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Gratitude, Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Joy, Love, Memory, Regret, Shame & Pride, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, Future, The Past, Fathers, Equality, Fate, Justice, Safety & Danger, Music, Appearance & Reality

Tags Magical Realism, Coming of Age, Race & Racism, Science Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness, Fantasy

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The Courage of Sarah Noble

by Alice Dalgliesh

Publication year 1954

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Indigenous Identity, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Daughters & Sons, Fathers, Mothers, Self Discovery, Safety & Danger

Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, American Literature, Education, Education, US History, World History

The Courage of Sarah Noble, written by Alice Dalgliesh and published in 1954, follows the experience of young Sarah as she accompanies her father to Connecticut. It is based on a true story that took place in 1707, though Dalgliesh admits in the “Author’s Note” that she has “had to imagine many of the details” of Sarah’s story; thus, this is a work of historical fiction and not a biography or nonfiction text.Dalgliesh was a... Read The Courage of Sarah Noble Summary

The Crossing

by Gary Paulsen

Publication year 1987

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Hate & Anger, Shame & Pride, Fear, Perseverance, Conflict, Hope, Gratitude, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Good & Evil

Tags Action & Adventure, Immigration & Refugeeism, Trauma & Abuse, Children`s Literature, Poverty, Military & War, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction

Gary Paulsen’s The Crossing is a young adult novel published in 1987. This realistic work of fiction highlights the hope and opportunity Manny, a Mexican teenager, envisions waiting for him in America, and the desperation that propels him to attempt the border crossing from Mexico into the United States.Paulsen (1939-2021) was a celebrated author of middle grade and young adult fiction, best known for writing the award-winning Hatchet series. His work often depicts wilderness settings... Read The Crossing Summary

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

by Mark Haddon

Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Disability, Safety & Danger

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Coming of Age, Animals, Disability, British Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Psychology, Psychology, Classic Fiction

Book DetailsIn the mystery novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Christopher Boone, a brilliant teenage boy, sets out to solve the murder of his neighbor’s dog. While it is not explicitly stated in the novel, critics and professional medical reviewers generally agree that Christopher has autism. Written by Mark Haddon and published in 2003, the book won the Whitbread Book Award for best Novel and Book of the Year and the... Read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Summary

The Da Vinci Code

by Dan Brown

Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Art, Perseverance, Conflict, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Good & Evil, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Religion & Spirituality, Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown was originally published in 2003 and has become an international bestseller, with sales of over 80 million. It was made into a popular movie starring Tom Hanks, Audrey Tatou, and Ian McKellen. The novel is Brown’s fourth, a fast-paced thriller with political, historical, and religious overtones. Its initial release generated controversy for perceived condemnation of the Catholic Church and historical inaccuracies. Despite the charges, The Da Vinci Code... Read The Da Vinci Code Summary

The Deep End

by Jeff Kinney

Publication year 2020

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Childhood & Youth, Safety & Danger

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

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The Demon in the Freezer

by Richard Preston

Publication year 2002

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Safety & Danger

Tags Science & Nature, Military & War, Health, Horror & Suspense, World History

Richard Preston’s The Demon in the Freezer is a nonfiction account of the recent history of bioweapons and epidemic diseases; his focus for much of the book is smallpox, the “demon” of the title. The book begins with a discussion of the lethal bioweapons attack that took place early in October of 2001. In this instance, letters containing anthrax were mailed to publications and Senate offices in the United States. However, researchers at the United... Read The Demon in the Freezer Summary