The Past

In George Orwell's 1984 a character says, "Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past." The past may be behind us, but its events—and how we remember them—have a profound effect on the present. In this collection explore texts that examine the complications and complexities of the past.

Hana's Suitcase

by Karen Levine

Publication year 2002

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Grief, Justice, War, Love, Family, The Past

Tags Holocaust, World War II, Jewish Literature, Children`s Literature, Military & War, World History, Biography

Originally published in 2002 by Second Story Press, Hana’s Suitcase is a historical text by Karen Levine that weaves together the story of two young children in the Holocaust with the narrative of a Japanese museum curator in the early 21st century. Levine, a radio journalist and producer, first heard about Hana Brady’s suitcase from a news article and subsequently produced a radio show about the story. This launched what would become Hana’s Suitcase and... Read Hana's Suitcase Summary

Heaven

by Angela Johnson

Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Forgiveness, Childhood & Youth, The Past, Family, Friendship, Truth & Lies

Tags Adoption, Relationships, Parenting

... Read Heaven Summary

Heaven Official's Blessing

by Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Grief, Loneliness, Love, Shame & Pride, Sexual Identity, Death, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Teamwork, Social Class, Good & Evil, Justice, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+, Chinese Literature

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Hebrew Bible

by Anonymous

Publication year -600

Genre Scripture, Nonfiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Future, The Past, Daughters & Sons, Fathers, Marriage, Community, Immigration, Nation, Politics & Government, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos

Tags Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Jewish Literature

The Hebrew Bible is the standard canon of Jewish sacred texts, composed in a period that falls across the second and first millennia BCE. It is also referred to as the Tanakh, an acrostic portmanteau of the three major sections of the Hebrew Bible: the Torah (“teaching”), the Nevi’im (“prophets”), and the Ketuvim (“writings”). The Hebrew Bible is a collection of 24 major texts, in which there are 39 books. These 39 books correspond to... Read Hebrew Bible Summary

Held

by Anne Michaels

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Memory, Death, Future, The Past, Family, War, Art, Music, Religion & Spirituality, Science & Technology

Tags Military & War, World History, Literary Fiction, Historical Nonfiction

... Read Held Summary

Here

by Richard McGuire

Publication year 2014

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Art, Place, Memory, Environment, Grief, Joy, Loneliness, Love, Indigenous Identity, Aging, Childhood & Youth, Death, Future, The Past, Climate, Objects & Materials, Space, Family, Mothers, Beauty

Tags Historical Fiction, Dramatic Literature, World History, Arts & Culture

Here by Richard McGuire is a graphic novel published on December 4, 2014, by Pantheon Books. The graphic novel focuses on the same corner of a room over billions of years. It depicts the area long before the house is built and long after it falls. By using different visual styles, overlapping panels, and non-chronological narration, McGuire creates a narrative that comments on the nature of time and life. Here is considered a transformative work... Read Here Summary

Here Is New York

by E. B. White

Publication year 1948

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Community, The Past, Place, Environment

Tags Travel Literature, US History, Urban Development, Creative Nonfiction, American Literature, World History, Classic Fiction

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Holes

by Louis Sachar

Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fate, Friendship, The Past

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

Louis Sachar’s 1998 children’s mystery novel, Holes, tells the story of Stanley Yelnats, a 14-year-old boy accused of stealing a pair of shoes. A judge sentences him to 18 months in a camp, where a tyrannical warden has the boys digging five-foot by five-foot holes that appear random. However, their activity hints at the town’s complicated past and an outlaw’s lost treasure. The novel was awarded the 1998 National Book Award and the 1999 Newbery... Read Holes Summary

Holiday Romance

by Catherine Walsh

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Loneliness, Love, Nostalgia, Shame & Pride, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Sexual Identity, The Past, Family, Self Discovery, Immigration, Fate

Tags Special Occasions, Romance

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Homecoming

by Kate Morton

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Loneliness, The Past, Family, Grandparents, Mothers, Literature, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Special Occasions

... Read Homecoming Summary