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.

Wolf Worm

by T. Kingfisher

Publication year 2026

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Hate & Anger, Femininity, Indigenous Identity, Mental Health, Race, The Past, Animals, Plants, Social Class, Art, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology

Tags Historical Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Fantasy

In late April 1899, Sonia Wilson, a thirty-three-year-old scientific illustrator with less than a dollar to her name, arrives by train at Siler Station in rural Chatham County, North Carolina. She has been hired by Dr. Matthias Halder to illustrate his book on parasitic and carrion-eating insects. No one meets her at the station. The stationmaster arranges a ride with Asa Phelps, a gaunt local man who warns Sonia that "the Devil walks these woods"... Read Wolf Worm Summary

Woman at Point Zero

by Nawal El Saadawi

Publication year 1975

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Justice, Equality, Perseverance, Guilt, Self Discovery, Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Politics & Government, Education, Safety & Danger, Fate, Power & Greed

Tags Gender & Feminism, Trauma & Abuse, African Literature, Social Justice, Education, Finance, Middle Eastern History, Love & Sexuality, Politics & Government, Incarceration, Crime & Law, Women`s Studies, Education, Classic Fiction

Woman at Point Zero, also titled Firdaus, is a 1975 novella by Nawal El Saadawi based on the true account of a woman named Firdaus who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 1974. Saadawi was a prolific Egyptian feminist and physician, and she worked with Egyptian women who experienced various mental conditions that Saadawi saw largely as resulting from living in a patriarchal society. She had the privilege of meeting Firdaus on... Read Woman at Point Zero Summary

Woman of Light

by Kali Fajardo-Anstine

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Hate & Anger, Hope, Love, Memory, Femininity, Race, Death, Daughters & Sons, Mothers, Social Class, Justice, Safety & Danger

Tags Historical Fiction, Western, Magical Realism, World History

... Read Woman of Light Summary

World War Z

by Max Brooks

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Apathy, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Guilt, Hope, Death, Future, Environment, Community, Education, Nation, Social Class, Politics & Government, War, Art, Fame, Truth & Lies, Beauty, Good & Evil, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger

Tags Science Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Fantasy, Social Class, Disability, Depression & Suicide, Leadership, Military & War, Trauma & Abuse, Politics & Government

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War is a horror fiction novel by Max Brooks published in 2006. The book was a critical and commercial success, generally receiving positive reviews and spending several weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. It has sold millions of copies around the world and was subsequently turned into a successful movie starring Brad Pitt, released in 2013, and a highly rated video game, released in... Read World War Z Summary

Wrecker

by Carl Hiaasen

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Joy, Loneliness, Race, Coming of Age, The Past, Climate, Environment, Plants, Place, Fathers, Mothers, Self Discovery, Community, Beauty, Safety & Danger

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Action & Adventure, Realistic Fiction

... Read Wrecker Summary

Yellow Star

by Jennifer Roy

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes War, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Guilt, Childhood & Youth, Death, Safety & Danger

Tags Historical Fiction, Holocaust, World War II, Children`s Literature, Military & War, World History

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You Are Jeff

by Richard Siken

Publication year 2019

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Beauty, Trust & Doubt, Love, Shame & Pride, Conflict, Perseverance

Tags LGBTQ+, Love & Sexuality, Narrative Poem

... Read You Are Jeff Summary

You Like It Darker

by Stephen King

Publication year 2024

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Gratitude, Grief, Hate & Anger, Hope, Love, Memory, Mental Health, Aging, Death, Animals, Daughters & Sons, Family, Fathers, Grandparents, Community, War, Fame, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Order & Chaos, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies, Self Discovery

... Read You Like It Darker Summary

Young Mungo

by Douglas Stuart

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Sexual Identity, Masculinity, Mothers, Siblings, Coming of Age, Conflict, Social Class, Safety & Danger, Love

Tags LGBTQ+, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Bullying, Social Class, Trauma & Abuse, Love & Sexuality, European History, British Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance

... Read Young Mungo Summary

Your Fault

by Mercedes Ron

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Fear, Guilt, Loneliness, Love, Memory, Shame & Pride, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Death, Fathers, Mothers, Self Discovery, Social Class, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger

Tags Love & Sexuality, Romance

... Read Your Fault Summary

Zlateh the Goat

by Isaac Bashevis Singer

Publication year 1966

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Trust & Doubt, Religion & Spirituality, Loyalty & Betrayal, Conflict, Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Safety & Danger

Tags Jewish Literature, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Religion & Spirituality, Animals, Special Occasions, Relationships, Science & Nature, Children`s Literature, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

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Zora and Me

by T.R. Simon, Victoria Bond

Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Race, Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Community, Literature, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Children`s Literature, World History, Arts & Culture

Zora and Me (2010) is a middle grade novel by Victoria Bond and T.R. Simon. Both authors held a strong interest in 20th-century Black American writer Zora Neale Hurston, and they wanted to introduce her to younger readers. Bond has an MFA in poetry, while Simon has an MA in anthropology; Hurston was both a writer and an anthropologist. Inspired by real details from Hurston’s childhood as illustrated in her short stories, Bond and Simon... Read Zora and Me Summary