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.

An Inconvenient Truth

by Al Gore

Publication year 2006

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Globalization, Safety & Danger, Environment

Tags Science & Nature, Climate Change, World History, Politics & Government

An Inconvenient Truth is a 2006 nonfiction book released in conjunction with the documentary film of the same name. This book, by former vice-president Al Gore, presents scientific information about global climate change. He intersperses this information with personal anecdotes that outline the more human and social dimensions of the issue.An Inconvenient Truth begins with an introduction to the basic science of global warming and the greenhouse gases that cause it. The first forty pages... Read An Inconvenient Truth Summary

Anna O

by Matthew Blake

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Disability, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies, Memory, Revenge, Mental Health, Justice

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Disability

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An Outpost Of Progress

by Joseph Conrad

Publication year 1897

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Colonialism, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Order & Chaos, Good & Evil

Tags Classic Fiction, Colonialism & Postcolonialism, Depression & Suicide, Existentialism, Education, Education, British Literature, World History

In “An Outpost of Progress,” Joseph Conrad (1857-1924), a Ukrainian-born Polish-British novelist and short story writer, presents a disturbing psychological case study centered on the struggle between good and evil in the hearts and souls of two white traders dispatched to a remote corner of Africa to oversee a trading station along the Congo River. The story probes how easily the heart can lose its moral and ethical bearings amid the oppressive emptiness of the... Read An Outpost Of Progress Summary

A People’s History of the United States

by Howard Zinn

Publication year 1980

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Colonialism, Social Class, Immigration, Community, Economics, Hate & Anger, Perseverance, Conflict, Safety & Danger, Justice, Equality, Power & Greed

Tags US History, Politics & Government, Social Justice, Race & Racism, American Literature, World History, Classic Fiction

Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States is one of the most famous American history books published in recent decades. It has sold over two million copies. First published in 1980, the book was nominated for the American Book Award and has gone through at least six major revisions. Although controversial when first published, the book has become comfortably mainstream. It is mentioned by name in the film Good Will Hunting and the... Read A People’s History of the United States Summary

A Photo Finish

by Elsie Silver

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Hope, Joy, Love, Memory, Masculinity, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Animals, Place, Family, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Politics & Government, War, Equality, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger

Tags Romance, New Adult

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A Place of Greater Safety

by Hilary Mantel

Publication year 1992

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes The Past, Politics & Government, Justice, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger

Tags World History

A Place of Greater Safety (1992) by Hilary Mantel is a historical novel of the French Revolution told largely from the perspective of three lawyers turned revolutionary leaders: Camille Desmoulins, Maximillien Robespierre, and Georges Danton. The novel examines the psychological states and personal ties between these three key historic figures as they contribute to the overthrow of the French monarchy in 1789 and seek to consolidate and hold onto power in the first French Republic... Read A Place of Greater Safety Summary

Arcadia

by Lauren Groff

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Community, Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Midlife, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Nature Versus Nurture, Family, Self Discovery, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Modern Classic Fiction, World History

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A River in Darkness

by Masaji Ishikawa, Transl. Martin Brown, Transl. Risa Kobayashi

Publication year 2000

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Family, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Grief, Guilt, Loneliness, Regret, Shame & Pride, Masculinity, Mental Health, Race, Childhood & Youth, Fathers, Social Class, Colonialism, Immigration, Politics & Government, Safety & Danger

Tags World History, Japanese Literature, Biography, Asian History, Politics & Government, Inspirational

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Artemis Fowl

by Eoin Colfer

Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Perseverance, Wins & Losses, Safety & Danger, Power & Greed, Justice, Trust & Doubt, Teamwork, Environment, Coming of Age, Family

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

Artemis Fowl (2001) is the first of 11 fantasy novels in the Fowl Adventures series. It was written by Eoin Colfer, an Irish writer, and details the titular character’s attempt to restore his family’s fortune by kidnapping an elf named Holly Short. Taking place in Colfer’s home country of Ireland, the novel is also his first foray into the fantasy genre. The novel explores themes of community, environmentalism, and the line between magic and science.In... Read Artemis Fowl Summary

A Ruin of Roses

by K.F. Breene

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Safety & Danger, Guilt, Hope, Gender Identity, Appearance & Reality, Plants, Family, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Justice, Power & Greed

Tags Romance, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Humor

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Ask Not

by Maureen Callahan

Publication year 2024

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Shame & Pride, Femininity, Masculinity, Sexual Identity, Family, Marriage, Social Class, Nation, Politics & Government, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses

Tags World History, Biography, Politics & Government, Gender & Feminism

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A Storm of Swords

by George R. R. Martin

Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Guilt, Memory, Revenge, Disability, Femininity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Climate, Place, Family, Self Discovery, Social Class, Politics & Government, War, Fate, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger

Tags Fantasy, Science Fiction, Action & Adventure

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A Study in Charlotte

by Brittany Cavallaro

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Self Discovery, Family, Truth & Lies, Safety & Danger, Revenge, Justice

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Romance, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Education, Relationships, Technology, Crime & Law, Modern Classic Fiction

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A Thousand Steps into Night

by Traci Chee

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Forgiveness, Hate & Anger, Grief, Hope, Love, Regret, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Beauty, Equality, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Wins & Losses, Appearance & Reality, Space, Animals, Place, Daughters & Sons, Friendship, Fathers, Family, Teamwork, Femininity, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Sexual Identity, Social Class

Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Mythology, Coming of Age, Historical Fiction, Gender & Feminism, Asian Literature, Japanese Literature

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Atmosphere

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Hope, Joy, Love, Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, Midlife, Death, Future, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Space, Family, Friendship, Marriage, Siblings, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, Politics & Government, Equality, Fate, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction

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Attack Of The Black Rectangles

by A.S King

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Hate & Anger, Guilt, Appearance & Reality, Equality, Justice, Literature, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies, Family, Fathers, Grandparents, Friendship, Daughters & Sons, Mothers, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Community, Education, Trust & Doubt

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Coming of Age, Education

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