Truth & Lies

Whether exploring the consequences of concealing the truth or excavating the mysterious nature of truth itself, the titles in this collection discuss the intersections among honesty, factualness, legitimacy, deception, falsehood, and lies.

Only If You're Lucky

by Stacy Willingham

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Fear, Grief, Guilt, Memory, Revenge, Femininity, Coming of Age, Death, Friendship, Self Discovery, Community, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Only If You're Lucky Summary

On My Honor

by Marion Dane Bauer

Publication year 1986

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Truth & Lies, Death

Tags Realistic Fiction, Relationships, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Grief & Death

On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer is a middle grade and young adult novel published in 1986. It was a Newberry Honor winner in 1987 and was also named an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults. Bauer is a prolific writer who has written more than 80 books for young readers. In this novel, written in third-person omniscient point of view, she uses sparse language to deliver a profound message about honor... Read On My Honor Summary

Open

by Andre Agassi

Publication year 2009

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Hate & Anger, Hope, Love, Shame & Pride, Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Midlife, Family, Fathers, Friendship, Siblings, Self Discovery, Community, Education, Fame, Order & Chaos, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses, Teamwork

Tags US History, Sports, Biography

... Read Open Summary

Opening Skinner's Box

by Lauren Slater

Publication year 2004

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Truth & Lies

Tags Education, Education, Science & Nature, World History, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Mental Illness, Health

Opening Skinner’s Box: Great Psychological Experiments of the Twentieth Century by Lauren Slater is a work of narrative non-fiction published in 2004 by W.W. Norton & Company. Slater, an American psychotherapist, examines 10 landmark psychological experiments—from B.F. Skinner’s infamous boxes to Harry Harlow’s primates—and, in doing so, she explores larger philosophical questions related to human freedom, the limits of science, and truth in art.Slater provides biographical details of the scientists behind each landmark experiment. She... Read Opening Skinner's Box Summary

Operation Mincemeat

by Ben Macintyre

Publication year 2010

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Perseverance, Teamwork, War, Truth & Lies

Tags Military & War, World History

Although a nonfiction account of an actual WWII deception operation, Ben Macintyre’s Operation Mincemeat (2010) reads like a masterful spy thriller, complete with a “bizarre” plot and colorful characters. In 1943, British Intelligence officers concocted a ruse to lure Nazi forces to another corner of the Mediterranean while the Allies launched an invasion into Sicily. For bait, they used the corpse of a tramp, and the Germans took it. Drawing upon newly declassified documents and... Read Operation Mincemeat Summary

Orwell's Roses

by Rebecca Solnit

Publication year 2021

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Literature, Politics & Government, Environment, Beauty, Truth & Lies

Tags Arts & Culture, World History, Politics & Government, Philosophy, Social Justice, Science & Nature, Biography

... Read Orwell's Roses Summary

Other Birds

by Sarah Addison Allen

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Literature, Daughters & Sons, Family, Mothers, Animals, Place, Grief, Memory

Tags Magical Realism, Coming of Age, Grief & Death, Relationships, Science Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Religion & Spirituality

... Read Other Birds Summary

Out of the Easy

by Ruta Sepetys

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Social Class, Friendship, Sexual Identity, Community, Safety & Danger, Daughters & Sons, Literature, Mothers, Family, Shame & Pride, Nature Versus Nurture, Fathers, Gender Identity, Appearance & Reality, Truth & Lies, Perseverance, Loneliness, Guilt, Hope

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Southern Literature, Trauma & Abuse, World History, Romance

Out of the Easy, written by Ruta Sepetys and published in 2013, is a young adult historical fiction novel. Sepetys is an award-winning Lithuanian American writer of young adult historical fiction. Her honors include the Carnegie Medal, awarded to one work of children’s or young adult literature per year. Her novels are international best sellers and are widely translated. Out of the Easy is about Josie, a teenage girl living in the French Quarter of... Read Out of the Easy Summary

Parable of the Sower

by Octavia E. Butler

Publication year 1993

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Climate

Tags Symbolic Narrative, Afrofuturism, Science Fiction, Climate Change, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

Parable of the Sower is a science fiction novel, the first in author Octavia E. Butler’s two-part Parable series. Butler followed this 1993 publication with Parable of the Talents in 1998. Also known as the Earthseed series, the duology follows a community in a dystopian/post-apocalyptic version of the 21st-century United States. The societal collapse is due to environmental and class issues, including corporate power and greed, climate collapse, and growing inequality between the upper and... Read Parable of the Sower Summary

Penpal

by Dathan Auerbach

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Guilt, Hope, Love, Memory, Childhood & Youth, Daughters & Sons, Family, Mothers, Community, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense

... Read Penpal Summary

Perfect Peace

by Daniel Black

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Guilt, Regret, Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Daughters & Sons, Self Discovery, Community, Religion & Spirituality, Truth & Lies, Family

Tags Gender & Feminism, World History, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+

... Read Perfect Peace Summary

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes

by Jonathan Auxier

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Disability, Childhood & Youth, Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Children`s Literature, Action & Adventure, Disability, Trauma & Abuse, Animals, American Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes is a middle grade novel by Jonathan Auxier originally published in 2011. The novel encompasses a variety of genres: fantasy, the heroic quest, and even some Dickensian orphan flourishes, for good measure. It was a BookPage Magazine Best Book of the year, an ABA New Voices selection (2011), and a finalist for the Monica Hughes Award for science fiction and fantasy.This study guide references the edition published by Amulet... Read Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes Summary

In Pharaoh's Army

by Tobias Wolff

Publication year 1994

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Truth & Lies

Tags Military & War, World History, Biography

Though the book moves around to some degree, the three parts are loosely divided by time period. Part I describes Wolff’s life prior to joining the military, his reasons for doing so, and his experiences in the relatively safe and quiet Delta up to the Tet Offensive. Part II is about his life following Tet, up to his return to the United States. Part III describes his adjustment back into civilian life. Chapter 1, “Thanksgiving... Read In Pharaoh's Army Summary

Picture Us in the Light

by Kelly Loy Gilbert

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Grief, Guilt, Hope, Self Discovery, Community, Art, Truth & Lies, Friendship

Tags Realistic Fiction, LGBTQ+, Coming of Age, Arts & Culture, Depression & Suicide, Grief & Death, Mental Illness, Modern Classic Fiction

Picture Us in the Light is a young adult novel written by Kelly Loy Gilbert and published in 2018 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Gilbert is the author of three young adult novels, all of which focus on the young Asian American experience. Picture Us in the Light is written in the first-person perspective of protagonist Danny Cheng, but Gilbert includes flashbacks to China to connect Danny to a past his parents have... Read Picture Us in the Light Summary

Pieces of Her

by Karin Slaughter

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Mothers, Self Discovery, Safety & Danger, Justice, Good & Evil, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Trauma & Abuse, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Pieces of Her Summary

Pippi Longstocking

by Astrid Lindgren

Publication year 1945

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Truth & Lies, Childhood & Youth

Tags Humor, Children`s Literature, Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Scandinavian Literature

Pippi Longstocking is a middle grade fiction novel written by Astrid Lindgren and originally published in Sweden in 1945. It was first translated into English and published in the United States in 1950. Pippi’s bold spirit and fiery nature were endearing and appealing in the post-war era and through many decades afterward. Her story illuminates the Imagination and Ingenuity of childhood, the Strength of Body and Mind embodied by young girls, and the importance of... Read Pippi Longstocking Summary